THE PASSING OF KITCHENER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 5

THE PASSING OF KITCHENER

MR. ASQUITH AT THE WAR OFFICE MR. LLOYD GEORGE NAMED ■ AS SUCCESSOR : : . By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright ..-London, Juno 7. , The Prime. Minister (Mr. Asquith) is temporarily in .charge of tho War Office. The "Manchester Guardian" forecasts that Mr. Lloyd George will succeed the late Lord Kitchener. • THE LAST OF TilE HAMPSHIRE AS SEEN BY- AN EYE-WITNESS. (R-ec, Juno S, .8.15 p.m.) . . i, London, June. 8. ' Ail eye-witness states: "It was a wet and stormy night, but thoro was light enough to recognise the Hampshire. Allat,once a column of .water- rose from tho ship, followed by ft oloud of stoam and smoke: Tho warship-, disappeared in twenty minutes. The four boats were not 6®}n after they left." - . (Reo. Juno 8, 10.50 p.m.) ~ - ' London, June S. Colonel . Fitzgerald a. body has been washed ashore ut tho Orkneys. . MR LLQYD GEORGE'S ESCAPE (Bsc. June S, 10.50.p.m.) ; . London, Juiie 8. l The.-"Daily Express" says that but for the Irish negotiations Mr. Lloyd George would have -accompanied Lord - Kitchener on the Hampshire. , ■THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S The ? High Commissioner reports:—. , London, June 7,-8.35 p.m. ' "The King and the Queen will be pre--sent at the memorial service ,for LordKitchener at St. Paul's on Tuesday." , MR. BALFOUR'S EULOGY. , A GREAT MILITARY FORCE London, June 7. , Speaking at a iuncheah.' by xhe British imperial Council of Commerce, Mr. A. J. Balfour . (first Lord. of the . Admiralty) ouid. that tho pleasure afforded by the 5 naval . victory, .was overshadowed by the iragic news of tho sudden, loss of Lord Kitchener, a man who was not merely: a'colleague in the Cabinet, but one of the greatest contemporary figures of our time, and perhaps tn« most striking personality in all the Alliod 1 countries. His loss had cast a chill ovor the whole Empire. 'lord Kitchener's great deeds were •connected with some of the greatest events of the. Empire during the last twenty years. ; " ■ ' . . , When 'war threatened,, it suddenly be-, cairn? apparent to Britain that, in order Co carry out the obligations imposed by treaties, friendships, and , honour, she must face the- greatest military Powers. 'The eyes of the British people instinctively turned to Lord Kitchener. Per-' ihaps his greatest triumph is that lie has left the successful creation of a vast military machine, which was absolutely lion-existent in 1914. Now Britain is prepared for its share in the military labours of the Allies. Tho loss of Lord Kitchener was. mot merely; national, but international. To the ordinary party politician lie was lately more than a name. In foreign and neutral :., countries: thoKitchener gift of personality .was made known. . Countries which had not seen ( him embodied him in ,the eyes of tho (Allies,, a military force. "Throughout: tho. Empire wo ' mourn for, ourselves. Let us not mourn for him. He died as I think he would have wished -at the height of his fame, working for his country."- ' . - • THE NEWS IN GERMANY GREAT SENSATION IN BERLIN (llec, June 8, 8.15 p.m.) London, June 8. '. Reports from Berlin 6tate that 110 telegram of the year has. created'a sensation equal to that announcing. the fate of Lord Kitchener. There- were special • editions published lato in tho eveuing, and led to the assembling of dense crowds, recalling tlw early days of the war. Thero were no rejoicings—the news being discussed with sitraugo gravity. The event was regarded as the heaviest, blow the Allica havo yet received. The -."Cologne Gazette" compares Lord Kitchener with the Duke of Wellington— "a cool calculator, with, -a dispassionate ,hoad, but i without flights of genius." GRIEF . IN RUSSIA (Roc. June 8, 8.15 p.m.) Potrograd, June 8. | l'he newspapers appeared'with deep • mourning border* iu announcing tho fate of Lord Kitchener. The fact that LordICitchenor was ooming. to'.Russia intensified the national grief.' ITALY STUPEFIED BY THE NEWS (Roc. June 8, 8.15 p.m.) m , Rome, June' 8. . Tho news of Lord Kitchener's fate created a sense of stupefaction in Italy. Tho newspapers reprinted, in leaded type, Lord Kitchener's happy saying: "Every Englishman has too Fatherlands, ol'cl England and young Italy!" . FROM THE ARMY IN FRANCE , THE INSPIRATION OF THE DEAD. „ , it - London, Juno 8. - .KouglAS Haig (British Commander-m-Chief m Prance) has seut-tho followin" message to tbo King: ." . r "T'he memory of Lord Kitchener will remain m the Army, as an incentive. We will not rest until wo have brought his work to iv culmination in an enduring \iotory." THE TRIBUTE OF A MILITARY CORRESPONDENT ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. June 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 8. Colonel Repington, "Tho TimesV niiliiary correspondent, says: "In the presence of.this catastropho wo can think of nothing but the real greatnuss of tho man and his distinguished services to the Em. pire. We shall nover see his liko again, -iiis extraordinary figure towered over' all contemporaries—in individuality and inches—and though .ho often stood alone jlis personality was enough to oarry him Ihuiuphautly ever difficulties which would liavo ruined many more brilliant Vi. uu " a curiously lonely figure. repelled friendships, though a few cronies were devoted to him. Ho never Bought- to make new ones. In somo ways Jit: was « shy man. Ho did not court tlio popularity cither from the public or the army- Ho preferred to work alone, conCv'ti.i iall power iu hi,-? own hands, and mane himself hi;) own chief ' of staff. J-iio.ee of hp who served „„ his or villi troops under him, will limk back Tii'iialy I'll his jnvat achievements in - \' U i- :in . his famous work in India., and his good services in .Australia and New Zealand. We havo had imr bad days and disappointments' but in nil the upheavals of this mighty war Kitcheners figure slond out apart from Hie rest. Every attack left him Wronger .than bc;ore. The name of Kitchener will i-.lways stand high iu the roll of honour, slid lie a symbol of public duty, resolutely performed. He gave his days, and in end gave his life, to the ideal of duty, slid spared neither himself nor others in pursuing his mapped course. Death's hand struck too lato to prevont him from ac-

complishing his filial mission in this war, and from tlio general direction lie gavo to England's efforts, tho country has never swerved, and will follow inflexibly to the end." " IMMORTAL FAME IS THINE!" PATRIOTIC SOCIETY'S TRIBUTE. It was only a rough paint on weatherworn calico impression of Earl Kitchener hung by string to the facudo of tho Bank of New Zealand, hut for the Patriotic Sooiety's purpose, yesterday it sufficed as well as a statuo of bronze. At noon, a largo wreath of laurels, gracefully tied with a large bow of deep purple satin ribbon, was suspended beneath the portrait, which for so many months has bidden the hurrying crowds pauso and think of the Empire's travail, and after it had boon ■ oovoral with a miniature Union Jae.k, Mr. T. M. Wilford, At.l\, chairmatt of the socioty, mounted on a box and delivered a eulogiimi on the national hero, who has been lost to the Empire under distressing and deplorable circumstances. Sir. Wilford said that as chairman of tho Wellington Patriotic Society he desired to offer, with,all reverence and affection,: a wreath to the memory, of tho late EieldIfurshal Earl Kitchener. Ilia death had been a stunning blow, but, as British people, thoy were - neither unduly depressed by disaster nor elated with success. Let tiiem remember tho memorablo words uttered by Lord Kitchener, when he stated: "Tho war lords of Prussia have dictated the war. , Wo shall dictate the terms of peace!" By Earl Kitchener's Wonderful example Great Britain, as also France, had discovered tho measure of her soul, and when every man had learned to consider. himself a trustee for the world's psaco their real heroism would be defined anew. Earl Kitchener realised that words set nations ill motion, and that only bayopets .and guns would stop them. Tho greatest loss to the Empire was the magic of his name, .Lord Kitchener had stood to. preserve, tho rights and status of little nations, and it was he who had made khaki tho badge of national sacrifice. Ho knew 'how to organise victory, not to take it.for granted, and with Iris powers of organisation and the gathering.might of tho Allies, that organisation would tell, and was telling, as time roiled, on. While attending to his manifold and important duties,/he' had yet found time, to visit GaUipoli, Salonika, Italy, and France, and was engaged oil a special mission to. Russia, when death overtook him. Tho nation was at present being put to the supreme test,' and all worldly ambitions and jealousies should be 'consigned to the lumber-room. of history. The utterances of German, statesmen to-day contrasted strangely with those of eighteen months ago, and, studying them closely, as ho did, he could detect the shadow of apprehension—some unknown dread. On the day of Kitchener's death, apprehension 'crouched at tho gate through 'which tho ■ Kaiser hoped to pass to world dominion. Tho grey, edge of collapso was dimly seen, but still far off', ahd they must closo up their ranks ' and clench their teeth for farther loss before tho great end was reached: ; Mr. Wilford then removed tho Union Jack, which disolosed a card on which was written the following lines— "Rest,- noble soldier! Xoiir great work is o'er. From life's tree a, leaf has fallen, Immortal fame is thine!" . Tho lines were spoken, gravely and feelingly, by Mr. Wilford, and afterwards at' his request tho society's band played tie beautiful "Garland of> Flowers" funeral march. The little impromptu function was made impressive by the presence of a squad of returned soldiers, under Captain Donald Simson. Throughout the ceremony a crowd, numbering between one and two thousand/stood bareheaded in the street," and every window in the buildings in the vicinity was crowded with interested onlookers. REFERENCES AT SOLDIERS' GATHERING Tho'loss of Lord Kitchener "was referred to by ' tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) at the Town Hall yesterday, during the welcome homo to tho returned soldiers. His Worship remarked that tho ' great soldier had risen from tho bottom .to the top of tho ladder in Ms profession, and had-, become the foremost worker ,in the. British Army. It was felt that not only tho British people 'had stifferod ' a great loss, biit that the whole world shared that loss, for Earl Kitchener stood for all that was clean, manly, and brave. The Hon. W. Fraser, who was present at the gathering, added a eulogistic tribute to the dead Field-Marshal. TRIBUTE OF THE MAORIS By Telegraph-Press Association. Gisborne, Juno 8. Expressions of grief' by Maoris of the Takitimu district, comprising the xo Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhainiata, Ngaitamaruhiri, To Aitanga-a-Hauiti, and Whanau-a-rua tribes have been sent to His Excellency as follow:—"The peoples of tho aforesaid tribes are bowed with grief through the great calamity which has befallen the Empire. Lo'ril Kitchener's name is nearly as well Known to tho Maoris as it, is to their pakeha brethren, and we associated his name with all tho Empire's military movements. Although, we mourn and feel the loss of Lord Kitchener as one near and dear, yet the knowledge of his great work in.the present (crisis helps to mitigate the sorrow. We one and all suggest that the nation's loss may act as a spur to all, pnkeha. and Maori; who have not already made an -effort, to at once enlist and assist in 1 bringing the present war to an end and so in effect obtain 'utu.'" CENSORSHIP OF THE NEWS ' : " SEVERE CRITICISM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' Sydney, Juno 8. Tho Press devotes columns of culogistic references to Lord Kitchener's work throughout the Empire. ; The Consuls of tho Allies join fh tho expressions of regret from all parts of tho Commonwealth. Flags are at halfmast. -\ Ail Army order has been Hssued to the troops to wear mourning. \'\ Tho "Daily Telegraph" so-Srely criticises tile operation of tho c. jsorship in holding up news of Lord Kitchener's deajth when such was known all over the world. It places tho responsibility on the Minister of Defence and the Federal Government, under whose instructions the censorship acts. Tho paper says: "The policy of suppressing one of the most important facts in relation to the war must irresistibly crcato a serious uneasiness in.'the public mind. When Par liament meets somo official notice ought to. be taken of the manner the censorship is allowed to operate." Brigadier-General Ellershaw, D.5.0., was born in 1869, and entered the Army in 1888. He served in tho Royal Artillery, and. saw active service in the N.W. frontier of India between 1597 and 1898, there gaining a medal and clasp. In the South African War, 1900, he was severely wounded, lie also served in Aden from 1903 to 1901. The outbreak of the present war gave him his opportunity of rapidly coming to the front, for when it began he held the rank of major. He was a typical member of what is known as "the Kitchener School" of officers.

Colonel A. O. G. Fitzgerald (18th Bengal Lancers), went with Lord Kitchener to Ihdia, and has been one of his riglithaud men ever since.

Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson has been technical adviser to the Jlinister of Munitions since 1915. He «;>s born in J.SS'J, a lid' was a son of tho late Sir Stuart Alexander Jlonajdcon, flrst Premier of New South Wales. Ho was educated at Eton and Trinity College (Dublin), also at Edinburgh and Zurich Universities. He_ was one of the moat distinguished railway engineers of the present time, and since 100!) had been Chief Superintendent of Ordnance Factories. .•Wnon:* the positions of high honour in the engineering world which he had occupied were the following-.—President Institution of Mechanical Engineers, member of Council of Civil Engineers, member of 1 ron and Steel Institute, member of the Board and Executive Committee of the National Physical Laboratory; and ho was engaged upon the Manchester Ship Cannl, Goa nnrlwur works, and was also chief engineer of the London-India Docks Joint Committee.

"Mr. Hugh James O'Beirne, C.8., 0.V.0., w?s Councillor of the Potrogrnd Embassy. ITe was Attache at T'etrograd in 1802: 2nd Secretary, Washington, from from 15515 to 1898; and Secretary at the British Empussy from 1900 to 190 G.