LORD KITCHENER

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17222, 12 August 1921, Page 7

LORD KITCHENER

. 4 TRAGEDY OF A GREAT MAN. j,ORD ESEER'S REVELATIONS. /fty C«Me—Proas Aseociatiott-CopTright.) ti.n*inrfi»n ud N-a. Cable A«oci»tion.) (Received August 11th, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. ksrd Eshcr's book, "The Tragedy of hord Kitchener," was published to-dav. >jjj 0 author writes: "The title is not evoked hy the nature of Lord KitchrnerVdeath, but is intended to etiphaV sise the tragic spectaclo of a gieat man called to a great task with the full con-fckmsnes-J that the powers which he had gerred steadfastly in the past had deserted him. When Lord Kitchener assumed control, he was no longer the Kitchener of Soudan and South Africa, Lot only he was aware of that fact. "Lord Kitchener found that at the Office all except one were aged and iirod men, who trembled before him and his reputation. He was denied help i guidance, and in this novel situation he lost his self-confidence. His vision was clear, but he was unable to communicate it to others. Therefore, he was r-owerless before a Cabinet in v.hich he had no confidence. "Accustomed all his life to independent action, Lord Kitchener was at a disadvantage in collective action, and |or this reason his colleagues did not .*word him their confidence. His steps faltered and his influence waned, so that at the most critical moments he was hurled into action of which he did . ' not approve. He wanted a grand campaign in the Near East, and his failure < to gain this resulted in delay, and mis- ; understanding." Tie Shell Tragedy. There is a'poignant picture of Lord * Kitchener on May 14th, 1915, subsei gnent to the demand for more shells. Lord Kitchener, disqnieted, wrote: "I i m deadlv sick of this system of in. ' triple, if I get an excuse I will get out of it all." In this way there w»ft repercussion of the events which v 'lAra-French has already described, es- • peeSsfly Colonel Repington's notorious telogfajto to "The Times." ' Lord Ester continues: "Kitchener g»t alone in mufti in a Soudan chair, with a quiet, gentle look, like a wound--•rf animal. The shell controversy H- '• jqbrinatss the man's strength and weak/«|iW and Belf-abnegation, but displays <|3m as anreceptive of new ideas, discJadiltied to' adopt new methods which ". Be did not originate, and slot? to take * #W»tage. of the experience of lesser ' teen, Kitchener's mediocre reasoning ' and KtoM approach to obvious conclu- ," ROna irritated his colleagues, and de- ' stroyed' the admiration and affection, ~ aitd almost the respect, they once felt ', far hhn. Kitchener's inability to conyb,& them of his sincerity was mor- ? lifying.. The contrast • between the J.fhce he knew he occupied in the pub- '} Bo esteem, and what he knew wbb the 'l* inner mind of ihe earnest colleagues he 5? vainly tried to influence and guide, J- composed the tragedy."