ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT

Evening Star, Issue 19711, 11 November 1927, Page 5

ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT

Now for some facts to show what providing for an army meant during the war years. When war broke out there was barrack accommodation in England for 175,000 troops. Provision could be made for another 87,000 by reducing the space allotted to each man. fu September, 1914, this message was received by the Q.M.G.: “Two camps shoal’, be pitched—one near Codford and one near or at Sherington—to-day, for 12,000 at each place. Men arriving to-morrow.” This was a large order, but it was completed in time. The weather became so bad as 1914 neared its end that the conditions in tents became impossible, and troops had to bo placed in billets at Winchester, Bournemouth, Bristol, and other places No less than 800,000 were quartered in this way, causing endless trouble to the Q.M.G.’s department. Billeting could only bo regarded as a temporary measure, owing to the expense, Jack of accommodation, and'ns the armies giw the difficulties of discipline and training. Out of this problem grew the great camps on Salisbury Plain, so well knowm to Australians and New Zealanders. It will be remembered that the Anzacs were prevented from leaving Egypt, and had to carry out their training there. This was duo to the deplorable camp conditions in England, consequent on continued bad weather. Gallipoli might have been another story or no story at all if t> hutments at Lnrkhill had been ready in time. There was a peace establishment of 25,000 horses, with a reserve totalling another 25,000. A message came early in the war that 165,000 horses and mules were required in 10 clays. Gomans accomplished his task in 12 days. Horses wero so urgently required that almost any price could be demanded, heavy draught horses bringing as high as £IOO and chargers up to £9O. Tho expansion of tho Army Service Corps was one of the outstanding features of tho war. This department was increased from 450 officers and 10,000 men in 191 i to 11,500 officers a.; t 015,000 other ranks in 1919. On August 1, 1914, the A.S.C. was providing rations and forage for 186,500 men and 29,000 animals. At the armistice it had to provide for five and a-half million men and nearly one million horses and other animals. The mechanical transport in 1914 consisted of 807 lorries, 20 motor cars, and 15 motor cycles, with an additional 334 lorries. 193 motor cars, and 116 motor cycles

to bo provided when mobilisation took place. At the time of tho armistice there wero 56,659 lorries, 23,133 motor cars and. vans, 7,045 motor ambulances, and 34,865 motor cycles. This tremendous increase in the work of the Array Service Corps was only one branch of the great work carried out by the Quartermaster-gen-eral. Sir Douglas Haig in December, 1917, stated: “ In spite of all difficulties the A.S.C. has never failed to meet tho needs of our troops in food, ammunition, material, and stores of .all kinds. Particularly good work has been done by the motor transport drivers, wiio hive shown tho greatest gallantry and determination in getting forward the requisites for the Army under heavy fire and during long liours of exposure.”

The following table makes most interesting reading, and brings homo the tremendous task that Sir John Cowans and tJiose under him had to accomplish. hi July, 1914, the ration strength of the British Army was:—

The Royal Army Veterinary Corps roso From 500 in 1914 to 27,500 when the Armistice was signed. In addition to its ordinary duties, this corps had to train farriers and shoeing smiths for the Army. More than 60,000,000 shoes were provided during tho war period for horses and mules. The wastage of animals in all the theatres of war°only amounted to 14 per cent. Tho percentage .of loss during the Boor .War reached the high total of 93 per cent. It was a great astonishment to the German population when the New Zealand Division marched into Cologne with their animals in such fine order and condition.

At Homo Abroad ... . Men. .. 120,000 .. 441000 Animals. 23.500 ■ 4;ooo 164,000 27,500 On November 11, 1918, exclusive ot the army in India and Clio permanent, gariisons overseas, the ration strength is expressed in the following table:— Franco Kgypt Salonika East Africa Mesopotamia Italy At Homo Men, 2,360,400 480.000 035.000 111,701 41.3,400 1)7,822 1,514,993 Animals. 404.000 167.000 120.000 1,499 88,145 20,482 94,614 Grand Total 5,363,352 895,770