Kitchener Methods

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 19 August 1914, Page 5

Kitchener Methods

DESPATCH OF THE EXPEDITION"

ARY METHODS.

SILENT ORGANISATION.

Received 9.0 a.m.) London, August 18.. The despatch of the expeditionary force was carried out with remarkable secrecy. Its success is highly characteristic of Lord Kitchener’s methods. The troops silently collected, anc; the drivers of the troop trains only received instructions regarding their destinations as the trains stai'ted. Sir Douglas Haig commands the first corps, and Sir W. Pulteney the third. Sir Archibald Murray is chief of General French’s staff. General French crossed on Friday night. He had a great reception at Paris, where he conferred with the Ministers. THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK. ENTRAINING AND CONVOYING THE TROOPS TO FRANCE. THE LESSON OF SOUTH AFRICA. Received 9.0 a.m.) London, August 18. The only hints given the public of the approaching departure of tin troops were the visits of French am other generals to Buckingham Pal ace and Marlborough House, th King’s visit to Alderfchot, and th Queen’s visit to Tidworth, where sh personally took farewell of the officer, and presented gifts to the men o her own regiment.

The skippers of the transports die not know their destination until thee opened the sealed orders when thref miles out.

Some of the troopships were not even aware they were being escorted until a submarine was suddenly seen passing partially submerged. Sir John French and staff stood 01 the quarter deck of the Scout. SUCCESSOR TO GENERAL. GRIERSON. \ Received 9.20 a.ra.) London, August 18. Lieut.-General Sir Horace Smith Dorrien succeeds the late General Grierson in command of tho array corps, ti-4

THE SUP-PRESS.

THANKS FROM KITCHENER.

(Received 8.5 a.m.)

London, August 17

The Press Bureau states that Lord Kitchener thanks the newspapers for not publishing references to the movement of the troops to France, particularly as they were being freely discussed and described in Continental newspapers.

ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS ON FRENCH SOIL.

ENTHUSIASTIC BUT UNEXCITED.

Received 9.0 a.m.)

London, August 18

The majority of the populace at Calais were unaware a British general was expected, though the arrival of the transport at the same time aroused general enthusiasm. The military Governor and Mayor greeted Sir John French at the jetty. Throughout Friday and Saturday, the Britishers marched through the streets to the camps on the French hills and were• quiykly distributed at various points, of which the town is the victualling centre;

The whole was done without excitement. Everybody seemed to be doing his everyday job. The precise contents of every ship’s hold was known, and directly the troops left, the cargo was carried out to sheds at pre-arranged places, where the exact space had been allocated.

It is manifest the lessons learned in. South Africa have not been forgotten.