SIR HENRY WILSON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 129, 18 February 1918, Page 5

SIR HENRY WILSON

THE NEW BRITISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF ... , (From'a Military Correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian.") Lieutenant-General S.ir Henry Wilson (who succeeds Sir William Robertson as Chief of the Imperial General Staff) must be included among tho many distinguished soldiers that" Ireland has given to the military servico of' the Empire; In fact, thero aro many who believe that Henry Wilson in'certain circumstances might- "have been the greatest soldier of his day. In these controversial times no purpose is 6erved by dealing in comparisons,' and the General's Irish temperament made for him as many enemies as lie could count friends. History has shown us that by , some peculiar current of tho law of chances certain periods .produce particular batches of men of a mentality superior to the usual standards. In the period of reorganisation that followed the Boe"r'War"Wilsqn served at tho War Office., and likewise did a period as Commandant of the Staff Collego, Camberley. Histerm at the Staft' College had a particular bearing upon his future career. It is interesting to remark that both General Roberteon and General Rawlinson held this command after tho Boer War. General Rawlinson was orthodox, but both General Robertson and General Wilson inculcated a particular school of thought of thoir own. Wilson was master of tho Continental system. Early in the contury he put it -upon record that he was positive that tho great Prussian menace would materialise. This conviction was tho foundation of all his effort. He knew tho French frontier as no other British officer knew it.

Wilson went out with the Expeditionary Force on the operations side of Lord French's Headquarters Staff. His intimacy with and knowledgo of the French General Staff were of the greatest value to tho Commander-in-Chicf during those first strenuous days of gigantic war. It was, however, during tho retreat from Mons that Wilson's sterling qualities as a soldier roached high-water mai'k. It is probable that no contemporary history will tell the true story of that retreat— will truthfully chronicle the happenings of those "dies irae," when the Cabinet at homo was warned to expect the worst. Then it was thatWilson was seen at his very best. Ho was tho backbone of the Staff. No matter how black tho outlook, or desperate the suggestion, ho never lost liis cheerful demeanour in public or liir. clear head in the council chamber. His fertile brain probed deep into the probabilities of the enemy intention, and his quick and instant wit produced order out of chaos and confidence out of despair. As the British army expanded in size Wilson found the proferment that was his due, and he was appointed to tho command of an army corps. As tho commander of an army corps ho was never engaged in any of the major operations of tho war. In 1916 be undertook a mission to Russia'. Ho ■then went back to France as a special senior liaison officer at the French Quartier General. It was generally thought that this appointment presaged a high command abroad, but he was appointed to tho Eastern Command at home.. General Wilson's last post was as ISritish member of the Allied Council for the Western front.

(The oablo news In tbis issue accredited to tbo London "Times" hae appeared in that Journal, but only where expressly stated is eucli news the editorial opinion of "Tho Timce.")