Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-23
HOW TO PACK A SHIP WITH MEN
Wethod by Which the South African
Army Curps Embarked.

Moving troops by sea is such an integral
and essential part of our military business
that constant practice has gone far to per
feet the system in force, says The Lon
don Times But the general public Viii
hardly be familiar with the proceeding as
it was carried out recently, and viii be
elsewhere, at Glasgow, Tilbury, the Lon
don docks, Cork, etc, during the next
week or two. 1t may well be described
therefore in some detail, taking the case
of infantry as the simplest and quickest
in application The whole aim and object
of the orders issued We're to prevent con-
fusion or delay at any point by provid-
inG against every miScha0ce. In the first
place, before leaving barracks or quarters
every article of clothing wanted during
the voyage was to be packed in the sea
kit bags, which bags, as well as the wallis
rs, We're in no case to be separated from
their owners. Every man when he en-
trained was to take them INTO the railway
compartment he occupied. on the railway
journey there was much work to be done
the sings had to BE removed from the
rifles, the bayonets in their scabbards
fixed on the rifles. all loose straps OF
equipment, the pouch, the cape of the
great coat, belt and the rest were 10 nc
slowed away in the valisc,, and the can
teen fastened on to it in its proper place
Every man was to wear his great-coat
until he got on board ship, and his field
service cap was to be kept handy III his
haVersack The helmets were to be pack
ed away Immediately after the cmbarka'
ton. For ordinary wear on board tn,
men were provided with the conventional
blue night cap.
Southampton docks are admirably
ada pied for the emba rka ton of large sod
les of troops. There is deep water to tn,
very edge of the extensive wharfage, ant
the largest steamers can lie alongsld,
/ ready u living 81
while the many enormous open waTehous
os are available as covered troop sheds
/ The orders issued for detraining wer,
simple but complete. The first to leave
! train on it's arrival in the dock was tho
commanding officer, with his adjutant
| sergeant major ana bugler; next a mark
err from each company alighted, while tn,
| company officers stood by the carriage
doors occupied by their own men. At tn,
signal each company fell into its markers
! the regiment la quarter column, each com
pany in turn dspoSng of its rifles ana va
/ Uses, then making way for the one behind
| For this purpose chain Of men wa
formed on each flank leading across
| gangway, one fore and one aft; by en-
! the rifles were handed along, to be de
the rifles were handed by the other, thu
valises in the same way to their particu
| lar storeroom. Then each company, hav
Ing moved to fresh ground, was divided NJ
into messes, and each mess, escorted b,
| its own non-commssioned officer, filed b,
a third distinct gangway on board, ant
80 down to the troop decks.
These maneuvres We're conducted with
| out intermission for several hours an,
| with unfailng clocklike mechanical pre-
| cislon. 1t was almost automatic; no on
| gave orders, there was not the slightes
| fuss or furry. Every one in every rcnl
knew exactly what he had to do, The re-