The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-19
new CAMEL CORPS.
CANNON CARRIED ON THIN
STRIPS OF BAMBOO.
England's Costly Experiments in
the Present Indian War-Points
for Other Nations.

The year '9S may see the close Of the
British India war. The English have
suffered much from their lack Of
soldiers constitutionally fitted for the
warfare in India, but recent move on
the part of Victoria'S soldiers may
greatly assist them.
All the news from the entire INDIAN
frontier shows that the tribesmen are
still defying the British lion and the
Indian tiger with a desperation which
wounds and defeat, hunger and cold
can not subdue. The British detach-
ments are now retiring from the noun
tain nights. where the cold is so intense
in winter, to quarters in the valleys,
where they will wait until spring to
complete the work of subduing the re-
VOTED tribes.
While here they are experimenting
with the new force just mentioned The
experiment is in the use of camelS to
transport cannon and ammunition. The
experiment was made to see if it was
possible to transport a ewelve-pound
cannon by camels. Such a gun is en-
tirely too heavy for one camel, even
when dismounted, so platform of two
beams and supports was made for the
gun to be slung on between two cam
els. The wood unfortunately proved
unequal to the strain and split. Next
time, however, bamboo was used, and
the experiment was success.
Another experiment with camels was
made by the Khan of Kalat one Of
England's feudatory princes, whose do
mains lie to the west of Quetta and
border on those of the Ameer of At
ghanistan. The Khan has organized a
camel corps. Each camel carries two
men, and is fully equipped with spare
rations for men and beast, spare am
munition, and spare water.
This makes most mobile corps,
which can transport itself readily and
rapidly. The country about Kalat is
essentially a camel country, and the
inhabitants are camel breeding race.
So the corps is a most suitable one for
that portion Of the northwest frontier.
With such valuable allies, the British
cannot fail to make strides.
The cold of the mountain seems to
attack the vitality of young men more
than that of men whose constitutions
are matured. Young soldiers and young
officers become listless and lose all
dash after being exposed for any length
of time to the peculiar cold of the
mountains.
The cold, however, did not prevent
Private Vicory of the Dorsetshire regi
ment from distinguishing himself the
other day. He had already made rep
utation for gallantry at the storming
of the Dargai Ridge, and now he was
"a member of the rear guard of General
Kempster's force, which was retiring
from Waran.
He and four other men became separ-
ated from their comrades in the dark,
and the enemy surrounded them and
rushed" them. Vicory had his rifle
wrested from him, but recovered it,
bayoneted one man, clubbing down an
other, who had inflicted a deep wound
in his foot, and eventually got safe back
to camp with two of his companions.
The Zakka Khels, whom General
LockhaTt has summoned to surrender
before spring, under threat of having
the rest of their village destroyed, Will
probably suffer anything rather than
give up their arms The life of Zakka
Khel would not be worth much if he
did not have his gun, for it is the stand
ing custom of these ruffians to shoot
their neighbors on sight for personal
gain.
If there was only one gun left in the
country of the tribe after the disarm-
ament, the man having that one gun
would soon own the whole place and the
fruits thereof
In many parts Of the Zakka Khel
country land is titled only at night, as
the plowman runs less risk of being
''potted" by his neighbor in the dark
than he does in the daylight The
Zakkas have absolutely no regard for
the sanctity of human life
England has some nasty work before
her. but she is experimenting, and that
means much.
He surely may walk straight who
hath nothing to draw him aside