"LUCKY" HAIG.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16646, 3 September 1914, Page 3

"LUCKY" HAIG.

A GREAT CAVALRY LEADER. COMMANDER OF FIRST ARMY CORPS. Few officers in the British Army, says a writer in an Australian journal, havo studied their profession so closely as Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig, whose appointment to the command of the First Army Corps of the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium will bo welcomed everywhere in the service. His success has been so marked, and his promotion so rapid, that ho haß come to be known in Army circles as "Lucky" Haig, but that his " luok '' has been simply tho reward for strenuous and brilliant work is acknowledged. Lord Kitchener has described him as " ono of the most tnoughtful and best educated of our cavairy oificers in their own rank," whilst General French, commenting on nis work in South Africa, saia " he has shown throughout zeai, untiring energy and consummate ability." As a cavauy leader no is said to havo no equal in Britain, unless, perhaps, the present Commandor-in-Chief. General Haig attributes his success to the fact mat, early in his career, ho commenced to study tho 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, ana is said to havo given it as his opiniin that, numbors 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, wiihst he has been in command at Aldershot for the past three years, he has devoted his whole time and energy to advancing tho 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-i'our years was gazetted ILutonant in the 7th Hussars He spoedily made his mark in the regiment, and after only a little over three years' service was appointed adjutant, filling that office from 1838 to 1892. As > captain, to which he was promoted in 1891, he tcted as aido-de-camp to the InspectorGeneral of Cavalry (1894-5), and in 1897 he graduated at the Staff College. When'trouble broke out in Egypt in LB9B ho was appointed to the Egyptian Army, and served with the troops of tho Khedivo in the Nile expedition of that year. He took part in the march along tho north bank of tho Atbara, and, under General Hunter, in the reconnaissance in forco in front of Mahmoud s camp, where ho 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 Omdurman and Khartoum. When Kitchener ultimately moved on O.unan 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, s and was present at the occupation of Khartoum. At the close of the campaign Captain Haig vacated his Egyptian appointment, and returned home to take command of a squadron of 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 tho same year.

v : ■; THE BOER WAR. On the outbreak of the Boer War Major Haig went to South Africa with icneral French, and was gazetted Da-mty-Asaistant Adjutant-General of the 3avalry Division of the South African J v iold Force, in which capacity he ;2rvcd until 1900, when he was advanced to Assistant Adjutant-General if South .Africa. He was present durug the earlier'fighting in Natal, taking part, as Chief Staff Officer to GeneaT French, in the actions of Elandsaagte, Riotfontein and Lombard's Kop. I'rior to the investment of Ladysmith by the Boers Major Haig was ordered by the late General Buller to proceed to Ccpe Town in readiness to join the vavalry Division then on the way out, and he accompanied General French n the last train which left Ladysmith .>rior to the siege. In Cape Colony he look part. with General French in the jperations round Colesburg, south of die Orange River. Early in 1900 he was with General French during the uovements of the forces in the north if Capo Colony preparatory to the reief of Kimberley, and he accompanied 'tis chief on several important reconloitring expeditions in the noighbourlobd cf tie Riet River. After the

elief of Kimberley Major Haig went ' :o the Orange Free State, where he parin all the important engagements which concluded with "the occulatibn of ;Blocmfontein, after the operations at Pa'ardeberg, Poplar Grovo, ■ >riefonttin,Karee Siding, Vet River, :id Zand River. Continuing the adance into the Transvaal, he was engaged in the fighting near Johannes>urg and Pretoria and in the action t .'Diamond Hill. In subsequent oper.tions more than fifty columns'came jnder hie command. In 1901 he was the command of the 17th Lanjers, but he did not serve them regiuentaliy, being actively engaged else.Vhere during the sweeping operations hat took place during the concluding .welvo months of the war. On the

-ermination of the campaign Lieuten-ant-Colonel Haig (he had been promot;d to this rank in the meantime/ was .warded the C. 8., the Queen's Medal vith seven clasps, and the King's Medal ith" two clasps, and was appointed an xtra A.D.C. to the King with the -revet of Colonel.

In 1903 Colonel Haig was appointed ■ aspecior-General of Cavalry.in India. he post was given to him at the direct .qufes't of Lurd Kitchener, who had uuved a very high opinion of his capabilities durii'.g the Soudan campaignthe 3auie year he was honoured' «ich the C.V.0., and wua promoted fejcr-Geiiia-al. Whilst in India General Haig won golden opinions on all •des, i.i spite of the austere characor of his conception of cavalry eifi- • ney. in 1900 lie returned homo to :ve at the war Office as of ditary 'training. Previously strong j-vahy representation on the headquarrs staff of tho Army had not been e rule, and when Major-General Hag ■.is selected for the important office it us tne cause of much satisfaction to ■o mounted of the Service," , ind.cating a new era in cavalry eih te-ncy. Thia "anticipation wa-s fully ahied, and as of his excel:it work ho was appointed Director ; Staff Duties at the vVar Office,.where ,i remained till 1&09. The able-man-er in which, he handled the cavalry .vision during the manoeuvres of that ar marked him out as,the' legitimate .cccsoor to General French a.s chief r rv 7 A *? der ', ' He ™* created ,-0.V.0. aft€r the manoeuvres, and in m" IT I**l went ba <* to India as ,tuef of Staff which appointment he acated in. 1912 to succeed General Imith-Dorrienaa General Officer Com-uandmg-in-Cluef at A i der^hot . H i» nT£ j£k*M erßhot h <* SSn itself i a < l e ? larkab i 9 manner in the inereasd efficiency o the British C avUy during the past three yea f 6i(