The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-29
tCopyr st, 1916, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association.)

-
Is;Lord Kitchener alive?
Was the story of his tragic death a
gigantic hoax intended TO deceive
Germany?
il, ,Kitchener's hand at this moment
secretly, directing the tremendous sim
Infamous pressure being directed
against the Teutonic alliance by the
Russians in Poland and the Caucasus,
and the French and British in France?
Rumors Of the NOSE sensational sort
are runnlg the length and breadth of
England to the effect that Kitchener
Istalive! -
The question was actually raised In
the house OF commons July by Sir
r. Cooper, and a bare paragraph crept
into a single London paper on this -
ctdent.
But no report of it was permitted
by the cable censor to get to the out
side.world! So
Financial Secretary Mcnamara re.
piled 10 the Copper question, saying
that an inquiry was held Immediately
atferI the news Of the Hampshire sink
Ing; with Lord Kitchener aboard, was
received, in order that the survivors
could be got together. No further in
quiry would be held, he said, as 1t
would sserve no useful purpose"
With that, absolute silence was shut
down on the suggestion that there was
no proof the Hampshire was sunk
no proof that Kitchener was dead.
Just why the admiralty was SO Ger.
tainswithin few hours Of the Hamp-
shires reported loss that Kitchener
was among the dead
Just why the usually slow.moving
department should send death notices
promptly to the relatives of the offi-
cersEand men .
Just why great memorial service
in st. Paul's cathedral was arranged
Immediately Il.
Are points that will require some in.
genfous explaining to convince the
skeptical In England that Kitchener
really was drowned.
Picture the amazement that would
cover the Germans and the added vim
OF the allied attack should Kitchener
suddenly emerge, at tue crucial hour,
10 direct the entente powers toward
victory.
There Is little doubt, too, that after
the first shock OF the news OF kitch-
ener's death the British people went
about the war with added determine
tipn; the loss was an inspiration.
sItiis considered possible that Kitch.
eneri himself suggested his prearrang.
cd demise" with the triple object IN
siew-frst, to shock and inspire the
British public intoS greater efforts;
second, to visit the allied nations in
cognito; and third, to clinch the
chances Of victory by his dramatic re-
appearance, as from the dead, at the
crucial moment when Germany is ex-
pected to weaken!
Following is the only hint that Lord
Kitchener is alive that the British
celsors have SO far overlooked or al-
lowed to be published. 1t appears
inSt tile London Daily Chronicle of July
y,s1s16:
On the motion for the adjournment
OF the house Of commons last night
Sir R. Cooper called attention to the
loss of the Hampshire and urged that
there should be a court martial on the
loss Of the vessel.
There were very disquieting rumors
going round, and real anxiety as to
whether proper inquiry had been
held.
There was no direct evidence that
Lord Kitchener was dead.
Why was 1t arrangements were
made for memorial service in st.
pauls within few hours Of the loss
pf the Hampshire being published?
One of the most disquieting features
was that the same evening typewrit.
Zen letters were sent to all supposed
widows of the officers and men.