The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-09
AN ELEPHANT BATTERY.
NOVEL METHOD OF TRANSPORTING
CANNON IN INDIA.

CANNON IN INDIA.
British Troops utilize the Unwieldv AMI
mails to Carry Cannon From One foin'
to Another-Danger of the Service
How Gun is Strapped to an ELEPHANT
Flephants have been used in war
fare since days beyond history, but 1t
has been reserved for the Peshawar
column of the British force now sup
pressing the belligerent Afridis and
other tribesmen ON the northwestern
frontier of India to establish prece-
lent in the matter of heavy battery
Of artillery, in which the big twelve.
FOUNDERS are packed on the backs OF
the great brutes, like the light sec
lional guns on the backs OF mules IN
a mountain battery. As long as ar
tillery has been known in this coun-
try the elephant has been used to
lrag cannon, but despite 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 sagacious and too
powerful for the Job. Though no cow
ard at heart, he appreciates the vast
utility of prudence, and Ut wounded
in an encounter the merits OF which
he does not understand nor desire TO
understand, but which he knows al.
;ects no personal interests of his own,
ne is liable to get out Of harms way
with the utmost expedition that his
enormous bulk is capable OF. II one
| IF the fifteen elephants in battery
| ,olts. the other fourteen are morally
,artain to follow his sagacious exam.
ole. and if fifteen elephants, eacf
with half ton of artillery on his back
20 pelting backwards through q lont
,olumn in one, of the narrow defile'
that the country hereabouts abound
in, then somebody is sure to ge
hurt.
The enemy knows this, he has goo'
marksmen, and the elephant is an cas-,
target, aud hence the reluctance Q
General Hammond. who commands tn
. Peshawar column, in the matter OF az
,epting this new arm within the circl
: Of his troops at Bara. 1t takes, as ha
! been stated, fifteen elephants to carr
, the six guns of battery-six ell
0 chants for the unmounted guns, 81
for their heavy carriages, and thrs
for spare wheels and stores. The IN
: munition is carried in leather covere
: boxes on the backs of mules or ponle
as in the case of mountain batter
# Theoretically the battery can !
G brought into action in about SIX mi
ates. but the risks are SO many tn
). some persons who are considered W
y wise declare that no officer would ola
= to dismount his guns in the vicinity
lr IN enemy.
n When a gun has to be carried ava
n he gun elephant comes alongside t
piece and kneels down, while the gu
D aers unlimber the gun itself, which
, hen lifted up bodily by the men, "
!, y larry it shoulder high to the skids Il
Of are placed against the animals SIC
I'd There ropes are slung around the ple'
while a man stays Of either end
NJ steady it. Another man is posted
y; the back of the elephant to drop
n n piece into its wooden cradle when
~ a reaches the top of the skids: !
" rope that is looped under the gun
!" hen passed over the elephants BAT
on where it is grasped by the balance
lis the guns detachment, who haul on
n ike sailors on a sheet until 1t dr.
: into its groove in the cradle, which
=, ce strapped tightly over the pad-so
eighteen inches thick--on the
he chants back. A very similar opt
no hon has next to be gone through v
ms the carriage, only it takes longer.
carriage itself is first lifted up, q
'he the wheels, which have been detac
,re while the hosting was going on,
lifted up by four men apiece and
st, fitted to their axles. All this ts
led time too much time, according
her some people. A regular mount
, .r battery gun can be unshipped
we brought into action in thirty seco1
ept The weight of the gun is about
pes hundred pounds, and that OF the
ad, riage about twelve hundred. HAIRY
es' Weekly.