River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-04
Campaigning Extraordinary

A correspondent of the London Tele-
graph sent this description of drill
while the troops were at Gakdul: Il
think l told you that one of the funny
things of Korti camp life was to see the
Household troops, or the Heavies, learn
ing infantry drill 'Fours deep
'fours right left form square, re-
sounded i'll their quarters all day long.
Lord Charles BereSford's Naval brigade
arrived on the 9th, and having prompt
ly pitched their tents and made them
selves comfortable on the following
day they turned out on camelback to
learn to handle these ships of tine desert.
What's the British army coming TOP
l overheard a soldier who was looking
on saying to his comrades. It's
turning it upside down Lord Wolselev is
and metamorphorising everything.
First he makes sailors of us infantry,
sending us here in boats, then he turns
the cavalry into infantrymen, and
I'm hanged if he amt making cavalry
of the sailors. Perhaps he was.
Anyhow, the process was droll
in the extreme. With much
persuasion Jack had towed, strung into
line, some sixty camels, for the de-
tachment to ride which was to march to
Metemneh. Lord Charles Beresford
and Sir Herbert Stewart and staff,
with many more were there to see the
Naval brigade drill. Mount shouted
Lieut.. Piggot, who was drilling the
contingent. Aboard went Jack, still
III nIG al
started to their feet, spilling and send
ing sprawling in all directions many a
brave sailor. Somehow none of the
men were hurt and while Jack was try
ing to remount the lockers on smiled
audibly; even Lord Charles Beresford
himself Instantly produced his hand
kerchief and smothered something that
sounded more like laughter than
coughing, though it was his own COM
mand which was furnishing the fun.
When the sailors at length had secure
" mounted. they seemed unhappy.
Possibly they did not like the short
lurches and swinging of the camels,
and would have preferred topgallant
yard in storm at sea. The camels
also did not appear to respond
promptly to the tugs given by
Jack to the guiding head-rope which
serves as a rein for the ami
NAL, and the brutes Numbered against
each other, throwing the line at times
into confusion. Their officers, with
wary eyes to faults of that sort, strove
to correct them by calling to their men,
Hard a port or hard a starboard
there One sailor / heard directed to
pass that rope across, as that brute
steers better from the port side. An
other Jack had 40 loaded his animal
with the equipment for the match that
he was told to dismount, and stow it
afresh, as the cameps saddle had bad
list Jack, however, was in dead ear
nest, and meant learning to ride, so the
detachment persevered, The specta-
tors might have | think. recognized his
seriousness. Not a good deal of quiet
chaff went on all the same. The cruel
est thing have heard for long time
was when the troop got the order to
trot, and the sailors went jog, jump
thump in their saddles, as if they were
playing leapfrog on the camels. Don't
bump so, cried bystander to one OF
the sailors; you'll make his head ache
Jack turned upon his tormentor mel
ancholy eye, moistened either by the
poignancy of his situation or the cold
callousness of the remark"