LORD KITCHENER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 16

LORD KITCHENER.

'WHEN THE AUGUST WABBIOB SHED i • • , . . .TEAKS. . •. PRUSSIAN OFFICERS' IMPRESSIONS. A few years ago Major Adolf Ton Tledeiuann, who accompanied the Soudan expedition as representative of the Berlin general staff, gave the following Impressions of Lord Kitchener:— "Certainly the most striking figure In the corps of officers attached to the expedition army was the Sirdar, then Major-General Sir Herbert. Kitchener. "His exterior made him conspicuous—tall, Blender figure, with a deeply-bronzed and stern visage. He was In 1898 only in his 48th year, and the 17 years of activity under an Egyptian sun had made no impression upon the elasticity of his sinewy frame. Usually the expression of his face is little attractive, being dark and reserved. Kitchener's manner towards others seemed dependent on his mood, but generally he was silent and unapproachable. Yet sometimes he would be extraordinarily amiable, and then his wit was not wanting In pungency and brilliancy. He Is an absolute autocrat, and delivers his orders without asking anybody's opinion. Still, he never trespassed upon the rights and privileges of his inferiors. "Lord Kitchener's lack of consideration Iβ well known, and for just that reason, although, admired and respected, he is unpopular with other officers. On the day fixed for 'the celebration In Khartoum, the commander had ordered all to be in readiness by 6 a.m. We stood hour after hour, but no Sirdar arrived. Eight o'clock came and went, and the sun began to burn disagreeably. However, at about 9 o'clock Kitchener appeared, and went direct on board his gunboat without a single word of excuse or explanation! Later we learned from one of his adjutants that it had occurred to him suddenly that morning that he had not yet visited the wounded in hospital —so there he had gone without bothering himself about anything else.

"Another reason, perhaps, for his unpopularity is that when 'off duty' he keeps aloof fjrom the familiar intercourse wlilch so often exists among English officers of very different rank. He is, body and soul, a soldier, and his military Instincts tell him that that cannot be right. I bad the Impression that It pleased him when I maintained the austere respect for superiors which "we know so well In Germany. Kitchener often called mc 'to him during the march and conversed about military conditions In the Fatherland.

"I seldom saw Kitchener riding at a gallop during the battle, but when he did, even over places covered with great stones, he rode like an expert sportsman. He Is held to be one of the best horsemen In an army rider. Without In the least being guilty of bravado, the Sirdar seemed absolutely Insensible to personal danger. The entrance to Omdurman was not much less than a mad piece of bravery. His coolness had something humorous about it. For example, when the guns on all the ships were roaring away Kitchener stopped to light his cigarette quite unconeernetl—ln fact, carefully noting which way the wind blew.

"On. his wny to u.fter tlie c-ir.ii-paign, he said, 'Now comes the worst part of the war,' and truly he had more horror of banquet 'hurrahs' and receptions than of the heat, dirt, and stink of the Soudan.

"Thus the Sirdar had reached hts goal, seized the prize after years of work aud privation. He had crushed Mahdlsm—and avenged Gordon. Aβ the hero Btood Oα the ruins of Gordon's house, while the flag flew aloft and the cannon, thundered, lie could not repress his feelings, and Uie tears rolled down his weather-bronzed face. Happy the mau to whom such an hour of lite is given."