LORD KITCHENER HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 7

LORD KITCHENER HOME.

HIS IMPRESSIONS OF HIS EMPIRE TOUR.

"ENGLAND NOT DECADENT."

(From Our- Special Correspondent)

LONDON, April 29. "It is good to be back again. How beautiful the country looks."

The speaker was Lord Kitchener, back in England this week after close on eight years' service abroad. Undemonstrative though the famous Field Marshal always is, he could not disguise his pleasure at being home once more after so long an "exile."

His first sight of England was obtained under the happiest conditions on Tuesday last.

The waters of the Solent were dancing in the sunshine, and the fresh green o£ the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire coastline bespoke the joy of summer. Lord Kitchener paced the deck of the Oceanic, which had brought him from New York. "It's not such a bad country, after all," he said, as his eyes rested on the Hampshire landscape. His step was firm and brisk. He paused at intervals to pick out points of interest as the liner, greeted by the sirens of the ships in the Southampton roadstead, drew steadily nearer the Tanding stage. During the voyage Lord Kitchener, whose sole travelling companion has 'been his valet, maintained a close reserve. He spent much time in the smoking and reading rooms, varied 'by an occasional walk on the deck. Many special correspondent/3 had boarded the liner at Plymouth the previous night, intent on interviewing the distin<mis"hed traveller. With his wellknown dislike of interviewers he sought to escape, but eventually yielded so far as to give to the assembled reporters a brief general statement regarding has Empire tour. PLEASED WITH NEW ZEALAND. "I was very pleased with what I saw in Australia and New Zealand," he said. 'They are taking up the question ot improving the country's defences m a serious spirit. As you know, the Defence Act had been passed before I got there. '•Do you think the period of training ordered" under the Defence Act will be sufficient?" he was asked. '•I do not think you must cross-exam-ine mc as to that," was the answer. I can only say, as I have done in the memorandum I have issued, that Australia has some splendid material of which to make an army." . , '•Did you find any exception taken to the cost of the scheme—one million seven hundred thousand?" "No; it is surely not a large sum for a prosperous country like Australia to find: She can bear that well. Incidentally, Lord Kitchener said he found the boy scout movement was making BOrne progress in and Xew Zealand, showing that the young men were interesting themselves in the defence of the country. As they grew up their influence would be felt in many ways on English life. "A country must be prepared to defend itself in case of emergency Hitherto Australia has depended on the Mother Country. PM fche pees the ****** now of taking up the question for herself."' NEED OF SELF-DEFENCE. Australia and New Zealand, like every other virile people, were keenly intent upon the problem of the best means of self-defence. They recognised it as a duty they owed to themselves and their Iree institutions, so that they could stand face to face against any interference from outside sources. Lord Kitchener continued: —

"The material, personnel, and so forth, are first-rate, and no doubt they will be well able ere long to take right good care of themselves. But it will take time and energy, and they have enough of the latter. These colonies are very prosperous, and are in a most promising condition.

"The scheme I have drafted out for them involves no greater outlay than, if quite so much as, that propounded under their Defence Acts. For £1,700.000 a year Australia will in due course have a complete system that make 3 her secure against attack. She will no longer need to look to the Mother Country for instant aid in the event of danger. The amount in money is but trivial to such a rich country."

He had found his tour most interesting and enjoyable. The East was moving forward, and Japan had proved most enlightening. India could take care of herself, and the army there was all right. As for the Japanese infantry, they were ideal, active soldiers. Their quickness and aggressiveness in the field were mosi admirable. They could not wish for better troops. But for all his travels and sight-seeing, he was glad to be Home again. The Old Land was the best land of all to us. There was no need to carp about it, or our country's position in the world's affairs. ENGLAND NOT DECADENT. "England is not decadent, whatever anyone may say or think. Her sons are as good as ever, and as full of heart, and she is quite able, under God, to determine her own destinies. She needs help from none, children or strangers, and can quite take care of herself. She is yet full of the youth of days, and I assure you in no sense decadent." Lord Kitchener reverted to this thought a little later. He seemed to feel strongly on the subject. "England is not degenerate," he declared. "She produces as fine men as ever in abundance." At Southampton there waj a civic welcome for Lord Kitchener at the quayside, and at Waterloo huge crowds assembled to cheer the Field-Marshal. Both at Southampton and in London he showed the pleasure which these tributes gave him, but in each case he hurried off as quickly as possible. The first man to greet him at the station when he reached London was the veteran Lord Roberts, and as the older Field-Marshal made his way through the tall, top-hatted throng, the younger soldier advanced with one big stride, and was heard to exclaim, "My dear Chief," as he opened a brief and warm conversation. A few minutes later he was in a covered motor-car, and driving to Belgrave Square, where he has taken up his residence with friends. My "joints are all cold," said the cookThe back of my "tongue" is quite "raw." Fm just "overdone," I feel terribly crook. With a patn like a "boil" on my iaw My "flesh" is quite "chilled"; it's the "flu." 11l not take "not" tack,, said ttifo stewer; EII set what is best, old or new,