BRIGADIER-GENERAL DAVIES

The congratulations offered to Briga-dier-General Davies by the • Hawera Mdunted Rifles and the letter he sent in reply made interesting reading in our Saturday's issue. We do not know whether General Davies' promotion is a new record in the history of the army or the Empire, but we believe it is, and in any case his distinguished career is not only deserving of all the honor which rightfully has been paid him, but also forms a remarkable illustration of the modern spirit of Army administration and the fact 4 that there is a path open to the ambitious and the efficient, which a few years ago would not have been available. We all know that General Davies has risen to his present rank not by influence, but by work and energy and enthusiasm. But a few years ago he was a civilian in this Taranaki district, earning his living as engineer to a local body. There are stories current which go to show that he was not only a good engineer, but a man of remarkable independence and force. Then he became interested in volunteer work, and both in a subordinate capacity , and subsequently in command he developed his earnestness and his enthusiasm. It was the fashion then for some people to laugh at volunteering, but they did not laugh at it in General Davies' company (nor did they laugh at him anywhere after they had seen his work), and the men under him soon learned that they must not be "casual." In season and out of season he preached efficiency, and he practised it and he demanded it. The Hawera Mounted Rifles became probably the best corps of its kind in New Zealand. It was well drilled, always ready, and earned distinction in every camp. Davies put his spirit in it and made it, and he made a number of good officers whom we still have with us. Then his opportunity came with the South African war. The work he did, the work he encouraged his command to do and required it to do, was recognised. We believe that pretty well every officer and man who went with him through that war would not have needed to make a second application to get service again in similar circumstances, For General Davies the military career was assured, and his advancement having been'recorded in Captain Morrison's remarks it need not be further elaborated. In his new position we have no doubt that General Davies will give further proof of his great organising and inspiring abilities, and the colonials who know the man and his past work will be ready to go bail that the brigade he has taken charge of will never suffer for the want of alertness, energy and enthusiasm on the part of its commander.