Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1917. KITCHENER AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1745, 7 August 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1917. KITCHENER AND THE WAR.

ON the occasion of the third anniversary of the declaration by Great Britain of war against Germany ou August 4th, 191-1, it is interesting to recall the late Earl Kitchener’s maiden speech in the House of Lords on August 25th of that year. Although the great soldier had been a peer since 1898, he rarely had taken Ids seat in the Chamber, and he never spoke there before the date mentioned. it was in his first 'speech in Parliament that Earl Kitchener indicated Ids view that the war would last three years or longer. “Afy occupation of the post of Secretary of State for War,” he said, “is a temporary one. The terms of my service are (lie same as (hose under which some of the finest portions of our manhood, now so willingly stepping forward to join Ihe colours, are engaging—that is to say, for the war, or if it lasts longer than three years, then for three years. It has been asked why the latter limit lias been fixed. It is liecause should this disastrous war he prolonged —and no one can foretell with any certainty its duration —then after three years’ war there will be others fresh and fully prepared to lake our places and see this matter through.”