The evening times., 1900-02-10
The Mess TnbIer.


berthed on the deck. The tables are in a
row along the sides. leaving the midship
part OF the deck clear They extend in
board from the ships side, where they are
rabbeted OF hung over stringer and. with
the benches. are securely nailed to the
deck
over each table is painted on the ships
side The number Of the mess to occupy Il
and the number OF men in the mess.
In suitable compartments below are
built the armories, where rifles and car
bines are slowed horizontally in tiers. each
rifle resting in scores cut TO receive il; re-
volvers slowed in pistol racks and sabres
/ in vertical stands \ compartment or large
bin is fitted with partitiOned shelves for
I the knapsacks Of the men OF each unit
separately. A compare ment is also fitted
with rows and tiers OF small opeu-faced
boxes to hold the helmets with which all
the troops are provided
Transports for mounted troops are fit
ted with a compartment for horse trap
pings, vertical stanchions with long up
ward-sIoping pegs for saddles and brides,
and horizontal baiZe-cOveTed poles Tor
hanging harness. In some instances this
gear arrives all bagged and marked With
unit and horse to which It belongs. in
which case il is simply slowed in the COM
partment provided.
Bakeries galleys. guard and orderly
rooms, magazines, wash rooms. and la
trines, are fitted on all transports accord
ing 10 Admiralty specifications and entirely
independent OF the ships usual furniture
The wash rooms are fitted with running
water and metal tipping basins which
empty into ample overheard pipes.
The Horse Transports.
The horse transports are generally
ships that are used in the live cattle trade
The horse decks are above the water line
The decks are laid in cement, with heavy
rounded fore and aft wooden strips for the
animals 20 brace their feet. For the con
yeyanee Of horses the Admiralty requires
that there must be a two-foot passage be-
tween the ships side and the cant az the
rear Of the stalls.
In addition to these what We may term
ordinary stalls, large stalls are TO be- pro-
Nlded Tor per cent more horses than the
number TO be embarked. and per cent OF
the stalls are 10 be t inches longer and 2
inches wider than the others. In addition
to these larger stalls. which should be
together and clearly marked large stalls
loose boxes are to b. provided amidships
on each deck or compartment on which
horses are carried and when possible
one is 10 oe built on the upper deck for
each fifty horses provided.
Each stall is supplied with pair Of
canvas cushions Tor the top rails on each
side or a horse in case OF heavy weather.
Inc heavy wagons of the field telegraph
company. bridging battalion field hospital
etc, are slowed loaded. with covers on
on top Of other cargo so that no weights
come on top Of them. The wheels are TAX
en- or. Only a portion of special wagons
OF the army service corps are being taken.
as il is the Intention to use the wagons OF
me cape. as better suited 10 the country
for transport purposes.
The guns and wagons OF the artillery
batteries and ammunition columns are
slowed in the holds with wheels on and
wagons loaded. cartridges and fused shells
In the magazines. The guns and caissons
have stout wooden frames over the breech
OF the gun. covering projecting fittings All
guns, wheels, etc, are painted a uniform
khaki color.
The admirable Arrangements
The transport arrangements are adni-
| rable- The day previous to the embarka-
tion Of certain unit. an advance party
arrives at the ship from the camp or bar
racks with the heavy luggage. which they
see slowed. and learn the interior ar
rangements Of the ship. The military
chief transport officer at each principal
point Of embsrkation arranges the times
at which the units should arrive alongside
designated transport
He has number OF officers OF the dis
trict and non commissioned officers as as
sistants. Each Of these officers. as also
each Of the naval transport officers. is pro-
vided with a sheet showing the number Of
each train TO arrive time OF arrival. the
unit on board. and name Of commanding
officer. the number Of men comprising the
unit and the number OF transport on
which II is TO be embarked The naval
transport officer Of the ship arranges what
compartments the unit Is to occupy. the
number Of mess tables assigned to 81. and
has the advance party ready 70 assist
Each troop train carries in a conspicu-
Gus place a number corresponding 20 its
number on The transport sheets. and in
the case Of Southampton is switched from
the main line into the GTHks and the shed
alongside its assigne5 transport During
the railway passage ba-ODets are fixed
with scabbard on, and all straps belts,
etc, slowed in knapsacks. As soon as the
men leave the car they are formed in col
umn Of companies by their officers. and
under direction Of the stan officer are
marched TO the proper gangways. where is
formed passing line from the dock down
10 knapsack and helmet rooms
This line is formed from the advance
party under the supervision of the naval
transport officer The arriving troops
ground arms. unsling knapsacks. and
standing IN company front pass knapsacLs.
then helmets, from one 20 the other 10 the
passing line, and so on down TO the store
rooms, where they are slowed according
to companies. The passing line then shifts
TO the armoTy and the rifles are passed
and slowed in the same way. No ammu-
milton is carried by the men. but an ample
supply in packing cases accompanies each
| unit, slowed in the magazines provided
| for Il.
Place of EmbaPkatiOn
The noncommissioned officers Of each
! company are then called to the front. the
company divided into groups according TO
capacity OF mess tables. each group placed
in charge of a noncommissioned officer
who Is given the number Of his mess and
directed to march his detachment on board
and stow their sea-Eit bags and Overcoats
in the battens over the mess table At
The gangway each group is met by an as
sstant and piloted to their table So
methOdically and rapidly is this system
worked out that a battalion Of over !. .Onn
men have arrived and been placed On
board with all accOutrements slowed in
place in but little over an hour.
Southampton is an ideal place IN an-
bark troops so far az relates 10 docking
The dock frOnfaga Is aic;,r4 g.