Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-30

'CSANsuNcu lIOm page Ouel
a visit TO the Riviera if the doc
tor wolld permit him to travel.
The military achievements Of Lord
Douglas Haig consummated seven
centuries Of military service by the
ancient and aristocratic family Of
Haig Of Remersyde. in Berwiskshire.
Like so many other clans they rose
from the quarrels Of Bruce and Bal
iol and once established they were
represented whenever the history Of
Scotland was being made.
They reared teir sons for the
service of Bruce and Stuart sue
eessors and when their country took
or the obligations Of union with
their southern ~neighbors. the Haigs
fought under Give, Marlborough ard
Wellington. In more peaceful times
they were distillers and as such the
family fortune was made and in
creased through several centuries.
Planned Military Career
From the day he was born, June
~, 1861, the third and youngest son
Of John Haig. J. p, of Cameron.
bridge. Fifeshire, a military career
was planned for Douglas Haig. His
father. a member of one Of the
younger branches Of the family,
gave his sons q thorough academic
education. a necessary part Of the
makeup Of Her Majesty's officers in
those days.
Accordingly, young Haig went to
exclusive Clifton and later read at
Brasense College, Oxford. His work
there failed to attain for him any
distinction beyond class dramEtics
and he left there in 1888 TO enter
the army staff college. Here he
threw off the family traditions to
the extent Of entering the cavalry in
preference to the infantry because
OF his fondness for riding end his
belief that this branch Of service of
fered greater chance for advance
ment.
He obtained a commission in the
eth Hussars in 1885 and then set
tied down to the dull existence OF
an army officer awaiting war. In
the ordinary course of events he had
attained the rank Of a captain in
the 18th Lancers when he was order
ed 70 the Soudan TO serve under
Kitchener. He accompanied that Of
ficer to khartum, his distinguished
service winning for him the admira-
tion and friendship of his command
er. Captain Haig's fortune changed
with this friendship and from then
onward his advancement vas met
eoric. He is said to have the record
for rapidity of promotion in the
cavalry.
For his service at Atbara and
khartum he was made a brevet-ma-
jor. In the next war, the Boer War
under General Sir John French. his
successful commanding Of several
cavalry columns again won the
praise Of his commander and he was
made a brevet-colonel and added e
his store Of medals.
These campaigns were a basis up
on which the colonel was able q
build a reputation as a strategist
and leader. The friendship of Kit
/ chener 500 gave him the command
Of inspector-general of cavalry in
India from 1903 to 1906 and he was
gazetted as a major-general in 1904
just eight years after he had been
a lieutenant of cavalry.
He was knighted in 1911.
When the war started he was di'
rector of military training at the
war office. He trained and sem the
first contingent to France but at tho
urgent request Of Field Marshal
French, he was sent TO France tC
command the First Army Corps.
Ii fell' to General Haig TO com
mand the English divisions at the
first battle Of the Marine and this
he did with such skill that his work
was singled out by Lord French In
his report to the war office. Fol-
this service Haig was made a full
general and despite the fact that
there were older and more ex.
perienced officers in the field he
came TO be recognized as the ablesi
Of the English commanders.
He had been appointed field mar
shall in 1917 for distinguished ser
vice and when he returned to Eng
land after the war the mantle OF
Wellington by popular desire was
thrust upon his shoulders. In 1915
linquishing his and retir-
ing from the army, when His Majesty
raised him 10 the dignity of an
earl. He was later called before Par
lament. publicly thanked and voted
a gift of 100000.
A public subscription was taken
and when a fund of Sl.430, 900 was
raised. the ancestral estates OF
Bemersyde were purchased and pre-
scented to him as a gift OF the PEG.
pie. Before retiring TO his estates ht
received the freedom Of all the large
English cities and was made chancel.
Tor of st. Andrews university.