The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-15
PROVIDING FOR BRITISH TROOP

PROVIDING FOR BRITISH TROOPS.
1t Ia impossible to lay down any binding
rules for providing for an army in the
field. Many things have to he taken into
account besides the physical nharacteris-
tios Of the country. There are questions
of railways and waterways, Of animals
and forage, a. well as Of olimats and
distance. OF some Of these conditions In
south Africa we have already gained ex-
psrienoe In the Zulu and Matabele wars
but much has yet to be learned, and can
be taught only BY pc sonal examination
of the route ovar which the transport and
supplies have to pass. The general char
Diet. rmined. Assuming that Ne have q
angle line Of communication through
Natal to the TrAnsvaai frontier, Durb.n
will be the base, and Lady smith Oh New
castle the advance depot. The ohoice Of
an advance depot will depend on the at
titude Of tine Orange Free State. II no
attack 10 threatened from that quarser.
supplies may bs pushed forward to New
castle, a distance Ut 26S miles from the
90 ast. Sir Edwsrd Chichester, who wa.
In comma nd Of the squadron Mt Manila
when Admiral Dewey had his memorable
passage at arms with the German naval
otfioer, is responsible for the disenbark-
alton Of troops and stores. The work will
be difficult, for no large ships can safely
enter the haToor at Durham, on account
of the bar and the heavy seas that tend to
diminish the depth Of water. Horses have
to be landed In lighters costly and
tedious operation, which IL intruated,
under military and naval supervision. to
OWL contractor. As soon as the stores
are received they will ps sorted and sent
to the front by rail and road. The strain
to which these means OF transport will be
subjected may be inferred from the fact
that the weight OF stores and supplies re-
quired each day for an army corps is 300
tons.
The single lin, of railway from Durham
winds north ward through billy country,
there being Q steady ascent along Its
entire route. Ladysmith, lso miles from
the coast. Is 3,ss+ feet above the SEA;
while Newcastle, 20 miles distant, stands
at an elevation of 3, 800 feet. The carry
ing capacity of this line ID accordingly
lin tied, and must fall tar short Of the
requirements OF 800 tons day, not to
speak OF men, sick and wounded, and
ammunition. This deficiency has to be
made up BY wagon transports along roads
which, In many districts, are little better
than tracks, and are likely to become
quagmires In the rainy season, which
In Natal Is already upon us. Wagon
transport will be BY mule and trek-ox.
Owing TO the rinderpsst, these animals
are rather scarce In South Africa, and
large purchases OF mules have been made
In spain, the south Of Franco, Chicago,
and elsewhere Fifteen thousand mules
have been rsquisitionsd, and will be ussd
for drawing wagons OF American
pattern. These vehicles are strongly
| 10. D
pounds, their track being tive feet two
inchss. Twelve mules can carry q load Of
4, 100 pounds, and the transport will be
worked In sections OF twenty wagons
Mules do well on crushed mealies or
maize, but should havs from three to
four hours' grazing II they are to be kept
In condition The ration 10 eight pounds
day on the march. 70 that each section
will need half q wason-Ioad Of mealiea
for every eight hours journey.
Trsk-oxen though MT suitable for regi-
mental transport, will be ussd on the
line Of Communication. They have only
two recon mendationa They can find
longer able 10 walk or to carry anything,
you may eat them. ~ our men did when
shut up in Lucknow and the Alem Bagh.
The disadvautage Of this method of trans
port Ia Its extreme alowness and the la
bility Of the animals to sickness. Great
care nnh W w tnkcu IN icruluk bno uxcu
and In regulating their hours of work.
Fifteen miles ID . good days march. and
in the rainy season 1t 10 doubtful wheth-
or ten miles can be exceeded. Trek oxen
are never inspanned for more tnan eight
hours day, or for more than four hours
at Q time. They must rest for two or
three hours between marches, and should
n ever work during the hour after sunriss
or during the hour before sunset. These
ORA " backs are not without com pousa-
lions. Sixteen or eightssn oxen will
carry load OF from e.0oo pounds to 1900
pounds In q tented wagon weighing
about Z, 800 pounds. Each team has :
leader, or vosrlouper, who walks 10 front
and guides. willis the driver encourages
the cattle to pull together by cracking .
raw-hids Lash twelve feet or eighteen
feet long attached to bamboo stick
Cape Town Correspondence (Ootobsr ~
London Standard