New-York tribune., 1921-06-04
Lord Byng Is
Canada's ; New
Gov. General
British Soldier Who Gained
Baronetcy by Services in
War Accepts Appointment
10 Succeed Devonshire
Smashed HindenburgLine
First to Use Tanks Against
Germans; Veteran Of the
Soudan and South Africa
From The Trtbune's EuropcGn Bureau
! L..

Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, June 3.-Lord Byng, one
OF the most popular generals of the
World War, and the supposed colonel
who plays so large a part in II. G.
Wellss novel "Mr. Brtling Secs 1t
Through accepted to-day the appoint
ment as Governor General of Canada
1t was as Sir Julian Byng, seventh
son of the second Earl of Strafford,
that Lord Byng achieved mis- brilliant
successes in the field against the Ger
mans. He was born September IL, 1852
During the war he commanded the
Sd British Cavalry Corps, the 9th Army
Corps, the 18th Army Corps and the
Canadian Corps on the French front.
He also served for a short time at the
Dardanelles. 1t was in recognition of
his war services that he was made
baron in 1919. In addition to these
honors conferred by Great Britain, he
has received the Distinguished Service
Medal from the United States. the
French War Cross, the Grand Cross
OF the Crown of Belgium, the White
Eagle of Serbia, the Belgian War Cross,
the Grand Cross of St. Vladimir and
numerous other decorations. He is a
Grand Officer of the French Legion of
Honor.
He Smashed Hindenburg Line
Lord Byng's most striking bid for
lame as strategist in the war came
on November 20. 1917, VIXEN he direct
ed the most crushing attack made I'D to
that time against the Germans. The
Hindenburg line, heretofore believed
by German army chiefs to be an i'm
pregnahle barrier, was smashed along
front of seven miles between Arras and
st. quentin and west of Cambrai by
hotllla of tanks, then in use for the
first time. Thousands of prisoners were
made and hundreds of guns and much
valuable war material were captured in
the advance, which penetrated the line
TO depth of five miles.
The enemy was caught mapping by
TINS stroke on the part of Lord Byng.
He reposed sufficient confidence in his
tank corps to believe it could clear the
way for infantry and cavalry without
artillery prepa ration. The Germans,
not having been pounded by big guns.
were unaware of the vast preparations
tor the attack and, taken completely by
&urpsise, gave ground rapidly.
Incidentally this advance at Cambrai
marked the first engagement of the
campaign in France in which cavalry
was used effectively. Many of the Ger
man gun crews were sabered by mount
ed Britishers.
Served Colors Since 1889
Lord Byng joined the 10th Royal
Hussars in 1883, was made a major in
1898 and a colonel in 1901 He served
in the Sudan expedition III 1884, and in
South Africa from 1899 to 1902, where
he was awarded the Queens Medal with
six clasps and the Kings Medal. After
his campaign in the Dardanelles in
1915 he was commissioned a lieutenant
general, and later received his com
mand in France. He married Marie
Evelyn Moreton, daughter of Sir Rich
ard Moreton, K. c. V. O., in 1902. They
have no children.
OTTAWA, Can, June & By The AS
sociated Press (.-The House of Com
mons, upon motion of President
Meighen. to-day unanimously adopted
resolutions of appreciation for the
services rendered by the Duke of Devon
shire, retiring Governor General of the
dominion. The action was seconded by
W. L. Mackenzie King, leader of the
Opposition.