The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-06-07

Lose Lives When British War
shi p Goes Down.
WAS ON MISSION TO RUSSIA
Admiral JeIIicoe Confirms Loss of
Vessel, Which Was Blown Up by
Submarine or Mine.

Submarine or Mine.
London, June 7.-Admiral Jellicoe,
commander of the British grand fleet,
has reported to the admiralty that the
British cruiser Hampshire, with Earl
Kitchener, secretary of state for war,
and his staff aboard, was blown up by
a mine or torpedo off the west coast
of the Orkney Islands, and that all on
board persisted.
Four boats were seen to leave the
Hampshire, but heavy sea was run
ming. Only capsized boat and some
bodies were found.
EaM Kitchener was going to Russia
at the request of the Russian govern
ment. He intended to land at Arch
angel and visit Petrograd, and prob
ably go to the Russian front. His mis-
sion had chiefly to do with the supply
of munitions for Russia. The earl
expected to be back in London for the
reopening of parliament, June 20.
An official statement says Earl
Kitchener was to have discussed i'm
portant military and financial ques-
lions with Emperor Nicholas.
Accompanying Earl Kitchener as his
staff, were Hugh James O'Beirne, for.
mer councillor of the British embassy
at Petrograd, and former minister at
Sofia; o. A. Fitzgerald, Earl Kitchen
er's private military secretary; Briga-
der General Ellershaw and Sir Fred
sso1r How oh rf-
son, chief of the imperial staff, is in
London.
On board the Hampshire were also a
number of minor army officers, and the
cruiser carried a crew of between
400 and 500 men.
Among the officers lost were Lieu
tenant R. D. Macpherson, F. R. Robert
son and Mclaughlin, detective.
Admiral Jellicoe's report to the adj
miral.y follows:
81 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 to the west of the Orkneys,
either by 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 a 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 l greatly
fear that there is little hope of there
being any survivors.
mo report has yet been received
from the search party on shore.
III. M. S. Hampshire was on her
way to Russia"
Naval officers express the opinion
that the Hampshire must have stIsah
mine, as it would be an exceeding
ly lucky shot for torpedo to get a
ship with her speed (23 knots) in a
rough sea.
When the news of the Hampshire
was received, a meeting of the war
council was Immediately called.
AS soon as the news of kitchener's
death was circulated in special edi-
lions of the newspapers, crowds start
ed toward Whitehall. That thorough
fare and its extension, parliament,
were filled with persons awaiting the
latest news, and hoping the first re-
ports were exaggerated. They found
no comfort.
In Fleet street boys ran from news
paper offices with the extra editions,
loudly shouting the news. The news
papers were almost torn from their
hands by surging crowds, and the in
credulous wonder with which the first
report was received changed to con-
sternation when it became known that
it was no rumor, but an official report
which left no doubt as to the misfor-
tune which had befallen the country.
Lord Kitchener stood next to Lord
Roberts as the most admired military
idol in the British empire.
He had been secretary of state for
war in the British government since
August 5, 1914, the day after that on
which declarations of war were ex-
changed between England and Ger
many.
Lord Kitchener was sixty-six years
old, having been born at Ballylong-
Ford, county Kerry, Ireland, on June
~, 1850.