"LUCKY" HAIG A GREAT CAVALRY

LEADER COMMANDER OF THE FIRST ARMY CORPS. Few officers in the British Army, says a writer in an Australian journal, have studied their profession bo closely as Lieutenant-Gfeneral Sir Douglas Haig, whose appointment to the command of the First. Army Corps of the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium will be welcomed everywhere in the service. His success has been so marked, and Ids promotion so rapid, that he has come to be known in Army circles as "Lucky" Haig, but that his 'luck" has been simply the reward for strenuous and brilliant work is acknowledged. Lord Kitchener has described him as "one of the most thoughtful and best educated of our cavalry officers in their own rank," whilst General French, commenting on his work in South Africa, said "he has shown throughout zeal, untiring energy and consummate ability." As a cavalry leader he is said to have no equal in Britain, unless, perhaps, the present Commander-in-Chief. General Haig attributes his success to t!he fact that, early in his career, he commenced to study the tactics and strategy of German cavalry leaders, and has consistently followed their teachings since. At the same time, it is interesting to know that he is not greatly impressed with the German cavalry of the present day, and is said to have given it as his opinion that, numbers being equal, the British cavalry as now organised are greatly superior to the corresponding arm of the German land forces. And he has had much to do with bringing it up to its present standard, for, whilst he has been in command at Aldershot for the past three years, he has devoted his whole time and energy to advancing the efficiency of the premier British garrison — with what success we shall soon know. ON ACTIVE SERVICE. Born in 1861. General Haig at the age of twenty-four years was gazetted lieutenant in the 7th Hussars. He speedily made his mark in the regiment, and after only a little over three years' service was appointed adjutant, filling that office from 1888 to 1892. As captain, to which lie was promoted in 1891, he acted as aide-de-camp to the InspectorGeneral of Cavalry (1894-95), and in 1897 he graduated at the Staff College. When trouble ' broke out in Egypt in. 1898 he -was appointed to the Egyptian Army, and seTved with the troops of the Khedive in the Nil© expedition of that year. He took part in the march along the north bank of the 'Atbara, and, under General Hunter, in the reconnaissance in force in front of Mahmoud's camp, where he rendered valuable assistance in the charging and fighting that took place during the retirement to the British force then at Abadar. He was also present at the battle of Atbara, in which Kitchener, by his famous victory, not only put an end to the Dervish advance on the Upper Nile, but opened the way to Orndurman and Khartoum. When Kitchener ultimately moved, on Osman Digna's stronghold, .Captain Haig -was busily employed with the cavalry in the scouting work that preceded the assault. He took part in the final great battle, and was present at the occupation of Khartoum. At the close of the campaign Captain Haig vacated hie Egyptian appointment, and returned Home, to take. command of- a squadron 6f the 7th ' Hussars. ~ Further' Staff employment followed, -when in 1899 he was appointed brigade-major to the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot. He was promoted substantive major the same year. THE BOER 'WAR. On the outbreak of the Boer War Major Haig went to South Africa with General French, and was gazetted De-puty-Assistant Adjutant-General of the Cavalry Division of the South African Field Force, in which capacity ho served -until 1900, when he was advanced to Assistant Adjutant-General of South Africa. He was present during the earlier fighting in Natal, taking part, as Chief Staff Officer to General French, in the actions of Elandsaagte, Rietfontein and Lombard's Kop. Prior to the investment of Ladysmith by the Boers Major Haig was ordered by the late General Bulter to proceed to Cape Town in readiness to join the Cavalry Divi sion then on the way out, and he accompanied General French in the last train which left Ladysmith prior to the siege. In Cape Colony he took part with General French in th» operations round* Colesberg, south of the Orange River. Early in 1900 he vras with General French during the movements of the forces in the north of Cape Colony preparatory to the relief of Kimberley, and he accompanied his chief .on several important reconnoitring expeditions in the neighbourhood of the Riet River. After the relief of Kimberley Major Haig went to ths Orange Free State, where he participated in all the important engagements which concluded with the occupatioD of Bloemfontein, after the operations at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Karee Siding, Vet River, and Zand River. Continuing the advance into the Transvaal, he was engaged in the fighting near Johannesburg and Pretoria and in the action at Diamond Hill. In subsequent operations more than fifty columns came under his command. In 1901 he wa's given the command of the 17th Lancers, but he_ did not serve them regimentally, being actively engaged elsewhere during the sweeping operations that took place during the concluding twelve months of the war. On the termination of the campaign LieutenantColonel Haig (he had been promoted to this rank in tie meantime) was awarded the C.8., the Queen' 6 Modal' with seven clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was appointed an extra A.D.C. to the King with the brevet of Colonel. INCREASED EFFICIENCY. In 1903 Colonel Haig was appointed Inspector-General of Cavalry in India. The post was given to him at the direct request of Lord Kitchener, who had formed a very high opinion of his capabilities during the Soudan campaign. Later the same year he was honoured with the C.V.0., and was promoted Major-General. Whilst in India General Haig won golden opinions on all sides, in spite of the austere character of his conception of cavalry efficiency. In 1906 he returned Home to serve at the War Office as Director of Military Training. Previously, strong cavalry representation on the headquarters staff of the Army had not been the rule, and when Major-General Haig was selected for the important office it was the cause of much satisfaction to the mounted brandies of the service, as indicating anew era in cavalry efficiency. This anticipation was fully realised, and as a result of his excellent work he was appointed Director of Staff Duties at the War Office, where he remained until 1909. The able manner in which he handled the cavalry division during the manoeuvres of thiit year marked him out ns the legitimate successor to General French as cliief cavalry leader. He was created K.C.V.O. after the manoeuvres, and in the same year went back to India as Chief of Staff, which appointment he vacated iv 1912 to succeed General Smith-Doriien as General Officer Com-manding-in-Chief at Aldershot. His success at Aldershot has shown itself in a remarkable manner in the increased efficiency of the British cavalry during the paeb three year*.