HOME RULE AND THE ARMY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 78, 2 April 1914, Page 7

HOME RULE AND THE ARMY

SIR J. FRENCH & GENERAL EWART'S RESIGNATION PROBABLE SUCCESSORS NAMED GENERALS DOUGLAS AND SMITHDORR IEN. SECOND READING DEBATE. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) (TIMBS AND SIDNI3Y SUN SERVICES.) (Received April 2, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Ist April. General Sir Charles Douglas (Inspec-ior-General of the Homo Forces) is first favourite as successor to Sir John French as Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien (General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern command) as successor to General Ewart. | In the event of such changes it is sug- I gested that General Sir lan Hamilton J will succeed General Douglas. j (Received April 2, 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. General Sir lan Hamilton has not received any communication with regard to his possible appointment to the Army Council. Addressing the Cadets at Duntroon, General Hamilton emphasised the fact that it wa,s a soldier's duty to obey. The State must be supreme. [General Sir Charles Whittingham Horsley Douglas was born in 1850, and has had a distinguished career. He joined the 92nd Highlanders in 1869, and as J adjutant served during the Afghan war, 1879-80. He was present at the actions of Charasiab and Sherpur, and took part in the historic march from Cabul to Kandahar. He was also present at the action of Kandahar, where his horse was shot under him, and wa6 mentioned in despatches, and later served in J,he Gordon Highlanders in the Boer war of 1880-1881, being present at the battle of Majuba. He was again mentioned in despatches during the Suakim Expedition, and, as chief staff officer of the First Division of the South African Field Force, in 1899, took part in the battle of Magersfontein. 'Subsequently he commanded the 9th Brigade and a column of all arms in the late Boer war, being twice mentioned in despatches. For his services he was promoted to {he rank of Major-General, and received the Queen's medal with four clasps. From 1904 to 1909 he filled the position of Second Military Member of the Army Council and Adjutant^ eneral to the Forces, and from 1909-12 was General Officer Commanding in the chief Southern command. General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith- | Dorrien was born in 1868, and was edu- | cated at Harrow. He entered the Army as a member of the Sherwood Foresters, | Derby Regiment, in 1876, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in I 1899. In 1879 he served in the Zulu war, was mentioned in despatches, and received a medal with clasps, and after- ] wards took part in the Egyptian campaign, receiving the Khedive's star. In 1884 he took- part in the Nile Expedi- | tion, the Soudan campaign, and in 188586 was with the Soudan Frontier Field Force: was again mentioned in despatches, and received the Distinguished Service Order. He also took part in the Chitral Relief Force, 1895, served in the j Tirah campaign on the North-west Frontier of India, in the Nile Expedition of 1898, and as Major-General commanded a brigade and a division in tho South African Boer war of 1900, being twice mentioned in despatches^ and receiving the Queen's medal with five clasps. Subsequently he commanded the 4th Quetta' Division in the Indian Army from| 1903 to 1907, received the rank of General in 1912, since which time he has been in" charge of the Southern command.]