KITCHENER AND THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 7 August 1917, Page 7

KITCHENER AND THE WAR.

On the occasion of the third anniversary of the declaration of war by Great Britain against Germany on August 4th, 1914, 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 had rarely had taken his seat in the Chamber, and he never spoke there nefore the date mentioned. It w as in his first speech in Parliament that Earl Kitchener

indicated his view that the war would last three years or longer. “My occupation of the post of Secretary for War,” he said, “is a temporary one. The terms of my service are the same j as those under which some of the | finest portions of our manhood, now so willingly stepping forward to join the 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 has been fixed. It is because should this disastrous war be 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 take our places and see this matter through.”