The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-08
EARL KITCHENER CALLED
ENGLAND'S GREATEST SOLDIER

Earl Kitchener was appointed sec
rotary OF State for war on Aug. s,
1914. a few days after Great Brit
aims declaration of war on Germany.
He was regarded as England's great
est soldier, and the decision Of the
government to entrust him with SUI
preme direction of the war was re-
ceiveds with unanimous approval.
As the war progressed and Great
Britain's deficiencies in certain d.
rections. especially in regard to the
shortage of artillery ammunition, be-
came apparent. Earl Kitchener was
subjected to severe criticism, led by
Lord Northclifte. The secretary was
charged with responsibility for fail
ure to foresee the extraordinary de-
mand for heavy shells and as re-
suit the ministry of munitions was
formed with David Lloyd-George at
its head.
Earl Kitchener's responsibilities
were further lessened by the ap-
pointment of General Sir William
Robertson as chief of the imperial
staff in December of last year. 1t was
reported at that time that friction
had arisen between Earl Kitchener
and Field Marshal French, then in
command OF the British forces in
France. Shortly after the appoint
ment of General Robertson, Field
Marshal French relinquished his
command
Notwithstanding the criticism d.
rected against Earl Kitchener his
great accomplishments during the
war are recognized universally.
Foremost of his achievements is the
creation from England's unframed
manhood Of a huge army. At the be-
ginning of the war Great Britain had
only few hundred thousand trained
men. Today more than FIVE million
men are enrolled for the various
branches of the service.
There have been no recent reports
of Earl Kitchener's movements. He
was last mentioned in the cable dis
patches of Friday, when he went to
Westminster palace to be questioned
by members of the House of Com
mons who were not satisfied with the
conduct OF the war. No intimation
was given that he intended to leave
England.
The Orkney Islands off which the
Hampshire went down, are off the
north coast of Scotland. The Hamp-
shire was on her way into the Allan
tic and around the northern end Of
the Scandinavian peninsula into the
White sea. Earl Kitchener probably
intended to debark at Archangel.
The Hampshire was one Of the de-
vonshire class Of six cruisers. She
was built in 1908, and normally
carried 655 men. She displaced 49,
$50 tons, was $50 feet long, 68 1-2
feet beam and drew 25 1-2 feet. She
was armed with four 7.5-inch, six
6-inch, two 12-pound and twenty
3-pound guns, and two torpedo
tubes. She cost $4,250,000.
Earl Kitchener was born June "a,
1850, in County Kerry, Ireland, a
fact that gave rise to a general be-
lief that he was of Irish blood, but
his parents were of French and Eng
lish descent. His father was a soldier,
but of no very high rank. He had
managed to climb to the lieutenant
colonelcy of a dragon regiment,
when he retired to the estate in Ire
land, where Horatio Herbert Kitch-
ener was born. Young Kitchener re-
ceived his fundamental military edu-
cation at Woolwich. On graduating
he received commission in the Roy
al Engineers, but when not yet FL
years OF age he attached himslf to
French army in the Franco-Prus-
sian war.