Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-06

Admiral JelIcoe, commander of
the British grand fleet, has report.
ed to the admiralty that the British
cruiser Hampshire, with Earl
Kitchener and his staff aboard has
been lost off the West 0rkneys.
-Four boats were seen to leave
the Hampshire but a heavy sea
was running. Only a capsized boat
and some bodies have been found.
Earl Kitchener was on his way
to Russia. Admiral Jellicoe re.
ports there is little hope that there
were any survivors.
The names of the members of Earl
kitchener's staff have not vet been
learned. Sir William Robertson, chief
OF the imperial staff, is in London.
Admiral Jellicoe's report to the ad-
miralty follows:
i have to report with deep regret
that his majesty's ship Hampshire,
Captain Herbert ]. Savill, r. n, with
Lord Kitchener and his staff on board.
was sunk last night at about p. m. to
the west of the Orkneys, either by a
mine or a torpedo.
-Four boats were seen by observers
on shore to leave the ship. The wind
was north-northwest and heavy seas
were running. Patrol vessels and de-
stroyers at once proceeded to the spot
and party was sent along the coast
to search but only some bodies and a
capsized boat have been found up to
the present. AS the whole shore has
been searched from the seward
greatly fear that there is little hope of
there being any survivors.
NO report has yet been received
from the search party on shore.
H. NJ. S. Hampshire was on her way
to Russia"
Accompanying Earl Kitchener and
his staff were Hugh James O'Beirne.
former councillor of the British en-
bassy at Petrograd and former min
lister at Sofia; o. A. Fitzgerald, Earl
kitchener's private military secretary:
Brigadier General Ellershaw and Sir
Frederick Donaldson.
Made War Lord in 1914.
Earl Kitchener was appointed sec
rotary of state for war on Aug. s, 1914.
few days after Great Britain's dec
laration Of war on Germany. He was
regarded as Engands greatest soldier
and the decision of the government to
entrust him with supreme direction OF
the war was received by unanimous
approval.
AS the war progressed and Great
Britain's DEFICIENCIES in certain direc.
tons, particularly in regard to the
shortage of artillery ammunition be-
came apparent, Earl Kitchener was
subjected to severe criticism, led by
Lord Northecliffe. The secretary was
charged with responsibility for failure
to foresee the extraordinary demand
for heavy shells and as a result the
ministry of munitions was formed with
David Llyod George at its head.
Responsibilities Lessened.
Earl kitcheners responsibilities
were further lessened by the appoint
ment of 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,
the in command of the British forces
in France. Shortly after the appoint
ment of General Robertson, Field
Marshal French relinquished his com
mand. Notwithstanding the criticism
directed against Earl Kitchener, his
great accomplishments during the wal
are recognized universally. Foremos
of his achievements was the creation
from England's unframed manhood o
a huge army. At the beginning o
the war, Great Britain had only few
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