was simply the selection of chiefs from
amongst the officials of the existing State departments considered best
fitted for the position.

The selection of an officer for the position of Commander-in-Chief of the
Commonwealth forces was quite a different matter. While the general
organization of the forces of the individual colonies had been run on
somewhat similar lines, there were many anomalies to be eradicated and
many difficult problems to be solved. The seniority and other claims of
the whole of the officers employed on the permanent staffs of the
different States had first to be taken into consideration in the military
reorganization. This task alone necessitated much care and thought in
view of the many fairly well paid positions that would be at the disposal
of the Commander-in-Chief. Then the inauguration and organization of the
central administrative offices and State commands. Further, and
all-important, the preparation of the estimates for the yearly
expenditure at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, for on this
naturally depended the establishment to be maintained. Last and not
least, a man possessing the thorough confidence of the Government, an
officer of high repute, with much tact, was required. At times when I had
been riding across the veldt in South Africa with General Hutton we had
spoken of the coming Federation of the Australian colonies. He was always
watching the news from Australia. When it was evident that the Act of
Parliament initiating the Commonwealth would receive the Royal assent I
became quite satisfied that Hutton had settled in his own mind to be the
first Commander-in-Chief. As far as I remember Hutton first came to the
front in the operations in Egypt, when he made a special study of mounted
infantry. He was a firm believer in the usefulness of this--then--new
branch of the service. Later on, when he was appointed Commandant in New
South Wales, he found at hand the very material to train as mounted
riflemen. Australians, as we all know, are excellent horsemen and
first-class shots. The nature of the country, with the probable forms of
attack to which it might be subjected, lends itself to their use as
mounted riflemen rather than as cavalry. While Commandant in New South
Wales he devoted much of his energy towards the training of the mounted
troops in this direction. An able soldier, firm in purpose--somewhat too
firm sometimes--he did not spare himself in the interests of his me