The Dominion FRIDAY', JULY 16, 1915. THE ATTACKS ON LORD KITCHENER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY', JULY 16, 1915. THE ATTACKS ON LORD KITCHENER

The venomous attacks made on Lord Kitchener by the Northoliffe Press—the Times, the Daily Mail, and the Evening News—hayo caused a groat wave of public indignation to pass over Britain. The whole country has rallied round tho Secretary for War in a. most remarkable manner. Press and people have taken every opportunity of showing their sympathy for him and their strong resentment of the mean and contemptible methods by which the newspapers we have mentioned—and especially the Daily Mail —have endeavoured to undermine hi? influepco and to belittle th& services he, nas rendered to • the nation-. The condemnation of the unworthy tactics of the Northcliffe Press is not confined to the adherents of one political party, Unionists and Liberals vie with one another in ■ the strength of their protests. Lord Northcliffe and his newspapers seem to have no friends. No one denies that the Daily Mail was entitled to draw attention to the need for more men and more munitions of war. The Spectator gives expression to tho general opinion of the country when it says that the cause of resentment' is not so much what was said as the way in. which it was said and the intention to injure, and if possible, to destroy the influence of Lord Kitchener. Ope outcome of the attacks made is that Lord _ Kitchener's position, ins'tead of being weakened, has been enormously strengthened. To again quote the Spectator "Lord Northcliffe has given Lord Kitchener a blank cheque on the confidence of the nation, and all we can now do, and all that we desire to do, is to ask Lord Kitchener to remember the tremendous extra weight of responsibility that has been placed .upon him, as it always must be placed on a man who, by some accident or other, is put out of the reach of criticism." The Press generally has taken the gloves off in dealing with Lord Northcliffe on this occasion. Some of the articles are extremely outspoken, the opinion being very, widely expressed that it is quite time that an end was put, oncc for all. to Lord Northcliffe's endeavours to play the part of national dictator with power to make and unmake Governments and Ministers. The Minister of War has proved too strong a uian to be overthrown by the Northcliffe Press. The nation has shown unmistakably that it has more confidence in Lord Kitchener than in his newspaper assailants. It is seldom indeed that an attack on a , public man has aroused such a storm of protest. Soldiers, politicians, clergymen, university students, commercial men, and great public gatherings have displayed their _ disapproval in various' ways. A unique incident which took place at tho Church of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, affords a striking indication' of the intensity of public feeling. Before the seryice concluded Archdeacon Wilberforce said: (

I am about to have recourse to a proceeding most unusual'during Divine service. I consider that it ia justifiable within these walls, where, from the first, this war, which was forced upon us by Germany, lias been recognised solemnly as the Battle ot the Lord, and whero the glorious heroism of our soldiers has been definitely recognised as Divine service. A gross, mischievous, and scurrilous attack has been made upon Lord Kitchener by a certain section of the Press. I am convinced that I am expressing the opinion of all present when I say that it is not possible to. exaggerate the debt tho' nation owes to Lord Kitchener for his unwearied labours, his priceless services, and his magnificent achievements. I desire to send him, in your name, the following message: \ "The congregation assembled for Divine service in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, on Whitsunday, May 23, 1915, desire to express their warm indignation at the unjustifiable attacks which have been made upon Lord Kitchener in certain quarters of the Press, and to offer to him their tribute of admiration and gratitude for the inestimable value of the work which, under God. he has been enabled to do for Great Britain and the Empire in a time of exccp- . tional crisis." I will ask all who approve of this message being sent to signify the saiuo by holding up the right bond.

Every hand in the crowded congregation was held up. It was a daring thing to submit such a resolution to a congregation consisting, of men of all classes and all shades of political opinion. .But Dh. Wilherforce evidently decided to adopt what lie considered to be the right and proper course, and to take the risk. The result was a singularly impressive indication of the unanimity of the nation's disapproval of tho methods of Lord Kitchener's detractors. ' Staid business men at Liverpool publicly burnt the Daily Mail, and university students in the same town carried copies of the paper at tho head of a procession to the quadrangle where a bonfire was made, and over the ashes cheers we're given for the War Minister. Members of Cardiff Coal and ShipI ping Exchange expressed their "disgust and indignation" at the unpatriotic attack on Lord Kitchener, and scores of similar resolutions were carried in all parts of tho country. For some time past there has been a widespread feeling that the criticism of the Northcliffe Press does not ring true—that it has other things i,n view besides tho national welfare. This feeling has now found emphatic expression, and the country has revolted against ' the Northcliffe dictatorship. One newspaper tells ns that' "Lord Northcmffe, in tho course of his activities, came athwart the bows of Lokd Kitohenbu. Ho Ihcvoupon ro>jwlved. tW. tto Minister ion War

must go." But the nation has resolved that the Minister shall stay, and has let Loitp Northcliffe know just what it thinks about him and his newspapers.