Evening star., 1915-12-16
GEN. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.

GEN. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
LONDON, December 16-Field Marshal
Sir John French, who at his own request
has been relieved of the command Of the
British forces in France and Flanders, has
been succeeded by Gen. Sir Douglas Haig.
Since the landing of the eXpeditionary
force Sir Douglas Haig has commanded
the first army and has been repeatedly
mentioned in dispatches by his chief,
whose place he now takes. The change
had been expected for some time and ii
was announced in the house of commons
Wednesday that statement would be
published Immediately.
Sir John French becomes commander
ln-chief of the armies in the United
Kingdom, and for his sixteen months
services at the front has been created
viscount of the United Kingdom.
Although many names had been men
toned as the possible successor OF Field
Marshal French, including that OF the
! is said, was anticipated in the best in
formed circles.
Official Announcement.
The war Offices announcement reads
as follows:
Gen. Sir Douglas Haig has been ap-
pointed to succeed Field Marshal Sir
John French in command of the armies
| in France and Flanders.
] "Since the commencement of the war,
| during over sixteen months OF severe
and incessant strain, Field Marsha
French has most ably commanded our
armies in France and Flanders, ana
he has now, at his own instance re-
diminished that command.
His majestys government, with full
appreciation of and gratitude for the
conspicuous services which Field Mar
shal French has rendered to his coun-
try at the front, have, with the king s
approval, requested him to accept the
appointment of field marshal COM
manding in chief the troops stationed
In the United Kingdom, Nand Field
Marshal French has accepted that ap-
pointment.
'sThe king has been pleased to con-
fer upon Sir John French the dignity
of viscount of the United Kingdom.
Gen. Sir Douglas Haig is h1ty-1our
years old. He began his military ca
reer with the 7th Hussars in 1885 and
served in the Sudan and South Afri-
can campaigns. in both of which he
won distinguished honors and promo
| tions At the outbreak of the present
war he was general officer command
ing at Aldershot and afterward was
made commander of the first army.
Praised by Commander.
Several times during the war Cen.
Haig has come in for high praise in
the dispatches Of the general he is now
| succeeding. At the battle of the Aisne
| his conduct was described by Field
! Marshal Sir John French as bold,
skillful and decisive" In November of
! last year Sir Douglas. then a lieuten-
| ant general. was promoted to the rank
of general for distinguished service in
the field.
to the British war office describing the
| famous retreat from Mons, credited
| Sir Douglas with. having extricated
his corps from a difficult position at
| Landrecies.
| Il sent urgent messages to the COM
| nlander of the two French reserve
divisions on my right to come up to
the assistance of the first corps, which
| they eventually did," said the field
| ma rshafs dispatch. Partly owing to
full manner in which Sir Douglas Haig
| eXtrtcated his corps from an excep-
/ tionally difficult position in the dark
ness of the night, they were able at
dawn to resume their march south to-
ward Wassigny on Guise.
Gen. Haig a Scotchman.
Gen Haig is a Scotchman. He won
his first honor under Gen. Kitchener in
the Sudan, where he was promoted to
| a brevet major on the field Tor gal
| lantry at Atbara and before khartum.
! Field Marshal Sir John French had
been in charge of the British FORCES on
! the continent since the outbreak OF the
! war. He is one of the best known o1
| the British soldiers, and always mas
| had the reputation of being skiii,ul
and dashing leader of men, SIR John
IL a
in the navy, but not liking the sea, he
Joined the militia. and through IL en-
tered the army. He has seen VIDE
service.
During the famous Ulster movement
In March of 1914 Field Marshal French
then chief of staff of the British army
resigned his commission. He was one
| of the signatories of the memorandum
to Brig. Gen. Cough. giving guarantees
to the army officers that they would
not be ordered to fight the Ulster
unionists. and, regarding the repudia-
ton of the document by the govern
ment as a slight on himself ne re-
signed Sir Douglas Haig then became
chief of staff but at the outbreak OF
the war Field Marshal French was ap-
pointed to command the expeditionary
army.
Not Touched by Criticism.
whatever criticisms have been di-
rected against the stans OF the british
armies in Flanders. says the Man
chester Qua rdian, there has never been
a word against that of Gen. Haig s.
which is known to be the smallest and
fttest the British army possesses. Gen
Haig. while perhaps lacking the per.
sonaI magnetism of Field Marshal
French. is a commander of tremendous
concentration and energy. who has
thoroughly assimilated all the stern
lessons that his tremendous experience
has provided"
| den uaip assumes his new Office al
moment when comparative quiet
prevails on nll fronts. although rum.
Ibiings OF threatened big movements are