Lord Kitchener

In June, 1916, the British cruiser Hampshire struck a mine and the British Commonwealth suffered the loss of Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, Earl Kitchener of Khartum, "the greatest soldier-statesman of the century."

In London, last week, a book by one V. W. Germains, entitled The Truth About Kitchener, was published. In it appears a letter by no less a person than Germany's faded star, General Erich von Ludendorff. Writing to the author, General Ludendorff first apostrophised the late Field Marshal, then proceeded:

"His mysterious death was the work neither of a German mine nor a German torpedo, but of the power which would not permit the Russian Army to recover with the help of Lord Kitchener because the destruction of Czarist Russia had been determined upon. Lord Kitchener's death was caused by his ability."

It was recalled that Germany was the last nation in the War to desire the rehabilitation of the Tsar's army (for which purpose Kitchener started to Russia), and entered into negotiations with the revolutionaries for the express purpose of demoralizing not only the military but the civil power. It is a matter of common knowledge that this insidious bit of weltpolitik was only too successful; and it hardly seems possible that Germany can escape the responsibility (as an act of war) for Kitchener's death.

Sir George Arthur, Lord Kitchener's biographer and private secretary, was not slow to add his testimony:

"There is no question . . . that the secret of Kitchener's visit to Russia was betrayed by Russia to Germany, and as a result Germany made special preparations. And we know the name of the officer who laid the mine.

"Whether the secret was given away by Russia to prevent the Russian Army from recovering with Kitchener's help I cannot say, but of the betrayal there can be no question."