The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-06
Kitchener Organized Largest
Volunteer Army Ever Known.
Appointed Secretary of State
for War in 1914.
SUBJECT TO MUCH CRITICISM
Won HOnOrS in Extending Do
main of Great Britain.
Son of a Soldier; Earl kitch-
ener Was a Bachelor.

Earl Kitchener was appointed sec
rotary of state for war on August 8,
1914 a few days after Great Britains
declaration of war on Germany. He
was regarded as England's great SOL
der, and the decision of the govern
ment to entrust him with supreme di-
rection of the war was received by
unanimous approval
AS the war progressed and Great
Britain's deficiencies in certain direc-
tionS, particularly in regard to the
shortage of artillery ammunition, be-
came apparent, Earl Kitchener was
subjected to severe criticism led by
Lord Northcliffe. The secretary was
to foresee the extra ordinary demand
for heavy shells. and as a result the
ministry of munitions was formed with
David Lloyd-George as its head.
Earl Kitchener's responsibilities
were further lessened by the appoint
ment of Gen. Sir William Robertson
as chief of the imperial staff in De-
cember of last year 1t was reported
at that time that friction had arisen
between Earl Kitchener and Field
Marshal French, then in command of
the British forces in France.
Shortly after the appointment of
General Robertson, Field Marshal
French relinquished his command.
Notwithstanding the criticism direct
! ed against Earl Kitchener his great
accomplishments during the war are
recognized universally. Foremost of
| the achievements was the creation
from England's unframed manhood of
a huge army. At the beginning of the
war Great Britain had only a few
hundred thousand trained men. To-
day more than 100000 men are en-
rolled for the various branches of the
service.
There have been no recent reports of
Earl Kitchener'S movements. He was
last mentioned in the cable dispatches
of Friday when he went to Westmin-
ster palace and was questioned by
members of the house of commons
who are not satisfied with the conduct
of the war. No intimation was given
that he intended to leave England.
Organized Large Army.
Of several things that entitle Earl
Kitchener to a place in world history,
the most notable is that he organized
the largest volunteer army the world
has ever seen, in the greatest war of
all times.
Within a year from the sudden out
break of the European war in August,
1914, the ranks of British fighting
men were quadrupled by an increase
from less than 100000 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-
cipitous 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
organization of the necessary army.
Without his browning achievements
as the great organizer of the British
campaign in the European war, Kitch-
ener had already won wide and last
ing fame by his many campaigns in
Egypt, South Africa and in India.
Father Was Soldier.
He was born June "a, 1885, in
County Kerry, Ireland, a fact that
gave rise to a general belief that he
was of Irish blood, but his parents
were of French and English descent.
His father was a soldier, but of no
very high rank. He had managed to