They naturally turned to Kitchener to
do the work. The satisfactory way in which he carried it through
earned for him the warm approval of Lord Derby, then Secretary of State
for the Colonies. One of his associates in Cyprus says of him there:
"We saw little of Kitchener at the club or anywhere else where
Englishmen mostly congregated, although he sometimes turned up at the
gymkhana meetings to contribute his share to their success. Kitchener
was always a hard worker, a gentleman with a long head who thought much
but said little. It is, of course, easy enough to prophesy when you
know, but honestly, to my mind, he looked a man who would go far if he
only had his chance."
As an immediate result of this work, Kitchener was given the rank of
Major, and sent with Lord Wolseley's expedition into Egypt--then in the
throes of civil war. One reason for his promotion was his ability to
speak Arabic. His several years in the East had not only taught him
the languages, but valuable insight into manners and customs.
The campaign was short and summary. The rebel forces were routed and
order established in northern Egypt. Kitchener's ability to organize,
and his knowledge of the people soon made him indispensable. His name
occurred so frequently in the official reports, that Lord Cromer, in
the home office, remarked: "This Kitchener seems to have a finger in
every pie.
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