A MAN OF IRON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 35, 6 March 1909, Page 4

A MAN OF IRON.

TALES OK LORD KITCHENER, THE MAV BEHIND THE SCENES IN INDIA. TURF TO ORDER. When the Ameer of Afghanistan paid his last visit to India, Lord Kitchener did everything to make his stay as agreeable as possible. 'Part of his scheme included a secluded gardea, in which the dusky ruler could wander at will. Palms, shrubs, llowers, were tastefully arranged, and the only thing l.eeiled to complete the picture, in the Com-mander-in-Chief's mind, was a stretch of lawn of thait greenness so dear to the Briton at home. Turf, however, cannot be grown at a day or two » notice; but Kitchener was quite equal to the occasion. He strewed the ground thickly with mustard and cress, and a plentitul supply of wa'ter, combined with the hot sun, did the rest. On the Ameer's arrival, a beautiful green expanse awaited him. It only lasted a few days, but it served.

AS STAGE-DIRECTOR. Few would credit Lord Kitchener with having acted as stage-director of Drury Lane, yet the fact remains. He was then a lieutenant-colonel, and Sir Augustus Harris had invited him to witness a dress rehearsal of the well-known drama, "Human Nature." In the play some military evolutions have to oc carried out; and as they commenced. Kitchener, who had hitherto been sitting quietly in (the stalls, jumped excitedly to fiis feet. "No, no; that's not the way! It should be done like this!" Altogether ignoring the presence of Sir Augustus Harris, autocrat at Drury Lane as the greait manager was, he proceeded to give directions for the proper carrying out of the mimic warfare, and every suggestion was adopted. Special mention was afterwards made of the realism of the scene; while the incident also proved that Kitchener could command men in any circumstances. WHO'S THE "BOSS"!

Few men have felt equal to the task of standing up to Kitchener, even when lie interfered in matters out of his iui* mediate concern; yet be melt with a distinct rebuff on a certain occasion irom Lieutenant-Colonel Girouard, who, years later, waa selected by "K. of K." to act as Chief of the Railways in South Africa. Girouard was engaged in Egypt in the construction of a desert railway, and something in connection with the work did not please Kitchener, who was not slow in expressing his opinion of it. Girouard listened quite silently to his fluent and forcible comments, and at the finish of them quietly remarked, "Look here, sir, are you 'bossing' this railway, or am I?" Kitchener took the Tun t and rode off. *

AN EARLY RETREAT. During Lord Kitchener's early career, when on a surveying expedition in W estera Palestine, he had to acknowledge one of his singularly lew defeats. The camp was invested by a horde of fanatical Moslems, some of whom made a desperate assault on Major Conder—one of the party—clnbbing him and felling him to the ground. Kitchener, although armed only" with a cane, sprang to his friend's assistance, and covereu the major's retreat. One blow at his own head Kitchener partly parried with his cane, which was smashed to bits by it, while a second assailant struck him heavily across the thigh. Then he was attacked by a man with a huge scimitar, before whitfh Kitchener, covered with "blood, ran as fast as his long legs would carry him. Malarial fever quickly followed this escape, and it was then that Kitchener gave signs of emotion never afterwards displayed. It was a terriblv hot afternoon, and he was heard to yell, "For Heaven's sake, give me some beer!"

ONE OF HIS METHODS. The successful building up of the army in India is largely due to Lord Kitchener's belief in the motto he has always striven to act up to, "Thorough.' IV some manoeuvres which were to be carried out at Attoek, it was suggested, in the details submitted to him, that the troops to take part in the evolutions should be apprised beforehand, in order that they might be in readiness to move at the proper moment. Lord Kitchener's remarks were few;, but revealed the man aad his methods: "Why give them notice? Why warn staff officers! The Army of India should be ready to move anywhere at a few hours' notice. Let the conditions of actual warfare be imitated as closely as possible." To such a man the task of dealing with any seditious outbreak in connection with the present unrest in India mav bo safely entrusted.

SPIED OX THE SPIES. Lord Kitchener's love or first-hand information is evidenced by his acquiring a knowledge of the dialect of the country in which he is engaged. In the past few years lie has studied Hindustani; and his acquaintance with Arabic led to a daring exploit in the Soudan. During the Khprtoum campaign a couple of Dervish spies had been captured, but nothing could be extracted from them. They were placed in a closely-guarded tent, into which presently a third spy was unceremoniously bundled. A few hours later the door of the tent was thrown back, and the third spy demanded in English to be conducted to headquarters. It was Kitchener, in full disguise, and he had obtained the information needed. As far as is known, his last appearance as a Dervisli was brought about by an Irishman. The latter seeing some Arabs in the vicinity of the camp, gave vent to his feelings towards all natives by slraging a stone at one of them. This caught Kitchener —whom, of course, the soldier did not recognise—on the side of the head, and he then gave up further wperiiuents ju this direction.

COFI'IX AGAINST CAGE. During the Boer campaign, Lord. Kitchener became attached to a staring, which he very much petted and jusseJ. Thinking its cage too small, he ordeied a carpenter to build him a larger one. This was duly forthcoming, a really gorgeous affair, together with a bill for three pounds. Kitchener's regard for economy is a byword, and he considered the price exorbitant. He appealed to Colonel Jlorga-a, the Director of Supplies, and asked him how much he thought the cage was worth. "Oh, about fifteen shillings!" was the reply. "There, I knew I was right!" went on the delighted general. "And the man has the impertinence to demand three pounds!" ••Absolutely absurd!" added Colonel Morgan, with a grin. "Why, I should be glad to supply your eoiliu for a couple of pounds!"

IN MEMORY OF TEE MUTINY. On one occasion it fell to Lord Kitchener, while in India, to be present at an inspection of two hundred old men. survivors of the native soldiers true to Queeu Victoria during the great Mutiny, lie gazed in silence, apparently unmoved. as the line of veterans went past; thea, turning to an officer at his side—a Highlander—he said, in trembling tones: "Let's give those old men a cheer!" A rousing roar went up from ail rouud. At its finish, Lord Kitchener was observed to be nervously handling his chin-strap. The sphinx of the British Army was in tears!—'' Answers.''