indisposition to listen to advice
on such subjects -- Lord K. shy of strangers -- His treatment of
the Territorial Forces -- Their weak point at the outset of
hostilities, not having the necessary strength to mobilize at war
establishment -- Effect of this on the general plans -- The way
the Territorials dwindled after taking the field -- Lord K.
inclined at first to pile up divisions without providing them
with the requisite reservoirs of reserves -- His feat in
organizing four regular divisions in addition to those in the
Expeditionary Force -- His immediate recognition of the magnitude
of the contest -- He makes things hum in the War Office -- His
differences of opinion with G.H.Q. -- The inability of G.H.Q. to
realize that a vast expansion of the military forces was the
matter of primary importance -- Lord K.'s relations with Sir J.
French -- The despatch of Sir H. Smith-Dorrien to command the
Second Corps -- Sir J. French not well treated at the time of the
Antwerp affair -- The relegation of the General Staff at the War
Office to the background in the early days -- Question whether
this was entirely due to its having suffered in efficiency by the
withdrawals which took place on mobilization -- The General Staff
only eliminated in respect to operations.

My first meeting with Lord Kitchener had taken place under conditions
that augured no agreeable experience. It was in March or April 1901.
At that time I had charge of a heterogeneous collection of guns in a
body of troops operating in the Eastern Transvaal and commanded by
General Walter Kitchener, the Chief's brother, and was also used by
him as a sort of second-in-command to take charge of portions of the
force when detached from time to time. Our commando had trekked out
from Belfast and had camped in a likely spot, and on the morrow he
took out part of the force in one direction and sent me off with part
of the force in another direction, while the remainder stayed in camp
guarding the impedimenta. I tumbled across a few snipers, and we
enjoyed a harmless scrap; but Walter butted into a whole lot of
truculent burghers. These were being reinforced and were full of
fight, so he decided to retire, and also to retire the camp; but the
message directing me to conform unfortunately went astray. The result
was that before long I found myself covering the retirement