The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The preparations for the Abyssinian campaign
are now fairly begun. Y esterday the departmenhe
ts
in Woolwich Arsenal received instructions from t
War Department to occupy themselves in the
arrangements for furnishing the expedn, which
is to be despatched from India with the slightest
possible delay. The members of the Ordnance Select
Committee continued their investigation of the pack-
saddles and mountain transport, already referred to
in Ihe Son, and urged the necessity of carrying out
the proposal of Capt. Fenn with all reasonable haste.
A number of mules and bat animals, it is stated, are
to be purchased at Malta and Gozo for the mountain
service. A large amount of stores of every con-
ceivable kind necessary for the campaign, to be de- .
spatched iu transit to Malta, will shortly be in
readiness for shipment at "•Voolwieh, including 7-
p Kinder riled guns, with complete equipment and
stores, the efficiency and abundance of which the
cauntry has reason to be well satisfied with. Col.
Campbell, superintending the Royal gun factories
at Woolwich, has, moreover, been instructed to pre-
pare two additional batteries of steel guns as ad-
juncts to the brass batteries in course of prepara-
tion on the approved system alluded to. The new
batteries will fire the same species of projectiles—
namely, a 71b. shot. The weight of each gun will
not-exceed 1.501 b. Twelve carriages, also of steel,
for their equipment, are to be made in the Royal
Carriage Department at Woolwich, under the direc-
tion of Col. Clerk ; the weight of each carriage
without wheels to be less than lcwt., and they will
thug' be available for transport in the most rugged
and difficult passes of the enemy's country. Capt.
Gordon, superintendent of the Military Stores, was
on Sunday in consultation with Sir John Paking-
ton and the various officials of the War Depart-
ment in Pall-mall, and was instructed to urge the
matter forward without delay. The manufacture
of the new batteries will occupy about six weeks,
wit' it is a matter of doubt if their assistance will
then be required. Col. Boxer, commanding the
department of the Royal Laboratory, has given
direction for the issue of case shot and a thorough
supply of stores for their use when ready. The ,
expedition will ba under the chief command of
Major-Gen.. Napier and Brigadier-Gen. Staveley.
A Lamour was current yesterday at the Military
Train" CaMP at Woolwich that the 17th troop, Capt.
Corbett, 18th, Capt. Baby, the 19th, Capt. MiNeil,
and the .20th, Capt. Bence, are to be held in readi-
ness for departure ; but as the whale of the troops
will be supplied front India it is probable that the
Military Train will be held in reserve only to com-
pose a relief for India. The officers under orders to
accompany the troops are as lollows :—Major
Buller, •in command ; Surg. WArthur, Lieut.
Warner, Lieut. Warren, Ensigns Andross, Stow,
and Newbury.
The whole of the officers and sappers and miners

of the Royal Engineers employed in the fieldwork
depot at head-quarters, Chatham, have been en-
gaged for several weeks past in the formation of
parallels, magazines, and stockades, and in the erec-
tion of batteries and other fieldworks preparatory to