A NATIONAL DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 54, 7 June 1916, Page 5

A NATIONAL DISASTER.

LOSS OF THE HAMPSHIRE. j ' LORD KITCHENER DROWNED. j Extraordinary Special—Tin!tell i Press. London, June 6. | The Battleship Hampshire, with Lord Kitchener, his secretary, and two members of the Munitions Committee, has been lest off the Orkneys, while on her way to Russia. No lives | were saved. I . | KITCHENER’S PARTY. LIST OF THE PERSONNEL. ' (Received 9.10 a.m.) ’ London, June 6. j The War Office announces that Lord kitchener’s party consisted of the following:— Licutenant-Odlonel Fitzgerald (Military Secretary). Brigadier-Genera! Ellershaw. Lieutenant Maopherson. Mr S. O’Bsirne, of the Foreign Office.

I sir H. Donaldson and Mr L. Robertson, of the Ministry of Munitions. Detective Maclsughlin, of Scotland Yard. Five personal servants and clerks. THE FATAL HOUR. EITHER MINED OR TORPEDOED. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, June 6. Admiral Jellicoe reports that the Hampshire was sunk on Monday night at eight o’clock west of Orkneys, either by a mine or a torpedo. OmCSAL NEWS. The High Commissioner reports; i London, June 6 (1 p.m.) The Admiralty announces that the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet reports that His Majesty’s ship Hampshire, with Lord Kitchener and staff on board, was sunk last night west of the Orkneys, either by mine or torpedo. Four boats were seen by observers to leave the ship. The wind was north-north-west, with heavy seas running. Only bodies and a capsized boat have been found up to the present. There is little hope of any survivors. The Hampshire was on her way to Russia. i ... - London, Juno 6 (4.45 p.m.) Lord Kitchener was invited by the Czar, and had left England on a visit to Russia. At the request of the Government, ho was to have discussed important military and financial questions. The party included Lord Kitchener’s personal and military secretary, Brigadier Ellershaw, O’Bierne of the Foreign Office, and two representatives of the Ministry of Munitions.

KITCHENER'S MISSION. (Received 11 a.m.) London, June 6. A Reuter’s message, states that it is officially announced that Lord Kitchener was en route to Petrograd to discuss important financial military questions with the Czar. FROM TIE V ,'L 1 MASTERGENERAL. The following telegram was deceived by the local Post Office from the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Postmaster General: ‘‘l regret to have to announce to the officers of the Department the appalling loss which has happened to the British Empire, through the death of the Secretary of State for War, Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener wag on his way to Russia, at the invitation of the Czar, and the H.M.S Hampshire, by which he was travelling, was either mined or torpedoed off the I Orkney’s. The vessel was a total | loss, and no lives wore saved. I feel | confident that the great loss the Ern- , pire has sustained by the sudden and I lamentable death of its most eminent ' soldier will not affect the fixed qnd j unflinching determination of the Bri- ' tish people to prosecute, even more ! resolutely, the great war to a triumphant victory.”