ers; (f)
Chief Instructors for Cavalry, Infantry, Artillery and Engineers.

Amongst the senior officers selected by the War Office for these posts
were the following: Colonel Disney, R.A., Lieutenant-Colonel Brownrigg,
Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, R.A., Major Fellowes and Captain Ernest
Rhodes, R.E., brother of Cecil Rhodes.

It was rumoured at the time that Sir Frederick had come to the conclusion
that he had undertaken rather a serious contract in importing such a lot
of officers. How was he to protect himself against such an array of
military talent? He was a most enthusiastic volunteer. He was besides a
very able business man. All Australians know the firm of which he was one
of the partners, Butler, Sargood and Co. His military knowledge, however,
was naturally very limited, and no doubt he felt it would be difficult
for him to battle against the more than heavy demands which the new
military directorate would probably make upon the Government. It
happened, however, that General Downes' period of service with the South
Australian Government was approaching its end, and Sir Frederick hit upon
the happy idea of securing him for the position of Secretary to his
Department. The general's ripe experience in the conduct of the South
Australian forces and the success that had attended his efforts in that
respect rendered him well qualified to give good advice to the Minister
in charge of the Department. General Downes accepted the appointment.

At the time of the Imperial officers' arrival in Melbourne a Charity ball
was being held. The wives of the new officers bought tickets, not with
the intention of going themselves, as they thought it was just an
ordinary charity affair which would not be patronized by the best people.
So, instead of going, they gave their tickets to their servants and sent
them. If they had taken the trouble to ask about the ball they would have
been told that these charity balls were attended by the nicest of the
nice--and they would, of course, have been there themselves. The lady
correspondents of the society journals were naturally awaiting their
arrival as excellent subjects for their pens, and were not slow in
discovering the absence of the good ladies as well as the presence of
their servants. Naturally they felt indignant. The fact was soon
whispered among the guests, and some were unkind enough to look upon the
incident almost in the light of a personal insult. Society was quite
disturbed,