EARL KITCHENER DEFENDED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 14579, 2 June 1916, Page 6

EARL KITCHENER DEFENDED.

LONDON, Thursday

Speaking ] n the House of Commons, the Eight ilon. IJ. 11. Asquith said:— "Thank. Ilea yon there has not been ;iny likelihood of our being invaded. But the risk could not be neglected. The only troops kept in Britain were members of the navy and army jointly considered necessary for absolute security. The staff oflicers liad been considerably reduced and depleted. The staff comprised sonic of the best officers in Europe, but they wore unable to respond to the now demands* of a growing army. The Govenune-iit's policy is to promote roung men of brains", with ffosh ideas and experience, regardless of red tape or etiquette.' , ' Mt Asquith warmly championed Earl Kitchener, wiDm Hio army, country, and Empire owed immeasurable words. A charge levelled against Earl Kitchener should also 1)0 aimed at the Govoriiir.cnt . Mr Asquith accepted his share of the responsibility, because ho had loon closely associated with all that Karl Kitchener had done.

Sir A. B. Markhaiu said Karl Kitchener had been stripped of every authority. What use was then , in havii:i; a War Minister when Mr Asquith ii'.ui to uo to the front to discover a

thertage of machine guns".' Earl .Kitchener gave no orders for the necessary materials until Mr Asquith came on the scene. .No other belligerent J'ower had shielded incompetence. Mr Tennant had boon made the butt for much of Karl Kitchener's stupidity.

Sir George K'eid said Karl Kitchener "was almost the only Knglishmnn whose name aroused a s'ym])athetic erlio in the Dominions overseas. His most serious fault was that he was no) an adept in advertising himself. H«> was also a relentless enemy to the feather-hed soldier and the disloyal subordinate.

Mr As(|uitli said lie was not jioinj: to >ay that Karl Kitchener had never iiuiii' , a mistake in one of the most

arduous undertakings ;i hmnaji being had ever had n> fare. No oilier man in the K.'njdre rould ha\e lioen suniinoned in so shcirt a time ai\d gained si'( 1: satisfactory and liewikltMuny results .from our enormous army. Surveyini; the I'l' months of war. with its mi foreseen events and the hazards of kaleidoscopic variety, and remembering tlu» si/.e of the army with which they started, there was no fair-minded niaii ■\rh<> would not pay his respe.-t ;>nd appreriation f or Lord K'itehener's ~ s'er-A-ice> .