GENERAL BYNG.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1917, Page 6

GENERAL BYNG.

Sir - Julian Byng, who had charge of the operations on the western front which broke through the Ilindenbiirg line, was born on September 11, lSfi-2, the j (seventh son of the Second F.arl of Stratford. He joined the lOlh Hussars in ISS.I, and served in the 'Soudan expedition in 1884. being present ;>f the actions at El Teh and Tamai. hi .South Africa he commanded a column with great distinction in the pursuit of De Wet, and finished the campaign with the rank of colonel. One of his most successful actions was on the Vlei River, west of Reitz, where he surprised a Boer commando, and took a 16-pounder, two pompoms, and many prisoners. lie landed in Belgium in October, 1914, in command of the 3rd Cavalry Division. He accompanied Rawlinsons' 7th Division In its retreat from Antwerp to Ypres. The doings of the famous 3rd Cavalry Division are writ large in history (says 'Generals of the British Army'), and in all the great drama of Ypres there was no finer incident than the charge of the Household Brigade at Klen Zillebeke <ki November fl, 1914. In May, 191 fv, General Byng succeeded General Allenby in command of the Cavalry Corps, and was responsible for the eavalry fighting in the latter part of tie second (battle of Ypres. In August of Upat~j7«W he went to the Dardanelles to

! take over the command the IX. Corps; I und was present during the later stages of that campaign and the famous withdrawal from the peninsula. In February, 1910. he returned to France t'o com- ■ mand the XVII. Corps, and was transferred to the Canadian Corps on May -24. Since then he has been one of' the most brilliant among corps commanders. During the battle of the Somme the Canadians fought on t.hl"'right of Sir Hubert Cough's ath Army, and did notable Work, taking Cotircelette, and fighting many desperate actions oil the Thiepvai Ridge. During the long stormy winter Iheir raids on the enemy line we're among the most remarkable on' the British front" More especially Uiey made fhe section nortn of Arras an unquiet/ place for the enemy Theif culminating achievement came at. the battle of Arras on April 9. 1917, when they stormed'in one stride four positions on the Vitny Ridge, and wrested from the enemy tlie key" to the plain of Douai . ' ' In June Sir Julian Byng succeeded General Allenby in command of the 3rd Army. Sir Julian Byng has the appearance and manner of the cavalier of tradition. No more soldierly figure has appeared in the campaign. He has the good fortune always to have fine troops to lead, and he is a fit leader for the best troops.