A NOTABLE BOOK

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 37, 12 August 1921, Page 7

A NOTABLE BOOK

"THE TRAGEDY OF LORD KITCHENER"

WANING OF HIS INFLUENCE

(WCITED MESS ASSOCIATION COPTRISHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN • NEW ZEALANB OAJLK ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 11th August.

Lord Esher's book, "The Tragedy of Lord Kitchener," was published to-day. The author writes: "The title was not evoked by the nature of Lord Kitchener's death, but is intended to emphasise the tragic spectacle of a great man called to a great task with the full consciousness that the powers which served steadfastly in the past had 'deserted him. When Kitchener assumed control, h© was no longer > the Kitcflener of Sudan' and South Africa, but only he was aware of that fact. Kitchener found at th« War Office that all except one were aged, tired men, who trembled' before, mm and his reputation. He was denied help and (guidance, ■ and in this novel situation lie lost self-confidence. His vision was clear, but he was unable to communicate it w others. Therefore he was powerless before Cabinet, in which ho had no confidence. Accustomed all has life to independent action, Kitchener was at a disadvantage in collective action, and for this reason his colleagues did not accord him confidence. His steps faltered, and his influence waned, so that at the most critical moments he was hurried into action of which he did not He wanted a grand campaign in the Near East. The failure to gain this resulted in delay and misunderstanding."

There is a poignant picture of Kitchener on 14th May, 1915, subeftjuent to the demand for more shells. Kitchener, disquieted, wrote : "X aim deadly sick of this system of intrigue, and if I get s&n. excuse I will get out of it all." ■there followed the repercussion "of overate which, Lord French has already described, especially Colonel ,Repington's notorious telegram to The Times.

Lord Bshev continues : "Kitchener sat alone in mufti in the Sudan chair, with a quiet, gentle look, like a wounded animal. The she)l controversy illuminates the man's strength, weakness, and self-abnegation, but displays him as unreoeptive of new ideas, disinclined to adopt new methods which he did- not originate, and slow to take advantage of the experience of lesser men. Kitchener's mediocre reasoning and stolid approach to obvious conclusions irritated Ids colleagues, and destroyed the admiration and affection, almost the respect, they once felt for him. Kitchener's inability to convince them of his sincerity was mortifying. Th 6 contrast between the place he knew he occupiedl in public esteem, and what he knew was the inner mind of the earnest colleague.l; he vainly tried to influence and' guido, .composed the tragedy."