PERSONAL GLIMPSES OF KITCHENER

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

PERSONAL GLIMPSES OF KITCHENER

AN IMPLACABLE MYSTERY

G. W. STEEVENS'S FAMOUS SKETCH

Nearly everybody who has seen Kitchener, or has had anything to do with Kitchener, has felt impelled at one time or another to commit his impressions to paper, 'aud of these impressions their name is legion. • But nobody has ever ' so well ■ in delineating the essential- characteristics of "K" as the late Mr. 0, W. Steevens, the war correspondent, in whose book, "With Kitchoner to Khartum," appears the following striking -sketch, written when "K" was a Major-general, commanding at the age of 15 the famous expedition to Khartum :— "Major-General Sir Horatio Herbert Kitchener, is forty-eight years old by the book; but that is irrelevant. He stands several inches over six feet, straight as a lance, and looks out imperiously, above most men's heads; his motions are deliberate and strong; slender, but firmly-knit, he seems built for tireless, 6teel-wire endurance, rather ' than for power and agility; that is also irrelevant. "Steady, passionless eyes, shaded bydecisive brows; brick-red, rather full cheeks; a long moustache, beneath which you divine an immovable mouth; his face is harsh, and neither appeals for affection nor stirs dislike. Alt'this is irrelevant, too; neither age, nor figure, nor face, nor any accident of person'has any bearing on the essential. Sirdar. "You could imagino the character just the same as if all the externals were different. Ho Eas no age but the prime of life, no body but one to carry his, mind, no face but one to keep his brain behind. The brain and the will are the essenco and the whole of the man—a brain arid a will so perfect in their workings that, in the face of extremest difficulty they have never seemed'to know what struggle is. "You cannot imagine the Sirdar otherwise than as seeing the right thing to do and doing it. His precision is so inhumanly unerring, he is more like a machine than a man. You feol that he ought' to be patented and shown with pride at the Paris International Exhibition. British Empire: Exhibit No. 1, liors concours, the Sudan Machine. . . . "The man has disappeared. The man Herbert Kitchener owns the affection of private friends in England and of old comrades of fifteen, years' standing; for the rest of the world 1 there is no man Herbert Kitchener, but only the Sirdar, neither asking affection nor giving it. His officers and men are wheels in the machino; ho feeds them enough to mako them efficient, and works them as meroilessly as he works himself. He will have no married officers in his army—marriage interferes with work. Any officer who breaks down from the climate goes on sick leave once; next time he goos, and the Egyptian Army bears him on ■ its strength no more. Asked once why he did not let his officers come down to Cairo during the season, ho replied: 'If it were to go home, where they would get fit and I could, get more work out of. them, I would. But why should I let them down to Cairo?' It is unamiable, but it is war, and it has a severe magnificence. And if you suppose, therefore, that the Sirdar is unpopular, lie is not. No general is unpopular who always beats the ■ enemy. When the columns move out of camp in the evening to march all night through the dark, thoy know not whithor, and fight at dawn with an . enemy they have

never seen, every man goes forth withtranquil mind. He may personally come back and he may not; but about the general result there is not a doubt. -You bet your boots the Sirdar knows; he, wouldn't fight if he weren't going to win. Other generals have -been better loved;, none was ever better trusted. . . ."

"So far as Egypt is concerned, he is the man of destiny—the man" who has been preparing himself sixteen years for. ons, great purpose. For Anglo-Egypt Tie is the Mahdi, the expected; the man who has sifted experience and corrected error; who has worked at email things and waited for great; marble to sit still and fire, to smite; steadfast, cold, and inflexible; the man who has out out human heart and himself a machine to retake Khartum." , ■ Curiously, prophetio, Stevens added (this was' 1898): "There are .some who nurse a desperate hope that he may some day be'appointed Manager of the War Office. He would be a'splendid manager."- And so it came to-pass. In August, 1914, when Britain's solemn hour was striking, with the hour oame the man, and Kitchener became Britain's War Minister.

BIS VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

LAYING A GREAT FOUNDATION

Everybody remembers Kitchener's .visit to New Zealand in 1910-only six years ago last February—his' tall, commanding, figure, his disconoerting gaze, and ' his short, matter-of-fact- speeches of response to addresses of welcome. Ho saw our voU unteers in- manoeuvres—such- as marching, and galloping over hill and dale, ■ip the various military oentre3 of New Zea* land as had never before been witnessed. Kitchener noted our shortcomings, and then made his report. . Upon that report rests our present organisation for defence. This is what he thought, and said, .in a farewell • letter : to the then Defence Minister (Sir Joseph Ward)

"I do not think it is necessary to write' you a special memorandum on the defence of New . Zealand, as from what I have seen during my inspection the necessity for . improved training is just as equally marked in this country as it is in Australia. It appears to me that for your land forces New Zealand and Aus- ; tralia should adopt homogenous military systems in order to be able to efficiently support one another in the event of national danger. The desirability of such' co-operation is evident by reason of the geographical position of the two countries. "Moreover the young men of NewZealand and Australia, though showing some markedly different characteristics, are in both countries splendid material for creating a first-rate fighting ma. ohino ; for the conditions of their country life are very similar, producing successful pioneers 'accustomed to make the land supply the wants of man. "I think, therefore, that uniformity in training and establishment of units, as well as-the closest ties of comradeship, in the 1 armed land forces of New Zealand and Australia,- should bo fostered .in every way. ... At the risk of repetition, I wish again to emphasise the importance of placing the ideal of your defonco on as high a standard of efficiency as possible, in order that the men serving, as well as the Dublie, may have a just pride in the fighting value of the force, and so insist upon the observance of the important principle that defence should be outside party politics, and not used by individuals for political purposes. A thoroughly-trained and efficiently-equipped force should be tlio supreme objeot of your efforts, and no personal considerations should for a moment be allowed to stand in the w«y<

"It only remains for" me to thank you teost sincerely for the facilities afforded ';:v;jjrie;-on my visit, and.;for the assistance -'""iXvhich I have > every where. received in ; the \u.inspection of your' defences and- troops. il; : shall always remember with' much gra-- , .'?:.::tiflcatioh'. my,-, association with the Forces of this Dominion I shall follow, their ' with-- the keenest 'interest, , and I shall he only too glad at any time to give-such further advice or' assistance as power.'-. KITCHENER AND HIS CRITICS WAS "K." INFALLIBLE? ?. If ' is ' any- satisfaction to critics to ® v °k° retort and provoko argument then -! 2. tjwso critics who have criticised Kitch,aner. at-one tune or another have had their trouble _ for. their pains.. In-short, as one American writor said of this as--I,:' - peot of him, "he possessed in 'the highest K. ' : degree '.possible the,intensely British 'you-, - Xe-dainned' indifference to, what people said of-him." 1 Some men said that he ■was criicl. But he-WRS only cruel in the sense :that he was engaged in a oruol ' game'which had no place for the humaniTou cannot afford to havo a kind yj'---;:-heart when you go out .to kill men. -He .v . believed in Lord Fisher's "Three R's of v, War"—Ruthlessness, / Relentlessness, Remorselessness. When he was criticised for bis tactics at . the Battle of Paardeburg(South Africa)—where the losses were con- ■ sidered by some to be a reflection on his Lji.-.V. generalship—he-said: "Do you exppct me,, • to win battles without losing meii?" ' ' ; InVhisi'cap'aci.ty as-British Secretary of £;■ State -for' War during the. present great '■ war, he has been, the target for much to -'which he has made no re--Kpoii.sc. He-was blamed-for the shortage ; . of munitions, and for various other .mat- .; tors involved in the series of crises the British Government has bad'to face in ; its' conduct, of the war. But if. he has .riv"-'been' indifferent to critics himself, lie has not lacked 'sponsors and defenders. One- »■ of these is Mr. Sydney Brooks, who, wrote to the New' York "Times" as follows:— "He was conspicuously right in antici-patios'-'a war that would'last at least threeTyears,. when most of the experts were' i sure it would le over in six mouths. And he was not less right in calling upon tho : :;/';'Vmen of England to'-enlist by the million 'V- -while those around him were positive that it 'couldn't be done.' ' On those two i • fundamental points, at any rate, ho saw iE;--' straight and clear, and I do not know who, . if not'he, could have built up from nothing the machinery for training tho i .". .3,000,000 or 4,000,000 raw recruits who have .- . passed or are passing -through'the "military , mill. That is a definite , achievement with which, if you take it as a whole and do not look too closely into the details, the v most captious critic will find it difficult to quarrel. ; "Where Kitchener has failed it has been •ii'viTpartly'because of his-ignorance of English & V> conditions, partly because, being a glutton for work and .a natural autocrat; lie has tried to do too much himself, and partly i because his is not by any-means a firstclass mind. I was discussing this point ' fabout three weeks ago in London with one i -of his fellow Ministers—a man whose training and instincts have been the Very.. :■■■■■'■ opposite of Kitchener's, who-has a singu;C, i.lar. gift of dispassionate judgment, "lhe iV: : people,'; he said, 'believe 'K.' to he a i"'v;v6i»at soldier. He is nothing of the kind. He is a good organiser and a hard worker, the real bent of his mind and tem-J-V-i perament is toward diplomacy. He .is . half-Irish and half-Asiatic. He would make a better Prime Minister than Sec;fv:,;;.Tetary for War. As'a colleague I like. him. He is pleasant, considerate, and more talkative than I .had expected .... to. find him. . lint, also, ho is stupid. ■ No, "stupid" isn't quite the word. Impenetrable! That's it. Occasionally you . will strike from him sparks that surprise you, flashes that make you say to youri '. self: "This man, after all, is not so dull y *;• / as. ne seems. No other soldier that I know ; of could have said what he-has just, said." , - And then, just when you have been encouraged to expect something really illuminating, he falls back into his normal— , : what did I say?—yes, impenetrable self. 'And at such times yoii-can get nothing ■ £v'-V6«t;of him and put nothing in. But all ..the same you remembes the sparlSj and r : " the flashes that shocked you for a moment f,i . ; -into realising, that he' is really a great' man.' ' 1 ' , ; A Striking Record. .1 brilliant defence of the War Minis- ' . ter appeared in the "British Weekly" - just about the time when ■ the ■ "Daily ■ Mail" and other sponsors of the Amalga- ' . mated Press were attacking him. The . writer said:— ?v ■ Ix>rd Kitchener, let us remember,' was called to his present office by popular ■r acclamation. Some papers haVe mistaken- .. ly written of him as'the nominee, of a • ,'gronp of newspapers, - which' have now, : .'j-' a ftor the -manner .of primitive tribes, ' fallen to heating their idol. If every ■ :. neivspaper in the land had objected to h™. a voice' far' more irresistible than tnat of the Press would have summoned ( . him ; to the War Office. A .colossal task . him. For sixty years wo had Bent no expeditionary force to tie Con- : tinent, ■ and in the 'first fortnight of the ■ ' struggle an influential Liberal joumalist -deprecated the raising-of large armies, ' that - our safety was", in the ■ ; . hands of'sailors, not of . soldiers. (1) He accepted office' with a full un-' derstanding of the stern nature of the 1 V/. 'struggle,; and while the mirage of an ~: Y-early peace, with a rapid march of the , . Russians to Berlin, floated before the eyes of expert military writers, he used the plain phrase, ."For. the duration of the v war or for .-three years." . ■ (2) ; He set himself to raise new. armies : on a stupendous scale, and in less than f v ten -months ~he: has; transformed Great J:,' . -Britain into' a first-class military Power. t.v.7 This achievement alone, we believe, will I >:be' viewed-.'by - historians as a . miracle' of '. the war. - (3) He has laboured night and day for , ; the equipment~"of. .his armies, allowing ; "himself short' hours of rest and no lioli- : . days. ' . . _ (4) He has sent huge fighting forces : into ■ the battle front in France and Flanders, without casualty by sea or land. (5) Gaps in the Expeditionary Force „ have been'rapidly filled, a new soldier . instantly taking. the place of every man : : who fell. ; . . - i'.'(G) By common consentj the heavy task of provisioning a large "army engaged on ft foreign 6hore has.;,been carried out, under Lord Kitchener's guidance, with /- an efficiency, never before known in tho ; history, of. .war. ;. : : ; (7) The : excellent organisation of tho ; y. medical service has been a theme of uni- -. versal praise. .. . .' ;.--r-' ' (8) Lord.- Kitchener's Parliamentary ; . speeches, sober nnd~-reassuring,' havo been ;a,-real strength to the nation.' - \ - But, say his critics, he has failed as • yet to provide a sufficient of high' explosives. ■ The answer is that every belligerent-has-been compelled to learn i .' by dearly-bought experience what are the prime- necessities in this war. Britain j:was unprepared last August for offensive i ' action by land against a military nation j-. ,'' which bad been, organising for . forty i' years. ■ The danger was that the Qerj^.": mans wonld"-rnsli to victory in France r "" beftira we had time to gather our power. Thanks to the ceaseless 1 vigilance of the i • Grand-Fleet, ten months have been given | . us to' recruit, train aud equip vast bod,ies >f men. -Lord Kitchener has only to [- ' speak, and the' nation • will ' make yet i ; . Xh'eavier sacrifices. " ' KIS FAMOUS MESSAGE TO THE ARMY 1 "FEAR GOD AND HONOUR THE [ - ' KING." : I ■ ; On the departure of the British Expeditionary Force for Franco in August, f r 1914, every man was given a printed niesf. ' sage from Kitchener. It read:'— I "You ; are ordered abroad as a soldier i : .of the King to help our French coni--5 : lades against the invasion of a common i '-'i. enemy. You have to. perform a task fe'. ' which will need your courage, ' your I ' energy, your paticnco. Remember that the honour of the British Army-ile-i pends on your individual conduct. It I'-.:'.' ivill be your duty not only to set i>n i . . example of discipline and perfect steadi- ! .; ness under fire, but also to maintain the | most friendly relations, with those whom '. you are helping in this struggle. {.; "The operations in which you will be i\- :• engaged will, for tho most part, take [.-" i place in a friendly country, and you can do Tour own country no better service - thru! in showing yourself in France and . i Belgium in the true character of a Brit- - "sh soldier by being invariably courteous, • considerate and kind. Never do auy- ■ thing likely to injure or destroy " SSd always look upon rioting as a dis- : graceful act. Tou are. sure to meet ' •' ®ith a welcome, and to be trusted. Youp r . : ; conduot must justify that welcome and >

v'Your duty can not he done unless your health is sound, so keep constantly on your guard against any excesses. In this new experience you may find temptation both in Wine and women. You must entirdy resist both temptations, and while treating all women with perfect courtesy, you should avoid any intimacy- • "Do your duty bravely. Pear God aud honour the King." This message is destined to live in history with Nelson's famous, signal to the Fleet on the evo of Trafalgar.. . THE COUNTRY'S SORROW GREAT LOSS TO THE EMPIRE REFERENCES IN PARLIAMENT Reference, to the death of Lord Kitchener was made in both Houses of Parliament yesterday. In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister submitted a resolution. "Sir," said Sir. Massey, "in view of the very sad news'of which the cables have informed us, X desire to move:— "That the New Zealand House of Representatives in Pnrliamont as- . sembled deeply deplores tho lamented death of Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, while proceeding on H.M;S. Hampshire to Russia,, at the request of the Tsar, on' an important military mis- ' sibn; further,- that the House records its high-appreciation of his distinguished services to' the Empire as ■ soldier and statesman throughout a long and illustrious career; and, further, ' that the House desires to express its profound sorrow in the great loss which His Majesty's Government, the British Army, and the Empire as a. whole havo sustained by. his ' death."

"I think it goes without saying," Mr. Massey continued, "and it is within i he knowledge of honourable members (hat Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener was one of the most eminent soldiers of 'modern times, a man who did great service to the Empire, a man of enormous energy, a man of great organising power, a man whose services 'in this war have been immensely valuable. It is. one of our legrets that he has not been spared to vsa the success which must oome as the result of his There is no question about it that his name will live for ever, and that he will be-remembered as a strong man always able to deal with any Imperial emergency that might arise. Sir, the courage and endurance of I be people of tho Empire are being tested as never before. The Empire is being tested; as by fire, but I am confident-that the, people; of the Empire will emerge siiccessfnlly and. triumphantly from the tests that are being applied. This, is not a timo for repining and regrets. It is : a . time' for. wise counsel, a time for sacrifice, for the display of unselfishness, a time when the interests of the individual must give way to the welfare of Lhe State, when every blow wo receive should make us more determined than ever to bring this war to a victorious conclusion. It will always be a matter of interest to New Zealanders that Earl Kitchener visited this country when we were preparing the foundations of our Territorial scheme, and also that one of the very last communications sent out by him was to New Zealand, expressing appreciation of the gallant conduct of the men lighting our battles on the other side of the world. His Great Achievement. - Sir Joseph Ward, in supporting tho resolution, said that when the intelligence reached here of the disastrous catastrophe there was only one feeling uppermost—it was one of intense regret and deep sorrow at the removal from the sphero of action of one of the most remarkable soldiers, and in a lesser degree one of the most remarkable statesmen—because he had little opportunity of showing what qualities he possessed—the world has ever known. Lord Kitchener had achieved all his successes by his own energy and initiative, fighting his way to advancement by energy, ability, steadfastness, and courage, finally winning for- himself a name and position that would never be forgotten so long as the world lasted. Prior. to the war he had been removed from active' professional soldiering to take a position in the diplomatic service, but immediately on tho.outbreak of war ho nas called upon to return from Mar6ejlles to take up that position in 'the War Office that called for the highest at-, tributes that any man could possess. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to refer to Earl Kitchener's great work in bringing into being our present vast army—a task which our enemies believed to be impossible. His great name and his great deeds_ivould never fade from the memory of any man living to-day, and they would be enshrined in -the pages of history in the •years to cfcjne. A Labour Representative. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh spoke as representing the Labour members. Ho said that ho, like others, had been strongly affected by the dsath of Lord Kitchener, .because ho looked upon him as one of the foundations of the Empire. But the loss even of such a man must be borne. No man was beyond the reach of death, and when a great'man was removed we must stand with bowed heads, but with a determination not.to let the.loss, affect our purpose. The outstanding feature of the late soldier's character was his devotion to duty. ■ It was greatly to be regretted that he did not live . to seo the consummation of his effort in this war on behalf of the country be loved so well. Mr. Hindmarsh concluded bv expressing a hope that the thought of Lord Kitchener's sacrifice would soften tho asperities of political controversy in this country.- ' , Mr.' Isitt's Suggestion. Mr. L. M„ Isitt suggested to th Primo Minister and the .National Cabinet thta the Government might take into consideration the possibility of this country giving to the Motherland another Dreadnought to replace tho Queen Mary, as New - Zealand's monument to this fallen hero, and as our proud answer to the dirty, lying boast ot the Germans of a victory they never obtained. The motion, was affirmed by tho House, ! members upstanding. . j ' - ■ ' - i "Carry On." | . Mr. Massey announced that he did not propose to ask the House to adjourn. "I am quite sure," he said, "that if Lord Kitchener could bo consulted ho would say, 'Go cn with' the legislation which will enable New Zealand to do its full share in'the crisis through which tho Empire is passing,'" IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TRIBUTE BY SIR MAN CIS BELL. Sir Francis Bell, in the Legislative Council, - moved a resolution in similar terms to that adopted in tho House of Representatives, expressing the sorrow of. the .Assembly at tho untimely death of Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener's career, ho said, was part of English history for nearly half a century. No . one forgot tliat he fought with the army of Franco before Orleans in 1870 while still a cadet in tlio British Engineers. Ho afterwards served in Palestine and Egypt, and began that long series of services which ho rendered to the British Empire. He gradually rose to bo Sirdar of tho Egyptian Army, and ho organised for us the army which gained for us t'ho control of Egypt and deposed the Mahdi. He becamo a nofaliTo man in all the affairs of the Empire, and it was within their remembrance how, when ■ matters were serious in South Africa, ho, and Lord Roberts wero called together, and won a substantial victory. It was only tile othor dny that Britain felt relief when Lord Kitchener was called, to the position of Secretary of State for "War. His loss was not an irreparable one, but it was eo great a one that it had been felt throughout Parliament as a most serious and grave event—not merely of personal regret for the -. man who England bad learnt to respect—to the Empire itself. Doubtless the enemy would rejojeo, but equally, doubtless, Lord Kitchener had trained men to carry on the work he had begun. Ho died in the service of His King, as he would havo liked to do. He had associations with New Zealand, for his father bought a property in Otago jmd his gjster married there, Ho (the.

speaker) had known Lord Kitchener when a boy, and was often a guest in his lather's house. Ho added this as a personal indication of his sorrow and sympathy with his family. Speaking as a public man, ho asked them to express their appreciation of his services and of their sorrow at tho loss sustained by tho Empire. . . The Hon. Captain W, H. Baillio said that as an old soldier ho desired to pay a tribute to tho memory of Lord Kitchener, whoso services would long be remembered in history. He was a man strong for discipline, but he coupled with that supreme courage. Sir Wm. Hall-Jones said ho had hoped to hear of the safety of Lord Kitchener, but that must now be abandoned. None could havo performed bo well tho task he had completed at Whitehall. The whole Empire would mourn his loss, but ho agreed that men of his own training would be able to carry on Ibis mission. The Hon. T. Mac Gibbon also spoke, expressing his profound sorrow. The motion was carried. Resolutions. of regret and messages of sympathy were also passed by the New ZZealand Alliance, tho New Zealand Club, Beekeepers' Oonfrence, Onslow Borough Council, and Wellington Football Association. v MEMORIAL SERVICE IN WELLINGTON His Worship the Mayor is waking arrangements for a memorial service, which will probably be held on Saturday night. THE CITY'S TRIBUTE . MAYOR'S MESSAGE TO THE KING Tho following message is.being forward-, ed by tho Mayor (Mr. J". P. .Luke) to the ; Prime Minister (tho Eight Hon. W. I'. Massey) to bo forwarded by him, through His Excellency the Governor, to His Majesty the King and tho Prime Minister of Great Britain:— "The Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Wellington learn with tho deepest sorrow of tho nnfortunato and deplorable catastrophe which has resulted in the loss of H.M.S. Hampshire, with Earl Kit-, cliDiier, the members of his personal staff, the officers and crew, and other representatives of the Crown, and desire to "express their profound regret at the great loss tho Empire has sustained, buoyed with complete faith that for every one lost in the pursuance of their duty to the Empire others will arise, ready, competent, and determined to carry on the struggle until final victory is achieved." KITCHENER'S PORTRAIT WREATHED To-day it is the intention of the Wellington Patriotic Society to place wreaths around the portrait of Earl Kitchener that is included in the big poster suspended from tho front of the Bank of New Zealand at tho corner of Willis Street and Lambton Quay, as a mark of the deepest respect for the great soldier. v REFERENCE IN COURT TRIBUTE BY CHIEF JUSTICE By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, June 7. Prior to tho commencement of proceedings in tho Supreme, Court this morning, Sir Robert Stout made very feeling reference to the death of Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener, he said, certainly was not a New Zealand settler, but his father had at one time resided in the Dominion, and the speaker had known him quite well. Deceased's sister and brother had also been settlers in the Dominion. One and all would deeply regret tho loss of so great a soldier, whose death was probably the outcome of the universal spy system which, had been spread, throughout' the Empire by. the Germans. Tho Empire's loss was very great, especially at such a time as this, and his place would be a hard one to fill. Every person in the Courthouse stood' during His Honour's remarks. DEEPLY STIRRED [ THE NEWS IN CHRISTCHURCH By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Juno 7. Tho news of the Kitchener disaster deeply stirred the city. The morning papers issued special editions which were rushed by crowds. As the news spread telephones were resorted to, and the wholo telephone system became congested, attendants. finding it impossible to answer tho calls. Officers in charge report that it was a record rush, surpassing any previous experience of an extraordinary nature. The Cathedral bell, at 11 a.m., started tolling for the great soldier, and to-night a muffled peal of bells was rung. Flags were flying at half-ma6t everywhere to-day. PAINFUL SHOCK IN AUSTRALIA By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Eec. Juno 7,' 9.40 p.m.) Sydney, June 7. Though the news arrived hours before, and the rumours, accompanied by vnrioim distorted details were widely current, tho earlier facts of Lord Kitchener's death were not generally known till the publication of the early afternoon editions. Theßi were eagerly and enormouslv purchased. Everywhere wero apparent symptoms of regret at the tragic passing of tho British* War Lord. Tho Governor-General (Sir Ronald Monro-Ferguson) cabled to His Majesty the King Australia's condolences at tho loss, adding: "Australia will gratefully remember Lord Kitchener's services loour own forces." - :