The death of Richard Harding Davis was a real loss to the movement for
preparedness. Mr. Davis had an extensive experience as a military
observer, and thoroughly appreciated the need of a general training
system like that of Australia or Switzerland and of thorough
organization of our industrial resources in order to establish a
condition of reasonable preparedness in this country. A few days
before his death he came to Governor's Island for the purpose of
ascertaining in what line of work he could be most useful in building
up sound public opinion in favor of such preparedness as would give us
a real peace-insurance. His mind was bent on devoting his energies and
abilities to the work of public education on this vitally important
subject, and few men were better qualified to do so, for he had served
as a military observer in many campaigns.
Throughout the Cuban campaign he was attached to the headquarters of my
regiment in Cuba as a military observer. He was with the advanced
party at the opening of the fight at Las Guasimas, and was
distinguished throughout the fight by coolness and good conduct. He
also participated in the battle of San Juan and the siege of Santiago,
and as an observer was always where duty called him. He was a
delightful companion, cheerful, resourceful, and thoughtful of the
interests and wishes of others. His reports of the campaign were
valuable and among the best and most accurate.
The Plattsburg movement took very strong hold of him. He saw in this a
great instrument for building up a sound knowledge concerning our
military history and policy, also a very practical way of training men
for the duties of junior officers. He realized fully that we should
need in case of war tens of thousands of officers with our newly raised
troops, and that it would be utterly impossible to prepare them in the
hurry and confusion of the onrush of modern war. His heart was filled
with a desire to serve his country to the best of his ability. His
recent experience in Europe pointed out to him the absolute madness of
longer disregarding the need of doing those things which reasonable
preparedness dictates, the things which cannot be accomplished after
trouble is upon us. He had in mind at the time of his death a series
of articles to be written especially to build up interest in universal
military training through conveying to our people an understanding of
what organization as it exists to-day means, and how vitally important
it is for our people to do in time of peace those things which modern
war does not permit done once it is under way.
Davis was a loyal friend, a thoroughgoing American devoted to the best
interests of his country, courageous, sympathetic, and true. His loss
has been a very real one to all of us who knew and appreciated him, and
in his death the cause of preparedness has lost an able worker and the
country a devoted and loyal citizen.