The San Francisco call., 1895-12-19

sides 100, 900 tons OF coal. This large amoun
and number were taken across the Atlantic on
6O vessels, requiring crews of $4,000 men and
making 76yoyages.
England claims to be able to put on the con-
tinent of Europe, a voyage of only three days,
$4,000 men, 10000 horses and 1900 vehicles.
The writer in the United Service says that
short asis the distance it would be simply inn
possible Tor herto do so in one trip. Snlps
enough are to be had, but their withdrawal
from their usual avocation would imperll her
food supply. Her maximum effort, after CIV
ing every possible advantage to her, would be
TO transport 90, 600 men. the three arms IN
due proportion, with food and forage for four
teen days voyage and fourteen after landing,
On this basis it is seen that men are allowed
two and half tons per man and seven tons
per animal. 1t is from voyages like this that
portation of troops and materials of war, and
1t may be formulated as follows
For short voyages of three to five days, allow
one ton per man, two and hall tons per AMI
NAL and five per vehicle For voyages OF
week to twelve days allow two tons Per man,
three per animal and six per vehicle For voy-
ages OF two weeks to eighteen days allow three
TONS per man, ten per animal and seven per
vehicle, and for voyages of from eighteen TO
twenty-five days, three and three-fourths tons
per man, thirteen per animal and ten per
vehicle. 1t must be understood that these
rules are not arbitrary but are adopted by all
powers as being the best guide as to what is
safe and comfortable in the transportation OF
troops long distances by water.
1t may be asked why man who weighs but
15O pounds should have an allowance made
him OF three tons. 1t may be easily figured:
The ration of man weighs four pounds, and
he uses one ration day. In two weeks,
therefore, he will eat fifty-two pounds OF food.
He must have so much ammunition with him,
his arms and aecOuterments, his blankets,
greatcoat, haversack and clothing bag. The
weight of these, amounting to fifty pounds
more, must be accounted for, and everything
must be multiplied by three in order that he
may have enough to last him for thirty days
after landing. Ii, therefore, he is to be kept IN
good health on the voyage he must have air
space and room to breath in and turn around
in with some degree of comfort. Therefore his
weight and that of his ratlons and other sup
plies is taken by bulk measurement and not
actual weight, and little mathematical cal
culation on the basis Of the weights given Will
prove that three tons is not too much.
To the military student the difficulties of en-
barking large bodies are SO thoroughly under
stood that he can comprehend better than the
civilian that when it comes to mass OF 40 900
men the ratio of trouble is much greater than
when only small numbers are taken.
"From the foregoing" says the army officer,
sit will be clearly understood how utterly i'm
possible it is for England, France and Germany
combined to send enough men to this country
to subjugate it. 1t would strain them to their
greatest to transport 100000 men, and such a
number would be bagatelle to land on our
shores with any hope of conquest of anything
more than a few seaport cities, from which,
Notwithstanding their fleets, they would soon
be driven aMaY.''