Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-07
LORD KITCHENER
PER|SHES AT SEA
Britain's War Head Lost When
Warship Is Destroyed.
CRAFT BLOWN UP BY NINE
Was on Way to Russia With His Staff
Aboard the Cruiser Hamp.
shire-No Survlv.
ors Reported.


London, June TX. Of K
Drowned. Official" flashed newspaper
placards here. Ten minutes later all
London knew of the tragic death OF
Lord Kitchener off the Orkney island
at night.
Coming on top of the recent naval
action, the news hit the public stag.
gering blow, the whole of London be.
ing paralyzed for few minutes, while
people slowly recovered from the
shock. In the eyes of the public Bri.
tain had no more popular idol than
Kitchener, and his loss meant more
than the death of thousands on the
battlefield or the destruction Of a
dozen ships.
NotabIes With Kitchener.
With Kitchener on the cruiser
Hampshire were his military secre-
tary, Col. o. A. Fitzgerald; Brigadier
General Ellershaw of the ministry of
munitions, Sir Frederick Donaldson,
ordnance expert; Lieut.. R. D. Mac
Pherson, attached to Ellershaw's
staff; Lieutenant Robinson, Donald.
sons aid, and Hugh Obeirne of the
foreign Office, formerly councillor at
Petrograd and minister at Sofia.
The Hampshire, cruiser of the
County class, with tonnage of 10000,
had a crew of between 400 and 500
men. So far not soul is reported to
have been saved, heavy sea prevent.
ing the rescue ships from getting up
in time, though the disaster was plain.
ly visible to observers on shore.
Hampshire Sunk by Mine.
The general opinion is that the
Hampshire was the victim of a mine
rather than torpedo, as the sea was
running high and the ship was so
speedy that it would have been practi-
cally impossible to hit her with a tor
pedo. She blew up in broad daylight.
Official announcement of the de-
struction Of the Hampshire was made
by the British admiralty. The follow
ing official report was made:
1.-THE admiralty reports with deep re-
greet that the ship Hampshire with
Lord Kitchener and his staff on board
was sunk last night about eight o'clock
off the Orkney islands either by q
mine or torpedo.
-Four boats were seen by observers
on the shore to leave the ship.
Heavy Seas Running.
Heavy seas were running, but pa.
troll vessels and destroyers at once
to the scene.
AT the same time party was sent
along the shore to search for bodies.
Only a capsized boat had been found
Up to the time Of the issuance Of this
eport. .ta,E,.l
"The whole shore has been searched
rom the seaward but It is greatly
cared that there is little hope for any
urvivors. No report has yet been re-
eived from the search party On shore.
The Hampshire was proceeding to
lussia."
Stood Next % Roberts.
Lord Kitchener stood next to Lord
loberts as the most admired military
lol in the British empire.
H had been secretary of state for
7ar in the British government since
lugust S, 1914, the day after that on
hitch declarations of war were ex-
hanged between England and Ger
lany.
News of the destruction of the
and the probable death Of
ord Kitchener and all the members of
Is staff came as one of the most stag
ering blows received in England since
le war started.
Lord Kitchener was sixty-six years
Id, having been born at Bally Long.
,rd in county Kerry, Ireland ON June
/, 1850.
On Special Mission.
It was stated that Lord Kitchener's
Up to Petrograd was special mis-.
on" 1t is believed to have related
, the Russian offensive on the east
ont as an Offset to the pressure be.
e exerted by the Teutons against the
alians and against the French at Yer.
un.
The report to the admiralty of the
1873 of the Hampshire was made to the
lmiralty by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe,
Of the British grand feet.
The Hampshire was vessel of
1850 tons and had been in commits
on for about fifteen years.