Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-01-21
ELEPHANTS IN THE ARMY.
Some Points ns to Their Employment
L., the british In Iudin.


hy the British In Indin.
Is of the most interesting features
the English army life presented to
yae laymau in India is furnished by the
re narkablo efficiency of the elephant
brigade, most highly developed through
tue skill of tho Burmese in handling
the giant animals Their usefulness in
India can scarcely be imagined by one
not familiar with the amount and varl-
ETY. of work which they accomplish, but
it 5uld be serious mistake TO imagine
nat this degree of usefulness is attained
through any aptitude of the uuwleldy
animals or natural tendency toward it.
1t is due solely and entirely to the won
derful ability of the natives in training
the hugo animals and overcoming their
natural inolinations This cannot be
toe highly praised Neither must it be
imagined that the use of elephants in
army life is not attended BY great dis
advantages. not the least of which is
the difficulty with which they are
transported.
Naturally the elephant is not an in
telligent animal. He can be taught re-
markable things, in which his strength
and endurance play an important part
He can never, however, perform these
feats without continual attendance and
direction Abstractly his power of work
is unappreciable. When directed hv
skillful hands. however, it is re-''.iS
able
The transportation facilities which
are provided for the sole use Of the ele-
plant are quite as remarkable. | wit,
messed recently the loading and detraln-
ing of lot of elephants on the Madras
railway. Both were remarkable proc
esses. In loading rope is fastened TO
his fore leg and 3 lot of natives haul and
pull at it TO induce the animal to take
the first steps into the car. This is only
accomplished, however, by admonish-
ing him in the haunch by means of a
tusk The first step taken is rapidly fol-
lowed by the others until he stands safe
ly on the car.
This portion of the task is accom-
plished com paratively easily, however,
when compared with the next At FIST
he is timid and slightly frightened, but
when the car starts his fear is wonder
full to behold Though he may ride a
hundred times he never overcomes this
fear, though it is much more pronounc-
ed when he takes his initial ride after,
say, two months acquaintance with civ
ilization. He rends the air with wild
trumpetings, endeavors fruitlessly to
escape, and only ceases his efforts when
the car has again come to standstill.
OF course wonderfully strong cars are
necessary to hold him. They are made
completely of iron, with huge iron bars
rising to height of 10 or ~ feet above
the platform. Often these cars are rem
dered useless by the twisting of the bars
due to the application of the occupants
remarkable strength.
In transporting the elephant by sea
the difficulties are almost as great.
They are raised by means Of canvas
sling from the wharf to the ship, strug-
Cling to escape and rending the air
with their cries Once aboard ship they
are easily managed, the motion not af-
fecting them, because they do not see
the moving panorama before them. Un
loading them is easy They are lower
ed to raft beside the ship and allowed
to swim ashore. They take to the water
easily and are excellent swimmers, be-
ing able to swim eight or ten miles at
stretch without firing.
The size of the Indian elephant is
usually about s feet in height and
10 feet in length. The male is little
larger, perhaps II feet, and weighing
about 5000 pounds. Calcutta Core
spondence