Kitchener’s Fate

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 13, 29 December 1925, Page 5

Kitchener’s Fate

SINKING OF THE HAMPSHIRE. CHARGES AGAINST THE ADMIRALTY. London, Dec. 27. Mr Frank Power, writing in the “Referee,” asserts that Air Bridgeman made a futile effort to evade the charges that—(l) More than twelve survived from the disaster to tnc armoured cruiser Hampshire (in which Loru Kitchener and his staff were travelling to Russia and which was lost ou the Orkneys on June 5, 1916). (2.) Lord Kitchener escaped in a small boat and survived two nights and a day in an inaccessible jiart of the Orkney coast. (3.) Lord Kitchener’s body was found elsewhere. (4.) An infernal machine exploded aboard the Hampshire. (5.) The Navy was guilty of slack ness in sending rescue parties. Mr Power declares that the Germans were aware of Lord Kitchener’s mission sufficiently in advance of the departure to lay 34 mines in the vicinity of the Orkneys inscribed “Gott Strafe Kitchener.” Mr Bridgeman had failed to disclose that a trawler was mined and sunk in the Hamphshire’s path three days prior to the disaster to the cruiser.—Sydney “Sun” cable.)

A London cable dated December 23 stated that Mr. Bridgeman in the House of Commons read a written reply from Admiral Waterhouse, apropos of recent statements. The reply said it was untrue that the sailing of the Hampshire with Lord Kitchener for Russia was an open secret. The ship was not selected till ten days before she sailed and her course was not fixed till the last moment. 'No mines had previously been reported as laid near the Orkneys, but the Admiralty had no doubt that the Hampshire foundered as a result of striking a moored mine laid by the U 75 in preparation for Jutland. Furthermore Admiral Scheer’s report of the battle showed that the U 75 had been in that area. The statement that spies had previously been shot aboard the Hampshire was a wicked fabrication.