KITCHENER'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2548, 24 August 1915, Page 5

KITCHENER'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT

There is always something of thrill in a spontaneous idea translated into action by many people; and this was certainly the case with, the suggestion of recruits making a birthday present ofthemselves to Lord Kitchener, states a writer in "The Queen." And the idea, caught on like wildfire, so that the day was one of marked activity, both in tha neighbourhood of the War Office, arid in more remote regions. Three bands started the main procession from tba Horse Guards Parade with a contingent of Territorials; and the magic of Lord Kitchener's name, the gratitude! for what ho lias done, the very human desire to please him on his birthday, worked wonders with a very large num. ber of men who for one reason and another have held themselves aloof so far. They "fell in" in delightfully natural fashion, too, in placid disregard of military regulations which forbid the break- - ing of ranks, proudly fixing on tho special 'armlets handed to them, mitij the orderly rows of bronzed, khaki-clad "four'? were liberally interspersed with tweed suits, shabby and smart, and a good contingent of office coats, whoa 9 sleeves all bore the legend—Kitchener's Birthday Recruit. In the afternooa •the march round the south-western dis* trict headed back to Trafalgar' Square, to be joined there fey others from north, south,v east, and ' west, until Nelson looked down from his enormous height on a vast concourse of men prepared to answer his signal, amidst the stirring strains of one band after another. Many people loitered around the War Office, too, in the hope of . seeing tho War Minister, who calmly went about his work as usual with only the additional help of a borrowed A.D.C. to answer innumerable telegrams of congratulations from all parts of tho world. A. flash of blue uniform passing quickly to a bi{£ Rolls-Royce rewarded- soma patient watchers as he went to Downing Street in tho morning, so quickly, howover, that recognition was barely/possible, and only tho quickly-raised hand in salute acknowledged tho respectful raisine of hats which is one of tho quiet, lv effeotivo, tributes almost universally paid to the man. who does, so much'ana jays go little ■