STORY OF KITCHENER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 25 (Supplement)

STORY OF KITCHENER.

BY CIiAHAM HAY

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS.

It is curious that while our biographers are multiplying tho recorded lives of Byron, Disraeli, Lawrence, Captain" Scott, they have left almost untouched tho story of ono of tho greatest Englishmen of modern times, Lord Kitchener, The reason is not far to seek. Kitchener left few spoors. His avoidance of publicity, his devotion to duty, narrowed the record down to cold official despatches and verbal recollections. His life of lonely aloofness and ascetic discipline promises but a hard, unsympathetic story. Yet Kitchener's tremendous personality, his rise to supreme power, liis busy, eventful life, and sudden death when at tho height of his fame, present a drama which, in its universal appeal, can seldom have been surpassed. Brigadier-General C. R. Ballard, in his book " Kitchener," has realised the richness of the story which awaited him, and has written a biography which for arrangement, literary excellence and dramatic interest would be difficult to surpass. Believing that barrack-room and mess gossip have a basis of truth and a living value, he has blended them with official records to produce an intimate aiul. convincing picture. Tho very name Kitchener has become such a symbol that it comes somewhat as a surprise to be reminded that ho had a Christian name, Horatio Herbert. He was the third son of Colonel Kitchener, of tho 13th Light Dragoons. Early in his military career, when a young subaltern in Cyprus, Kitchener showed tho impatience of opposition and independence of action which were to distinguish him throughout his lifo. Ho was detailed to supply some maps and sketches of the island, and differing with the High Commissioner who ordered them about the form they were to take, he carried his disagreement to the Foreign Office and won the day. One trembles to think how Kitchener in later years would have brooked such opposition from ono of his subordinates, and what would have been tho miserable wretch's fate! That was one of Kitchener's faults, that ho could never see any side but his own. A strict disciplinarian, ho broke all rules himself, ignored text-books, frequently went about a movement tho wrong tactical way; but ho had the habit of success, and therein lay his justification. Such a man makes many enemies, and Kitchener mado more than most. , > Man of Contradictions. Moreover, throughout his early career, Kitchener was always at some outpost of empire. Messroom and garrison life were almost unknown to him; ho substituted a rigorous discipline of almost continuous active service. The experience made him a great soldier, but it alienated him from the normal lifo of tho British officer, whoso outlook he never quite understood. The army, except a few devoted idolators, was faintly antagonistic. General Ballard is in truth a singular biographer, in that he never lets slip an opportunity for criticism of his subject. But it is a curious fact that criticism always seemed, by isolation, to add to Kitchener's great ness. And that is precisely tho effect it' has in this book. - Kitchener presents some curious contradictions. Though peremptory and abrupt to his subordinates, his powers of diplomacy when dealing with his enemies were most marked. Both in the Sudan and in South Africa his patience and sympathy with tho minds> of his enemies wero never at fault. Ho always led the way in generosity. Tho war in South Africa would have been shortened by 14 months had his advice been taken, to pardon a mere matter of 300 rebels from Cape Colony. In the end Kitchener's original terms were accepted. In Egypt Kitchener was supreme. He built up" from tho foundation by his own methods. The rolo was very congenial to him. and it was said that this was the happiest time of his life. In South Africa his remarkable driving power and enmity to waste laid tho way to success. Seeing that speed was of vital importance, lie revolutionised transport by putting his very best officers in charge of it, men who had tho habit of command and obedience. Tho reforms were unpopular with the casual officers, but they eliminated waste and won the victory. On both these fields Kitchener, by tireless energy, could supervise tho whole campaign himself. " Good Soldier and a Good Friend." Kitchener's reputation has never shown to such advantage as in these two fields. His work in India was marred by unfortunate bickerings with tho Viceroy, Lord Curzon. But he put into forco reforms many of which had long been mooted. His übrupt, almost rude manner, his lack of praise, his autocratic waving aside of advico, mado him feared rather than loved.Bßutt t while ho was feared it was recognised that he wag a good soldier and a good friend. " When the news was flashed abroad in • August, 1914, that Kitchener had taken the helm every man who had over served under him gave heartfelt thanks." Thus wo come to what was in reality tho crowning point of Kitchener's career Ho may not have understood soldiers, he did understand nations. He has been criticised for setting aside the old territorial organisation But he knew that tho country was not yet ripe for conscription. He, alone in England, knew that the war would last four years, that a hugo army was needod. And his knowledge of human natufe told him that the people would join moro readily if their imagination could be captured by somo entirely new movement, rather than tho revival of an old one. Once moro tho success of " Ivitchoner's Armies" is his justification. Almost at once ho as Secretary of State for War was interfering with his Commander-in-Chief. Once more he was right Had his advico to make the point of concentration fifty miles further back been takon, there would have been no retreat from Mons. Ho had tho simplo vision to see that tho Allies should act on this defonsivo until they outumbered tho Germans in men and munitions. Tragedy of the Hampshire. Kitchener's enemies pounced and tried to fix on him tho blamo for the lack of shells. But both sides had underestimated tho efficacy of artillery, and tho confidence of the nation established him at the War Office stronger than evor. 110 saw that Russia was tho weak link, and as ever ho felt called upon to throw his personal energy into tho scales. Tho tragic sequel is known. The Hampshire struck a German mino after two hours' steam from Seapa Flow and only twelve lives wero saved. It has been held that Kitchener's powers were waning, but conditions had altered. No man could dominate the World War as Kitchener did in tho Sudan. But he grew in stature to meet tho demands of the situation opposed to him, and remained a world figure, with a clear, sure vision over an enormous field. His distrust of outsido help had mellowed into tho recognition of the uso of staff work. " Tho man who had urged peace with tho Boers in 1901 and criticised Milner's views as just but vindictive might have saved Europe from tlio worst features of the Peace of Versailles. But this is speculation. What, remains cortaiii <s that once again in England's history the | hour had found the man, and that by his foresight and iron patience he had saved his country from tho greatest danger ! she had over known."