The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-06

Of transport and intelligent depart
ments, and avoided these troubles In
the expedition which he himself led
some years later. In the meantime
kitcener was employed in innumer-
able fights and raids against the der
wishes or Mahdists OF Southern Egypt.
In 1886 he became governor OF the
Red Sea territories and set in motion
a serioes of raids on the notorious Os-
man Digna, the dervish leader. In
one Of these raids Kitchener's men
were fanked and put to flight, during
which he received bullet which
broke is jaw.
BY this time much was heard in
England Of Kitcener's work in Egypt
and when he returned there for a
short rest he was received with honor
and nominated aide.de-camp Of
Quen Victoria. Wit his health recru.
tied. he went back to Egypt where, on
the resignation Of Sir Francis Gren-
fell, he was appointed Sirdar (Com.
mander)' of the Egyptian army. His
really great career dates from that
time.
AS IN instance of the self.confidence
with which Kitchener undertook his
tasks In Egypt is recalled how he dealt
with the War Office as few generals
before him ever dared. On one oc.
casion he sent home for a special kind
Of gun. The War Office suggested an
other kind. The Sirdar repeated his
orders. Next he was informed that
the War Office guns had ben forward.
ed, whereupon he dispatched q polite
ly insolent message home saying that
he was very grateful, but the War Of
flee could keep its guns. His massage
read: II can throw stones at the
deryishcs myself" AS consequence,
the guns he asked for were forwarded
without delay.
The Kitchener campaign that ended
wit the recapture Of Khartum was con.
sidered by military experts as perfect.
ly organized and ,faultlessly conducted.
TIE Egyptian army that Kitchener had
worked UP to such remarkable eff.
cheney was, when he first took charge
Of 1t, band of unpaid, unfed and un-
dermined fellahen. 1t was said to be
an army without stomach, heart or
backbone" but Kitchener worked over
these helpless reeds Of broken natives
and made of them some Of the finest
of black battalions.
The fight at Omdurman, September
2, 1898, just across the Nile from
khartum, was the greatest battle or
.kitchener's time in Egypt. Osman
Digna faced him with $4,000 Mahdists,
while he ad 10000 men. Wen the bat
tie was over, 1000 OF te Mahdists had
been killed outright, 10000 wounded,
and 400C taken prisoners, while the
English and Egyptian loss altogether
was under 500 men.
With the capture Of Khartum, cap.
ftal fthe Sudan, which meant the re-
establishment Of British possession OF
these upper reaches OF the Nile. Hitch.
ener became the object OF hero.wor.
ship In England. His campaign had
been, and is to this day, much criti.
cized, however, because of its ruth.
lessness. 1t was charged Kitchener
trampled on his foes in an almost bar.
barous countrymen to found college
at Khartum wherein the sons of the
dervish chiefs he had fought and over
whelmed' might be educated In the
knowledge of the West, a request that
met with such response among the
British people that the fund required
was far over subscribed.
For his triumphs In the Sudan he
was raised to the peerage as Baron