The Outlook 1916-06-14

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The Outlook JUNE 14, 1916 Offices, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York THE STORY OF THE WAR: KITCHENER OF KHARTUM The death of no one man can vitally affect the issues of the vast conflict now going on in Europe. Neither Kaiser, Czar, nor King, neither Hindenburg nor Kitchener, has carried on his shoulders the single respon- sibility, nor, in all probability, is such a war as this to be settled’ by one man’s genius. Earnestly as the British nation mourns Lord Kitchener’s death and acclaims his fame and achievement, it will steadily continue (to use the British soldiers’ favorite phrase) to “‘ carry on.” It has been one of the peculiar features of a democracy at war—for England is es- sentially a democracy—that such a great figure as Kitchener has been subject to bitter and persistent attack. How far he blundered and how far he had to assume the fault of others cannot here be discussed. It certainly became evident that even for his stalwart body and ever-working brain too many responsibilities, or too many kinds of responsibilities, had been put upon one man, and that error was remedied by a distri- bution of functions. To-day fault-finding has been forgotten in the nation’s recognition of the immensity of Great Britain’s obligation to her warrior dead at the post of duty. Lord Kitchener was on his way to Russia to consult with the Russian war leaders as to munitions and war plans. His vessel, the Hampshire, an old-type cruiser of little war value, was blown to pieces either by a torpedo ora mine—probably the latter. Whether the ship was attacked by Germans, or even whether the mine was a German mine, is un- certain as we write. The right to attack such a war-ship by submarine or by a mine laid in its course is beyond question, aluhough there are important restrictions in international law about the use of mines in the high seas. One consequence.of this disaster may be a fuller discussion and disclosure of fact about the use and abuse of mines—each side now charges the other with violations of law, but the nature of mines and mine-laying is such that it is extremely difficult to prove charges made. The Hampshire went down, almost instantly, at eight o’clock on the night of June 5, off the Orkney Islands (see map on page 335). Not a man is known to have been saved ; observers assert that four boats left the ship, but the waves were rough, and up to noon of June 7 only a few bodies and a broken boat were found. Officers and crew are said to have numbered between three and four hundred—a small complement for a ship of the Hampshire’s class. With Lord Kitchener were lost his staff, including Hugh James O’Beirne, former counselor of the British Embassy at Petrograd and at one time Minister to Bulgaria; Major Oswald Arthur Gerald Fitzgerald, Lord Kitchener’s military secretary and former military attaché in Egypt; Brigadier-General Arthur Eller- shaw; Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson, one of the greatest munitions experts in the United Kingdom ; and others. KITCHENER’S SERVICE TO ENGLAND Kitchener’s great achievement in_ this war was so important, so impossible of ex- ecution by any one else, so surprising to the world in its extent and success, that it must not for a second be dimmed by talking about minor matters. Kitchener’s Army! By volunteering only, Great Britain enrolled five million men! ‘ For King and Kitchener” was one of the mottoes. ‘“« Kitchener’s Mob” was the familiar name the men of the first army applied to them- selves. With all loyal respect to the King, Englishmen know and say that Kitchener’s name was the strongest possible rallying cry. King George put a simple fact clearly when he said in his general orders to the army after the disaster : Field Marshal Lord Kitchener gave forty-five years of distinguished service to the state, and it was largely due to his administrative genius and unwearying energy that the country was able to create and place in the field the 333