IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17287, 30 September 1916, Page 12

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

PROMINENT PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD. The journalists have not so far managed to exploit the personality of the British Commander-in-Chief to any appreciable extent, and any note concerning Sir Douglas Haig and his work is therefore particularly acceptable. Lately “Tho Times” had an article giving tho impressions of “a' recent visitor to tho war.” When history relates tho story of the great battles of the Somme, he writes, it will tell how Sir Douglas Haig and his Staff had their headquarters in a modest dwelling, part of which was still occupied by the family who owned it. .Thus it is that the voices of children running up and down the cqvridors' mingle with i(lio ceaseles® murmur of -the guns and the work of tho earnest little company of • mon whose! labours are never out of the thoughts of their countrymen throughout the Empire. The head of this band of brothers, the Commander-in-Chief of an Army ten times larger than that of the great Duke, is Sir Douglas Haig, well known to his troops from tho base to the front, though hardly known at all to .the masses of his fellow-subjects at home. In these days of instant communication by telephone, dispatch rider, telegraph or wireless, a greater part of the life of the Commander-in-Chief is spent at his headquarters offices. In times of stress he rarely moves from them. Outwardly the life of Sir Douglas Haig might seem to be that of, some great Scotch laird who chooses to direct his estates himself.

At exactly five and twenty minutes past eight each morning Sir Douglas joins his immediate staff at the usual informal breakfast of English life. Though he has selected his staff without fear or favour from the best elements of the British Armies that have been tried for two years in the field, there is something indefinably Scottish in the atmosphere of his table. The Commander-in-Chief is of tin ancient family of the kingdom, of Fife, so that the spear of our British offensive is tipped with, that which is considered to be more adamant than the granite of Aberdeen. -Lithe and alert, Sir Douglas is known for his distinguished bearing and good looks. He lias blue eyes and an unusual facial angle, delicatelychiselled features, and a chin to be reokoned with. .. There is a characteristic movement of the hands when explaining things.,'

Sir Dougins does not waste words. It is not because he is silent or •unsympathetio—it is because lie. uses words as he uses soldiers, sparingly, blit always with method. When he is. interested in his subjoct, as in talking of his gratitude to and admiration of the new armies and their officers, or in testifying to the stubborn bravery of tho German machine-gunners, it is not difficult to discern from his accent that he is what is known North of the Tweed as a Fifer. A Fifer is ono of the many race types that have helped to build up the Empire, and is probably the best of all for dealing with the Prussian. First of all in the armoury of the Fifer is patience, then comes oblivion to all external surroundings and pressure, with a supreme concentration on the object to be attained. Fifeshire is the homo of the national game of Scotland; and it. iB the imperturbability of the Fifer that niakos him so difficult to beat in golf, in -affairs, and in war. Behind the dburness of the man of the East Coast is the splendid enthusiasm that occa-, sion sometimes demands, though there is no undue depression or elation at an unexpected bunker or on even unusually fortunate round. While I was with the little family party at Headquarters there caone news that was good and some that was not so good. Neither affected the Commander-in-Chief’s attitude 'towards the war,, or the day’s work, in the least degreo whatevor. There are all sorts of minor criticisms of tho Commander-in-Chief at home, mainly because tho majority of the people know nothing about him, Ho is probably not interested in home comments, but is concerned that the Empire should know of the. unprecedented valour of his officers and men. Consequently the doings of the Army are put before the world each day with tho frankness that is part of Sir Douglas Haig’s own character. He is opposed to secrecy except where military necessity occasions it. He dislikes secret- reports on officers. Those who visit him are treated with great candour and there is always a suitable selection of guests at Headquarters to bring variety to the meal times of those who are engaged in their all-absorbing tasks.. If they are interested in 'any particular part of the oganmtion, medical, transport, artillery, . strategy, they aro invited to ask questions and, if possible, to suggest. In many large houses, of busi-; ness there ia a suggestion box in which the staff or employees are invited to put forward their ideas in writing. 1 do not know whether there is such; an institution in the Army, but certainly all sorts of new ideas are discussed a* tho table at General Headquarters. In every c*iso 11 Oixn it to <loiie P trikes precedence of “It can’t be done. Nor, despite the fact that the Com-mander-in-Chief is a cavalry officer, does he show any obsession with the arm with which the greater part of his military, lifo. has had to deal. Surrounded by a group of the best experts our Empire can provide, most pt whom have had twenty-four months war experience, he is in conference with them from morning till late .at nigbt. During his daily exercise Tide he has one or -. other of his staff experts with him. Tho wonderful, system of communication established throughout tho length and breadth o Siis zone has linked lip the whole military machine so effectively that information can be gained instantly fra* ll most distant and difficult parts of his line of operations or communications. In the ante-chambers of tlio Oomman-dor-in-Chief’s small working yooin the telephone is rarely silent; and a journey into many parts of his army proved to me that out of the-two years struggle have emerged men; and often very young men, able to do the Com-mander-in-Cliief’s bidding or to'fur rush him with what he desires. Out of the necessary chaos of a war that was unexpected, save by the Army and a few prescient students, have .emerged armies in which Scottish precision and courage, English dash and tenacity, Irish defiance and devotioih Außtralian and Canadian fierce gallantry- all play their proper parts. • Sir Douglas Haig is fiftv-four years of ago. Many of ms staff 'are greatly his junior. They are a grave and serious body of men who have inspired confidence from one end of the line to the other. They are not dull, there is plenty of familiar badmago at the proper time. There is deep devotion and loyalty in their labours. It is said that most of them have agod a little in their ceaseless round of work and anxiety, but they are all at a period of life when responsibility can best be borne. “War,” says Sir Douglas Haig, “ is a young man s game.” He made that remark in regard to General Trenchard’a young airmen. of whom all at the front are so proud. A ..soldier ; who had fought In the first battle of Ypros spoke to me of the Commander-in-Chief as follows: broken our line aiid little parties of our men were retreating. At that moment Sir Douglas Haig, then command-

ing the First. Corps, came . along the Menin rood with an escort -tof his own 17th Lancers, all as beautifully .tarned out as in peace time. They approached slowly, and the effect upon our retreating men wag instantaneous. As Sir Douglas advanced they gathered and followed him. In the event the Worcesters attacked Gheluvelt, which had. been taken by the enemy, drove them out, aiid, restored tlio 'line. Tho Com-mauder-iti-Chiof’s presence was, and is, a talisman of strength to his armies.”- ' On tho last night of my visit to this little-company I was walking with one of . his circle in tho gardens, watching the flashing of the £uns, which looked like summer lightning * flickering continuously. We had been talking‘of many tilings other than war, though the war was never otat of our ears; for the throbbing was perpetual. It was lato, for the warm night was a tempta* tion to sauntering aud exchange oS view®. As we passed through the hall on our way upstairs the door of tho Commander-in-Chief’a room was open, We paused for o, moment to watch him bending over the map on which th< whole world is- gazing to-day, the map which he is slowly and surely altering v

for the benefit of civilisation and the generations unborn. Ho was about t( begin bis nightly vigil.