EARL KITCHENER'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19209, 24 December 1925, Page 11

EARL KITCHENER'S DEATH.

DUE TO A GERMAN MINE

FOUNDERING OF THE HAMPSHIRE

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON Dec. 22,

A written reply was given in thf

House of Common.-; to-day by the I 4 irst Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman. to a question put by Captain C. Water)iouse (Conservative) regarding recent statements in reference to the circumstances of the death of Earl Kitchener. Mr.. Bridgeman said that it was not true that the sailing of the Hampshire with Earl Kitchener for Russia was an open secret. The ship was not selected until ten days before she left, and her course was'"not fixed until the last moment.

No mines had previously been reported as being laid near the Orkneys, said the Minister, but the Admiralty had no doubt that the Hampshire foundered as the result of striking a moored mine laid by the German submarine U75 in preparation for the battle which took place at Jutland five days before the loss of the Hampshire.

Furthermore, Mr. Bridgeman said, the German account of the battle of Jutland, published by Admiral Scheer, showed that the TJ7S was in that area. The statement that spies bad previously been shot aboard the Hampshire, said the Minister, was a wicked fabrication.