The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-08
Work and Obedience
4 Summed Up Gospel of
Kitchener, Man of Iron

S Horatio Herbert Kitchener, more
4amiliarly known as "K. of X, the mar
\ of iron and relentless will, stern disciplin
orian, efficient organizer, who seemed tC
the world at large more of giant ma
chine than man, lies dead somewhere
IN the Orkney islands in the North sea
victim of more implacable machine than
oven he could combat.
4 Leaving England when a very young
man, to assist in survey of Palestine,
HE Orient from that time seemed to
;8aim him for its own, for, from then on,
I most of his life was spent in voluntary
Idle. Four years in Palestine were fol-
lDWed by another four-year survey of the
(61and Of Cyprus, after which Kitchener
Gnn his career of II years in Egypt.
1lfs first commission was that of COM
Innder of the Egyptian cavalry, later
IT was with the Nile expedition and final
L he was made adjutant general of the
Egyptian army.
ID II WAS through his Khartoum expedi-
IN IN 1898 that Kitchener became best
nown to the world. Parliament recog-
flxed his services by raising him to the
sfeerage and granting him 10000 pounds
4 " chief Of staff in the South African war
VI 1899 1900, and commander in chief OF
\ ~ army In India 1902-1909, he achieved
potable position throughout Europe
~ AHA and became famous figure to
1nerjca as well.
81 When the present war broke out he
40 in England on leave of absence,
rhjch the British parliament considered
~ pkece Of rare good luck. He was made
eretary of war, a position he occupied
Ut his death.
n Physically Lord Kitchener was large
boned, ungainly figure, six feet, three
Inches tall, with brick red face in which
eyes Of steely intensity looked out up
% offenders with merciless justice.
l His gospel was work and obedience and
be expected of others what he was scrup-
snlously conscientious in rendering him
/ ri. He was possessed of grim, laconic
humor and, though he did not inspire
hive, all men respected and trusted him
There must have been another side to
{ his nature which he kept hidden, for
children were invariably fond of him and
Rould approach him without fear
81 His nature was conservatively reli-
Y gious. The first thing he did after kill
ing 1900 Dervishes to avenge General
! Gordon, was to hold solemn service in
4 Khartoum; the next thing was to collect
funds for college in which the sons of
. The slain Dervishes could be educated
MA To Kitchener is due the credit of end
y nc the reign of Mahdism in Africa
md also the reconstruction of the Sou
6l1n. Though considered more of an or
Eunizer and director than soldier, he
tould fight when occasion demanded it.
His ability to brush aside non-essentials
ind red tape and arrive at the underly-
Ing principle of the situation, was one
of his most valuable characteristics.
Against the opinion of the majority he
qsserted, at the beginning of the present
war. that it would last three or four years
md asked for men by millions. lie built
Spp nam practically nothing, an army of
a 900. His mind is said to have been
W. sort of compromise between the Irish
nd the Asiatic, and, on account of his
ing life in the Orient, it was felt by
p1ne that 1t would be better to place him
Egypt where he could have charge of
Ne eastern end of the fighting for the
1llies.
There can be but one opinion as to
~ Mtchener's faithful service to his
NJ md he possessed to marked de-
0qoe two qualities so dear to the
- kl1ish people. bulldog per-