THE NEWS IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2791, 8 June 1916, Page 5

THE NEWS IN LONDON

■ INCREDIBILITY FOLLOWED B Y PUBLIC MOURNING. (Rec. June 7, 5.5 p.m.) . ■ v London, Juno 6. London was staggered by the bald announcement that Lord Kitchener had been drowned. The earliest tidings were those on the posters of the evening papers. The news reached London at lunch time. Ihousands of people were in • the streets, and heard the news with mingled amazement and'sorrow.. Many meetings and conferences were broken off, and drills and training camps were abandoned. The first impression m the clubs and public offices, was one cf incredibility, but the definite character of Sir John Jollicoes report and the explanation that Lord Kitchener was going to Er.ssia removed all doubt. ,rhe fact that ithe blinds at the War Office and the Admiralty were drawn, and the flap, flown at halfmast, confirmed the news, which spread like wildfire through the City. The anxiety to learn the facts in the streets was so great that some of the news-boys were mobbed and thrown down by the weight of the crowd, 'and their papers snatched l'rom their hands. ' : _ . rta . t ■ The Allies'diplomatists hurried to the Foreign Office. , Nowhere was the news received with greater sorrow than at the Australian and New Zealand Headquarters Hcspitals. ALL HOPES AT AN END (Eec. June 7, 8.10 p.m.) London, June 0. A rumour gained strength during the afternoon that Lord Kitchener l,ad been picked up. This was probably bi'.sed on the fact that the official communique did not state positively that he had been drowned, but merely that there was little hope for any survivors. . ... A communique from the War Office, issued at nine o clock m the- ovfumg, banished all hopes. , ' ORKNEYS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (Eec. June 7, 9 p.m.) London, June 6. An order by the Home Secretary has been gazetted, .making it necessary, for persons proceeding to tho Orkneys to obtain permission from the military authority at Kirkwall. . "THIS IS THE WORK OP SPIES!" EXCITING SCENE IN THE STOCK EXCHANGE. (Rec. Juno 7, 9 p.m.) London, Jnne 6. The news of Lord Kitchener's death resulted in an exciting scene in the Stock Exchange. Members shouted: "This is the work of spies! Shall we any longer tolerate German-born members in our midst?" There was much cheering at the likelihood of the reopening of tho, cam paign against German .stock-brokers. Commander Bellairs, M.P., interviewed, insisted on the necessity for handling the spy question on the strongest lines. "The whole country," he said, "should be made a war zone. When Lard Reading (tho Chief Justice) came back / from America, he was accompanied by destroyers. I hope that Lord Kitchener, who was a priceless asset to the country, was similarly protected." : J PROFOUND SENSATION IN FRANCE (Boc. June 7. 8.10 p.m.) Paris, June 6. The news of Lord Kitchener's death ran like wild-fire through the city. The French regarded him as the brain of tho British Army. The news caused as groat a shock as if General Joffro had been killed. • "FRANCE MOURNS THE LOSS." (Rec. June 7, 9 p.m.) Paris, June 7. M. Briand (tho French Premier) has sent his condolences to Mr. Asquitli. "All France mourns tho loss of your ereat chief, who raised suoh a magnificent British Army. Franco will never forgot tho fertile organiser who fought fortysix years ago in tho French Army." fXord Kitchcne" fou"ht in tho French Army during the Franco-Prussian'war f < 1870.1