LOSS OF WARSHIP HAMPSHIRE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1926, Page 7

LOSS OF WARSHIP HAMPSHIRE.

Lord Kitchener’s Death. TREACHERY STORY REFUTED. ' C*b!e — Frt/l& Association —Copyrlfhl Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (.Received April ”, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. The “Daily Express,” featuring a striking article by Mr A. C, FoxDavies, barrister, who during the War served in the Jaw branch of the Navy, gives what lie describes as the final authentic and conclusive accouht of Lord Kitchener’:} death. ... The “Daily Express” points out that despite Ministerial statements -in the House of Commons, and at public meetings, the newspaper ''correspondence snow that there is still widespread suspicion that the loss of H.M.S. Hampshire was due to treachery. . ■ , Mr -Fox-Davies says that the story of the celebrated woman spy at Berlin, who claimed to be responsible for Lord Kitchener's death is a lie. He says,: ‘The Hampshire was lost while I served in the naval law branch. The Allied governments' ; sought details', and, I made a precis of a reply, for which purpose every single paper the Admiralty possessed passed through my, hands'.' Fleet Street knbiy. eight dai's before his embarkation that Lord Kitchener was going to Russia. It js possible, '’though most doubtful, that Germany also knew, The Hampshire was only commissioned fob the journey two. days ahead. Lord Kitchener arrived at Scapa Flow;, during the morning. He lunched with Lord Jellicoe.aboard tho Iron Duke. The storm which was blowing up increased to a gale. Lord Jollicoe therefore did his utmost to induce Lord Kitchener not to sail that night, but Lord Kitchener insisted. Lord Jellicoc and ‘ his . navigating officer thereupon mapped out the. course, and chose the most unusual route, owing to the storm. The Hampshire'sailed at 5,30. How was it possible, between the end of tlie lunch and 5.30 for Germany to learn the route and lay mines No one aboard the Hampshire knew the route until one hour beforehand. The Hampshire sailed' accompanied by destroyers, but she sent them back owing t, to the storm. There were only twelve survivors, and all told their story. Some heard one, . though there were really two explosions. The Germans usually laid mines in chains of sixes; but others of four were found later. It was not at first supposed that the Hampshire was sinking, but when it became, obvious there. ; was a hue and cry aboard, for Lord Kitchener, who could not be 'found. He was last Seen standing on deck: How the mines were laid is not certainly known, but there is a shrewd suspicion "that a sihall. fishing Vessel, . flying the Dutch flag, seen in the neighbourhood, did the work. The only opportunity for treachery was ,oil , the. part of Lord Jellicoe’s navigator, to deliberately send the Hampshire where he knew the mines were laid, blit .this is hopelessly absurd.

The body of a British officer was washed.. ashore and is now. buried as unknown in a tiny, Norwegian cemetery. There is reason tp believe it might be Lord 'Kitchener’s body. The country owes him an unpayable .debt, but this is no reason for accusations of treachery against the Navy for which there is not the least tittle of foundation.