The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07

regard to mules. parties consisting each
OF two officers and two veterinary sur
geons were sent out some months ago
TO North America. South America, Spain
and Italy to make inquiries as to what
mules could be purchased in case of
need; and as soon as war broke out
cable messages We're sent to these par
ties TO buy UP at once whatever suitable
mules they could get. At the same
time arrangements were made for the
charterinE of sh Ds which would proceed
to the respective ports and take the
mules direct 70 South Africa. In this
way from $4,000 to 10000 mules were pur-
chased. and it is believed THAI these
have now all arrived at the seat of war.
The further question of wagons. how
ever, has proved a more troublesome one,
and it is admitted that in this respect the
existing arrangements lack completeness.
Every regiment serving in South Africa
must be equipped with regmental trans
port in addition to the brigade transport.
The former consists Of seven buck-waS-
ons. drawn by ten mules each, and en-
tirely under the charge Of the officer COM
nanding the regiment, these wagons being
used for the conveyance of tools, tents,
&C., together with one days rations for
the regiment. obtained from the Brigade
transport, which serves as supply col
umn. But the experience of past cam
paigns has shown that the ordinary gen.
eral service wagon Of the British Army
was unsuitable for South African require
ments, and that what was needed was a
long. low vehicle. on the model of those
in use there-very difficult to upset, and
Of very much larger carrying capacity
than our own The point that arose.
therefore, was how a sufficient number OF
wagons could be obtained. At one time
it was thought that the difficulty had been
surrounded. for officers sent over to the
United States for the purpose made all
the necessary arrangements with whole
sale wagon manufacturers there for a
supply of wagons of the desired pattern.
to be turned out in large quantities with
the speed of which the abundant timber
supplies and the mechanical arrangements
in vogue there would allow. But Al the
last moment it was decided by the cis!l
authorities here that it wo,lll be unde-
sirab BILE to send to another country fer
what were practically munitions of war.
and accordingly the military authorities
found themselves suddenly handicapped
in their preparations. However, they sent
our word to the Cape to buy up from prl-
vate persons as many wagons as possible,
and gave orders for the construction, eth
er there or in England. OF as many more
as they were likely to require. Already
about. 500 wagons have been dispatched
from Great Britain to South Africa, and
ii is hoped that the difficulty will soon be
surmounted: but for the present there is,
admittedly, some degree of trouble in get
ting supplies pushed forward. There has
been similar experience with regard to
harness. Here. again. the military au-
thorities had thought OF getting supplies
from America. where the makers are ac-
customed to the desired kind of six or ten
span mule harness. which is practically
unknown to harness-makcrs in England:
SO that, when the intimation was given
that America vas not to be involved in
any question of supplying US with war
material. the military authorities had to
buy uo mule harness in South Africa or
get it made as best they could.
These are the reasons why it can hard
IL be said a present that our transport
arrangements in South Africa are perfect.
but there are drawbacks which every
possible effort is being made to overcome:
while, apart from these considerations, the
machinery which has been set In motion
for provisioning the largest army that
Great Britain has ever sent a distance of
6isD miles to defend her interests across
the sea is working with smoothness
and a regularity that may well be re-
garded with satisfaction by those con-
cerncd.