Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-20
Couldn't Touof americans in Matter
Of Transportation.
AsroHlsHED At SIZE OF WAGONS
Wondered at the Control of the
Pack Trains.
AN Fifteen STEM

ton used by the forces Of the allies in the
China relief expedition Captain Thomas
Franklin says in a report to the adjutant
general
I'm transportation none Of the allies
could touch the Americans. Our amount
was limited at first. but this was soon sup
piled. Although we had only escort wag-
ons, their size and the amount they hauled
surprised the foreigners. and when we told
them that these were our light wagons
sent because of the anticipated difficulty
of Chinese roads. and that at home we
habitually used much larger, stronger
wagon. hauled by six mules, and driven by
enc man with a single line, they listened
politely, but didn't believe it. Our wagons
were habitually loaded with from $500 to
1000 pounds, according to the condition of
the road. But even on the days when the
other nations stopped their trains because
of the mud, ours went through on schedule
time With our system one man cared for
four mules, and each mule hauled from 700
to 1000 pounds of stores With the cart
systems of the others this never exceeded
500 pounds per animal and each animal re-
qufred one man to care for him. Our
pack trains also surprised them a great
deal The system of putting the loads on
so that they stayed there until unlashed
was something new. the diamond hitch
being indeed a mystery to them. Then,
too. the speed at which they travelled and
the small number of men required to pack
and drive the train was equally surprising
But the one thing that excited the most
comment was the manner in which the
mules followed the bell-mare. How fifty
mules could be turned loose and kept con-
men, was remarkable, but when it came
to driving them along crowded road and
through the labyrinthine streets of Chinese
cities, without decreasing the speed losing
q n or n ar dc how
simply marveled.
The Japs had number Of pack horses
with panniers, fierce little Japanese stall
lions with shaggy names end bullying ewes.
| and man were generally executing a
sort of waltz in the dust. They were
not much good. Their principal de-
pendence were little one-horse carts. con-
sisting of a light platform and shafts
mounted on two small wheels. They had
neither sides nor ends, and, though of
light construction, were strong. They car
ried about 500 pounds, maximum load
Each horse was led by a soldier, and they
were well handled and very efficient, but
| not near as good as four-wheel vehicle
like ours. However, they had plenty of
them and kept themselves well supplied
by their means and that is the main
thing. , ,,,
The Russians used two-wheel cart,
considerably larger than those Of the Japs,
with faring sides and ends; it was very
roomy and commodous and strong They
were drawn by shaggy Manchurian ponies
of great strength and stamina. They
moved much faster than the Jap CARTS
which were always led. They carried as
much as 600 pounds over good roads, and
for short hauls, but 500 was the average
This cart seemed to me to be extremely
serviceabie, strong, handy and fairly light
and well constructed. ~
The British System.
The British had an immense number
.g1
beasts. They were led tandem, three In
one bunch, the halter chains of the two
rear ones running to ring in the saddle
of the one preceding. The coolie in charge
of the three led the lead mule. He took
care of all three. The pack saddles were
Of IRON. or steel, very strong, light and
neat, with breast and breech straps. They
had curved Tugs or hooks on. each side on
which the load was hung. The parcels to
be carried were dashed around with a close
twisted rope which was provided with small
loops or ears, leather covered to prevent
chatting. To load the mule, the cargo was
simultaneously lifted to each=side, and the
loops hung over the hooks. This was
quick, but the load did not stay on if the
mules trotted or acted foolish, which they
often did. In other words, they dashed the
load to the saddle while we lash it to the
mule. AS they normally move at the gait
of the coolie walking, the system works
all right. They also had number of carts
which I noticed were abandoned all along
the road with broken axes. AS they were
such a numbering, self-evident failure, l
will not dwell upon them. In September
India, all steel built, with lattice bottoms
and sides, patent hubs, wood felloes and
spokes. They had pole and were drawn
by two pack mules. the pole being fitted
with sW1Veled cross-piece at it's end.
Each end of this oss-piece rested on the
iron pack saddle where it was engaged
by ring. The mule brides were connected
by halter shank. These carts were eX-
ceedingly strong and well constructed, and
larger than the Russian but the method
of attaching the draft animal did not per-
init of the full strength of the beast being
utilized. There was also considerable play
to the saddle which caused sore backs But
they loaded them very lightly. They took
excellent care of their stock every ami
NAL was thoroughly groomed daily and
blanketed at night They not only picketed
with heavy iron pin by the halter shank,
but had heel rope or chain attached by
a leather ring collar. So they were
| moored fore and aft like a ship In
stream. They said that it was impossible
to picket them any other way, because
of their fighting propensities, but as they
also said they could not drive them in
the same manner our pack mules, and
then admitted they had not attempted to
do either one, l believe that their mules
would stand to a picket line like ours II
given a show.
Picked Up Their Transportation.
1.-THE French, Italians and Austrians had
no transport except what they picked up
| In the country.
1.-The Germans were in much the same
| fix, but late in the season got in large
| number of their military baggage wagons.
These wagons were quite narrow at the
| bottom and fared out considerably at the
Sides The axles were of steel of rectangu-
| lar section and had no sand bars or false
holsters, the wheels were of wood, with
patent hubs. The spokes spaced very far
apart, making too weak wheel for
rough road. The absence Of sand bars. to-
| gether with their, very narrow bottoms.
threw the load on, the center OF the axles
too much. causing imapy to buckle. throw
ing wheels out Of line, and consequently
increasing the draft on the team. The
brake power was transmitted by crank
and rod fitted With worm gear. The har-
| ness was of fair leather and breast straps
were used instead. Of collars and names.
The man on the box drove the wheel team
only; the lead team, was controlled by a
driver mounted on the near horse. This
wagon does not compare with our escort
wagons, was not as capacious. was badly
shaped. nor was 1t as strong. and their
| system of driving required two teamsters