LORD KITCHENER'S APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2242, 31 August 1914, Page 7

LORD KITCHENER'S APPEAL

THE EMPIRE'S TASK FULL TEXT OF A NOTABLE SPEECH. The full text of the speech delivered in the House of Lords by Earl Kitchener last Tuesday—his first speech, in the Upper House —has been cauled out to New Zealand. The new Secretary of State for War and Commancier-in-Ciiiof of the British Army, on that very notable occasion said:—

"As this is the first time I have had the honour of addressing your Lordships, I must ask for the indulgence of the House. In the first place, I desire to. make a personal statement. Noble Lords on both eides of the House doubtless know that while associating myself in tho fullest degree for the prosecution of the war with my colleagues in His Majesty's Government, my position on this bench does not in any way imply that I belong to any political party, for as a soldier I have no politics. Another point is that my occupation of the post of Secretary for War is a temporary one. The terms of my service are the same as those under which some of the finest portions of our manhood now so willingly stepping forward to join the colours are engaging; that is to say, for the war. or if it lasts longer than three years, then for three years. It has been asked why the latter limit has been fixed. It is because should 'this disastrous war be prolonged, and no one can foretell with any certainty its duration, then after three years' war there will be others fresh and fully prepared to take our places, and see this matter through.

None of Our Seeking. The very serious conflict on which we are now engaged on the Continent has been none of our seeking. It will undoubtedly strain the resources of our Empire, and entail considerable sacrifices on our people. These will be willingly borne for our honour and the preservation of our position in the world, and will be shared by our Dominions bej'ond the seas, now sending contingents and assistance of every kind to help the Mother Country in this struggle. If lam unable, owing to' military consideration for the best interests of the Allied armiee in the field, to speak with much detail on tho present situation of our Army on the Continent, I' assure your Lordships will pardon me for the necessary restraint which is imposed upon me. The Expeditionary Force has taken the field on tho French north-west frontier, and advanced to the neighbourhood of Mons, in Belgium. Our troops have already been for thirty-six hours in contact with a superior force of German invaders. During that time they have maintained the traditions of British soldiers, and have behaved with the utmost gallantry. Tho movements which they have been called,upon to execute have been those which' demand the greatest steadinoss in the soldiers and the greatest skill in thoir commanders. Sir John French telegraphed.to me at.midnight as follows: "In spite of. hard marching and noting, the British foroe is in the best of spirits," nn'd Treplied: Congratulate troops on their splendid work,, and we are all proud of them. , ? As you. are awnre, Euronean fighting causes greater casualties than the campaigns in which we are Generally onKa.eed in nther parts of the, world. Thn nation will, lam sure, be fully prepared to meet whatever losses mid sacrifices wmn-y have to make in this, war. ■ Sμ John.-ljrench, without hnvinc been able to verify the numbers, .estimates the loss at- rather more than 2000 men hors cie combat. .'■'..

V, • Preparations at Home. ■ As to the wor k of the last few weeks, \ h , a ™ to remark, that when war was declared mobilisation took place without any hitch, whatever. an<T our EspaditionaryForce proved' itself wholly efficient thoroughfy . well equipped, and immediately rea<fy to Wthofieid. The Press and the public have in their respective spheres lent invaluable aid to the Gpvernmenl in preserving a discreet silence which the exigencies of the situation obviously demanded, and I gladly take this opportunity of bearing, testi- ™ ny T, to > he v . alue °* tMx cooperation. Ihe, hands of the military authorities W? iu by the readiness with wnioh the civilian community placed and accopted the novel situation created by the issue of requisitions for horses, transports, supplies, and billets, lira railway companies m the all-import-ant matter of the transport facilities , have more than justified the complete confidence reposed in them by the War OJhce, all grades of the railway services having laboured with untiring energy and patience. And it is well to repeat that the conveyance of our troops acroßß the Channel, thanks to the cordial cooperation of the Admiralty, was carried out with perfect smooi3niess and without any untoward incident whatever. We know how deeply the French .people appreciate the value of the prompt assistance we have • been able to afford them at the very outset of the war. and it is obvious that not only the moral but the material support our troops are now rendering must prove to be a factor of high military significance in restricting the sphere and 1 determining the duration of hostilities. Had the conditions, of strategy permitted, everyone in - this country would have rejoiced to see us ranged alongside tlie gallant Belgian Army in that superb struggle against desperate odds wnioh has just been witnessed. But although this privilege was perforce denied to us, Bel, gium knows of our sympathy with her in her sufferings, of our indignation at the blows which have been inflicted on her, and also of our resolution to make sure that in the end her sacrificea wjl not have been unavailing. ■

. Reserve Strength of Britain. While other countries engaging in this war have under a system of compulsory military service brought their full resources of men into the field, wo under our, national system have not done go. and can therefore still point to a vast reserve drawn from the resources of both: the Mothe"r Country and of the British dominions across the seas. The response which has already been made by the great .dominions abundantly proves that we do not look in vain to these i sources of military strength, and while India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand aTe all Bending us powerful contingents, in this country the Territorials are replying with loyalty to the stern call of duty which has come to thorn with such exceptional force. Sixty-nine battalions have with fine patriotism' already volunteered for sendee abroad, and when trained and organised in the larger formations will be able to take tiielr places ,in the line. The 100,000 rsoruits for which in the first place ' it has been thought necessary to call have been already practically secured. This force will be trained and organised in divisions similar to those which are now serving on the Continent.. Behind these wo have our reserves. The Special Eescrvo nnd tho National Reserve have each their own part to play in the organisation of our national defence. The Empires with whom wo are at war havo called to the colours almost thoir entire male population. The principle wo on our part shall observe is this: "While their maximum forces undergo a constant diminution, tho reinforcements we prepare shall steadily nnd increasingly flow out until we have mi army in the field which in numbers, not loss in quality, will not be unworthy of the power and responsibilities of tho , British Empire. 1 cannot at this #m'W "'flat will be tie UraiU of

may eventually become necessary to supply and maintain them. Tho scale of the field army which we arc now calbng into being is large, and may riso in the course of tho next six or seven months to a total of thirty divisions continuously maintained, in the field, but if the war should be protracted, and if its fortunes should he varied or α-dveiso, exertions and sacrifices heyond tho so which have been demanded will be required from the whole nation and Empire, and' where it is required I •am sure will not be denied to the extreme needs of tho State by Parliament and the people." The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) in amplification of Earl Kitchener's spoech as to the number of recruits required by His Majesty's Government, added subsequently: "It is highly important that the impression that all the necessary recruits hove been obtained should be removed. Lord Kitchener wants all the recruits he can get."