THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1916 THE PASSING OF A GREAT MAN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1916 THE PASSING OF A GREAT MAN.

" We nothing extenuate, nor let down auohl in malice

The tragic and untimely death of England's greatest soldier, Lord Kitchener, is undoubtedly the most severe blow and loss the British Empire has sustained in the war. It is the irony ot fate that such a distinguished military ttan should lose his life not in the firing line but oft the high seas. Whether the disaster that brought about his death was caused by a floating mine, or torpedo discharged from a submarine, or the hellish act of some traitor using an infernal machine on the cruiser on which Lord Kitchener was travelling, will probably never be revealed. Yet the mournful fact remains that H.M.S. Hampshire, whilst conveying Lord Kitchener from England to Kußßia for the purpose of conferring with the Czar on war mattere, sank below tha waves never to rise again. In Lord Kitchener the British Empire possessed a general of almost unique organising ability. True it is he bad his critics, but "Kitctiener" was a household word and as Minister of War supreme confiderce was placed in the lines ot warfare be planned for the overthrow of the Germans. Mad England been deprived of his services in the earlier stage of hostilities his less would have been an almost irreparable blow. As it is. be had lived to see the British Army practically perfected as a lighting machine and his ideals and intentions will assuredly be followed up by his successor in oliicc. Great and heart-rending a? such h disartrous calamity must necessarily be as Lord Kitchener being numbered amongst the fallen, yet. comforting thought remains | that never yet has any msn been found implacable. Death takea it toll in the ordinary course o£ things and a breach is filled by Borne person or other of competence. So it will be in the present instance, for we have very little doubt but that the individual on wnom the the English Government 19 cast to t.tkc up the Jmantle of Lord Kitchener will reveal himself as an astute administrator capable of carrying the war to a successful conclusion

Some years ago it was that Lord Kitchener visited New Zealand and the Dominion's military preparedness of to-day is solely due to his advice. Those win had the privilege of meeting him on that uecasion will treasure the memory of acquaintance with a man of swift thought and inspiring confidence whose aims and ideas were solely directed to the establishment of a Echeme of rrilitary service that would benefit the Homeland in its hour of need. That he succeeded in New Zealand in laying the foundation stone ot his ideals must assuredly stand to his lasting c-edit. Every New Zealander will accordingly unite in the terse but truly sympathetic epitaph at "Lord Kitchener, K.1.P."