The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-12-17
DOUGLAS RA|G
HEADS BRITISH
NOW IN RANCE
FIELD MARSHAL FRENCH RE-
TIRED AT HIS. OWN RE-
QUEST is NAMED COMMAN-
DER=IN-cHIEF Of ARMIES.

LONDON, Dec. l6. Field Marshal
Sir John French who, at his own re-
quest. has been relieyed of the com
mand of the British forces in France
and Flanders, has been succeeded by
General Sir Douglas Haig. Since the
landing of the expeditipnary force Sir
Douglas Haig has commanded the first
army and has been repeatedly men
toned in dispatches by his chief,
yhoSe place he now takes
The change had been expected for
some time, and it was announced in
the house of commons yesterday
"wednesday that a statement would
be published Immediately.
Sir John French becomes command
er-in-chief of the armies in the United
Kingdom and for his sixteen months
service at the front has been created
viscount of the United Kingdom.
Although many names had been
mentioned as the possible successor
of Field Marshal French, including
that of the duke of Connaught. the
II 10 Sdtu, was dHlltl-
pated in the best-infotmed circles.
Sir Douglas Haig Is nine years
younger than his former chief and like
him, won his spurs as IA cavalry Off
Ger. His first commission was in the
Seventh Hussars and as has been the
case with most British officers of
higher rank he saw service in the
Sudan. India and Africa He was
chief staff officer to Sir John French
during the Colesburg operations, when
the British cavalry had difficult
task in trying 10 round up the mobile
Boer commanders. Later he was Civ
en- command of "a group of columns
and after the South African war was
made Inspector general of cavalry in
India, one of the most coveted com
mands for cavalry officers in the Brit
ish service.
After few years of staff duty in
England he became chief of staff in
India and at the outbreak of the war
was general officer commanding at Al
dershOt. From there he took the first
army to France, and upon his has de-
volved the carryig out of many of the
plans of General Joffre and Field Mar
shal French, in the retreat from Mons,
the battle of the Marne and the va
rious engagements which followed in
cluding the battle of Neuve Chap
pelle and the latest offensive in Sep
tember
That there might be change in
the supreme British command on the
western front had been limited for
some time. These hints increased
with the recent appointment of Gen
eral Joffre as communicating chief of
the French army.
That the elevation of General Jof-
fre had no bearing on the substitu-
ton of General Haig for Field Mar
shal French, however was an
nounced yesterday in the house of
commons by Premier Asquith Last
Monday Sid Edward Andrew Corn
wall asked the government during
the session of the house for infor-
nation as to whether General Joffre's
appointment would necessitate any i'm
portant changes in the higher com
mands Of the British force. The pre-
mier at that time declined to make
answer. Yesterday, however he
brought up the matter by saying:
Some changes are in the course
of being made and will be announced
almost Immediately. They have no
connection of any kind with the
change made by the French govern
ment with regard to General Joffre's
funptiono