Death of Kitchener.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 55, 8 June 1916, Page 5

Death of Kitchener.

A GREAT OUTBURST OF SORROW. LONDON’S FEELINGS. [United Peeks association.! London, June 6. London was staggered by the bald announcement that Lord Kitchenet had been drowned. The earlier posters were those from the evening papers. The news reached London at'lunch time. Thousands of people in the streets met with mingled amazement and sorsow. Many meetings and conferences were broken off and drills at txaining camps were abandoned. The first impression at clubs and public offices was on© of incredulity, but the definite character of Admiral Jellicoe’s report, and the explanation of” Lord Kitchener going to Russia, removed all doubt. 1 The blinds in the War Office at the Admiralty being drawn and the flags half-masted confirmed the news, which spread like wildfire through the city. Anxiety to learn the facts in the streets was so great that some newsboys were mobbed and thrown down by the weight of the crowd, and papers were snatched from their hands.

The Allies’ diplomatists hurried from the Foreign Office. Nowhere was the news received with greater sorrow than at Australian and New Zealand headquarters hospitals. The War Council was immediately summoned and sat for ,two hours. General Sir W. P. Robertson, Sir E. Grey, Mr McKenna, and Mr Lloyd George attended. Excitement continued during the afternoon, and there was much speculation as to the names of those lost. Two of Lord Kitchener’s staff were well-known in Australia. Sir H. Donaldson, a former New South Wales Premier’s son, had done great service as technical adviser to the Ministry of Munitions. Lieut.-Colonel Fitzgerald accompanied Lord Kitchener to Australia and New Zealand in 1909.

The Press Bueau says: “Since the announcement has been made that Lord Kitchener was visiting Russia, the Czar’s Government requested Lord Kitchener, Mr O’Beirne, Sir H. Donaldson, and Brigadier-General Ellershaw to take the opportunity of discussing important military and financial questions.” A rumour gained strength during the afternoon that Lord Kitchener had been picked up. It was probably based on the fact that the communique did not state positively that he was drowned, merely that there was little hope of any surviving. The communique of the War Office issued at nine in the evening banished all hopes. It announced the postponement of the official exhibition of war films. Lord Rosebery, addressing the convalescent soldiers at Epsom, said if the Prussians claimed a victory at Skage Rack they wore welcome to many such victories. The Britishers died a glorious death. Ho was confident their death had sown the seeds of victory. We do not lament the death of Lord Kitchener, He lived a full life extending Britain’s influence by an important mission to Russia. It is estimated that 655 were drowned in the loss of the Hampshire.

The nows of Lord Kitchener’s death resulted in an exciting scene on the Stock Exchange. Members shouted, “This is the work of spies. Shall we longer tolerate German-born members in our midst?” There was much cheering, and there is a likelihood of a re-opening of the campaign against German stockbrokers.

MEMORIAL. SERVICE IN ST.

PAUL’S.

High Commissioner’s reports:— London, June 7 (1.15 a.m.) A memorial service for Lord Kitchener will be held in St. Paul’s, In Army orders, officers are commanded to wear mourning for a week.

MANSION HOUSE TRIBUTES.

“HE DID HIS DUTY.”

London, June 6

Lord Desborough, presiding at a representative meeting at the Mansion House regretted Mr Asquith’s absence from the distinguished company. He explained the reason, and, speaking with emotion, said that Lord Kitchener and his staff were personal friends. They were going to Russia on important business. Though -some people had not always agreed with Lord Kitchener, the whole Empire will recognise that it has lost a very great man and a very great soldier. Lord Kitchener was one of the first in the Empire who really understood what this war meant, and we will look in vain in the future for his perspicacity and long-sighted views. The Lord Mayor said; “Words fail to express what our hearts feel. We have lost a unique persopality, one of the greatest men England ever brought into existence. He is not dead in the truest sense. His inspirations will make us steel our hearts with determination for greater courage to fight the battle to a finish, in the cause of righteousness and freedom.”

Mr Perley said the Dominions not merely regarded Lord Kitchener as a great man, but as an institution. There was a strong feeling in the Dominions when it was suggested that Lord Kitchener might b ( e compelled to give up his work that it would bo a horrible tragedy and produce a feeling of deprivation of the Dominions. The Hon. B. R. Wise said that Australia would feel a personal loss. Lord Kitchener was responsible for the organisation of the Australian Array and the institution of compulsory training was the result of his personal influence, His death was typical of his life—in the cause of duty, and gained a reputation no other in these islands possessed. He gained the confidence of our own Nation, the Dominions, and the Allies. His epitaph would be ‘He did his duty.’ ” Sir Thomas Mackenzie said: “We in New Zealand regarded Lord Kitchener as a man wherein we were justified in placing absolute trust. He organised the defence policy of New Zealand. Since we had come into close contact with'Lord Kitchener we had become more impressed with his outstanding ability and almost superhuman power. FRENCH CONDOLENCES. Paris, June 7. The news of Lord Kitchener’s death ran like wildfire through the city. The French regarded him as the brain of the British army. The news caused a.-; great a shock as if Joffre had been killed. M. Briand (French Premier) has sent message to Mr Asquith expressing the’ condolences of all France, who mourn the loss of the great chief who raised such a magnificent British army. France will never forget the Fertile organiser who fought forty-six voars ago in the I* rench army. THE KING’S REGRET. . v" . London, June G. The King hurriedly returned to town and summoned Mr Asquith to Buckingham Palace. The King, in an Army order, ox-

presses profound regret at the death of Lord Kitchener, who gave forty-five years of distinguished' service to the State. It was largely due to his administrative genius and unwearying energy that the country was able to create the armies which to-day were upholding the tiT.di.iu.ia I glories of the Empire. Lord Kitchener would be mourned by the Army as a greatsoldier, w]u» under unexampled difficulty rendered supreme and devoted service to the Army and State.

His Majesty directs officers to wear mourning for a week from the 7th.

THE SPY QUESTION.

London, Juno V

Mr Bellairs, M.P., in an interview, insisted upon the necessity of handling the spy question on the strongest lines. The whole country should bo made a war zone. Ho said: “When Lord Heading came back from America he ! was accompanied by destroyers, and 1 1 hope that Lord Kitchener, wUo was a priceless asset to the country, wassimilarly protected.” | Mr Hughes has returned to London. In paying tribute to Lord Kitchener, lie said that the dead hero had accomplished a herculean task by raising an army numbering millions of men at a critical juncture. The Empire had lost the guiding hand of its greatest leader, and could best .show how deeply he was, deplored by pressing on more resolutely, j The Home Secretary’s orders are gazetted making it necessary that persons proceeding to the Orkney’s must obtain permission from the military authorities at Kirkwall. THE WAR OFFICE. MR ASQUITH IN TEMPORARY CHARGE. (Received 10.45 a.m.) London, June 7. Mr Asquith has temporarily taken charge of the War Office. \ LLOYD GEORGE MENTIONED AS SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 12.20 p.m.) London, June 7. The Manchester Guardian forecasts that Mr Lloyd George will succeed Lord Kitchener in tile Army Council. BALFOUR’S FINE EULOGY. (Received 10.30 a.m.) London, June 7. Mr Balfour, in a striking speech summing up the results of the North Sea battle, while responding to the toast of “The Imperial Navy” at a luncheon tendered by the British Imperial Council of Commerce, said: The Navy is not merely Imperial because it connects the most distant parts of the Empire, hut it includes the Dominions’ contributions, who had the happiness of participating in the victorious engagement.—(Cheers). The pleasure, however, was overshadowed by the tragic news of the sudden loss of a man who was not merely a colleague in the Cabinet, but one of the greatest contemporary figures of our time, and perhaps the most striking personality in all the Allied countries, and his loss cast a chill over the whole Empire. Kitchener’s great deeds were connected with some of the greatest events of the Empire during the last twenty years.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Received 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, June 8

The Press devo'es columns to eulogistic references on Kiidiener’s work throughout the Empire. The Allied Consuls join in expressions of regret from all parts of the Commonwealth.

Flags are at half-mast and an Army order has been issued to wear mourn ing.

Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson, who is mentioned in the cables, is a brother of the present Archbishop of Brisbane. The Daily Telegraph severely criticises the operation of the censorship in holding up news of Kitchener’s death, which was known all over the world, and places tho responsibility on the Minister of Defence and the Federal Government, under whose instructions the censorship acts. The paper says the policy of suppressing one of tin most important facts in relation to the war must irresistibly create serious un'easiness in the public mind, and when .Parliament meets, some official notice (ought to- be taken of the manner in 1 which the censorship is allowed to opbr'ate.