The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-06
BRITISH LEADER
Confined from Page one,
Hampshire was torpedoed off the
Orkney Islands.

Hampshire was torpedoed off the
Orkney Islands.
Bodies Float to Shore.
A later announcement from
the admiralty said that the
searching parties sent out in
boats along the coast, had found
only bodies of the drowned and
one capsized boat. There was
still the faint hope that possibly
some might have reached shore
and proceeded inland in search
of aid. On account of the high
sea, however, this was not con-
sidered likely, and the admiralty
did not encourage the hope of
any survivors being found.
Kitchener's Fated Staff.
/ ACCOMMODATING Earl kitchener and
| his staff were:
Hugh James O'Bierne, former coun-
| seIlor of the British embassy at Petro-
grad. and former minister at Sofia !;
| O. A. Fitzgerald, Earl Kitchener pr1-
waite military secretary; Brigadler
General Ellershaw and Sir Frederick
Donaldson.
|
news of Kitchener's death was an
nounced was:
'sWho will succeed him?" The an
| swer invariably was:
| Robertson, of course
Sir William Robertson already had
taken over the war secretary's duties
temporarily when the secretary start
ed on his Inflated journey. On Satur-
day and again yesterday he had audi
ences with King George to report the
Vii
general has the full confidence of the
country While he cannot become
secretary of war unless he is raised TIC
the peerage. member of the house
might be put at the head OF the wal
office with the understanding that the
general, like Earl Kitchener, would
have free rein.
Was to Land at Archangel.
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 AT.
lantic and around the northern enc
of the Scandinavian peninsula into the
| White sea- Earl Kitchener probably
intended to debark at Archangel.
The Hampshire was one of the
Devonshire class of six cruisers. She
was built in 1908 and normally carried
655 men, She displaced 10,S50 tons
: was $50 feet long, IS II feet beam ant
drew Is II feet. She was armed will
four 7.5-inch, six 6-inch. two 1-pount
and twenty S-pound guns and two tor
pedo tubes. She cost $4,250,000.
The Hampshire has been in use as {
scout boat and for carrying Officials
on various missions, having ample &C
commodations for the latter purpose
She was too old to take a place OF
the fighting line. When the wal
started she was in the Far East, ant
was reported to have been worsted il
a fight with Germans in the Soutl
China sea. She was one of the British
squadrons which was sent to thi
country for the jamestown exposition
in 1907.
S To Help New Slav Offensive?
The announcement that Kitchene
> and his staff were en- route to Russi
when the Hampshire was sunk ha
i. special significance, in view of tn
:, general Russian offensive which
4 now practically under way along tn
. His trip, too, may have had bearin
? | on the advance of the Russians int
1 Asia Minor.
3 The admiralty stated that there
r little hope that any of the member
n of Kitchener's staff survived. 1t wa
accepted as a fact that Kitchener him
v self was drowned.
= Was in War Conference.
e The main base of the British hig
d seas fleet is supposed to be in tn
: neighborhood of the islands north G
Scotland. For this reason, it is be
Heved, Lord Kitchener, with his stat
u went to the Orkney Islands for tn
u purpose of reviewing the battle flee
;. after the. JutIand engagement. 1t
Z considered probable also that he wa
y engaged in conference with others re
. garding the program to be followe
g to meet any move from Germany.
Earl Kitchener was on his way t
| according
rniral Jellicoe says there is little hop
e that there were any survivors.
His Official Staff.
New York, June 6.-The list of pei
\ sons who accompanied Kitchener O
N the cruiser Hampshire has not "
been announced by the government
His staff as given in the monthly arm
y list follows:
Private secretaries, H. ]. Creed
" Capt. Sir G. c. A. Arthur; person;
' military secretary, Lieut.. Col. o. A
' Fitzgerald; attached lieutenant co
onels, Sir A. Leetham, Maj. c.
Storr; military secretary to the seer,
y tary of state for war and secretary
the selection board, Maj.-Gen. F.
Robb; assistant military secretar
Col E. W. NJ. Norie; civilian assis
ant to the military secretary, R. ]
~ More.
The above list comprises the execl
y tive staff of the secretary of state f,
war and is, in effect, his official o
y ganization. There is strong doul
3 whether the admiralty report incIud
all this staff.
On Way to Russia
Admiral Jellicoe's report to the a.
y miralty follows:
& 81 have to report with deep regr
Y that his majesty's ship Hampshir
2 Capt. Herbert J. Savill. R. N, wi
y Lord Kitchener and his staff on boar
was sunk last, night at about p.
to the west of Orkneys either by
= mine or a torpedo.
- -Four boats were seen by observe
Iy on shore to leave the ship The vii
dy was northwest and heavy seas We
running Patrol vessels and destro
Of opca rroceoded RI the Snof a