The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-22 00:00:00

TRANSPORT OF TROOPS BY

RAILWAY.

The commission appointed last session to receive evidence
on the relative merits of the broad and narrow gauges has
eat several times, but the information obtained has, with one
exception, possessed very little, if any, interest for the public
generally. The exception to which we allude is that of the
evidence given at the sitting of the commission on Wednes-
day, when Sir Willoughby Gordon, Quarter-Master-General
of her Majesty's forces, was examined relative to tha facili-
ties afforded by railways for the transport of troops. The fol-
lowing is a condensed report of the General's evidence :
For the last three years and a half, ending the 30th of
June, there were conveyed by railway 212,000 persons, of
whom 9,600 were women and 11,000 children, without a single
accident being reported—a security previously unknown by
any other mode of conveyance for troops. Has no preference
for the broad or narrow gauge. Knew nothing of their com-
parative merits. Had never any want of accommodation on
either. All the railway companies were anxious to meet the
views of the Horse Guards. Had as much accommodation
as if the railways were under his own direction.
By the CHAIRMAN—In case of war, could the railways be
made available for the defence of the country? Witness—
Certainly. The effect of the rapidity of the railways was
ouch that they could do as much with a small army as could
have formerly been done with a large one. The break of a
gaut;e would diminish these advantages. The practical in-
conveoience would be similar to that of a ferry. Great in-
convenience would result from want of cover. I know the
stations at Paddington and at Slough, and am enabled, to
speak of thcm. The break of a gauge at Slough would cause
great inconvenience from the delay that it would occasion.
It would be vt•xy inconvenient to unpack the baggage and
ammunition aftt"r they had been once stowed away. The
effect to cavalry ITould be the same. When cavalry were
removed, the horses were placed in boxes lightly nailed up,
and they came out of them after a journey of 100 miles per-
fectly fresh. The removal of infantry, which might be ac-
complished in nine hours by railway, would require 17
marchings to effect the same distance. The expense by rail-
way is less. With regard to cavalry, the horses cost no more
than if they were in stable, the only expense is for the men.
The CHAIRMAN—Do you think the Government should
keep a portion of the railway stations for the carriages and
boxes for the horses? Witness--In time of war it might be
desirable to have a stock of carriages and boxes at the dis-
posal of the Government. In my opinion an uniformity of
gauge would be advantageous. It has been suggested that
in case of an insurrection there would be a danger that the
railways might be broken up. Ido not think that could be
easily done. If such a thing was expected, patrols might be
stationed on the line; the military would take care to pro-
vide against anything of that kind.
The CHAIRMAN.—What would be the effect of lines of rail-
way along the coast in a military point of view. Wit-
ness—During the last war we had large bodies of
troops along the coast in Kent, Sussex, and Devonshire, at a
great expense ; but now we could concentrate our forces at
one point. When the last war first broke out we had troops
in Essex, Norfolk, Northampton, and so on northward. We
had, besides, large bodies of troops in Kent, Sussex, Hamp-
shire, and Devonshire, which were all separate corps, and
could not be moved without great labour and expense. In a
similar state of things it would be much better to concentrate
them at a central point in the interior, to be conveyed to the
coast as might be required.
The CHAIRMAN.—Then you think this point should be a
focus, with radii diverging to the coast. Have you formed
any opinion where that point should be fixed? Wit-
ness—l have not. That would have to be decided on.
There might be more than one point. The Martello Towers,
which it was at one time suggested should be sold, might be
ve7 useful in repelling the approach of hostile steamers.
This closed General Gordon's examination.

RAILWAY SURVEYING.—On Sunday night, or
rather on Monday morning, the gamekeepers in the employ
of George Savile Foljambe, Esq., of Osberton-hall, Notting-
hamshire, were alarmed by seeing lights in various direc-
tions. Under the expectation of capturing a gang of poach-
ers, the keepers bore down, and came upon a whole troop of
surveyors, employed for one of the Lincoln and Retford lines
of railway. One party presented their pieces; the other
levelled their surveying-poles, with the flag at one end and
shod with iron on the other, like so many foot-lancers. Now,
did not strict truth forbid it, there would be here a fine field
for fancy to describe the battle that ensued; but it so hap-
pened that the gamekeepers, finding the other party the
stronger of the two, and also that they were not poachers,
but trespassing by night to make a survey which their
master had forbidden by day, thought that discretion was
the better part of valour, and they quietly beat a retreat,
leaving the midnight surveyors, with their bull's-eye lan-
terns, chains, poles, and theodolites, in quiet possession of the
field.—Doncaster Gazette.
HUMAN VERSUS HORSE POWER. Considerable
sensation was created last week in the neighbourhood of
Airgrie, by the appearance of a large carriage drawn by no
less than three hundred men. In the front of the carriage
a person was stationed, who seemed to direct this mighty
Juggernaut, and on its nearer approach it was found to con-
tain an anvil block, weighing seventeen tons, which was on
its way from Monkland Ironworks to Gartness Ironworks,
for one of Naysmith's steam-hammers about to be erected
there. The carriage weighed three tons, making twenty
tons in all ; and as it had to be let down a steep and rather
awkward road, it was found necessary to apply intelligent
power for the purpose. We understand the Monkland Iron
Company are making a large addition to their malleable iron-
works at Calder Bank, for which they have ordered an en-
gine of about 200-horse power, and which will materially
increase their power of production of rails, plates, &c.—Edin-
burgh Pest.
ST. IVES.—No pilchards have been taken since our
last report. The season draws to a close, but we hope to
secure a few thousand hogsheads more before finally with-
drawing the seins. Up to this time about 10,000 hogsheads
have been landed from the seins this season, which, at 505.,
will air oust to just 25,0001., a tolerably fair sum to realise in
a few weeks.—Penzance Gazette.
Governor's Island, in Boston' harbour, says the
Journal, has been purchased by the United States Govern-
ment, of Henry G. Andrews, of Boston. The commanding
position of Fort Winthrop, upon its summit, when repaired
and fortified, will, with the other fort, make Boston 119 safe
from foreign attack as any city in the Union.