Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-07

on the resignation OF Sir Francis
Geenfell he was appointed sirdar
(commander) OF the Egyptian army.
His really great career dates from
that time.
Reorganizes Egyptian Army.
The Kitchener campaign that ended
with the rccapture Of khartum was
considered by military experts as
perfectly organized and faultlessly
conducted The Egyptian army that
Kitchener had worked up 10 such re-
markablc efficiency was, when he first
took charge OF il, band OF unpaid
unfed and undermined fellaheen. 1t
was said to be an army without
stomach, heart or backbone" but
Kitchener worked over these helpless
reeds Of broken natives and made Of
them some Of the finest OF black bat
talions.
The fight at Omdurman, September
z, 1893, Just across the Nile from
khartum, was the greatest battle OF
Kiichener's time in Egypt Osman
Digna faced him with $4,000 NAH
dists, while he had but 10000 men.
When the battle was over, 1000 OF
the Mahdists had been killed outright,
10000 wounded and 1000 taken pris-
oners, while the English and Egypt
ian loss altogether was under 500
men
With the capture OF Khartum, capi-
tai OF the Sudan, which meant the re-.
establishment OF British possession Of
these upper reaches OF the Nile,
Kitchener became the object OF hero
worship in England His campaign
had been, and is TO this day, much
criticised, however, because OF its
ruthlessness. II was charged Kiteh-
ener trampled on his foes in an al
most barbarous manner. On his re-
turn TO England however, he was
generous enough 10 ask his country
men 10 found q college al Khartnm,
wherein the sons Of the deryish chiefs
he had fought and overwhelmed
might be educated In the knowledge
Of the west, a request that met with
such response among the British peo-
pie that the fund required was far
oversubscribed.
For his triumphs In the Sudan he
was raised 10 the pecrage as Baron
Kitchener OF Khartum, and received
the thanks Of Parliament and a grant
OF $4,000 Shortly aiterward he was
promoted lieutenant general and then
chief OF staff 10 Lord Loberts in the
South African war, and on Lord Rob-
erts return TO England In November,
1000 succeeded him as commander
in-chief in that field. BY constructing
a 3,500-mile chain OF blockhouses he
stopped the Boer raids and virtually
ended the war in South Africa. This
added to his popularity and prestige
al home, and he was rewarded by the
title OF visconnt, promotion 10 the
rank Of general for distinguished SER
vices, the thanks Of Parliament and a
grant Of $2s0000.
Commands Indian Army.
Immediately after the peace Kiteh-
cner went 10 India as commander-in-
chief of the British forces there, and
in this position, which he held for
seven years, he carried out not only
many far-reaching administrative re-
forms, but complete reorganization
and strategioal redistribution OF the
British and native forces. On leaving
India IN 1909 he was promoted field
marshal, and appointed commander
in-chief and high commissioner in the
Mediterranean, and later on took a
tour Of inspection OF the forces OF
the entire empire, drawing up a
scheme OF defense Of the overseas
| dominions.
lie then returned TO Egypt, the
scene Of his first triumph, in the ca
pacity OF British agent and consul
general in Cairo-virtually governor
generalship Of Egypt-and led to the
economical development OF the coun-
try, building new roads and irrigat ton
projects on large scale.
During all the years the British
people had looked on Kitehener's
silent but effective work, they had
never been able to fathom his per-
sonality. A cocknry noncommis-
stoned officer, who mad seen much
service under him, summed up the
general opinion when he said Of
Kitchener:
"E's no talker. Not i'm. Els all
steel and h'ice."
His face was that OF a man who
neither asked for sympathy nor
wanted II.
In 1910 he paid brief visit to the
| United States during a trip around
the world. At that time ii came out
in the New York papers that the
great Kitchener was woman
hater." He took occasion TO deny
this and said the onry reason he had
never married was rnat he believed
man could not be good soldier
1 4 A 4. a ~. -