The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-17
BRITAIN HALLS
 GENERAL HAIC
 MAN OF HOUR''
Looks to French's Successor With Utmost Con-
 fidence.

London. Dec. 17-The British peo- pie to-day are hailing as t'the man of the hour'' Sir Douglas Haig, appointed toN succeed Field Marshall Sir John French as commander of the army in, France and Flanders.
 Military developments of extreme importance and large proportions are looked for on the western front and 8 renewed feeling of confidence in the ultimate triumph of the British and allied arms is everywhere appa- rent.
 There is a great feeling of safety manifest, as the vigorous and efficient Sir Douglas has long been known as one of Britain's most. able military leaders.
 Sir Douglas is known as the "Hero of Mons' and is credited with the dashing initiative of a leader who tions of trench warfare by a brilliant stroke that may turn the tide of vic- tory to the Allies. Some of his friends even expressed the fear to- day that the public, remembering Sir Douglas Haig's exploits at Mons, might expect too much of the new commander.
 Youngest of. Commanders.
 He is only 54 years of age, the
 
 trusted with a command in the pres ent war. He is a Scotchman, born in Fifeshire, is tall, powerfully built, dour and masterful, almost overbear- ing in his manner, and so close a stu, dent of his profession that before the war he was generally nicknamed won Haig' by his fellows.
 The change in leadership was an nounced last night by the War Office as follows:
 General Sir Douglas Haig has been appointed tol succeed Field Marshal Sir John French in command of the armies in Frande nd Flanders.
 t'Sinace the tcommencement of the war, during over sixteen months of Marshal French has most ably com banded our armies in France and Flanders, and he has now, at his own instance re1inquished that command.
 His Majesty's .Government, with full appreciation of and gratitude for the conspicuous services which Field Marshal French has rendered to his country at the front, have, with the Kings approval, requested him to ac- cept the appointment of Field Mar sha1, commanding in chief the troops stationed in the United Kingdom, and Field Marshal French has accepted that appointment.
 The King has been pleased to con fer upon Sir John French the dignity of Viscount of the United .Kingdorn.''
 Other Changes Tinted.
 The appointment of Sir Douglas. Haig will be followed by other radical changes in the higher commands of the army, it was hinted to-day.
 Commanders who have been held responsible for the failure of the Brit ish offensive at Loos in September are to be transferred to less important posts. There will be no violent shakeup that might affect the admin istration of army affairs, but a. gradual of field commuters before the expected spring offensive.
 Mingled with expressions of appro- val over the selection of a new com mander in France. words of regret are heard over the recall of Sir John French, who becomes Comnander-i1i- chief of the armies in the United and has been created Wis count by King George.
 The change occasioned no surprise The wave of criticism that first beat about Lord Kitchener turned against Gen. French after the British failed to make any considerable gains in the