DEATH OF KITCHENER.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 7

DEATH OF KITCHENER.

PASSING OF GREAT SOLDIER.

UNIVERSAL TRIBUTES.

THE WAR OFFICE. MR ASQUITH TAKES CHARGE. LONDON. June 7. Mr Asquith has temporarily taken charge of tho "War Office. LORD KITCHENER'S SUCCESSOR MR LLOYD GEORGE,SUGGESTED. LONDON, June 7. The "Manchester Guardian" forecasts that Mr Lloyd Gcorgo will succeed Lord Kitchener as Secretary of State for War. MR LLOYD GRORGK'S ESCAPE. AX INTERESTING STATEMENT. (Received June Bth. 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, Juso 8. The ''Daily Express'' says that bub for tho Irish negotiations Mr Lloyd George would have accompanied Lord Kitchener on his last journey. SWIFT TRAGEDY. LOSS OF THE HAMPSHIRE. (Received June Bth. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. An eye-witness says the night was wet and stormy, but there was light enough to recognise the Hampshire. All at onco a column of water rosefrom tho ship, followed by a cloud of steam and smoke. The ship disappeared in twenty minutes. The four boats were not seen again after they left. CAST riv ONE BODY RECOVERED. - (Received June BJi. 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 8. The body of Lioutonant-Coloncl Fitzgerald. Military Secretary to Lord Kitchener, lias been washed ashore at tho Orkney Islands. AN INTERNATIONAL LOSS. MOST STRIKING PERSONALITY MR BALFOUR'S EULOGY.

LONDON. June 7. In his speech at the lunclioon of the British Imperial Council of Commerce, in resoonsc to the toast of tho Imperia Naw.~ Mr Balfour, referring to the North Sea action, and the death or Lord Kitchener, 6aid the pleasure or victory was overshadowed by th© tragic news of the sudden loss of a man wuo was not merely his colleague in the Cabinet, but one of the greatest contemporary figures of our time, afid perhaps tho most striking .personality in aIL the Allied countries. 'His death had cast a chill over the whole Empire. Lord Kitchener's great deeds were connected with some of the greatest, events of tho Empire during the last twenty years. ' When tho war threatened, Mr Balfour continued, it suddenly became apparent that Britain in order to carry out the obligations imposed br treaties, friendship and honour, must face the greatest military Powers. , . The eyes of the British people instinctively turned to Lord Kitchener. Perhaps ills greatest triumph was that ho had left behind liiin the successful creation of a vast militar;-' machinery which was absolutely non-existent in 1914. but which was now prepared to take its share in tlic military labours of the Allies.

The loss of Lord Kitchener was not merolv a national, but an international loss. The ordinary party politician had been latelv littlo moro than a name in foreign and neutral couutries, but Lord Kitchener's gift of personality .had made him known in countries which bad not seen him. He embodied in the of the Allies the military force of tho Empire. "Wo mourn for ourselves, but let us nob mourn for bim," said Mr Balfonr. "He died as I think lie would have wished to di>\ at tho height of his fame, and working for his country."

A GREAT SOLDIER. LORD KITCHENER'S QUALITIES COLONEL REPINGTON'S APPRECIATION. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) (Received Juno Bth. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jnno 7. In an appreciation of Lord Kitchener Colonel Repington, military correspondent of "The Times,'-' says: — "In the presence of this catastrophe, wo can think of nothing but tho real greatness of tho man and his distinguished services to the Empire. TVo shall novcr boo his like again. His extraordinary figure towered over all his contemporaries both in individuality and in inches. Though he often stood alone, his personality was enough to carry him triumphantly through difficulties which would have ruined many more brilliant men. A LONELY FIGURE. "Ho was a curiously louely figure He repelled friendships. Though ho had a few cronies who were devoted to him, ho never sought to mako new ones. In some ways he was a shy man. Ho did not court popularity with the public or tho Army. Ho preferred to work alone, to concentrate all tho power

GRIEF OF THE MAORIS,

(rnssj .ASSOCIATION TKL.'ECHAII.)

in his own hands, and uialce himself hte. own Chief of Staff. Those of us who ; served on his staff or with the troops : tindor him look back proudly to his: great ncliiovements in Egypt and tho Soudan, his famous work in India, and his good services to Australia and Now Zealand. IDEAL. OP DUTY. "Wo havo had our bad days and dis-M appointments, but amid all tho up- j heavals of this mighty war, Kitchener's' figure has stood out apart from tho rest. ; Every attack has loft him stronger; than before. Tho name of Lord Kit- > chener will always stand high in the roll of honour and will bo a symbol of public duty resolutely performed.

"Ho gave his days and in tho end ho Rare his Jife to tho ideal of duty. Ho spared neither himsolf nor others, in pursuing his inapped-out course. Death's hand has struck too late to prevent him from accomplishing his final mission in this war. From tho general direction ho gave to England's efforts tho country has novcr swerved, and will follow ifc inflexibly to tho end."

GISBORNE, Juno B'. • The Maoris of tlio Tokitimu district, comprising tho Aitanga-a-Mahaki, liongowhaimata, Ngaitamaruhiri, To Aitan-j ga-a-Hauti, and Whnnau-a-Rua tribes, have sent his Excellency tho Governor; the following message: — "Tho people of the aforesaid tribes ; are bowed with grief through tho great; calamity which has befallen tho Empire, j kord Kitchener's namo is nearly as: well-known to tho Maoris as it is toj their pakeha brethren, and wo asso- i ciated his namo with all the Empire's' military movements. Although wo: ,'mourn and fool the loss of Lord Kitchener as ono near and dear, yot the' knowledge of Ins great work in tho: prosent crisis will help to mitigato our i sorrow. Wo one and all suggest that] tho nation's loss may act as a 6pur toi nil pakehas «uid Maoris who have not i already mado an effort to at onco en- • list and assist in bringing tho present • V>»r to an end and so in effect obthini utu."

THE FINEST TRIBUTE.; BRITISH ARMIES* DETERMINATION. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S MESSAGE.' (Received June Bth, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 8. , Sir Douglas Haig, Coniinander-in-Chicf of the British Armies in France and Flanders, senfc the following message to the King:— •'The memory of Lord Kitchener , will remain with' the Army as nn incentive, and we will not rest until wo have- brought his work to a culmination in an enduring victory." IN ST. PAUL'S. MEMORIAL SERVICE NEXT ! TUESDAY. | (Received Juno Bth, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 8. j It has been arranged to hold the 1 ' memorial service for Lord, Kitchener in j St. Paul's Cathedral at noon on Tues-; day. .i The King and Queen will be present* GRIEF IN RUSSIA. NATION IN MOURNING. (Received June Bth, 8.15 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 8. The newspapers cam©-out with, deep mourning borders. The fact that Lord Kitchener was coming to Russia has intensified tho liationnl grief at his. loss. ! IN ITALY. A FEELING OF STUPEFACTION. (Received June Bth. 8.15 p.m.) ROME, June 8. Tho news of the death of Lord Kitchener caused stupefaction in Italy.

Tho newspapers reprint in heavily leaded type Lord Kitchener's happy saying:—"Every Englishman has twt> Fatherlands- -Old England and Young Italy."

IN GERMANY. A GREAT SENSATION. NO REJOICINGS. ALLIES' HEAVIEST BLOW. (Received Juno Bth, B.IG p.m.) LONDON, Juno 8. Iteports from Berlin show that no telegram this year has created a sensation equal to that conveying the news of the death of Lord Kitchener. Special editions of tho papers published late in tho evening led to tho gathering of dense crouds in tho streets,- recalling the early days of tho irar. There were no rejoicings, tho .news

being discussed with a strange gravity

The death of Lord Kitchener is regarded as the heaviest blow the Allies have yet received.

The '"Kolmscho Zoitung" compares Lord Kitchenor with tlie Duko of Wellington, and describes him as a "cool calculator with a dispassionate head lut without flights of genius."