Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-16
LONG MILITARY CAREER
AS CAVALRY OFFICER
Change Expected for Some Time
and Appointment, as Made,
Anticipated.
moNoRs FOR RETIRING CHIEF
vii! Head Armies in United King
dom and Is Created Vis-
count by King.

LONDON. December l6.-Field Mar
shal Sir John French. who at his own
request. has been relieved OF the COM
mand OF the British forces in France
and Flanders, has been succeeded by
Sir Douglas iiaig Since the landing
OF the cNpeditionary force. Sir Douglas
iiaig 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 it announced in
the House Of Commons yesterday tWed-
ncsdaN) that a statement would be
published Immediately.
Sir John French becomes com
mander-in- chief of the armies In the
United Kingdom. and for his sixteen
nionths' services ut the front has been
created viscount OF the United King
dom.
Although many names had been mem
toned as the possible successor OF Field
Marshal French, including that of tho
Duke of Connaught, the appointment,
it is said. was anticipated in the best
informed circles.
HtiG NINE YEARS YOUNGER
THAN Ills FORMER CHIEF
''elcTtl fialp is nlle years Younger
than his former chief, and. like him.
won his spurs as II cavalry officer. His
first commission was In the Seventh
llussars. and. az has becn the case with
most British officers OF high rank. he
saw service in Sudan. India and
Africa. He was chief staff officer to
Sir John French during the Colesburg
operations, when the British cavalry
had a difficult task in trying to round
up the cornmandocs. Later he was
given command OF group OF columns.
and AT the South African War was
made inspectorGcncra Of cavalry in
India. one Of the most coveted COM
mands for cavalry officers in the British
service
After a 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 Mt
Aldershot. From there he took the
first army to France
WAR OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF CHANGE IN COMMAND
The War Office announcement reads
as follows
General Sir Douglas Haig has been
appointed to succeed Field Marshal Sir
John French in command OF the armies
''' '"i'NS 'iit
since the commencement of the war
during over sixteen months Of severe
incessant strain. Field Marshal French
has most ably commanded our armies
IN France and Flanders. and he has
now. II his OWE instance reliuouished
that command
rus MaJcsty'S government. with full
appreciation of and gratitude for the
CONSPICUOUS services which Field Mar
shall French has rendered TO his coun-
try al The front have. with the Kings
approval, requested him to accept the
appointment Of commanders in chief OF
the troops stated i'm the United
Kingdom, and Field Marshal French
has accepted that appointments
Tile King has been pleased to con-
fer upon Sir John French the dignity
of visconnt Of the United Kingdom"
HAiG HIGHLY PRAISED
IN kWENCH DISPATCH
Several times during the war Cen
eral iiaiS has come in for high praise
in the dispatches OF the general he is
now succeeding. At the battle OF the
AiSnc his conduct was described by
Field Marshal Sir John French as bold.
skil!!ui and decisive" In November OF
last year Sir Douglas. then lieutcn-
ant-ecneral. was promoted to the rank
of general for distinguished services in
the held.
Field Marshal French. in his dispat.h
I" the Rritish War Office describing tho
famous retreat from Mons. credited Sir
Douglas with having cxtricated his
corps from Il ditNcult position Mt
i';tndrccies. IL sent urgent messages
to th" comman1er OF the two French
reserve divisions on my righ, TO come
up to the assistance of the First Corps,
which they eventually did" said tho
held marshals dispatch. Partly owi,r;
TO this assistance, hut mainly 10 tho
skillful manner in which Sir Douglas
fiatg eNiricated his corps from ;,n ex-
cept'onaily diihcult position In tho
darkness Of the night. they were arlo
at dawn TO resume their march south
towards Wassgny. on tho C;uise"
General Hais is a Scotchman He
won his first honor under General
Kitchener in the Sudan. where he wa
promoted to = brevet ma jor on the Held
FOR gais5ntry 40 .t;bara. and before
l. hon