AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNORGENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 15 August 1911, Page 8

AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNORGENERAL.

o SKETCH OF HTS CAREER. Rofon iug to Australia’s now Gov-nmor-Goueral, Lord Denman, who readied Melbourne last week, the Sydney “Morning Herald” says:— Tiio uo,w Governor-General is quite a young man—only 30—with an almost bo\ ir.h face. But ho is a man of attainments, and has boon Dopntykp v.kcr of ibe House of Lords, under the present Government. Moreover, he is a friend of the King, and it war. said that ho owed his appointment as Governor-General of the Common wealth largely to the King’s .verson. ll interest. Lord Denman ims never previously visited Australia: be sots foot on our shores now for idle fust time.

Lord Denman succeeded to his barony in IHDI, at the age of IS), hut his public work dates from the time of

the South African war. He has solved his apprenticeship as a politician, courtier, and sport man—three oi the professions open to the young British aristocrat. But it is as a soldier that Lord Denman should ho introduced to Australia. When the Boor war broke out Lord Denman joined the Hitli Middlesex Yeomanry, and wont to South Africa as lieutenant under a very remarkable leader—-an old steeplechaser and a footrumicr, and a bosom friend of Lord "William Bcresford—Major Dalhiac. In the war, in in an action at Senckal, Major Dalbiac was killed, and Lord Denman was promoted to captain, and given command of the squadron. In an account which appeared in an English paper were given some of Lord Denman’s experiences at the war. “Almost every day wo had a light of sonic kind,” ho said. “My squadron was alternately advance and rearguard to tho brigade. One day I had throe scouts wounded, so that after that I decided to do without any. . . . We were frequently mistaken for Boors by our own side, and three days running I was shot at by our own infantry. Once, getting in a tight coiner from tho Boers, wo were received with a regular fusillade just as were congratulating ourselves on our escape. Tiio horse of a man riding behind mo was killed. One day the leading squadron had got into a tight place. Firman (the commanding officer) sent mo up to reinforce, and as we came under tiro I was hit through tho thigh, the bullet grazing the main artery. A friend of mine, Captain Maxtetd, of the East Yorkshire, skilfully tied up the wound, and I was carried back to camp. I was put in a train. .. .

and at Mooi River our train was several hours late, and we were lott tied up in our stretchers on the platiorm, so helpless as to invoke tho derision of some Kaffir hoys, who mocked and jeered at ns. I then appreciated what true helplessness was.” Two strong convictions were forced upon Lord Denman by his South African experiences. One was tho value of mounted infantry; tho other was the all-importance of army remounts. While at the front he contributed an article to tho “Nineteenth Century” which aroused considerable discussion. He dwelt upon the value of mountetd infantry as scouts and skirmisnews, ahd suggested that they might some day prove to ha ihoro useful than cavalry, owing to their better shooting Capacity. “One mounted infantryman is worth three foot soldiers, and Lord Denman concluded witli the opinion that in tho next groat European war mounted infantry might be used as part, of the great cavalry screen by which movements of large bodies of men were covered. In November, 1902, Lord Denman wrote a further article for tho “Nineteenth Century,” based upon his bxporicncc at tho remount depot in Pretoria. The article was entitled “Tho War Office and Remounts,” and he had occasion to characterise tiie principal types of remounts which had come, under his charge. Of them hill the Capa pony was probably tiio’ host. When it was flood it was very good indeed. The Canadian and Texan remounts ho considered badly broken in; the Hungarians were “gocd-look-ing, hut a sort with a weakness for collapsing quickly.” Lord Denman has formed a high opinion of tho Australian horse for army purposes, and is looking forward to studying this aspect of tho remount problem at first hand during his stay in Australia.

After his return from South Africa Lord Denman frequently took part in military debates in the House of Lords. The subject of his maiden speech in July, 1902, was tho reform of Sandhurst. Speaking with the knowledge of personal experience, he said that. Sandhurst was quite unsuited for its main purpose—that of training young officers who had just left school. The entire, curriculum was too- ambitious.

Much of Lord Denman’s knowledge in army and remount matters came from his experiences as an amateur steeplechase rider. Lord Denman is fond of polo, and may play in Australia. He lias also been the owner cf a number of smart hurdlers which have been first past the winning post, with “owner up.” In November, 1893, lie scored his first public win with Black Maria, by Retreat —Stop Thief, at the Aldershot autumn meeting. Before going to ' the front in January, 1900, he' sold his horses without reserve, Black Maria bringing 290gns, and Sheriff’s Officer 4Sogns.