A CHANGE IN COMMAND.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 7

A CHANGE IN COMMAND.

SIR JOHN FRENCH RETIRES.

SUCCEEDED BY SIR DOUGLAS

HAJG.

LULL ON GREEK FRONTIER.

BOTH SIDES PREPARING FOR A

STRUGGLE.

ITALIAN ARMY IN ALBANIA.

(501 st DAY OF THE WAR,)

t THE WESTERN THEATRE.

THE BRITISH COMMAND.

P SIR JOHN FRENCH

RETIRES

INCESSANT STRAIN TOO

GREAT.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG

- SUCCEEDS

(Br C»bl*—Pro* • AwocUtion.— Coprri*l»-> (Received December 16th, 6.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. An official statement says:— "At Sir John French's own instance, General Sir Douglas Haig has succeeded to tho command of ■.;' tho British armies in France and Flanders." -•(Received Tjecombcr 16th, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. A War Office statement says :— "After sijrtocn months of severe and incessant strain, Sir John French, who has most nobly commanded the British Armies in Franco and Flanders, has rolin- -'■ • quished the command at his own * . instance. Government, full of appreciation and gratitude for his conspicuous services, havo requested Sir John French to v accept the appointment of Field Marshal Commanding the Troops in the United -Kingdom'.' Sir John French has , accepted this appointment. "Tho King lias conferred a Viscountry on Sir John French." Sir John French had a long internew with Mr Asquith to-night. [We refer in our leading columns to , tho work of Sir John French and Sir Douglas Haig.] CHANGES IN HIGH COMMANDS. . STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH. LONDON, Dccemoer 15. Replying to a qr.cstion in the House of Commons, as to whether General Joffro's appointment as Generalissimo necessitated any important chango in the higher British commands. Mr Asquith said ■ that some changes wero being made , which -would be announced in duo course, but they were not connected with General Joffre's now Junction. j 1 INTENSE AERIAL • ACTIVITY. . SUCCESSES OF ALLIES' AVIATORS. GRENADE FIGHTING IN ARTOL3. (Received December 16th, 8.50 p.m.) PARIS. December 16. An official communique says: — ''There has boon grenade fighting in Artois. Some big French bombs Met? °P a German ammunition depot in the «gion of Tracy-Ic-Val. - ; "There is further intenso Allied aerial activity to our advantage.'* , The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON. Dot-ember 15 (4.45 p.m.). ■■ Between the Oise mid tho Aisne a a.ca'O - shell of tho Allies exploded a «'erman munition denot north of niisaleine, in the region of Traev-lo-V t 1 " 19 rtois there ha s been n ! ■rrench aeroplane attack on three Ger-

man Albatross machines. One was forced to the ground. A squadron of French aeroplanes, in collaboration with British aeroplanes bombarded the German aerodrome at Horvillr, in the Sommo district?

MIiSOOA, December 16 (12.25 a.m ) Thirteen French aeroplanes bombardocJ the enemy's aviation camo at Hibsiieim, whero the hangars were hit The enemy 3 aeroplanes made a futile attempt'to chase the French raiders. Tho High Commissioner reports :— LONDON, Dec. 18th (12.50 a.m.). General Headquarters reports that the enemy exploded a m i ne south-east ot lpres, but the crater was occupied by our bombers, who drove off tho enemy's attack. To-day (Wednesday) our artillerv was active, and did damage to hostile trenches. In one of the air combats an enemy battleplane was driven to the ground. THE GEE3IAN REPORT. FOUR ALLIED AEROPLANES LOST. AMSTERDAM, December 15 A German communique savs- ' During aerial attacks on "Bapaume, leronno, and Mulhcin the enemy lost four aeroplanes by our. anti-aircraft gun-fire." [This message refers to the French i air raida reported yesterday.]