The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-23
A SHAM FIGHT.
The Training of the British Camel Corps at
DOngOla.


Letter in London News.
Not long since there was grand sham fight
here, in which all the British troops that could
be spared from other duty took part. 1t is
scarcely necessary to say that the array was not
numerically imposing. The whole force con.
sisted of about four hundred mounted infantry
of the camel corps, and less than half that num-
Der ber of the Royal Sussex regiment Sir Her
bert Stewart was the reviewing general First
the camel corps was told off to cover an advance
of infantry, hover about the enemys danks, and
at favorable opportunity dismount to enflade
his advancing lines with whitening volleys. All
this was very well done, except that the skir-
mishing companies of mounted men took up
position whence, instead of discomfting the
imaginary foe they could only pour crushing
fire into the square of infantry acting in concert
with them. This slight mistake having
been pointed out by Sir Herbert
and duly rectifed the troops formed
as if to receive an attack in force. On the right
were two compact infantry squares in echelon, so
posted that they could fire from every face with
out endangering each other. Then still in
echelon, came a solid but regular square of
cames, all made to lie down with their heads
inward, and left under charge of weak guard
numbering no more than half dozen. On the
extreme left, and thrown back so that they could
fire clear of their cames, stood the men of that
corps in square. This formation, though appar-
emily vulnerable, is in reality very strong, its
only weak point being that each square, taken
i'll detail, might be overwhelmed by the impet-
uous rush of an enemy whom nothing daunts.
That danger, however is more imaginary than
real, the echelon of squares being practically
great oblong capable of meeting an attack, from
whatever quarter delivered by effective fire in
every direction. Let anybody not versed in
military phraseology draw rectangular figure;
on its diagonal place four detached squares eQui
distant and parallel with the larger figure
then dot some lines for each face, to represent
the direction of musketry fire, and he
will have an accurate idea of the formation I
have described. One square, however must not
be taken into account. That is merely mass
of camels, and is therefore powerless as an en-
CINE of destruction. 1t may even be supposed
that these animals, alarmed by the roar Of mus
kerry and rush of men, would be likely to STAN
pede. and perhaps throw the other squares into
confusion If they are properly hobbed there is
not much danger Of this. The experiment in a
modified form was tried Two companies of the
Sussex charged home cheering Justify as they
came and not a camel took the slightest notice
of them or attempted to move out of it's place in
the crowd. After these interesting operations
the camel corps marched past, first by companies
and then in line, which Sir Herbert Stewart
described in sporting language as rather ''high
trial" though even in that movement they ac-
quilted themselves very creditably-then the
whole file passed at trot. This last was a very
picturesque spectacle, but at the same time full
of ludicrous incidents. It was interesting to
study the many types of camels some am
bling smoothly with a stately movement
others swaying and tossing like crank skiffs in
choppy sea, and many going with stiff, unLend-
ing joints that seemed to have lost all supple
ness, if they ever had any. These must be about
as pleasant conveyances as springless cart on
stony road. Most of the men seemed to have
mastered the art of camel-riding fairly, but 9TH
ers, with shoulders rounded, heads bent for
ward, helmets settling back in the names Of
their necks, and half yard of daylight visible
between saddle and corduroy at every stride,
looked anything but at home. To do the men
justice. however, one must say that they show
quite as much confidence as the majority of ma
tises, and rather more intelligence in managing
the animals they ride have not yet had an
opportunity of comparing them with the soldiers
of the Mudirs dusky camel corps, who are said
to be skilled in many acrobatic feats that our
men could scarcely hope to master yet awhile.
These have been sent up country where, ac-
cording to the aarmist accounts said to have
been received and frequently circulated by one
gentleman here, they ought by this time to be
within measurable distance of the enemys for
ndable hordes