LORD KITCHENER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 8 June 1916, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER.

Lnws of his death a stunning | BLOW. \ ———

"&&ss'& .. HAND OF jGREAT LEADER GONE."

THE SPY QUESTION REVIVED,

USE OF STRONG MEASURES DE-

MANDED

LONDON, June' 7: London was staggered by the bald announcement that Lord Kitchener had been drowned. The earlier posters were those from the evening papers. The news reached London at lunch time. Thousands of -people in the streets met with mingled amazement and sorrow. Many meetings and conferences' were broken off and drills at training camps were abandoned. The first impression at clubs and public offices was one of incredulity, but the definite character of Admiral Jellicoe's report, and the explanation of Lord Kitchener going to Russia, removed all doubt. The blinds in the War Office at the Admiralty being drawn and the flags half-masted confirmed the news, which spread like wildfire through the' city. Anxiety to learn the facts in 'the streets was so great that some newsboys were mobbed and thrown down by the weight of the crowd, and papers were snatched from their hands. The Allies' diplomatists hurried from the Foreign Office. Nowhere was the news received with greater sorrow than at Australian and New Zealand headquarters hospitals. The War Council was immediately summoned and sat for two hour®. General Sir W. P. Robertson, Sir E. Grey, Mr McKenna, and Mr Lloyd George at- ; tended. I

Excitement continued during the afternoon, and there was much speculation as to the names of these lost. Two of Lord Kitchener's staff were well-known in Australia. Sir H. Donaldson, a former New South Wales Premier's son, had done great service as technical adviser to the Ministry of Munitions. Lieut-Colonel Fitzgerald accompanied Lord Kitchener to Australia and New Zealand in 1909.