LORD KITCHENER’S TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2710, 14 January 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER’S TOUR.

CABLE NEWS.

TiUE LIGHTS THAT FAILED

United Puichb Abhooiation —Coi’Ykigiit SYNDEY, Jan. 13. The inquiry made elicited that the failure of the searchlights when Lord Kitchener was inspecting the harbor defence was duo to the order miscarrying. AIELBQURNE, Jan. 13. Lord Kitchener is inquiring into matters relating to the Military Board of Control. He inspected the Colonial Ammunition Factory. INSPECTION OF MELBOURNE FORTS. Lord Kitchener paid a visit of inspection to the forts. From aboard a steamer he watched -firing operations against a suppositious attacking fleet, and afterwards visited, the camps of the land forces, keenly watching the operations “WHAT’S THAT THING FOR?” Describing the operations at the Kitchener camp at Brisbane, the “Sydney Morning Herald” says:—At midnight Colonel Lyster, commanding at Lvtton camp, received from Government House two short orders. At 2 o’clock the whole force in camp was turned out. At 3 o’clock it started. A little after daybreak the Light Horse were out in the bush. 15 miles away. At 8 o’clock" Lord Kitchener was on the spot, seeing for himself how things had been done. The position the troops had to take up was in difficult bush. There were four guns with the Light Horse and two with the infantry, and nowhere in particular to station them. Lord Kitchen, or had said he would make a very careful inspection. He said he knew that the line in front was covered with very thick timber, and this would give him an opportunity of testing the resourcefulness of the officers. Lord Kitchener had to hurry to Brisbane about midday to inspect some of the Brisbane cadets. He was back at 4 o’clock on the line of march at the camp. The infantry which came past had mostlv marched 20 miles since 3 o’clock in the morning. The Light Horse had ridden between 30 and 40 miles. All the troops had been out "from 3 o’clock in the morning! to near 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Lord Kitchener held that this would be a pood test of the endurance .and stamina, of the men and horses.

This march past of sweating, dusty regiments on the road back from a 20 mile march and ,a day’s hard work is the only inarch past of the Queensland troops at which Lord' Kitchener has been present. There was an idea before he came that he might want to see the troops at a ceremonial parade on the parade ground at LvtTon camp. Some, where near the saluting base something, between a bandstand and a pavilion was put up and dressed in red muslin. When Lord Kitchener arrived out to church parade on Sunday it was the first thing lie noticed. “What’s that thing for?” lie said. The l pavilion was afterwards dismantled. There is an _ impression growing in Brisbane that “Iv.” has v©ry little use for pavilions. As to the test- to which Lord Kitchener put the officers, it seemed that everything went well up to time, though it is quite probable that he will have a few home truths to tell when the time comes. Although the midnight orders were a surprise, there was a pretty general idea that they were coming. The greater part of the camp went to bed pretty much as it stood up, and there was. perhaps, a greater earnestness noticeable than is generally found in the camps.