LORD KITCHENER'S PROPHECY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10526, 2 December 1916, Page 8

LORD KITCHENER'S PROPHECY.

last British million vn tors IN 1917. [ii .in infimaie appreciation of Lord iurchenev in tin? Xationn] Review, Viscounl lusher hells how the late War Minister made his famous declaration thai the nar would lasl i lin c years. "I remember well," writes Viscounl Fshcr, "an occasion when u number of French oflieers hud jusi 101 l him. The.\ mid ihc Biiiish General Staff were aboui in proceed oversea witli ilie l\xix'dilionar..y Force, and all wore in high 5i,,,-,J>. 1 happened id ineei ilii'in outside Lord K.'s room, to whiili i was summoned. They made ihi farewell, bin only for three, or, ai the longest, lor six months. A ffiv mt,.ui.-- later laird K. was idling me that he tool; a very ditrereni view, and was preparing lot a long war ol not less than three vears' duration. "'Tiicso French officers,' he then added: 'are convinced that ihc Herman main attack will come through the trouoe. where the Freiieii armies are massed, ami wJiore they are wijll prepared. I tic not agree with them, an i have told iheni so. Ii appears in me almost certain thai the enemy"? ad vanee through Relgimn will prove to l«their main attack." PLANS OF 1911 SCOUTED. Ii we: noj, continues Viscount K<sher, the first, but the la-t, million of British soldiers Lord Kitchener could raise thai were ever present in iiis mind. "In 1911 many secret documents were composed, and many military publicist* took pains to prove beyond all reasonable doubt Thai in a. war Ik (ween France and Germ.-. \ the decisive battles would be fought within the liiv.l fortnight of the our break' of hostilities, and thai the presence of our six division? in the field at the crucial moment, and in the earliest possible moment, was the essential element of success. "In the autumn of that year Load K. scouted this it. ion ua puerile, and wrote to me, what he repeated with emphasis in 1914, that the war would be ended and victory achieved by the 'last million' of men that Ureal. Britain could throw into the sca|;\ This , V! , S his solvent for the desperate problem with which Europe was faced." I-50RE NO MALICE. lie had much prejudice to contend against, but he showed no resentment md bore no malice. He, however, felt keenly the wan! of loyally. ;\)\<\ above all the lack of friendly regard on the pari, of i, o. lwith whom he worked. "J ran sec him standing with bowel head, with his hack to the lire in his bed room a- the- British Embassy in Pari.-." adds Viscount F.sher. "In three hour* he was to leave for Egypt and Gallipoli. I lisreturn to England, he had said u few moments before, v,as very problematic. "')'] eta- k ol having to evacuate Gallipoli in.- dreaded and disliked with all ihc intensity of a nature accustomed to vanquish obstacles, and to achieve success. He could, he said, perceive no raj of lighl He spoke ol those who had seen him leave Rngluud without regret, am! very solemnly |,,. -tdili d words that if quoted could only itjvi rise ii fet 11n_• of k morse in lliose ol whom hi spoke gently and regretfully. When he raised his head his eyes were full of tears."