GENERAL WILSON.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14654, 7 March 1918, Page 2

GENERAL WILSON.

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

EULOGY BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE

General Sir Henry Wilson, X.C.8., the British representative at the International Council at Versailles, has hact a distinguished career. When the world-war began, he occupied the position of Director of Military Operations at Army Headquarters in England, a command which he had held since 1910.

Tii e'organising of the first Expedition-! ary Force therefore devolved upon him, 1 and the rapidity with which it was de- c spatched has been generally recognised j as a fine military achievement. Gen- ' \ eral Wilson w&s born in May, 1864; lit. j is therefore 53 years old. He was « graduate from the Staff College, en-, r tered the army in 1884, and served fthrough the Burma campaign in 1885-; a 89 (wounded). He also took a distin-lj guished part in the.South African war, !j where he was four times mentioned ~ in despatches, and received a medal: with five clasps. . He\.has held high } positions in the Intelligence Depart- i .ment, and was Commandant at the i Staff "College from 1907 till 1910, being succeeded there by General Sir William Robertson. Speaking in the House of ' Commons on December 20th, with re- ( gard to Sir Henry Wilson's appoint- < 'ment as British military representative ■ of the Versailles Council, Mr. Lloyd ( George stated:—• "The British Government has chosen as its ir.ilftary representative one of the most brilliant minds in the British ; Army, Sir Henry Wilson, and not mere- . ly one of the most brilliant minds in the British Army, but in any European arm y._( Hear, hear.") A profound student of strategy, he has made a great reputation at the head of the Staff College, and has a unique experience in this war, not merely on the British, bu.t on the French and Russian fronts1. He Has the great gift of being able to get on with people of other nations, wliicl"! is very valuable when you are in alliance. It was he who organised the first British Expeditionary Force, and there is no. doubt that that organisation was a very conspicuous success.—("Hear, hear." :■ Abnve all, he possesses tl:e Rift of imagination —a gift which is rare even.among snldiers.^CLaughter.) ' Therefore, I think the House will agree that the Government, in the appointment which it has made, his the services of a man of very jrrent'eifts and very great experience.— ("Hear, hear.") I am vmry glad tab* able to say that not merely have all the doubts that have been expressed as to the possibilities of friction between the various distinguished men on this Council who are concerned with these problems, been dispelled, but the^ fact.or this institution having been set up has in itself enabled the machinery for Allied action to work much more *n»oothly than it las worked before."—(Cheers.) KoaTKH'-'nviar.q regard Friday as the luckiest day of the week.