THE COMMISSARIAT OF THE SOUDAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 5

THE COMMISSARIAT OF THE SOUDAN.

The Argus correspondent with the expedition, writing from Korti on Dec. 29, says : Although the advance by the river has been much slower than was anticipated in England, and even at Wady Haifa, there is one satisfactory thing to be noted about the campaign so far. The commissariat arrangements have worked to perfection. Some of the mounted men declare that the rations, though one-fourth larger than they get in barracks, either in England or in Cairo, are not sufficient to keep them going, but, such as it is, no man has wanted it for a moment after it was due. That is something to say in a column which was at one time 1000 miles in length, and which is still very nearly 400 miles from one end to the other. At the same time it is only fair to state that this has been done only by trenching upon the boat stores which were not intended to be touched until all the stations and dep6ts had been left behind. Now the boats are going up to the next cataracts much lighter than they were. They will then, if they take the rocks, be less liable than before to have holes knocked in them by the sheer weight of their contents, which gave them too much way, but on the other hand they will not, as it appears, carry enough stores to bring the men near Khartoum, to say nothing of their coming back. It is said that this will be otherwise arranged in the case of the boats which are to follow those of the Staffordshire men, but I believe that the headquarters have at last realised the truth that it is far better to carry extra stores on camels along the banks, than to run any more risks with the boats by overloading them. If the commissariat has not broken down this is more than can be said for the ordnance store department. It has been short of the most necessary supplies since the very start. The intense cold of the early morning necessitated the issue of extra blankets to the troops, but the store was soon exhausted, and for two months there has not been a blanket to be got for love or money. So with boots. The rocks in the cataracts cut the boots to pieces, but they cannot be replaced, for there are none. It is only within the last week that one or two regiments have been able to get issued trousers in lieu of those which have become more worthy of Falstaff's recruits than of trained British soldiers. Tommy Atkins is proverbially careless with his belongings, but he cannot obtain cooking utensils, even if he has lost any overboard when his boat has been upset, nor if—which is not difficult to do—he burns a hole or two in them. It is said that this will teach him to be

more careful another time, but, as a matter of fact, it would do nothing of the sort. It would only give an excuse several times a day for indulgence in that profane language in which he is such an adept. One might have hoped that after the complete exposure made last session before a Committee of the House of Commons respecting the blunders of the ordnance store department in Egypt two years ago, something like efficiency would have been found in the present expedition, but it is too clear that the depai-tment needs a very thorough reorganising, and that until it has been put on a new footing altogether, until it has been relieved from the paralysing hand of civilian direction in London, it will continue to blunder as it has done from the Duke of Wellington's time downwards. A distinguished officer said to Her Majesty that it is probably not the fault of the Ordnance Store Department that it is so'far behind, but the answer just admitr, everything that could be said against the prevailing system. It has no place in the responsibilities of the general officers in the field, and they do not take it into account any more than is absolutely necessary for their own immediate purpose. If the military hierarchy had the responsibility they would look to efficiency. As it is the department is the last to be served, though it is by no means the least important to the comfort, which is the health of the troops. We are decidedly short of camels, and yet the number of casualties among them is less than one-third of what was calculated upon up to the present time ; for although, except those brought from Aden, the beasts are of no great quality, and indeed, some of them are poor weakly " snippets"—they have been so well fed and looked after by the soldiers that they have done far more work with much less loss than is done by any of the camels on the Indian frontier. It is now found, however, that there is iriore nef.d for land transport than was ever dreamed of, and as a consequence, all the private camels of the officers have been . ordered into store, and every member of a mess, regimental or otherwise, is henceforward strictly limited to his 401 b field allowance of baggage. There is therefore much wailing and gnashing of teeth among those who have up to the present contrived to .have their lots of brandy or whiskey, and other little dainties in the shape of jams, marmalades, and potted meats, devilled sardines on toast, and kippered herrings for early breakfast. Those who, like myself, are the proud possessors of private boats, have kindly offered to relieve the minds of all the officers on the score of the want of these delicacies, but the response to our generous offer has not/ up to the present moment, been all that could be desired. Indeed, our gallant colonel has said that, although he cannot take on his box of comforts, there is nothing to prevent him from making himself very ill by consuming them all before he goes forward. May he suffer accordingly!

THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT. (Sydney ,3/braing Herald.) As far as the members of the force are concerned, the project has been received with surprising enthusiasm, and the Commandant has received with gratification" and wonder the urgent appeals of staid business men, surrounded with families and many other ties, not to refuse them the privilege of serving the Empire. The Permanent Artillery, being a fully paid force, can be called on to serve by land or sea as may be directed; but it is gratifying to find that the men share the general spirit in their readiness to go into action. Erom the Volunteer Militia branch a very large number of Volunteers has come forward, and, in fact, it is anticipated that the number will be far greater than is required. As an illustration of the feeling in the Militia Corps, we may mention that in one Volunteer field battery which paraded on Saturday, 32 <sut of the 43, members on the parade volunteered for Africa. The infantry regiments, we understand, have contributed a large proportion of their strength. The actual number of those who have intimated their desire to serve on the expedition cannot be known, however, until the Brigade-Major (Colonel Christie; has received the returns from the Adjutants of the various Corps. The force which it was proposed to send, as indicated by the telegram to the Imperial Government, consisted of two batteries of field artillery, comprising 1016-pounders, with full equipment, and 500 infantry. The field guns were divided into two incomplete batteries of two divisions, or four pieces each, the full English battery being of six pieces or subdivisions, and the other two guns were to be held in reserve. It is probable that this plan will be modified, and that a full battery of six guns will be sent, together with a complement of from 125 to 150 men, and probably also two guns as artillery of reserve. The artillery will be supplied with 300 rounds per gun, in the ammunition waggons, and on the gun, distributed as per regulations for packing ammunition. The limbers are packed, the side arms and small stores are in service order, the harness is in similarly good condition, and the battery as it stands is in complete readiness to go on service. The chief cause of delay will be in obtaining horses. It is not expected that any difficulty will be met with in regard to the supply; the loss of time will be in arranging for the purchase of suitable animals, and for the supply of forage for the voyage. So far the only steps taken have been in the shape of enquiries as to where horses can be purchased. As to the infantry, the principal difficulty is in connection with clothing. The corps, of course, have their own clothes; but as the infantry battalion will comprise men from the various regiments, the preparation of a uniform clothing will take some little time, and several civilian tailors will probably have to be engaged. The men will go out in scarlet; but in all probability, Colonel Richardson will recommend the Government to telegraph Home for service suits of grey, to meet the troops on their arrival in Egypt. The infantry will be armed with the Henry rifle, and 500 rounds of ammunition per rifle will be supplied. We are informed by the Commandant that there is an ample stock of ammunition of all kinds on hand, from which to draw all that may be necessary for the equipment of the expedition. The infantry will be formed into a battalion of four companies, with the usual complement of officers.

In connection with the commissariat, it is not the intention of the military authorities to attempt to establish such a department on this expedition. Colonel Eichardson will very probably urge the Government to make the necessary arrangements with the Home Government. As the contingent will act in combination with the Imperial forces operating in the Soudan, Colonel Bichardson considers that it should rely on the British forces for its commissariat. The Imperial forces have already their established sources of supply, and can render what further service, is required by their Australian comrades without any difficulty, whereas it would be impracticable for the expedition to establish a separate department. An ambulance corps is in course of formation. Dr Williams and other medical officers will accompany the force in connection with this corps. The Permanent Artillery have already a certain degree of training in ambulance duty, which will doubtless prove valuable if there is fighting. Such being the state of affairs on receipt of the telegram which gives life to the whole scheme of action, the Commandant has expressed his belief that if no hitch occurs the force can be ready to leave Sydney in about a fortnight, or in three weeks at the latest. The promptitude with which the Volunteer Militia have proved that the Ministry had correctly gauged the feeling of the forces at this juncture, gives ample

proof of a lively military spirit. Thank 3 to the adoption of the military system, there is every reason to believe that this spirit is backed up by something substantial in the shape of military capacity. The forces have had the benefit of continuous training in camp, and its admirable effects in qualifying men for their duties in the field have bficome apparent in the greatly improved skill and intelligence of the battalions in all branches of- their work. Without the ■ drilling which the men receive in the steady work of their camp life, the forces at this moment would have been an unmanageable rabble; and, in short, so valuable is the experience gained during the continuous training, that unless the Volunteer forces had had that experience the Commandant, as he himself states, would not have recommended them for this service. The improved system has placed the men in the position of being considered fit and reliable to perform the work they are now called on to take in hand.

Colonel Richardson, the Commandant, who will command the expedition, has had the satisfaction of seeing important changes towards the thorough efficiency of our troops since he took command, in 1865. He joined the Imperial army in 1854, having entered it by passing a direct examination at Sandhurst. He served with the 72nd Highlanders at the siege of Sebastopol. In New Zealand, with the 12th Regiment, he went through the Maori wars of 1860-61 and 1863-64, during which period he was adjutant of the regiment. He has Crimean, New Zealand, and Turkish medals. In February, 1865, he was appointed to the command of the New South Wales forces. In August, 1871, a regular force was formed, consisting of a battery of artillery and two companies of infantry, and since that time the infantry has been disbanded and two more batteries substituted. A most important change took place in the Volunteer service in 1878 by assimilating the Volunteers to what may be called a Volunteer Militia. By means of this change of system increased discipline has been obtained, and the adoption of continuous training has brought the men to the state of efficiency Vhich their Commandant believes justifies him in recommending them as reliable troops, and in setting himself confidently at their head. Colonel Roberts, who will command the artillery, has also a service record including the war in the Crimea. The officers who are to compose the staff have not yet been selected, but there is plenty of material to work upon, the Commandant having received at the very outset offers of service from as many as would be required. SIR-HENRY PARKES' PROTEST. The Sydney Morning Herald publishes a letter from Sir Henry Parkes, in which the ex-Premier records his entire dissent from tbe proceeding of the Government in offering to send a military force to Egypt. Sir Henry Parkes writes : —" Some few years ago it.was proposed tome, as Colonial Secretary, to raise a similar force to assist England in. Africa. I think a paper of mine, embodying my objections, must exist in the Colonial Secretary's office—at all events the proposal was not for a moment entertained. So I am not quite new to the question at issue. The sending of 600 men to Egypt, as proposed, would entail the support of them while on service there, and the bringing of them back to New South Wales, if they lived to return; and calculating their absence at any period reasonably measured by the course of events since the bombardment of Alexandria, the cost would not be a penny short of £300,000. But who are our volunteers? Some, skilled mechanics in good situations, some, clerks in banking andmercantile houses; some, again, men engaged in business on their own account, and many of them men with young families. They could not leave their Various occupations without causing much disturbance to trade and business arrangements, and it is hardly likely that they would in any case leave without special inducements. Our military forces are raised and maintained exclusively for the purposes of defence, and for service within the Colony. Parliament has never at any time sanctioned a military estimate for any other purpose. It is a sound principle, keenly urged even in England, that the military strength should not be in excess of the national needs. If our military strength is no more than the public security requires, how can any part of it be sent away to Egypt ? What if the enemy should come and our artillerymen should be in Egypt ? It strikes me that if our military chiefs (Colonels Richardson and Roberts) can make it clear that our defences would be in no degree weakened by their uncertain absence in a foreign country, they furnish an unanswerable argument for Parliament to dispense with their servi2es altogether. In any case, I maintain that no step can be taken in this business—no single step which would commit the Colony to expenditure—without the sanction of Parliament. No such sanction exists, and no such sanction has ever been given. The present is no case where the exigencies of the Empire demand any special efforts on the part of any of the Colonies. England is not engaged in any war with a great independent, power; but even if. she were so engaged, it would be our first duty as loyal subjects to maintain the honour and integrity of the Empire in our own country."