IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17078, 29 January 1916, Page 12

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

PROMINENT PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien has already taken up his command in East Africa, for during the last day or two a communique has been issued under his authority. Tho retirement of this distinguished leader from the British Army in the western theatre of the war is still unexplained, at any rate officially. The earlier story was that he had differed rather sharply with his Comman r der-in-Chief on the subject of the defensive operations around Ypres, and in consequence had asked to bo relieved. Subsequently, however, it was suggested that the promotion of Sir Douglas Hai'e over the heads of officers who had been his seniors had given rise to some little friction, leading ultimately to tho retirement of more than one of the generals.

It was rumoured, for instance, that Sir James AVillcocks had retired (from tho command of the Indian troops in Franco for this reason, and " Truth a few weeks ago made a definite assertion to that effect. The statement proved subsequently to be incorrect, but the paragraph is worth quoting to indicate the position that actually arose. "I am sorry to hear," wrote the editor, "that Sir James Willcocks has resigned the command of the Indian Army Corps on the western front, and tho more so because, according to general report, the cairSe is much the same as that which led to the resignation of Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. Lieutenant; General Willcocks has had a distinguished "military career, and ha.s never failed in any job which he has been given to do. Nor is there any question of failure now, for he has commanded tho Indian corps throughout the war with credit to himself and to those under him. The reasons fori his resignation are personal, and no other- A lieutenant-general of 1908, when he arrived in France last autumn, Sir James AVillcocks was senior to Sir Douglas Haig, whose/ seniority as a lieutenantgeneral only dated from October 31, 1910. But "when Sir Douglas was promoted to the rank of full general on November 10 of last year ho stepped ever the head of General Willcocks, who then came under his command. When one general is placed over another under such circumstances great /tact is wanted on both sides to prevent friction."

A much more probable story of Sir James Willcocks'.s resignation, which was mentioned in "<A uth" a week later, connects it directly with operations in which the Indian troops were engaged. It is apparent from the official despatches that Sir James was relieved of his command, at any rate temporarily, on purely military grounds. The assumption at the time was that he had dccliued to carry out an operation that he considered impossible without an altogether excessive sacrifice of men, and the_explanation new. advanced is that he was of opinion that the Indian corps was ordered to advance before there had been an adequate aitille.ry preparation. The further suggestion is that ' the order was given under a misapprehension, but whatever the facts may bo the story in circulation shows that there was an unfortunate difference, on a technical matter. Obviously this is not the place where such subjects can be profitably discussed, and ono reproduces with "hesitation stories that are given publicity even in reputable journals.

Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, one gathers, was relieved 6f his command in Flanders at his own request, but asked for employment in another field as soon as it could possibly be found for him. He did not have to [wait long. In East Africa ho is faced with a big problem,, but no one doubts that he will solve it completely. His career has been that of a strenuous and brilliant lighter. He is fifty-seven years of age, and has spent nearly forty years in the Armv Educated at Harrow, he joined in 1876 tho Sherwood Foresters, the regiment of which he is now colonel, iu which he passed his whole regimental career At the disastrous battle of Isandula, in 1879, Smith-Dorrien was one of the few officers who, by his athletic powers as runiior and swimmer, escaped the Zulu assegais, and lived to take part in the battle of Ulundi, when Cctewayo was finally disposed of. He was mentioned in despatches, and since then honours have fallen fast upon him. He was in the Egyptian expedition of 1882, in which year he raised and commanded a corps of mounted infantry, and in ISBS, with his mounted infantry, did good work at Suakin. In he served with the Frontier Field Force in India, and won his D.S.O. Returning to Egypt in 189 S, he took part in the Nile expedition, and was present at the battle of Khartum, and in the subsequent operations in the Soudan.

When the Boer war broke out Colonel Smith-Dorrien was appointed to the command of the ■ 19th Brigade, as Supernumerary Major-General, and his force formed part of the late General Colvile's division. The brigade included the Gordon Highlanders, the Canadian force, and the Shropshire >and Cornwall Light Infantry Regiments, and splendid work they did. By strenuous and well-conceived marches General Smith-Dorrien was mainly instrumental in bringing about the capture of Cronje and his army. By his attack upon the Boers on the Moddcr River, the Gordons, the Canadians and the Royal Engineers secured a strong position, from which they enfiladed the enemy's trenches, and by preventing them from drawing water precipitated Cronje's surrender. There was one "regrettable" incident in the Free State when General Broadwood evacuated Thabancliu, and, falling back upon Bloemfontein, was ambushed at Sauna's Post. "Blunders, and worse," to use Mr Bennet Burleigh's words, were then committed, and only redeemed by' the gallant conduct of General Smith-Dorrien. He afterwards commanded the lines of communication from Kroonstadt to Pretoria. His work was three times mentioned in despatches, and his reward was the Queen's medal with four clasps and promotion to Majon-Gene,ral for distinguished service in the,field.

On November 6. 1901, he was appointed Adjutant-General in India, and during his six years' service in the East he added to his brilliant record by the invaluable services he rendered to the Indian Empire. He was appointed to the command of the Quetta Division in 1903, and vacated the post on November 30, 1907, having received a six months' extension of the usual tenure, and been promoted to Lieuten-ant-General. Retiring from India, he took up the position of G.O.C. at Aldershot, which has rightly come to be regarded as the military red ribbon, hi ikh distinguished command he succeeded Sir John French. From Aldershot he was transferred to the Southern Command. He was marked for foreign service on the outbreak of war, and on the sudden death of Sir J. M. Grierson he was appointed to the command of the second corps, ultimately te-Mir" "barge of the second armyw