GENERAL WILSON

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 9

GENERAL WILSON

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. EULOGY BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

' General Sir Henry Wilson, K-C.8., the British representative at the International Council at Versailles, lias had a distinguished career. When the world war began, he Occupied the position of Director of Military Operations at Army Headquarters in England, a command which he had held since 1910. The organising of the first Expeditionary Force, therefore, devolved upon him, and the rapidity with which it waa dispatched has been generally recognised as a line military achievement. General Wilson was born in May, 1864; he is thcrefire 53 years old. He Was a graduate from the Staff College, entered the army in 1884, and served througn the Burma campaign of 1885-S9 (wounded). He also took a distinguished part in the South African War, where ho was four times mentioned in dispatches, and rereceived a medal with five clasps. He. has held high positions in the Intelligence Department, and was Commandant at tho Staff College from 11)07 till 11)10, being succeeded there by General Sir William Robertson. Speaking in the House of Commons on December 20th, with regard to Sir Henry Wilson's appointment as British Military representative of tho Versailles Council, Mr. Lloyd Goorge stated:: —

"The British Government have chosen as their military representative one of the most brilliant mind-, in the British Army, Sir Henry Wilson, and not merely one of the most brilliant minds in the British Army, but in any European army. (Hoar, hear.) A profound student of strategy, lie maris a great reputation at the head of the Stall Collate, and has a unique experience in this war, not merely on th". British, but on the French and the Ritsatj.ii front. Ho has the great gift of being able to sot on with people of othei- nations, which is very valuable when you arc in an alliance It was he who organised the fust British Expeditionary Force, and there is no doubt that that organisation was a very conspicuous success. (Hear, hear.) Above all, he possesses tlie gift of imagination—-a gift which is rare even among soldiers. (Laughtor.) Tli.-"'e-foro, I think tlie House will agree that tho Government, in the appointment which they have made, have the services of a man of very great gifts and very great experience. (Hear, hear.) I am very glnd to bo able to say that, not merely are all the doubts that have boon expressed as to the possibilities of friction between the various distinguished men on this Council, who are concerned with these problems, been dispelled, but the fact of this institution having been set up has in itself enabled tbo machinery for Allied action to work much more smoothly than it has worked before." (Cheers.)