NATIONAL DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1916, Page 5

NATIONAL DISASTER.

LORD KITCHENER LOST. ON HIS WAY TO RUSSIA. BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP. (Press Assoication.—Extraordinary ) London, June 6. The cruiser Hampshire, with Lord Kitchener, his secretary and two members of the Munitions Committee on board, has been lost off the Orkney Islands on his way to Russia. No lives were saved. London, Later. Lord Kitchener, it is feared, was drowned on Monday evening on board the Hampshire, which was bound for Russia, west of the Orkneys. , Later, Sir J. Jellicoe reported that the Hampshire, with Lord Kitchener's staff, was sunk on Monday night at 8 o'clock, west of the Orkneys, either by a mine or torpedo. Four observers on shore saw four boats leave the ship in heavy seas. Patrol vessels and destroyers immediately proceeded to the spot, but the searchers at present have only found some bodies and a capsized boat. It is greatly feared that there is little hope. The War Office announces that Lord Kitchener's party consisted of Lieut.Colonel Fitzgerald, his military secretary, Brigadier-General Ellershaw, Lieutenant MaePherson, Mr, ft, O'Bairne, of the Foreign Olliee, Sir H. Donaldson, Superintendent of Ordnance Factories, Woolwich, Mr. L. Robertson, of the Ministry of Munitions, Detective McLaughlin, of Scotland Yard, and five personal servants and clerks. A Renter's message states that it is officially announced that Lord Kitchener was en route to Petrograd to discuss important financial and military questions with the Czar. (The Hampshire was an armoured cruiser of 10,850 tons, built in 1905. She had a speed of 22.3 knots and carried four 7.5-in, and six fi-in. guns. She was a somewhat smaller and earlier vessel than the Black Prince and Warrior lost in the recent battle.) LONDON STAGGERED. AMAZEMENT AND SORROW. NEWSBOYS MOBBED. Received June 7, 5,5 p.m. London, June 0. London was staggered bv the bald announcement that Lord Kitchener 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 sorrow. Many meetings and conferences «ere broken off and drills at training camps were abandoned. °

The first impression at clubs and public offices was one of incredulity, but the definite character of Admiral' .Tollicoe's report, and the explanation of Lord Kitchener going to Russia, removed all doubt. 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 bands. The Allies diplomatists hurried from tbe 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 1000. The Press Bureau says: ''Since the aiiiioncemeiit 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."

THE GERMAN BORN TRAITORS.

EXCITING SCENES ON STOCK EXCHANGE, Received June 7, 9 p.m. London, June 7. It is estimated that 055 were drowned in the loss of the Hampshire. The news 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.

THE NEWS IN AUSTRALIA. Received June 7, 10 p.m. ™ , , Sydney, June 7. X hough the news arrived hours before, ami rumours, accompanied by various distorted details, were widely current, the earlier facts of Lord Kitchener's death were not generally known till the publication early in the afternoon. Newspaper editions were eagerly and enormously purchased everywhere. There were symptoms of regret at the War Lord's tragic passing. Sir Munro-Ferguson cabled to the King Autralia's condolences at Lord Kitchener's loss, adding that Australia gratefully remembered Lord Kitchener's i wry ices with our owv forfa#

AT THE MANSION HOUSE,

TRIBUTES AND EXPRESSIONS ■ 01? SORROW. Received June 7, S.lO p.m. • -f london, June 6, Lord Desborough, presiding at a representative meeting at the Mansion House regretted Mr. Asquitli's absence from the distinguished company. He explained the reason, and, speaking with emotion, said that Lord Kitchener and his staff were personal friends. Ihcy 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 iost a very great man and a very ?rost 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 fo express what our hearts feel. We have lost a unique personality, 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 tlie 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 be compelled to give up his work that it would be a horrible tragedy and produce a feeling of deprivation of the Dominions. 'I he Hon. B. R. Wise said that Australia wou]d ( feel a personal loss. Lord Kitchener was responsible for the organisation of the Australian Army 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- iii these islands pov se?sed ; lie 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 Sew Zealand regarded Lord Kitchener as a man wherein we were justified >n placing absolute trust. He organise 1 the defenoe poliay of New Zealand. Since we had come into close contact with Lord Kitchener we had become more impressed with his outstanding and almost superhuman power.

"A GLORIOUS DEATH." HE DID HIS DUTY Received June 7, 10 p.m. London, June 11. 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 ail 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 Skagorack they were welcome to many such victories. The Britishers died a glorious death. He 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.

GREAT SHOCK IN FRANCE

"THE BRAIN OF THE BRITISH ARMY." Received June 7. 11 p.m. Paris, June 7. The news of Lord Kitchener's death ran like wildfire through the city. The French regarded him as the brain of (he British army. The news caused as great a shock as if Joffre had been killed. Received June 7, 9 p.m. ■ Paris, June 7. M. Briaml (Frencli Premier) has sent a message to Mr. Asquith expressing the condolences of all France , who mourn the loss of tile great chief who raised such a magnificent British army. France will never forget the fertile organiser who fought forty-six years ago in the French army.

THE SPY QUESTION.

DRASTIC TREATMENT URGED. Received. June 7, 10 p.m. London, June 7. Mr. Bellnirs, M.P., in an interview, 'nsisted upon the necessity of handling the spy question on the strongest lines. The whole country should be made a war zone. He said: "When Lord Reading came back from America he was accompanied by destroyers, and. I hope \hat Lord Kitchener, who was a priceless asset to the country, was similarly protected." Mr. Hughes has returned to London. In paying tribute to Lord Kitchener, he said that the dead hero had accomplished a herculean task by raising an army numbering millions of men at f. critical juncture. The Empire had lost the guiding hand of its greatest losder, and could best show how deeply lie was deplored by pressing on more resolutely.

THE KINO'S REGRET.

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT SOLDIER. Received June 7, 8 p.m. London, June G. The King hurriedly returned to town and summoned Mr. Asquith to Buckingham Palace. The King, in an Army order, expresses profound regret at the death o f Lord Kitchener, who gave forty-five years of distinguished service to th<> w " s ' ar S e 'y due to his administrativo genius and unwearying energy that the country was able to eieate the armies which to-day were upholding the traditional glories of the J'.mjme. Lord Kitchener would be •nourned by the Army as a great soldier, who under unexampled difficulty rendered supreme and devoted service to t'.e Army and State. ilis Majesty directs officers to wear mourning for a week from the 7th.

PROFOUND GRIEF,

NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES. Received June 7, 9 p.m. London. June 7. The tragic passing of the great soldier who won the quiet confidence of the democracy and proved that he held the confidence of the Empire, has' evoked profound grief throughout the country. The newspapers publish elaborate biographies ami many personal sketches. Many tributes have been received trom Allied countries. The Times says that Lord Kitchener (lied in harness as befits one of the mo 4 strenuous and unwearying workers of the great armies he called into being, which are his living monument. The Daily Mail says that Lord Kitchener's career was romantic in it-i distinction. He was undoubtedly a great servant of the State, aiid' adds that when the news of his departure in May reached the enemy there were demands for the internment of all alien i.