NATION WELCOMES HAIG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17041, 24 December 1918, Page 7

NATION WELCOMES HAIG.

HISTORIC CEREMONIAL.

LANDING AT DOVER. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dee, 22. The scenes at Dover and London in tho welcome to Sir Douglas Haig recalled tho most stirring episodes in British history, tho most recent being Lord Kitchener's welcome alter Khartoum and the welcome to Lord Roberts after the war in South Africa. Sir Douglas Haig travelled from Boulogne to Dover in tho hospital ship Jan Breydel, and was standing on tho bridge with his generals when tho vessel was sighted. All tho craft in the harbour manned ship along a two mile route into tho harbour, while the railway station was lined with soldiers, sailors, and cadets.

Replying to an address at Dover, Sir Douglas Haig spoke with deep feeling regarding tho gratitude and admiration which the nation entertained for the wonderful men whose'unequalled courage and endurance had brought them by victory to peace.

RELATIONS WITH PREMIER. RUMOURS OF FRICTION. Reutor. NEW YORK. Dec. 22. Canadian correspondents in London state that there lias been a general feeling recently that Sir Douglas llaig lias been deliberately slighted. It is recalled that the King and Prince of Wales went to Southampton to meet Lord Roberto when he returned from South Africa, and that Parliament look the earliest opportunity of offering him a warm tribute It is believed that relations have been strained between Field-Marshal Haig and Mr. Lloyd George since the Paris Conference. The Prime Minister claims the credit of having secured the unity of command, but it is stated in military circles that it was ! Sir Douglas Hair's original suggestion, j and that he effaced himself and offered to place his services at Marshal Foch's disposal. Further friction is believed to be due to the. withholding of Sir Douglas' Haig's despatch dealing with the German March offensive, which was returned to him for alteration and the omission of certain passages. A demand will probably bo made for the publication of tho full despatch in due course.