Sir Douglas Haig.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 5

Sir Douglas Haig.

Sir John French ha.s handed over the command of the British Army in Franco and Flanders to the General who is naturally his successor. Sir Douglas Haig i s in his fifty-fourth year, nine yedrs younger than his late leader. Like Sir John French, he is a cavalryman, and like him he made a great reputation in South Africa. Deforo' that ho had .served in the campaign that conquered the Soudan. \ n the Colesbcrg operation*, he was Sir John French's Chief Staff Officer, and a historian of tho war quotes orders of his as models of their kind. He rode with Sir John French in the relief of Kiniberlcy, and subsequently commanded a group of columns. Ho then went to India, where he held high appointments, the last being Chief of tho General Staff. In 19] 2 he returned to England to cpmmand at Aldershot. When the Expeditionary Force wont to France he commanded the First Army Corps, and in the retreat from Mons he greatly distinguished himself. Sir John French commended him for his skilful extrication of his corps from an exceptionally difficult position on tho night of Augxist 2oth, and said it wa.s impossible for him to speak too highly of the skill he had shown during tho whole retreat. In the battles oi' Ypres during the autumn, Sir Douglas Haig's First Army. Corps was assailed by greatly superior numbers. Writing of tho repulse of tho Prussian Guard early in November, Sir John French said: —

Throughout this trying period Sir Douglas Haig, ably assisted by his divisional and brigade commanders, held the line with marvellous tenacity and undaunted courage. Words fail me to express the admiration I feel for their conduct, or my sense of tho incalculable services they rendered. I venture to predict that their deeds during those days of stress and trial will furnish some of the most brilliant chapters which will be found in tho military history of our time.

The two generals stood side by side at Hboge on the critical October 31st when news came that the First Division was retiring, which meant that the Germans were on the point of breaking through. With the increase in tho British forces, Sir Douglas Haig was promoted to command the First Army, which has been operating in tho Labasseo region. JJo and Sir John French have been closely associated since the beginning of the war, and he may be presumed to know as much as can be known of his late Chief's ideas and methods. His record is an assurance that he will carry on the great

work well