The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-09
EARL KITCHENER
DROWNED AT SEA
British War Minister and Staff
Lost With Cruiser.
LONDON IS STUNNED BY NEWS

Warship Hampshire Is Destroyed by
Mine or Torpedo-shores Of Orkney
Islands Searched for Survivors
Only One Booat Found-victims on
Mission to Russia.
London, June THE death of Earl
Kitchener, secretary of state for war
England's greatest military organizer
and the conqueror of the Sudan, with
his entire staff, when the cruiser
Hampshire was sunk off the Orkney
Islands by mine or torpedo, was
officially announced by the admiralty.
The news of England's greatest per.
sonal loss since the war has stunned
London, already hardened to shocks.
Admiral Jellicoe, commander Of the
British grand fleet, has reported to the
admiralty that the cruiser, with Kitch-
ener and his staff aboard, has been de.
stroyed.
Was Going to Russia.
Earl Kitchener was on his way to
Russia. Admiral Jellicoe reports there
is little hope that there were any sur
vivors.
Four boats were seen to leave the
Hamphire, but a heavy sea was run
ming. Only capsized boat and some
bodies have been found.
Accompanying Earl Kitchener as his
staff were Hugh James O'Beirne, for
mer councillor of the British embassy
at Petrograd and former minister at
Sofia; 0. A. Fitzgerald, Earl Kitchen
er's private military secretary; Brig
adler General Ellershaw, and Sir Fred
erick Donaldson.
Reports of Admiral JelIicoC.
Admiral Jellicoe's report to the ad-
miralty follows:
Il have to report with deep regret
that his Dajesty's ship Hampshire,
Captain Herbert j. Savill r. NJ, with
Lord Kitchener and his staff on hoard,
was sunk at night at about eight
o'clock to the west of the Orkneys,
either by mine or torpedo.
-Four boats were seen by observers
on shore to leave the ship. The wind
was north northwest and heavy seas
were running. Patrol vessels and de-
stroyers at once proceeded to the spot
and a party was sent along the coast
to search, but only some bodies and
capsized boat have been found up to
the present. AS the whole shore has
been searched from the seward
greatly fear that there is little hope
Of there being any survivors.
"No report has yet been received
from the search party on shore.
I'll. VI. S. Hampshire was on her
way to Russia"
War Council Called.
When the news of the sinking of the
Hampshire was received in London, a
meeting Of the British war council
was Immediately called. Sir William
Robertson, who probably will become
the head of the war Office Sir Ed
ward Grey, secretary for foreign af-
fairs; Reginald McKenna, chancellor
of the exchequer and David Lloyd
George, minister of munitions, were
present at the council.
The newspaper reporters at the war
Office who at the time had not heard
the news regarding Earl Kitchener.
announced:
Neither Earl Kitchener nor Pre-
mier Asquith was present"
Robertson May Succeed Him.
The first question asked when the
news of Kitchener's death was an
nounced was: "Who will succeed
him." The answer invariably was,
Robertson, Of course"
Sir William Robertson, who is re-
garded as the only possible successor
to Earl Kitchener as the head of the
British army, already had taken over
the war secretary's duties temporarily
when the secretary started on his i'll
fated journey. On Saturday and again
Monday he had audiences with King
George to report the activities on the
British trent, in which the Canadians
have so DISTINGUISHED themselves.