KITCHENER'S FATE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1917, Page 4

KITCHENER'S FATE

THE RESULT. OF TREACHERY. ‘ BETRAYED BY THE EX- * CZARINA. ■ . V ' | - The official report concerning the sinking of the cruiser Hampshire, by which Lord .Kitchener and his staff were travelling jto Russia a little over 12 months ago, stated that the vessel struck a mine or was torpedoed • off the Orkneys. An article published in a recent issue of the Bystander, shortly after the murder of the monk Rasputin and the revolution in Russia, goes to show that Lord Kitchener’s fate was sealed before he left England. This was the view expressed by Professor Dickie in a speech in Dunedin shortly after the occurrence of the revolution in Russia.- The article ftales: “It is now generally believed that the sinning of the cruiser Hampshire, with Lord Kitchener on board, was dnKto the treachery of the ex-Czarina, who conveyed certain information to her 'German friends. This traitress is notoriously German in her ideas and sympathies, and, although pretending a great patriotism for Jinss:a and visiting the hospitals where there were wounded soldiers, in the guise of sweet sympathy, she was surrounded at court by pro-Germans, for whom her influence lias gained a very large share in the administration. ' “ It was known that Lord Kitchener contemplated visiting Russia, but no one knew the date pf his departure from England except the King, the Prime Minister, some members of the Gabinet, and a few high officials of the army and navy administration, all of whom could be relied upon for absolute secrecy. A special courier had gone ahead bearing secret despatches informing the Russian Minister of dVai' of the details of ,the projected visit. Tlie Czarina heard of Die courier’s arrival, and prevailed jippn ope of tjie confidential secretaries of tlie Minister to let her know' his mission.' ' As4soon as . she had learned alj she wished; to know’ the Czarina sept for (he noted Rasputin, and was closeted with him for spine time. Within three hours the Czarina ? s secret wireless plant at the palace was sending the news to Berlin, and the Kaiser and the German War Lords knew the very day,and hour on vjnch thd Hampshire' was to leave England with Earl Kitchener and his staff. To. intercept the cruiser with a dozen submarines was an easy task. Notwithstanding tlie efforts of ijie authorities in JSngj.and to convey the impression that the Hampshire struck a mine, it is common property the cruiser w r as torpedoed by several submarines, which lay in wait directly in the rontp aud made a joint and simultaneous attack. The few who survived drowning told the truth of the affair, lint we believe the censorship ipimediately suppressed its pub. lication, as the authorities did not know the secret of Kitchener’s dejWture had leaked out, and wanted the public to think: that the disaster was by accident and not design. Now. however, the fact that the Hampshire was torpedoed is not denied, if it is not admitted.”

“ Petrograd knew' pf tlie Czarina’s -duplicity, because of the woman's own boastful tongue and ill-concealed Germanism. So elated was she at the pews of Kitchener’s death that she ponld not refrain from confiding to a number of her favourites the part that slip and Rasputin had played in bi’inging it about. These favourites ‘confided ’ further in their friends, with the result that the whole court, and, later, the public, knew of the false Czarina’s treasonable complicity in the matter. When the Czar heard how tlie Germans Jearned of their chance of destroying Kitchener, the shock almost killed him. He was prostrated for days, but tip guilty and unrepentant sharer of his throne exerted her magnetic influence on the weakling ruler, and he recovered, to lie more under her tliupil) fjian ever. There ifj no doubt that the C?arina has practically been a prisoner since the loss'of Kitchener,