Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-01-29
AN ELEPHANT BATTERY.
NOVEL METHOD OF TRANSPORTING
CANNON m INDIA.

British Troops Utilize the Unwicldv AMI
mais to Carry Cannon From One Point
tn Apother-Dsnger of the Service
How n Cunts Strapped to ON Elephant
Elephants have been used in war
fare since days beyond history, but il
has been reserved for the Peshawari
column of the British force now sup
pressing the belligerent Afridis and
other tribesmen on the northwestern
frontier of India 20 establish a prece1
dent In the matter OF heavy battery
of artillery, IN which the big twelve
Founders are packed on the backs of
the great hrutes, like the light sec
tional guns en- the backs Of mules In
a mountain battery. as long "a ar
tillery has been known in this coun-
try the elephant has been used TO
drag cannon. but despite a more or
less useful record in this matter of
traction. there are still those who have
doubts as TO his utility in his new
role. He is too saCacious and too
powerful for the Job. Though no cow
ard at heart, he appreciates the vast
utility Of prudence. aud III wounded
in an encounter the merits of which
he does not understand nor desire 10
understand, but which he knows af-
fects 10 personal interests Of his own,l
he is liable TO get out of harrA's way
with the utmost expedition that his
enormous bulk is capable Of. If one
of the fifteen elephants in a battery
bolts, the other fourteen are morally
certain % follow his sagacious exam
pie: and IL fifteen elephants, each
I with half a ton OF artillery on his back,
/ 60 pelting backwards through a long
column In one Of the narrow defles
I that the country hereabouts ahounds
in, then somebody Is sure to get
hurt.
The enemy knows this, he has good
marksmen. and the elephant Is an easy
target. and hence the reluctance OF
| General Hammond who commands the
/ Peshawar column. in the matter OF ac-
cePting this new arm within the circle
OF his troops az Bara. Ii takes, as has
been stated, fifteen elephants 70 carry
/ the SIX guns OF a battery-six ele-
plants for the unmOunted guns, SIX
for their heavy carriages, and three
for spare wheels and stores. The am
nUnition is carried in leather covered
boxes on the backs OF mules or ponies,
as In the case Of mountain batter Y.
Theoretically the battery can toe
brought into action in about six min
utes. but the risks are so many that
some persons who are considered war
wise declare that no officer would dare
70 dismount his guns IN the vicinity Of
an enemy.
Wbea a gun has 70 be carried aSxay,
the gun elephant comes alongside the
piece and kneels down, while the gun.
ners unlimber the gun itself, which il
then lifted up bodily 10y the men, who
carry a shoulder high 20 the skids that
are placed against the animals side.
There ropes are slung around the piece,
while man stays at either end Il
steady il. Another man is posted OF
the back Of the elephant TO drop Ia,
piece into its wooden cradle when i
reaches the top Of the skids. Tn,
rope that is looped under the gun il
then passed over the elephants back
where it Is grasped by the balance o.
, the guns detachment, who haul on il
I like sailors on a sheet until IL drop:
into its groove in the cradle. which j
strapped tightly over the pad--sOm
eighteen inches thick--on the ele
. plants back. 4 very similar opera
ton has next TO be gone through witt
the carriage. only it takes longer. Tn
carriage itself is first lifted up, thei
the wheels, which have been detache
while the hosting was going on, ar
: lifted up by four men apiece and re
fitted 10 their axles. All this take
: time--too much time, according I
some people. a regular mountain
l battery gun can be unshipped an
8 brought into action IN thirty seconds
0 The weight Of the gun is about min
hundred pounds, and that of the Cal
1 riage about twelve hundred. Harper
Weekly.