THE ARMY IN MOURNING .

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

THE ARMY IN MOURNING .

ROYAL MESSAGE TO..THE'TROOPS. j The High.' Commissioner reports:— | London, June 7, 1.15 a.m. • "A memorial service to the lato Lord Kitchener, will be held .it St. Paul's j Cathedral. . . ■ ) "In Army Orders, officers aro commanded to wear mourning-for olio week. ■ The King's message to the troops Teads:— - ' i "'The King has learned with pro found regret of the disaster to the - | Secretary of War while on a special mission, to the Tsar. J " "Lord Kitchener gave 45 years of distinguished service to the State. :■ Due to liis administrative genius and unwearying energy, the country was i able to create nnd place in the field the armies of to-day, upholding the j traditional glories of tlio Empire. . . i " Ix>rd Kitchener is> mourned by the Army as a groat soldier who, amid unexampled difficulty, rendered a supreme and devoted service to both Army and State.'" \ ' — An order has been issued that all,officers of the N.Z. Defence Forces are to wear military mourning (when in uniform) for a period of seven full days, commencing from Thursday, June 8.- ........ -. - "THE TRAGIC PASSING OF A GREAT SOLDIER," PRESS AND PUBLIC SYMPATHY, ; ■ (Rec. June 7, 8.10 p.m.) ; London, June 7. v The tragic passing of the great soldier w!ho had won tho quiet'confidence of the democracy and justified the confidence of the Empire evoked profound grief throughout the country. The newspapers publish elaborate biographies oad: many personal sketches. Many tributes lhave beenreceived from Allied countries. .. .. "The Times" says: Lord Kitchener died inharness, as befits one of-our most strenuous and unwearying workers. The great armies he callcd intobeing are his living monument." . ' The "Daily Mail" says: "Lord Kitchener's career has a romantic distinction, . He was undoubtedly a great servant of the State. Tho news of his departure may have reached the enemy/' The paper demands the internment of all aliens." Honoured in Speech. Lord Desborough, presiding at a meeting, regretted Mr. Asquith's absence iron} a distinguished company, and explained th e reason. Speaking with emotion, he said that Lord Kitchener and his staff were his personal friends. They were going-to Russia on important business. Though some had not always agreed with Lord Kitchener, tho whole Empire would recognise that it had lost a very great man, \ ; and a very great soldier. Lord Kitchens r was one of the first men in the Empire . who really understood what this war meant. "We will look in vain in the future for his perspioacity and long-sighted views." The Lord Mayor said: "Words fail to express what on? hearts feel. We have ■ lost a unique personality. One of the greatest men England ever brought into existence. He is not dead in the truest sense. His inspiration will make us steel our hearts to determination and greater courage to fight our battle to a finish in '■ the cause of righteousness and freedom." Sir George Perley said: "The Dominions do not merely regard Lord Kitchener as a great man, but as an institution. There was a very strong feeling in the Dominions when it was suggested that Lord Kitchener might be compelled to give up his work. This horrible tragedy will produce a feeling of deprivation in the Dominions equal to that in Britain." ' ■ Mr. Wise (speaking for Australia) said: "I feel a personal sense of loss.' Lord Kitchener was responsible for the organisation of tho Australian Army, and our compulsory training was the result of his personal influence. His death was .) typical of his life—in tho cau6e of duty he was extending Britain's influence by an important mission to Russia." _ _ ■ Sir Thomas Mackonzie said:"Wo in New Zealand Tegarded Lord Kitcheneras a man in whom was justified our absolute trust. Ho organised the defence policy . *of New Zealand. Since he had come into close contact with Lord Kitchener.he .../ had become more impressed with his outstanding, ability and almost superhuman power.""HE DID HIS DUTY." (Rec. Juno 7; 9.40 p.m.) London, June 7, Lord Hosobery, addressing the conyalescent soldiers at Epsom, said: "We must , not lament Lord Kitchener. He has live d a full -life, and gained a reputation that no other man in these islands Dosses sed. He gained the confidence of his own nation, the Dominions, and the Allies. His epitaph will be: 'Ho did his duty.'" - -"OUR GUIDING HAND AND GREATEST LEADER." : /i; (Eec. Judo 7, 9.40 p.m.) - j . . ' London, June 7. . Mr. W. M. Hughes has returned to London from France. In paying his tribute to Lord Kitcihener, he said: "Lor d Kitchener accomplished a herculean ;j task.in raising an army numbering millions at a'critical juncture. The Empire ~j has lost its guiding hand and its greatest' leader. We can best show how deeply ; •sj wo deplore his loss by pressing on more resolutely." •• , x. j DEATH ROLL OF THE HAMPSHIRE . j (Rec. Juno 7, 9 p.m.) London, June 7/ It is estimated that 655 were drowned on the Hampshire. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR NEW ZEALAND MOURNS THE LOSS His Excellency the 1 Governor has dispatched the following message to His Majesty the' King-.—"Myself, the Government, and people of Now Zealand deeply grieve at the news which has been received announcing the disaster to .His Majesty's 6hip Hampshire. \ The Dominion mourns the loss of a gallant soldier, ;j and feels that the true way to honour his memory is to use even greater efforts , 1 than hitherto to bring the war to a victorious conclusion."