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

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'On each deck standing mess tables with
benches are fitted TO accommodate the men
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 or 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 10 occupy 1t
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
| rife resting in scores cut TO receive il: re-
volvers slowed in pistol racks and sabres
I in vertical stands. A compartment or large
bin is fitted with partitioned shelves for
the knapsacks Of the men of each unit
| separately. A compartment is also fitted
| with rows and tiers of small open-faced
boxes to hold the helmets with which all
| the troops 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-covered poles Tor
| hanging harness. In some instances this
gear arrives all bagged and marked with
unit and horse to which 1t 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 to brace their feet For the con-
veyance of horses the Admiralty requires
that there must be a two-foot passage be-
tween the ships side and the cant at the
rear OF the stalls.
I'm addition TO these what we may term
ordinary stalls, large stalls are to be pro-
vided for per cent more horses than the
number 10 be embarked and per cent of
the stalls are 10 be 6 inches longer and
inches wider than the others. In addition
TO these larger stalls, which should be
together and clearly marked large stalls
loose boxes are to be provided amidships
on each deck or compartment on which
horses are carried; and when possible
one is 10 be built on the upper deck for
each fifty horses provided
Each stall is supplied with a pair Of
canvas cushions for the top rails on each
side Of horse in case of heavy weather
The 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- on Only portion of special wagons
OF the army service corps are being taken.
as ii is the intention TO use the wagons of
the Cape. as better suited TO 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 admi- |
rable. The day previous TO the embarka- |
tion OF certain unit an advance party !
arrives al 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 embarkation arranges the times !
at which the units should arrive alongside /
designated transport
He has a number of officers of the dis |
L pia md
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 10 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 il 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 il. and |
has the advance party ready to assist.
Each troop train carries in conspicu- |
Gus place number corresponding TO its
number on The transport sheets and in 1
the case Of Southampton is switched from
the main line into the docks and the shed |
alongside its assigned transport. During
the railway passage bayonets are fixed /
with scabbard on, and all straps, BELTS
etc, slowed in knapsacks. AS soon as the
men leave Inc car they are formed in col
umn of companies by their officers, and
under direction of the staff officer are
marched TO the proper gangways, where is
formed a 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 knapsacks.
then helmets, from one to the other to the
passing line, and so on down 10 the store
rooms. where they are slowed according
TO companies. The passing line then shifts
to the aTmoTy and the rifles are passed
and slowed in the same way. No emmu-
milton is carried by the men, but an ample
supply in packing cases accompanies each
unit, slowed in the magazines provided
for 1t.
Place of EmbarLation
The noncommissioned officers of each
are then called to the front. the
divided into groups according to
capacity of mess tables each group placed
in charge of a noncommssioned officer
who is given the number of his mess and
directed to march his detachment on board
md stow their sea-kit bags and overcosts
n the battens over the mess table. At
he gangway each group is met by an as
iistant and piloted to their table So
and rapidly is this system !
worked out that a battalion of over / 0H0
men have arrived and been placed On /
board with all accoutrements slowed in
1lace in but little over an hour
southampton is an ideal place to en- | ,
bark troops so far as TNlates to docking ! ,