New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-07

! named, like his father before him, for
Lord Nelson, was born on Midsummer
Day, Juno "a. 1850. of English and
French parentage. His fathers family
had been settled in Sussex for several
centuries, and his mothers family, the
Chevaliers, were French Huguenots,
who had also been established there
for many generations. His father was
an English army officer, who on his
retirement from active service pur-
chased an estate in Ireland. and it was
during the residence OF the family
there that the future field marshal was
born.
His childhood was spent partly In
England and partly in France and his
professional education was gained at
Woolwich as a military engineer. On
completing his course he went over to
France for a vacation. and was there
when he received his commission as a
sub-lieutenant. That was in the midst
of the Franco-German War Of 1S70-7l.
and despite his fathers prohibition
and the danger Of mourning the CEN
sure of the War Office he enlisted in
the French army as a private and
served for some time in the ranks. He
also took part In several balloon ascen-
sions for purposes Of military observa-
ton.
Serious illness put an end for the
time TO his campaigning and he re-
turned TO England 10 recuperate, and
then entered the army as lieutenant Of
the Royal Engineers. Now, at last,
Kitchener's career had begun in ear
nest, and ii is highly characteristic OF
the man that, impatient OF the ordi-
nary routine OF the army and its hope
less prospects Of speedy advancement,
he should look eagerly about him for
some employment or enterprise In
which he might gain experience and
work of some Of his superabundant
energy. The wished for opportunity
coon arrived. Early in 1874 an expe-
dition was sent by the Palestine EX-
ploration Fund TO carry out survey of
Western Palestine. Kitchener offered
his services, was accepted by the di-
rectors of the expedition and In due
time arrived in the Holy Land, where
he did valuable work and gained valu-
able experience.
After the attack on the party at
Safed. in 1878. he returned 10 England,
and until 1867 was engaged in laying
down the Palestine Exploration Funds
map. Returning TO the Holy Land in
1877. he executed the whole OF the sur
vey Of Galilee. In 1873 he was sent to
Cyprus to organize the courts. He was
next appointed Vice-Consul at Ere
roum. and subsequently made a survey
OF the entire island Of Cyprus.
Service in Egypt.
On his promotion TO a captains rank,
in 1888. he had the good fortune to
take service in Egypt under Sir Evelyn
Wood, who as Sirdar was then reorgan-
ling the Fellaheen army. There his
capacity for hard work, together with
his eagerness 20 accept responsibility,
found recognition. Whether as second
in command of cavalry regiment, in
bridging river or in making a road
across the unstable sand. acquiring the
native language or studying the Egyp-
tian character. he prosecuted all with
untiring industry. These services were
Of so much Importance TO the British
authorities that he was given an APP
pointment on the intelligence staff
when the troubles in the Soudan made
necessary the dispatch of trustworthy
English officers 10 Dongola in advance
of Lord Wolseley's Nile expedition.
There Kitchener was always the one
selected for any work that demanded
great force of character combined with
tact and resourcefulness in dealing
with intrigues Of disloyal officials or
winning over the chiefs who wavered
between fear of Egyptian power and a
hankering after the good things prom
ised by Mahdism.
Alone and unarmed among semi-hos-
tile Arabs, he endeavored to persuade
them that their interests would be best
served il they took part with British
and Egyptian forces against the Der
wish rebellion. When persuasive rea-
soning failed with these powerful
chiefs, he did not shrink from telling
them what punishment they would suf-
fer when the White Emir and his army
came.
With tho Nile expedition Kitchener's
promotion was rapid He became one
Of the two majors of cavalry in 1884,
was made lieutenant colonel in 1885.
and became colonel in 1888. He was
deputy assistant adjutant and quarter
master general in the expedition. He
was in command of a brigade Of the
Egyptian army in the operations near
Suakim in December, 1888, and was
present In the engagements at &C.
maizah and at Toski. in 1889.
Sirdar of the fellaheen.
An intelligence officer Of the first
order, he had shown himself 70 be
tactician second TO none, as well as an
administrator OF proved ability. As
the instrument of Providence the man
was rapidly maturing for the task
awaiting him; and his final opportunity
came when, in 1890, he was appointed
TO succeed Sir Francis Grenfell as
Sirdar of the Egyptian army. In 1862
Bismarck was called TO the helm OF
political affairs in Berlin, and by the
year 1870 he had fought three cam
paigns and recreated the German En-
pire. In 1890 Kitchener was placed
at the helm of military affairs in Cairo,
and by 1898 he had fought three cam
paigns and reconquered the Soudan.
In each case the period Of activity was
Just eight years, and il would really be
hard TO say which was the bigger per-
sonal feat-the recreation Of Germany