Evening journal., 1915-05-19
KITCHENER FAILS
AS Saviour AND
Cabinet SPLITS
Continued from First Page.

because tncy DeleNeu Inc kltcnener
censorship was part OF the machinery
whereby the British armies were to
move forward in secret and over
whelm the Germans. But one man in
England saw early in the war that
the censorship was going to end dis
astrously. This man was Lord North
cliife, proprietor OF the London Times
and other papers. Lord Nortncliffe
began a campaign in favor of pub
licity OF war news at time when
even TO suggest the possibility that
Kitchener might be capable of max
ing mistakes was almost accounted
treason. The term "Kitchener's army"
was forbidden TO be used In Lord
Northcliffe's newspapers and North
cliffe began TO preach that in a popu-
lar war the people should know what
their sons, brothers and husbands
were doing for their country.
Other newspapers followed his dar-
ing lead and at last the censorship
was modified. Kitchener's early threat
to have offending editors shot became
dead letter. Democracy had over
thrown absolutism, and the news
papers for the first time since the war
began were allowed this spring to
tell Englishmen the truth which was
not advantageous TO Lord Kitchoner's s
reputation.
II revealed him to be no more than
n human being, possessing his full
I quota of frailties. He was seen 20
be above everything else, a centralist,
and a man incapable Of delegating
/ authority. Not content with devot-
! ing his undoubted abilities as an or
| ganizer to raising and training the
millions of Englishmen needed for the
new armies, Kitchener refused to al
| low anyone other than himself to di-
rect the production Of war supplies.
Unless he did it. he believed there
were certain TO be disastrous errors.
AZ last, after Sir John French's in
| sistent pleas for more ammunition.
! II became necessary for the govern
ment to curb Kitchener. A special
] committee was appointed torelieve the
war minister of the work of directing
tho manufacture of munitions. The
necessity for this step showed that
during the many months that had
| passed since the beginning of the war
Kitchener had done nothing to recitfy
the ammunition shortage. The re-
duced severity OF the censorship per-
mitted the newspapers TO tell the
country how the matter stood.
Then, confidence in the government
began to decline. No attempt was
made to attack Lord Kitchener with
open severity, for that was felt to be
unpatriotic. But, the government as
whole was attacked, on the long es-
tablished British principle that minis
terial responsibility is collective. At
the same time there was growing re-
sentiment with the lack of spectacular
results by the navy. This dissatis-
faction reached its eliminating point
when the attempt to force the Darda-
nelles failed Newspapers began as
sailing Winston Churchill, for the
purpose of showing that popular dis
approval OF the way the war was go
ing, was more than a personal objec-
ton.
Mr.. Churchill being a civilian poll
tician, could be attacked openly far
better than could a soldier like Lord
Kitchener
Thus, while the ministerial crisis is
due on the surface to the trouble at
the Admiralty. the real cause is far
deeper, and concerns Lord Kitchener
more than anyone else. II does not
seem Immediately probable, however,
that Lord Kitchener will be removed
from Office. His future responsible
ties. however, will be greatly curtail-
ed, and IL is possible England will
create a new ministerial department
which will have charge of keeping up
the supplies of munitions. The pres
ent war is different from all other
modern wars in its methods. IL Lord
Kitchener succeeded Sir John French
as commander-in-chief, he would
start nine months behind in actual
| field experience. For this reason
II would be a military mistake to send
Lord Kitchener to France unless he
is to serve there as subordinate TO Sir
John French.
Before many hours a new cabinet
designed to restore confidence in the
government and representative of all
parties, almost certainly will be nomi-
mated. The new ministry, IL is re-
ported. will include at least five new
members.
Resignation of Lord Fisher, First
Sea Lord, because of a clash with
WINSTON Churchlll, prccipitatod the
crisis Today II was considered Ger.
tain that Churchill will resign and
II was reported on good authority thai
eX-Premier Arthur J. Balfour was
slated TO become First Lord of In,
Admiralty in the new cabinet.
, Reports had il that Bonar Law
leader Of the opposition, Lord Derby
+. f. Smith and Austen Chamberlain
were to he given seats in the new
, coalition cabinet. Viscount Haldane
Augustine Birrell. Lewis Harcour
and Earl Beauchamp were said to b,
slated for retirement. The new min
istry. IL was reported in official cir
cles was TO include strong Unionis
and Labor leaders. who would brinl
to the government the popularity /
has lacked during the trying days o
the war.