SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1919, Page 5

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.

TO RECEIVE A PEERAGE. London, March 14. The Manchester Guardian understands that Sir Douglas Haig wrote to the Premier that he could not accept the country's generosity until justice had been done to all his officers. Sir Douglas Haig will shortly receive a peerage and a substantial grant. The Daily Mail said:— It has been decided to confer the dignity of an Earldom upon Sir Douglas Haig and Sir David Beatty for their great services during the war, Peerages are also to be conferred on Sir Douglas Haig's army commanders, namely, General Sir H. S. Home, General Sir H. Plumer, General Sir Julian Byng, General Sir H. S. Rawlinson, and General Sir W. Birdwood, and on General Sir Edmund Allenby. It is probable that the honors will be accompanied by money grants by Parliament as an additional mark of the nation's gratitude.

No immediate official announcement as to the honors need be expected. Sir Douglas Haig prefers to remain in active command of the army until peace is signed and (he reconstruction of the army on a peace basis is completed. In this subject he is taking the greatest interest.

The most appropriate moment for the announcement of the honors, it is thought, would be the occasion of Sir Douglas Haig's triumphal march through London at the head of his victorious troops after the sinning of peace. After the South African War Lord Roberts received an Earldom and £IOO,OOO and Lord Kitchener a Viscounty and £50,000.