WORLD-WIDE SORROW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 11

WORLD-WIDE SORROW.

SYMPATHY OP KING. DEVOTION TO COMRADES. ALLIED LEADERS' TRIBUTES. By Telegraph—Precs Association—Copyright. (Received January 31, 8.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON. Jan. SI. The Court Circular announces: "His Majesty has learned with profound sorrow of the death of Field-Marshal Earl Haig, who will for all time be remembered as the Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's victorious armies in the field. The King knows that this sudden irreparable loss will be deeply the Empire by the Army, especially by the old comrades, to whose welfare he devoted himself since tho close of the war." Lady Haig says she hopes intending donors of wreaths will purchase those made of Flanders poppies by ex-service men in the Richmond and Edinburgh factories, which Earl Haig established. The British Legion endorses this, and says there could be no more appropriate tribute imaginable than thus to help Earl Haig's disabled comrades. The Times says: "Earl Haig bore a burden more terrible and more prolonged than was ever borne by any British General. His fellow subjects throughout the Empire honour him as a great soldier, but it is as a very great and noble gentleman that they have given him love as well as honour." "Earl Haig's famous order. 'With our backs to the wall, believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end,' which was issued in the darkest days of April, 1918, will go down tl¥e ages as a national possession, as does Nelson's signal at Trafalgar. Danger, however imminent, did not perturb him, nor mishaps and disappointments, however unexpected. "His responsibilities, however, were grave. Perhaps his gift of being able to go serenely to sleep each night, and to sleep when he knew everything was at stake, was partlv due to his race. His determination did not prevent his listening patiently to the French, particularly to Marshals Foch and Petain. But he would have resigned rather than expose his I troops to what he deemed to be amateur projects." "General Smuts says: 'All honour to a great soldier and a greater gentleman. He has left a record of qualities and work of which the Empire may well be proud.' That is the best of epitaphs for Earl Hnig." In an article in the Evening Standard Colonel Lionel James, a former war correspondent of the Times, who commanded King Edward's Horse in the war in France and Italy, says: "When i Earl Haig was appointed Commander-in-Chief in 1915, the military situation was well-nigh desperate. The British effort to create a modern fighting machine was still immature. Divided counsels between the Allies were prevalent. The hysterical amateur strategy by the politicians of France and Britain almost paralysed the commanders in the field. "That Eari Haig rose superior to these difficulties, and held to his set purpose of defeating the enemy without being thrown to the dogs fcy the impatience of politicians, is the greatest marvel of fiis career. "It was Haig who, when the Allied armies were tottering in the balance m the spring of 1918, represented to Mr. Lloyd George, then Prime Minister, that unless there were unified command, the Allied cause would be lost. Haig himself picked out Marshal Foch for the position and willingly served under him." GBIEE in amekica. GREAT SOLDIER MOURNED. TEST OF FINAL VICTORY. (Received January 31, 6.15 p.m.) A. «nd N.Z. NEW YORK. Jan. 30. Tile Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary forces in the war, General J. J. Pershing, was visibly affected when he was informed at Pittsburg to-day of Earl Haig's death. He said it was a great shock to him, and he expressed his deep regret. MajorGeneral J. F. O'Rvan, who commanded the famous 27th New York Division which fought under Earl Haig, said: Earl Haig may well be classed with Wellington, Napier, Roberts and the other great leaders of the British armies in years gone by. We were all proud to be part of his command." The New York Times says Earl Haig was the incarnation of British courage, endurance and fortitude. There have been strategists more brilliant, but a man who was less the captain of his soul might have failed in the emergencies that crowded upon Haig. This is not to say that he lacked the soldierly qualities of leadership. He was a consummate tactician and no mean strategist. The New York World says that by the vastness of his operations and by tho test of ultimate victory Earl Haig must take a high place on the long role of great British soldiers. OFFICIAL MESSAGE. GOVERNMENT CONDOLENCE. (Received January 31, 10.5 p.m.) A. end N.Z.-Sun. .WASHINGTON. Jan. 31. The Secretary of State, Mr. F. B. Kellogg, has cabled to the British Foreign Secretary, Sir, Austen Chamberlain, the condolence of the Government on the death of Earl Haig, and condolence on behalf of the Army from the Secretary for War, Mr. .Dwight Davis, to tho British Secretary for War, Sir Laming Worthington-Evans. NEW ZEALAND SOLDIEES LOSS OF TRUE FRIEND. GRIEF OF GENERAL RUSSELL. [HY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Major-General Sir Andrew Russell was shocked when ho learned of the death of Earl Haig. He said: "All New Zealand, especially those who served under his command, will learn with sorrow of the death of the Field-Marshal '"ln Earl Haig the soldiers of the Empire were fortunate in having a general who led them to victory in tho Great War, and in his untimely death ex-service men have lost a true and devoted friend, who was unsparing in his efforts on their behalf since the armistice. He may well be counted amongst our heroes."