New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16

Neuve Chapelle, but attributed the DIS
aster to a subordinate ofceI who as
obeyed orders. A remarkable conner
dence is that in this same report zen
sral French highly commended the
work of Sir Douglas Haig. who now De-
comes his successor. The energy ana
vigor with which General Haig handled
his command show him 70 be an oificef
OF great ability and power" said Gen
eral French.
Field Marshal French, in his dispatch
20 the British War Office describing the
famous retreat from Mons, credited Sir
Douglas with having eXtricsted his
corps from difficult position at
Landrecies.
~ sent urgent messages 10 the com
mander of the two French reserve divi-
sions on my right to come up 20 the as
sistance Of the lat Corps, which they
eventually did" said the field marshaPs
dispatch. partly owing 70 this assist
ance, but mainly to the skilfuI manner
in which Sir Douglas Haig extricated
his CORPS from an exceptionally diflcult
position in the darkness OF the night,
thew were able at dawn 20 resume ther
march south toward Whssigny on
Guise."
a
eral French was placed in command OF
the first British army sent to the CON
tinent in 1914 at the outbreak Of the
war. and as head of the English uni.
OF about 100000 men he played an i'm
portsnt part in stemming the German
tide rushing toward Paris.
French Won Boer War RenOwn.
General French was considered the
most available officer for this post oW-
ing 10 his marked success in the Boer
War. 10 his famous relief Of himber-
lev. and to his efficient aid to Lord
Roberts a. johannesburg and Bioem-
fontein. He had also seen much ser
vice in India and the Sudan.
General French originally prepared
for the navy, serving his time as a
midshipman from 1866 70 1870. after
which he enlisted in the White Hus-
sars. He worked up through the var
ious grades, but was an obscure "ihcer
in the service until Lord Kitchener in
the Boer War placed him In command
OF the cavalry as lieutenant general
He was made Chief Of the General
staff In 1911 and Field Marshal In
1914.
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
10 Brigadier General Cough giving
guarantees TO the army othcers that
they would not be ordered 70 hght the
Ulster Unionists, and, regarding the re
pudiation of the document by the gov
eminent as a slight on himself, he re-
~ hpCanp
Chief of staff, but at the outbreak OF
the war Field Marshal French was ap-
pointed 70 command the expeditlonary
army.
Haig was Chief Aid.
Sir Douglas Haig, who succeeds Cen
eral French in the chief post In the
active English army, Is, like his pred
ecessor. a cavalry officer. At the be !
ginning Of the war he was placed IN I
command Of the first of the two British /
army corps in Flanders. He has been |
the right hand man of Sir John French /
ever since the latter attained proml- |
hence in Africa. During the Boer war /
ne was chief OF staff TO Genera !
French. He served with distinction IN |
the Sudan campaign under Kitchener
and when the present war started was /
in charge OF the military camp Az Al
dershot. =.
Sir Douglas has been a most dis 1
tinguished and popular officer ever
since he entered the service in 1883 /
He was mentioned in the dispatches /
after Khartoum and received the /
Khedive's medal. He was also cited .
for service during the Boer War and /
was honored with the Queens medal |
The posts he has held include lnspec-
tor General Of Cavalry in India from /.
1903 10 1906. Director Of Military
Training, Director of staff Duti-s at
Army Headquarters, and Chief Of staff
in India from 1909 to 1912. He has
written a book on cavalry tactics.
Sir Douglass good looks and family
connections have made him a socia.
favorite at court, as we'll as in the
field. He married in 1905 the Hon.
Dorothy Vivian, daughter Of Lord Wv
ian. The wedding took place in the
private chapel Of Buckingham Palace
at the request Of King Edward, in the