Tombstone epitaph., 1915-04-25

that the retreat which followed on tce recent attack on the canal is without precedent in the history of all former wars for the mastery of the eastern gates of Egypt. As regards the prob lem of transport, we have an object lesson in Napoleon's Syrian expedition of 1799. He concentrated about 14,000 picked men-13. .00o infantry and 1000 cavalry-he inured his troops to the hardships they were about to undergo. and he formed a special camel corps for scouting. He did not even attempt to move his artillery by land. but es- sayed to send it by sea. His plan for the transport of this comparatively small force entailed the services of 2.000 camels to carry water for the three days journey between katieh and Fl Arish, where the supply was to be replenished. Another 1000 camels bore provisions for the 14.O00 men and 5000 horses for 15 days. Besides this, 5000 mules were set apart solely for the conveyance of baggage. This was no light undertaking, even for such genius as Napoleon, and. as we know,
 it ended in a retreat which may be considered the turning point of his
 career.
 Consider for a moment what an army of animals must be necessary for the transport of the 65,000 or more
 men who are said to be concentrated on the confines of Palestine. Camels
 will doubtless be employed in enor.
 nous numbers, both on account Of
 their adaptability to foodless and Wa terless countries, and also because
 there is an unlimited supply on the eastern borderlands of Syria and Pal
 estine. They are invaluable for patrol
 work, and unequaled as beasts of bur. den. But they need careful attention and are by no means as hardy as one
 might suppose. So long as they are in condition, we'll watered and suffi. | ciently fed, they will undergo consid. erable strain. but if asked to do too much they literally go to pieces. The
 great herds of camels that have. no doubt, been driven in from the Ara. bian borderlands will never have been ridden or even saddled. Thirteen thou
 sand camel saddles cannot be pro | duced in a hurry, and this is about the
 number that will be required. estimat. ! ed by Napoleon's allowance per man. | Camels will carry heavy loads on even | ground, they are easy to feed com pared with horses, or even mules. and they do not need water every day. But
 it must be mentioned that when they | f,, fha hah Of | ting away a phenomenal amount of
 water, It is the maximum amount of
 water required that is the point in this | case. and is likely to prove unprocur-
 able. The bountiful wells of Fl Arish. | for instance, have been estimated to be capable of supplying the needs of 15.0OO to 10000 men. I do not know
 the comparative drinking capacity of man and camel, but out of 13.000 cam | els. not to mention horses, mules and
 men, there would be many to go
 thirsty. A still more significant point in the commissariat arrangements Is the fact that the desert will very soon be bereft of even its poor camel scrub. For a region which will easily support
 passing caravans fails under the tax
 of continuous grazing by innumerable
 herds.
 Looking at the problem of campaign
 ing in the wilderness. it seems that
 the peculiar physical features of the
 theater of action-the poverty of the
 Iand-are playing an even bigger part
 in this venture of the twentieth cen. tury than ever they did in days gone
 by- DOUGLAS CARRUTHERS.