Sir Herbert Kitchener.

Hastings Standard, Issue 207, 29 December 1896, Page 4

Sir Herbert Kitchener.

From an old friend of Sir H. Kitchener (who has been made a MajorGeneral for his services in the Soudan this year, and who thus jumps over the heads of scores of officers) the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian has just heard a story which shows that the tact and readiness of resource which have been so markedly displayed by the Sirdar of the Egyptian army during the Dongola campaign were developed very early in his military career. Almost the first work on which the young engineer officer was engaged was as is well known, the survey of the Holy Land, carried out under the auspices of the Palestine Exploration Fund. While engaged on duty in connection with this work, Lieut. Kitchener found himself at Safed, a town in Samaria, accompanied by a sergeant of engineers, who is now, the correspondent thinks, the secretary of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Cholera broke out in Safed, and orders were given that no one was to be allowed to leave the immediate neighborhood of the town. It did not all fit with the plans of Lieut. Kitchener that he and his companion should be indefinitely cooped up in a cholera town, but as a cordon of troops had been drawn around the place escape did not appear easy. The young engineer had, however, acquired a knowledge of both Arabic and of the ignorance of the Turkish soldiers, and accordingly he and his companions mounted their mules and boldly took the road for the coast town of Haifa. Presently a line of soldiers barred the road, but Kitchener gravely informed the men that he was the bearear of a firman from His Majesty the Sultan permitting himself and his companion to pass. AVith a great show of respect he drew from his pocket a long slip of paper covered with characters in chocolate and gold. The soldiers presented arms and allowed the travellers to pass, and in due course they reached Haifa.