New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-29

Seorss w. smGnsyj
Yet II Is upon the theory, upon the ad.
mission, of their failure that the 51st
is appointed. 1t IS not called a com.
mittee. It's very name IS in dispute.
Lord Kitchener's New Enterprise.
| venture upon these abstract sub
jects IN the hope that even in America
they may have their interest But
abandon them for the one concrete in
stance which, directly or indirectly
puts the whole of them TO the test.
mean Lord hItchener's new position
His is still "a name TO conjure with
perhaps now in this season of unex
ampled stress, if not distress, more
than ever before. lie is the strong
man to whom everybody turns The
best proof Of it is that the Friday al
ternOon report Of his resignation SHOOK
the country to its centre.
IL was announced that Lord Kitch
ener had had a long audience Of the
King and then disappeared from view
Il was known that Mr.. Asquith was
in charge at the War Office. IL was
known that the Minister of War had
been absent from the later Cabinets
whether Inner or Outer All at once
London was flooded with evenn
extras alleging his resignation. Not
tin then did the omniscient Press Blu
reau give q sign; not till some hours
after the report had spread over Lon
don, over England. over the civilized
world. How soon il reached Germany
and other savage nations is not known
The Press Bureau, in its leisurely way,
allowed the public 10 become aware
that Lord Kitchener was temporarily
absent on public duty. that the Prime
Minister was carrying on" at the War
Office, and that Lord Kitchener had not
resigned More than twccty-four hours
later the Bureau expanded these state
ments, admitted that Lord Kitchener
hal left England Tor a short visit 10
tho Eastern theatre Of war, that he
and that he had no intention of resign
ing.
A Needless Mystery.
Why a mystery should have been
made of so plain matter nobody
knows; or nobody outside Of the Press
Bureau and Of the authorities behind
the Bureau. What harm could the
truth do,-the whole truth? 1t will
hardly be said that knowledge OF
Lord Kitchener's journey to the Near
East could encourage or assist the
enemy. Why should il be hidden?
Even now 10 is not clear. ] like "a
be just to everybody, and l will quote
in full the Press Bureau sentence:
This visit is undertaken by him in
discharge Of his duty as Secretary of
State for War, which duty he has no
intention Of abandoning"
Ii reads like a legal document. Is II
an accurate account? Can it be accu-
rate? IL is Of course meant to be ac-
curate, but is it? The Secretary OF
State for War has we'll defined duties
is a command in the field one of them
He has heretofore been a civilian. He
is the responsible Parliamentary rep
resentative O. the War Office. lie has
never been commander in chief. As q
civilian he could not be- Lord Kitch-
ener is a great soldier If he goes 10
the Near East-the term is singularly
convenient he goes presumably "a
bring into some kind Of military order
the confusion there prevailing.
As an Eastern Expert.
The Near East covers the whole OF
the Balkans. the whole of Asia Minor
and-most important Of all-Egypt. II
there be anybody capable Of co0rdinat-
ing military operations in that great
area 10 Is Lord Kitchener. He has the
co0rdinating genius and gifts He
knows Serbia by heart. He knows
Bulgaria and her treacherous King. He
knows Rumania and Greece, and why
they shiver on two Drinks, and how, II
az all, they can be brought 10 take the
plunge Egypt Is his eve lamb as well
as the Key 10 the Empire; and he
knows Just how near or distant is the
danger that the Germans may seize
the handle. He knows India, Of which
for five years he was commander-in-
chief, and knows that India is threat
ened and what the military resources
Of India really are.
For which and other good reasons
England may well rejoice that Lore
Kitchener now goes 20 the most criti'
cal point in the vast area of this war
But it rs idle 20 say that he goes as
Secretary Of State for War. II is idle
20 say that even Lord Kitchener car
discharge the duties, themselves over
@helming. Of that great Office while he
~ al the other end Of Europe, o. IN
Africa, or in Asia. That he should re.
main Minister Of War is well. IL would
be "A calamity II he did not. He will
come back in due time and resume his
duties in Whitehall. Meantime they
ore In allegiance, and the sufficient proof
Of il is that the already overburdenec
Prime Minister has taken charge OF
Lord Kitchener's duties and Office
What is the use Of pretending other
wiser
Not Lord Haldane-
A grave anxiety attends tnjs change
There Is fear that Mr.. Asquith may
find the work TOO much for him. espe-
cially should Lord Kitchener's absence
be prolonged, az is possible enough
Then what? VINO is 20 take over the
War Oficc2 The dread IL that the
Prime Minister may appoint Lord Hal
dane. ! don't think there is much
ground for this apprehension, since tho
Prime Minister must know there would
be a protest, even IN Parliament, and 0
protest throughout the country which
might very well end IN an explosion.
cannot suppose he would care 20 risk
that. Can you conceive Of British
War Minister in war against Germany
who once declared his spiritual home
4