Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-07
WORLDS LARGEST
VOLUNTEER ARMY
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man 10 lead in the recruiting and or
ganization of the necessary army.
1t was not a sentimental clamor, for
though Kitchener was a proven hero
of many campaigns, his personality
was as impenetrable as hardened
steel, and he was not hero that could
be loved; even the war Office had no
pronounced liking for him, but on all
sides there was profound respect for
his military efficiency and for all he
had done to extend the domains Of
the British Empire.
tt Happened to Be at London.
By mere luck Kitchener happened
stOs be lin England on one of the COM
Aparatively rare visits that he had paid
to London during his long career
abroad, when the European war broke
out. He had just come home from
service as British agent in Egypt, had
accepted an Earldom from King
George, and was being talked of as
Viceroy of India. Within few hours
after England's declaration of war,
Kitchener was appointed Secretary of
State for War and Immediately took
full charge at the war Office where he
worked day and night to. overcome
the handicap which the Central Pow.
ers had over England in the matter of
fighting strength.
He grimly told the British people
they had a bigger war on their hands
thon 4hn,, rno1ivn1 hot ,scyl,k
last longer than they expected, but it
was to be faced with entire confidence
and he, smilingly, almost like de-
humaniZed machine, set about to
make things hum He had scarcely
moved into Whitehall Street when he
made numerous changes in the per-
sonnet of the war office, which was
said to be honeycOmbed with social
and political favoritism.
After dispatching a few hundred
thousand regulars to France and Bel
GUM to help check the Onrushing
Germans, the. war secretary began re-
'cruiting and organizing his army of
millions. The British Isles were cover
ed with signs and posters urging
young men to join the colOrs. Kitche-
ner went through the country super
intending the drilling Of the army.
From time to time were reports indi-
eating his failure to get the number of
men he wanted, but within year af-
ter the war, opened Premier Asquith
officially announced in parliament that
about 100000 men had enlisted in
the United Kingdom alone, and al
. most another million in the overseas
dominions.
Criticism Followed Attempted Drive.
Kitchener, however, was the object
Of no little criticism: There was much
grumbling because of the strict cen.
sorship he imposed on newspapers
and his utter disregard for war cor
respondents. Notwithstanding this,
the British newspapers gave him act
i've support prior to May 1915. During
the winter months the war secretary
had announced the "big drive" would
begin about the first of May. The
Battle of Neuve Chapelle occurred in
May, and England believed this was
the beginning of the big drive. Short
ly afterward, reports reached Eng
land that the drive had halted owing
to shortage of munitions, especially
high-explosive shells. A section of
the London press then declared that
Kitchener had made serious mistake
in providing large quantities of shrap-
mel, and insufficient high-explOsives.
Newspaper attacks went so far as to
suggest his being displaced as war
secretary, but the majority Of the pa
pers defended him. 1t was agreed
that the raising of big army and sup.
plying munitions at the same time
was too great a task for one man. The
discussion developed the formation of
a coalition cabinet and the creation of
the new portfolio of minister of NUM-
tons, Of which David Lloyd George