British Generals

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 20 August 1914, Page 7

British Generals

BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. ' GENERAL SIR JOHN FRENCH. General Sir John French, K.C.M.G.. was until a few weeks ago inspectorGeneral of the British Forces He was born in Kent in 1852. He joined the Navy in 1866, and served as a naval cadet and mid-shipman in H.M.S. Britannia for four years. He entered the Army in 1874, and served in the Soudan campaign in 1884-85, and took part in the actions of Abu Klca, Gubut and Metemmeh, He commanded the 19th 4 Hussare >n 188fM)3; was emploed as A.A.G. of cavalry on the staff 1893-94; appointed A.A.G. at headquarters of the Army in 1805; served there till 1897 when he was appointed Brigadier to command the 2nd cavalry brigade. He was appointed Major-General to command the cavalry division in Natal in 189"9. He commanded the troops at the hattle of Elandslaagtc, and coinman<fed the cavalry in Sir George White's forces in the battles of Reitfontein and Lombard's Kop. He was promoted for his brilliant services, and commanded the troops in the operations around Colesburg and fought many important engagements. Was in charge of the famous cavalry charge at Kimberley and fought to the end of the war with conspicuous success. He was appointed General in 1907, and then followed his appointment as Inspector-General of tho Forces. He is regarded as one of the finest cavalry leaders that Britain has ever produced, being veny resourceful and enterprising, and inspiring absolute confidence in his officers and men. With Lord Kitchener at his elbow, the public may expect to hear great deeds from him and the expeditionary force. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR~DOUGLAS HAIG, ' This General was l horn in 1861, and i was until recently Chicf-of-Staff in Inj dia. He joined the army in 1885, served in the Soudan in 1898, South Africa j in 1i899, where he was the right hand man of General French. He was Inspec- | tor-General of Cavalry from ' 1903-6; , appointed Major-General in WO*; Director of Military Training in 1906-7. ! He is the author of "Cavalry Studies." ' MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM BULTENEY. • Barn in 1861, he joined the army in 1881; served in Egypt in the following year j was employed from 1895 to 1897 in Uganda; served in Unyoro expedition [ in 1895; in the Nandi expedition in 189596; South Africa, 1899-1002, and ap'pointed Vice-Consul' to the Congo Free State in 1899, ° BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIB ARCHIBALD MURRAY. This soldier, 'born in 1860, has been Director of Military Training since 11)07, served in Zululand, and also in South Africa, where he was, dangerously wounded. He was several times mentioned in despatches for gallant work. POINTS OF INTEREST. NAMUR. iNamur is built on toth sides of the 'River Meuse, though, it may not be surprising news that the residential portion is on the Belgian side of the river, with the fortress on the German, sideits thick walls towering over the township like a giant sentinel, grim and silent awaiting only to be transformed into a 'hive of death-deal-ing vitality. 'Naiwur itself isi a characteristically sliu'epy old l town, typically Belgian; its streets narrow and "cobWed" rat/her than paved, and the residents are fond of nromenading along the well-shaded bank of their chief waterway, ,in the cool of the summer evening! Foundries btre can nroduce very excellent steel, and there/ are a number of presentable shops, but the pulse of the town beats slowly, and tlhe residents enjoy aothing so much as to sit in one or wilier of the favorite open-air cafes, of ivhich there are Beverali in the town, son* possessing a military history of plans made and campaigns' schemed, that even to-day permeate flic atmosphere ,and give- relish to -the Rhenish wine I that is so popular in the vicinity. THE MEUSE VALLEY. All along the 'Mouse Valley the country is undulating and pleasant. Occasionally ifflte river flows by ttiJe side of precipitous rocks that break way suddenly. On mtosH of these headlands forts are either in existence on in ruins, for tlie neighbourhood has been the scene of many a sanguinary straggle, and Namjur itself, even more than Liege, Hia-s been taken, and lost, and re-taken more tinus than any hut a historical expert cam think about. Years ago, the people of Nalmiiir had the reputation of being a fierce, hardy, fighting race, and though in times of peace they are as quiet and unassuming as tUileir confreres elsewhere, the value of a great tradition will to-day 'be calculated t'o help them forward' in the huge defensive task that has been put. before them.