South African War: Kitchener of Khartoum.

LORD KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM.

BORN on the 24th June, 1850, appointed to the Royal Engineers in January, 1871, this extraordinary man's career did not begin to shape itself with any particular distinctness until 1883, when, as a Captain, with a reputation for hardheadedness and a knowledge of Arabic, he accepted employment with the Egyptian Army. In the Nile Expedition of 1884-5 he served as D.A.A. and Q.M.G., and won a brevet; in 1886, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he was made Governor-General of the Red Sea Littoral and Commandant of Suakim; in 1888 he was severely wounded at Handoub; in 1888-9 he commanded a brigade of the Egyptian Army in the Soudan, being present at Gemaizah and Toski; and thereafter, through the gradual improvement of the Egyptian Army, the expedition to Dongola, the battle of the Atbara, and the final pulverization of the Mahdist tyranny, we know him either as the Sirdar, or as "Kitchener of Khartoum."

It is only exceptionally strong men whose history is an invariable reflex of their character, but no merely strong man ever did the things that Kitchener has done. The commonly accepted idea of him, based largely upon brilliant but misleading generalization, is that he is principally compounded of inflexible determination and organizing capacity; and, when someone smartly remarked that he would make a splendid manager of the Army and Navy Stores, the world in general was pleased with the definition, and made up its mind for the time being to chiefly admire Lord Kitchener as a well-nigh infallible administrator who left as little as possible to chance, and who "came out on top "largely because he had made up his mind to do so.

Yet this conception does poor justice to the real greatness of a character like Kitchener’s. We have many strong men in this world, and some of them quite as strong, and just as good organizers in their own particular lines, as the ex-Sirdar. But surely some special credit must given for high ideals, some extra merit accorded for the surmounting of peculiar obstacles. n Kitchener entered it the Egyptian Army was badly discredited. Two years later the Mahdist power was in the ascendant, and nothing but sublime patience, coupled with almost superhuman consciousness of his own capacities, could have upheld Kitchener in the task that lay before him. Is there no poetry in the spectacle of this man rising gradually and patiently from the work of spying in disguise upon the Mahdist movements to that of forging the weapon which was finally to convert those movements into utter disintegration, and restore a great country to civilization and prosperity? The singular devotion of Lord Kitchener to the idea of the Gordon College at Khartoum should be some proof, if any were wanted, that he does not take simply a gross, material view of the work in which he happens to be engaged.

At the same time it would be ridiculous to suggest that Lord Kitchener has exactly what one would call a lovable character. It is possible that he has found it necessary to deliberately suppress many human emotions as likely to interfere inconveniently with the attainment of his objects. But the result is not altogether pleasing. No harder taskmaster ever lived than was Kitchener during the years that he was engaged in preparing for his great coup; and loyal and zealous as were his chosen instruments, there could not have been much real love lost between them and this man of steel. It was well known during that period that service with the Sirdar was "all right so far as it went," but beyond a certain point it was painfully precarious. Such human considerations as ill-health, or occasional longing for a change of scene, did not weigh with the Sirdar. Nothing was good enough for him but absolute fitness and continuous application. If a man's health broke down temporarily under the strain there was nothing more to be said. He could go home, but he could not expect to come back. Kitchener has no patience with subordinates who cannot work night and day for a few years at a stretch.

On the other hand his marvellous forethought and attention to detail soon make those under him feel what a comfort it is to have a real master mind at work in any great operation of war. That is where his services will be invaluable in South Africa. Where there has been confusion there will soon be complete order, deficiencies will be made up, badly-working parts will be adjusted. Then suddenly one day we shall wake up and find the whole thing done, and done so thoroughly, that everyone will be surprised that it was not done before. It is quite possible, too, that some feelings will be jarred, some reputations, even, shattered in the process.

		Field Marshal Lord Kitchener of Khartoum. "British field marshal, imperial administrator, conqueror of the Sudan, Commander in Chief during the South African War, and (perhaps his most important role) Secretary of State for War at the beginning of World War I. At that time he organized armies on a scale unprecedented in British history and became a symbol of the national will to victory."
		In 1902, Commander Charles N. Robinson, R.N., edited and published Celebrities of the Army, a collection of portraits and short biographies of senior offices and major heroes of the South African War. These include Baden-Powell and several officers with whom he served in India and Africa both before and during the war. The portraits are quite elegant and are presented along with biographical information.
		It was at the Siege and Defense of Mafeking during the South African (Anglo-Boer) War that Baden-Powell made his name and first gained public recognition. 1999-1902 marks the Centennial of the War. Developed as part of that observance, Perspectives on the South African War provides a collection of links to original and contemporary sources on the South African War.
		Robert Baden-Powell, Founder of the World Scout Movement, Chief Scout of the World. A Home Page for the Founder. Links Relating to Baden-Powell on the Pine Tree Web and elsewhere.

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