Evening star., 1922-01-07
Who's Who e:si::.s:: a::a: @s%:
XLIV-General the Earl Of Cavan
ME man to whom King George
during the greater part Of the !,


during the greater part Of the
world war was Lord Cavan.
head of the war Office section OF the
British empire delegation to the pres
ent conference in Washington. Ac-
cording to Lord Cavan's story, the
king sent for him during the first
days Of the war and told him that he
wanted the prince to serve on his
STAFF. Lord Cavan expressed his great
appreciation and demurred only on
the score of the risks to be encount-
tions. To this the king replied: Il
shall feel perfectly satisfied as long
as the prince is with you. / know
ed to avoid foolhardy and unneces-
sary chances. l would not want the
prince to be going off alone on his
own into the trenches. but whatever
happens I shall feel always at ease.
SO long as he is always with you"
went to France as one Of the aides to
Lord Cavan and remained with him
for three years. serving on hts staff
throughout many of the major en-
honor could have been paid any officer
by his king. and the good relation
ship that existed between them for so
long period seems to have vindi-
Gated the choice: Lord Cavan re-
ties displayed by the heir to the Brit
ish throne, his willingness. his dar-
ing and obedience. His praise for
the prince is unlimited, and yet this
must be reflected in the sterling
situation demanded the greatest tact
and less clever man and astutc a
leader would have had the prince
fretting at being too carefully cared
for or would have gained the dis
pleasure of the king for letting his
son have too free rein. AS it was.
the general led the youthful prince
into many dangers, for he was not the
sort of leader who stayed safely
miles from the firing line. 1t was the
vey Of the situation Immediately at
the end of battle. and the end OF a
battle for him often came well before
the firing had ceased. The prince &C
companied him on these tours of in
exposed to enemy fire. but this was
within the stipulation Of the king.
At one time they left their motor car
near the front-line trenches and be-
fore getting very far away IT was
to atoms, as well as was the chauf-
feur, one Of the kings personal serv-
ants who had been sent out with the
prince.
Possibly the reason for the kings
choice was that Lord Cavan was one
Of the real fighters of the war, and
having the prince with him gave him
an opportunity Of getting a closeup
view Of the proceedings. Although his
position as military adviser to the
British at the conference demanded
technical knowledge, even as little as
the conference dealt with military
matters. Lord Cavan Is not stan Of
ficer, nor has he become famous as
theoretical strategist. but at strate-
gist during battle. where adaptability
and quick thought were more neces-
sary than book training. He took
very active part in the battle Of the
Somme, battle of the Aisne. at Loos.
in the first and third battles OF Ypres
and in other major engagements. 1t
was he who was sent to Italy to take
command Of the British army at the
time when the Austrians were making
alarming progress. His mission was
to reorganize the forces and strength
en- their morale. This he did with a
marked success. He commanded the
British at the battles Of Asiago and