The Daily News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11. LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 170, 11 August 1909, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11. LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT.

Ihe visit to Australia and New Zealand of Lord Kitchener prior to hia assumption of the post of commandant of the Mediterranean forces, is one that will be received with very considerable interest. There is no doubt .that while the famous general's visit may be in some respects of a semi-private nature, the whole question of the defence of this country will come under his review. Of alt the brilliant military loaders of the British Army, and without prejudice to the military genius of Lord Roberts; Lord Kitchener is the man in whom every confidence would 'be reposed in the evolving of a homogeneous Imperial army of defence, llis new command, it is believed, is a tribute to his special rapacity for grasping the essential requirements' of Imperial defence, a:id reorganising, iu the .Mediterranean, th" system of land defences to meet the clash of arms that many hold wilt ere long be witnessed in those waters. The free passage of the Mediterranean is at all times absolutely essential to Britain,

and equally to Imperial interests in Egypt, India, Australia and New Zea land. The entry of Austria-Hungary iuto the arena as a naval power has altered the hitherto comparative security of British navigation in the inland sea, and the new conditions have to be anticipated and provided for. War in the Mediterranean, with Britain sel'iously involved, would be as much war with

Australasia a* if it were waged jn the Pacific. It is,'"therefore, quite within the range of international possibilili»w that this country and Australia n. have to fight, with Britain, to cpen the great sea highway upon which depends their commercial and national welfare. Lord Kitchener's task in providing -for such eventualities in this probable theatre of war must obviously take deep cognisance of the possibilities of Australasia as a factor in the struggle. It is, moreover, of vital interest to the Commonwealth and the Dominion that they should have, from the outset, an opportunity of co-operat-ing iu a scheme oi defence that so closely all'ects them, instead of each acting independently and without cohesive Adaptability. It may be taken for grant* <<l, therefore, that Lord Kitchener's

visit will not only stir up deeper interest in this great national question, but f ill go far towards solving our own insular dcleuce problem, and our incorporation i;i the coming sthenic of Imperial deft-nee. At the moment, defence looms largest among all the questions of Imperial concern, and it is a foregone conclusion that the c\ itual result of the Defence Conference now sitting in Loudon—and ill which New Zealand, through Sir Joseph Ward, occupies a foremost position—will bo to impose nn obligation, hitherto disregarded, 011 every able-bodied citizen of the Empire, tfritara does not now aim at further territorial acquisition; the policy hence- ■ forth is to hold that which now enjoys Ihe freedom of the Union Jack. The 1 consolidation of the Empire, the com-

plete unification of the widely-scattered British dominions and possessions, which Mr. Chamberlain hoped to consummate by inter-Imperial trade preference, is far more surely being brought about, and on a more permanent basis, 011 the

common ground of national a:id Imperial defence. As one of the great minds that will assist in perfecting the details of thits world-wide system of defence, the t-copie of New Zealand will regard it a'< an honor to receive and welcome one so distinguished. His great mili-

tarv achievements and his' magnificent work for the Empire have made his name familiar everywhere. Most colonials are lamiliar with his deeds in the Soudan, South Africa and India, and tliey have not forgotten that it was in tl.e campaign against the Klmlifa that Ihe British nation realised what a

great {r«!iu v:il it po-iiesscd in Sir llerbe.t Kitchener, as lie was then known. Right (lirongb tlir campaign lie Je<l his men | with conspicuous ability, his erownnij, act being nt the battle of Oindurman, wh"ie t!u- Dervish army, to use the words of the historian, "was killed out lli hardly ii'i army lias been killed out ill the history of war," Then came the historic liucting between Kitchener and -Vlarehand, Llie uii'llpation of the Upper Nile, and his ejection by Kiteiicnir, which nearly i>iunged .France a'i.l Ii! itiiin into war, but fortunatck th.! goo I sense of the l-'rcnch Government •av.?.; tin: two nations from such a calamity. Later T.ord Kitchener was ordered to Sou 111 Africa to serve as Chief of Stall' to Lord Koborts, tile re-*.i-u..ried by the lirilish forces umler General Knller and Lord Jletlmen having impressed upon the ilritish Co-vcnimc-t lit seriousness of the task they had undertaken, anil the necessity of luvfng Lntain's'lou'ino-st general'ut t«e Jiead of the campaign. °Jt wa.tile genera! opinion i\t [tome when Lady smith, Kmiberley and .Uafekiug had b.'en lelievcil ami Lord Koberts lia°d cap turcil Clonic and every town of importance to T'etoria, that tile war was over, ami Ilil> iii)priv<ioi> was strength enea when be handed the command tc Lord kitchener ami sailed for England Even :iow many people believe that till talo-st Magi, of the war-after Lore Uolc.-rts d.si|peared from the sceneare suucely worlh remembering, liut il thev nail the London Times'' his tor, of the war they will and that thej have made a profound mistake. It « tiM:_ that tiie operations under Liin Kitciienei lack many dramatic features lliey inciude no shock of great battles no stubborn sieges, no happy reliefs. J is a succession of campaigns in whici there was no visible commander-in-chie in the field upon either side. And ve what may be called the Kitchener stam of the fc'outir African .war is really th most picluicsque, original and interest rag of the whole struggle. Everybody from Loiil Koberts downwards, bclievai that the W would come to an eii> when tJ'C last organ', e l : e was brok c f l "f', ®fl tl'e great cities were undc tils Hrjuife Hug; the railways were un dei' lii Hisli control; Prc.sidc;it Kru»c had tied to Kiiropc; Ktcyu, the master s'jmit of tile whole struggle, was a fiio-i live. Xo visible enemy was in sMi"t Lor.l Kuh-rfc left for ICngland, liavim as he be'ieved linished hi.s work lfu from that moment war in a never nior dangerous shape revived. It raged fo a y-.-ar and a-lialf, and was perhaps th most oillwiilt and perplexed strn<"de i which l.roat ilritai.i was ever involve! lliL J.ocvs Jell lack 011 the style of IWit rag native to them; and a vast partial varfure broke out, with half a conti nent for its stage. But Kitchener' genius in tins type of war is undeniabh He kept a grasp of. the whole field 0 action. liehind his innumerable littl columns was a clear brain that fomo nothing, a fierce will that „,. V er clack ened Its pressure. And iu the end Kit c iencr prevailed, bat it was bv method hat were mechanical rather than mili iol'L li IK i'7 ™ °" e of «ttritioi ather than defeat. He wore out th Hoers; lie did not overthrow them Nc tiling is more interesting that the stud of how the steadfast -will of Kitehene met. and in. the end overbore, his a«i! opponents. When his work'in Rout' Africa was .concluded, Lord Kitehene was for the second lime thanked bv th Uriti.-li Parliament, and he also receive, a well,earned grant of £.§Q,OOQ. Hi subsequent appointment to the com inand of the Indian forces, his re-oj'gaji nation Of the Army and its defence; and Ins disagreement with Lord Curzoi its to military control, which led to th \ ieer-:iy'.s resignation, are all matter , lll<to|, y. and in some respects' hav demonstrated (he masterful mind po. sessed by this' great leader. l'or Kitchener's visit to the colonies is -i great importance, and from £ mi iitnr point of view alone will be welcomed