The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-21
HEAVY ARTILLER IN REALITY,
Great Britain's Indian Army Guns
Are Drawn by Elephants.

From the New York Press.
10 England's Indian army the heavy ar
iilery means much more than siege guns
or the permanent guns of fortiAeaion.- Ii
means the elephant artllery-a corps of
heavy men, heavy elephants, heavy bull
ocks and heavy guns and ammunition
The guns, which have a long rarge are
Just the kind that would have proved in-
valuable in South Africa. But the heavy
brigade as yet never has had a chance of
distinguishing Itself
1t is said that The eye is the window Ct
the soul If this be true, the elephantine
eye is the exception. The bullocks eye
Is large, soft brown, and full of pathos
yet the animal itself is perhaps more de-
void of intelligence and feeling than even
the idiodc sheep. On the other hand
the small piglike orb of the elephant re ms
to contradict his affectionate, reasona BILE
nature. But the military authori les
know him and treat him as he deserves,
his life being ordered and regulated al
most as though he were a human soldier
He is subject to stringent military sci
pine; he has his kit and accoutremeat;
he parades for his rations; goes on route
marches, salutes the officers, and, Goes "a
tigue duties such as carrying luggage or
tranpling down the mud tennis courts in
lieu OF a steam roller. Each elephant,
moreover, is provided with a rec. rd of
service, age, height, character and so On,
aud the defaulter sheet is kept like SOL
dier's. Punishment awaits any breach
of regulations, and this means dep,iViag
him Of special dainties. such cakes end
sugarcane, in case of slight offenses VIII e
graver sins merit a severe thrashing ad-
mnistered by fellow elephant with a
heavy iron chain.
The elephants home resembles a long
row Of giant railway tunnel openings, the
stable being built with high arches 10
nh ufon 80
broad, square space known as the ele-
plant lines, and here the animals are
picketed in two rows. each one being fast
oned to his allotted place by an ankle
chain. That this fastening business is
a mere matter of form Is proved by the
fact that the elephants themselves place
the rings on their feet. Appearances must
DE kept up and they are the first 10 recos-
nize this. 1t is in the elephant lines tina
they take their green fodder the serving
out Of which is a prolonged but anus ng
proceeding. Two and two the elephants
90 up 10 the ration stand and when the
fodder has been secured with rop 10
their backs the drivers mount on the top
OF the pile. and off swing. the big fellows,
the pleasure of anticipation giving an ex-
ira spring TO their usual lie surely gait.
When they have reached their places in
the lines the fodder is unloaded and, after
fastening themselves UP according to req
UldIloIS, titN DIotttu TO Uen9Ilrn the
bundles for the rest of the day.
But even more interesting than the pa
rade for green fodder Is the parade for
chupattis-chupatds being the peculiar
kind of cake which forms the elephant 8
other meal Ranged In a long lire. he
solemn animals wait patiently until each
driver has unrolled his bundle and placed
a share Of the cakes close beside The
trunk OF his special elephant. The llttle
eyes twinkle. the large ears flap and the
animals edge each other, shuttle about
with their feet and wave their trunks
hither and thither now playfully Ticking
a neighbours ear, now shifting It a ne gh-
boris chupattis. When az length tie
word has gone to start feeding the me1
roll up the cakes and hand them to the
elephants. who take them dainUly in the
curve of the trunk and dispose Of them,
each according TO his special fancy. ore
tears his chupatus In two and gloats r M
time over fl before putting &c away; an
other losses his share piecemeal inio is
capaeious mouth; a third slYy watches
his opportunity to fitch a BIT from his
neqhbor, and thus draw on his Efni
sound scolding from the driver. WHO makes
him return the spoil They say that the
elephants know the exact weight ard
number of chupattis they should have end
absolutely refuse 70 take anything less
than their due.