The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-12-26
The English Army.

expose of the luxurious habits of some
of their army officers in the field:
The baggage of an Indian army has al
ways been troublesome matter to deal
with, but it may be hoped that the Off
ticulties now reported to be experienced
in obtaining sufficiency of transport
for the troops on the northwest frontier
do not arise from the same cause that
operated to produce SO much distress
during tine first invasion Of Afghanistan
the superabundance OF luxuries with
which the officers of the 'tArmy of the
Indus set ont. 4 civilian biographer
Of the campaign reports that when the
force was leaving British territory he
generously offered some of his friends q
few boxes of cigars to take with them.
would scarcely be appreciated; ''for" said
the officer. ''our mess has two camel loads
of the best manilas." Sir Henry Fame,
the Commander in chief, had, indeed, is
sued an order that ''the troops should
move disencumbered OF every article of
baggage which could, without comprom
Using the efficiency of the army, he dis
pensed with but no steps were taken to
enforce the order, and the officers taking
q wide view of what constituted efficiency,
set out for the conquest of Afehanistan,
not only with large stock OF cheroots
and beer, bat also taking liberal sup
ply OF jams, pickles, Theoretically sealed
provisions. with the needful accompani-
ments Of wax candles, plate and linen.
However, before the foot of the Bolan
Pass was reached provisions began to ge:
scarce, and ''there was not drop of beer
in camp" The greater part of the cam
els attached to the army died III going
through the Pass, the only beverage
available for man or beast during thr
passage being blackish water. aud bat
little of that; and the unopposed Army
of the Indus emerged at the top of the
Pass in such a state disorgauization and
restitution as might have been presented
If it had gone through hard campaign.
This Objectionable laxity which used to
obtain in regard to baggage in the Indian
army, but which we believe has now been
succeeded by a Stricter regimen was dne
TO the system in force in India from the
earliest time of giving the officers a fixed
sum as ''tentage," in lieu of accommoda-
ton, and leaving him to make his own
arrangements both for quarters in garri
son and for tents and transport when In
the field. Thus, on the annexation of
province, when new environments had to
be constructed, while the whole energies
OF the authorities were concentrated on
getting the soldiers under cover, the Of
ticers would be set down on the bare
plain, and left to shelter themselves as
they pleased. The evil of the system in
peace time consisted mainly in the hard
ship OF individual officers, compelled to
lay out money in buildings which per
haPs had 10 be abandoned after year Of
two; but on active service the track of the
army eften became encountered with an
enormous load OF unnecessary transport.
1t was asgued that as the officers paid for
this it did not matter how much they
took with them. But the objection was
obvious that the movements OF troops
were likely to be embarrassed by any
needless additions TO the string Of beasts
to he guarded-in any case and with all
economy a very long one-ani this mui
tlplicity of private animals of burden of
ten create serious competition til tie
Government cattle for the limited qual-
tity of forage available. It was we believe,
on the Abyssinian expedition that the
first thorough reform III this essential
point was exhibited, all private transport
being disallowed. the baggage Of officers,
as well as men, being carried by the com
missariat, and being at the same time
strictly limited to the barest neces saries.
And it may be hoped that the same
wholesome system will be adapted with
the expeditionary columns now forming
on the frontier, Notwithstanding that Of
tcers in India continue to receive part of
their allowances in the form OF tentage.