Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-06-06


among the several things that entitled
Earl Kitchener to place in world
history, the most notable is that he
organized the largest volunteer army
the world has ever seen, in the great.
est war of all times. Within a year
FROM the sudden outbreak of the Eu-
ropean war in August, 1914, the ranks
OF British fighting men were quadru-
pied by an increase from less than one
million to nearly 100000
All other great powers that entered
the war had huge standing armies and
compulsory military service. Great
Britain alone faced the issue with con-
fidence that its people would readily
respond to the call of king and coun-
try, without compulsion, and the pre-
c;pitious developments that led to the
war found both the people and the
government unanimous in the verdict
that Kitchener of Khartum was the
man to lead in the recruiting and or
ganization of the necessary army.
1t was not sentimental clamor, for
though Kitchener was a proven hero
of many campaigns, his personality
was as impenetrable as hardened steel,
and he was not a hero that could be
loved; even the war Office had no pro-
nounced liking for him, but on all
Iides there was profound respect for
bis military efficiency and for all he
had done to extend the domains of the
British Empire.
By mere luck, Kitchener happened
to be in England on one Of the COM
paratively rare visits he had paid to
London during his long career abroad
when the European war broke out. He
had just come home from service as
British agent in Egypt, and had ac-
cepted an earldom from King George,
and was being talked of as the viceroy
of India. Within a few hours after
England's declaration of war, Kitch-
ener was appointed secretary of state
for war and Immediately took full
charge at the war office, where he
worked day and night to overcome the
handicap which the Central Powers
had over England in the matter of
fighting strength.
He grimly told the British people
they had bigger war on their hands
than they realized; and one that might
last longer than they expected, but
it was to be faced with entire conf
dence, and he, smilingly, almost like a
dehumanized machine, set about to
make things hum. He had scarcely
moved into Whitehall street when he
made numerous changes i'm the per-
sonnel of the war Office, which was
said to be honeycombed with social
and political favoritism.
His Army of Millions.
After dispatching a few hundred
thousand regulars to France and Bel
gium to help check the onrushing Ger
mans, the war secretary began recruit
ing and organizing his army of mil
lions. The British Isles were covered
with signs and posters urging young
men to join the colors. Kitchener
went through the country, superin-
tending the drilling of the army. From
time to time were reports indicating
his failure to get the number of men
he wanted, but within a year after the
war opened Premier Asquith officially
announced in Parliament that about
100000 men had enlisted in the
United Kingdom alone, and almost an
other million in the overseas domin-
icns.
Kitchener, however, was the object
OF no little criticism. There was
much grumbling because Of the strict
censorship he imposed on newspapers
and his utter disregard for war cor
respondents. Notwithstanding this, the
British newspapers gave him active
support prior to May, 1915. During the
winter months the war secretary had