NOTE AND COMMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3956, 23 January 1900, Page 4

NOTE AND COMMENT.

Some curious and interesting particulars regarding .lie leading I'IIKIiVNO of a British army in :be ■ an Held were given a. lew aiimy. weeks ago in the London “Times.” The basis o! the arrangements for the war in Sou; 1. Africii is that there .should be lour months' supplies always available at the seat of war for 110,000 troops and native transport helpers and 51,000 horses and mules. Of the enormous quantities of food which go to make up a. four months’ supply for this number of men and animals few persons can have oven the remotest idea. The one item of preserved moat alone stands at 12,000,00011), and of biscuit there is the same qnantitv. . CalVce .stands at 400.0001 b, lea at 200,000ih, sugar at ! 2,2oo,CtiOtb, compressed vegetables at 800,0001 b, and salt at IOO.OOOIb. _ One article of diet which has been ionnd particularly suitable for the Loops on active service Is a preparation of meat, and vegetables cooked together. Ol this a '.single' contractor is sending tins at the rate of half a million each.month. Of condensed milk, sweeteiied and unsweetened. the lour months’ supplies represent 8(50,000 tins. Jam has, since 1884, taken a permanent plaee an ono good thing among others lor troops to tight on, and the quantities to he kept in South Africa 1 as a four months’ reserve amount' to no less than 1,450,000 lb, consigned in tint each containing a Single pound. In regard to liquids, the list provides tor 80,000 gallons ot rum, 12,000 bottles of whisky, 32,000 bottles of port wine, nearly 400.00011) weight of lime juice. It used to ho said that a Scotchman fought best with an empty stomach and an lOiiglisliman with a full ono; hut it is evidently now intended that the British soldier, of whatever nationality, shall not. go hungry- into battle. We hear much of the scarcity of water in parts <it South Africa, hut presumably there; will oo enough to dilute the lime-juice ami other drinks so generously provided. The large orders of alooholic liquors are in strong contrast to the teetotal lines -upon which the last Khartoum campaign was conducted.

Now that some of the colonial troops Have fallen into the I‘iusoneiss hands of the Boers, readoi‘ ii.at. ors will ho interested to know something ;of the rules regarding the treatment, of 'prisoners of war and the actual experience of, prisoners during the present South African _en;mpaign. /Twelve articles on the subjects were adopted at (lie Brussels Conference of 1871. By the first of, tiiese prisoners of war are defined as lawful di sanned enemies In the power of the. Government, Imt. not of any individual or corps that may happen to capture them. It also provides that they shall Ire allowed to retain their own possessions with the exception of arms. 'By the second article of the code, prisoners are not to he confined more strictly than is necessary to prevent their escape. Another clause provides that if they succeed in escaping and are again, -captured, they are not to be punished for • their former escape,' hut if they fail in the attempt they must take tne consequences. The fourth clause stipulates that prisoners of war shall not lie compelled to take any part in carrying on operations of war or occupations either connected with war, or personally humiliating. These provisions will no doubt he faithfully observed by both Boers and Britons.' There have been complaints of British prisoners at Pretoria being badly fed, and on the other hand tin l Boers have alleged that some of thenprisoners have been improperly treated. There will be variety of treatment on both sides, governed by ■circumstances. We know, hoiy iba - the Boers at Simon’s Bay have the same food as the troops on board ship, are allowed to smoke, to interview friends, to correspond, to receive* gifts or to pin chase luxuries, while the only work expected of them is (lie cleaning of their own part of .the ship. The Free State Government has publicly.expressed its gratitude for the kindness shown to its men., .Although! the prison at Pretoria- is not in a sanitary condition, it may he hoped that the British prisoners .are fairly provided with' comforts. There can, indeed, he little doubt of it, for all accounts agree in expressing pleased surprise at the kindness of the Boers to captives, and therefore no anxiety need be felt on the score of such of “our hoys” as may fall into the hands of the enemy. The pinch will come when food begins to bo scarce and dear in the Transvaal.