SOME KITCHENER STORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

SOME KITCHENER STORIES.

;i HIS* DOINGS IN EGYPT. Souk interesting anecdotes about Kitchener (luring his : service in Egypt are cortained in a newly-published book by Blackwoods, "Egypt from 1708 to 1914," by Mr. Arthur E. P. Brorao .Weigall, who has already written several excellent volumes on Egyptian matters. ' Some good stories are ' told of Kitchener's tactful way'with the Egyptians who were keen to go to the assistance of the Tarts during the war with Italy ia Tripoli.

"Early in the war lie is said to have been approached by a number of Egyptian officers Who asked permission to volunteer for active service in Tripoli,' Lord Kitchener replied that he would gladly give them permission to do so, but that their vacant posts would have to be filled by junior officers, and they themselves would probably find on their return that they had been placed on the retired list, rot by his wishes, but by reason of the upward pressure due to the congestion in the Junior ranks. He advised them, therefore, to curb their heroic ambitions 8) natural to Egyptians and to stay at home; which they did." At another time certain notables proposed that Egypt should send several regiments to the aid of the Turks, in accordance with the Turco-Egyptian Treaty, which England was known to uphold. "Lord Kitchener said that lie would have no objection, should the Sultan make the request, but that, in order to E reserve internal quiet, he would be obgcd to replace the absent troops by an equal number of British regimerfts"; at which the proposal was hastily withdrawn."

Within a few more weeks a deputation of Bedouin chieftains came to Lord Kitchener, asking him to permit them to gather their tribes and travel into Tripoli, there to fight the Italians.

" His lordship congratulated them most heartily on their warlike qualities, which, ho admitted, he had overlooked. He reminded them that up till now they, as nomads, had been exempt from service in the Egyptian Army; but that since they were thirsting in this manner for military glory, he felt that Egypt could ill afford to lose ; them, and he would see that they were conscribed for the army like the , fellaheen. ,To these remarks ha is said to have added that slight suggestion of a wi n k which is so well under- . stood -by ~ the native • to mean that it i* best to keep quiet. tn .fv A, • di£ Pot. S®. fel the .j?ar."-'>.., j they