Oct.-Nov. 1899.] Enthusiastic Loyalty of the Colonies.
While Australia and Canada thus responded to the great call of duty, Natal made the most prodigious efforts, to which fuller attention will have to be given hereafter. She placed some 4,000 or 5,000 of her scanty white population in the field, and her sons proved themselves on the field of battle gallant men and skilful soldiers, winning well-deserved tributes from all the British generals. At Durban were many thousands of refugees from the Transvaal, eager to serve against the Boers, but owing to the parsimony of the Home Government indifferent use was made of their enthusiasm. Where we might have had 5,000 good volunteers only 1,000 were raised. The Imperial Light Horse, composed almost entirely of Outlanders, speedily made a name for itself, and fought with invariable heroism and devotion.
THE VICTORIAN CONTINGENT CROSSING PRINCE'S BRIDGE, MELBOURNE.
As in England, so in all the Colonies, immense crowds gathered to witness the departure of volunteers for the front. This demonstration of the loyalty of the Colonies is certainly one of the most gratifying of the results of the war.
The greatest expeditionary force ever sent over seas.
[Oct.-Nov. 1899.
When the mobilisation in England began the army organisation worked very satisfactorily and smoothly. No such task as the transport of an expeditionary force, 50,000 strong, six thousand miles over sea had ever before been undertaken in the whole record of military history. In the Crimean war we had moved 33,000 men with 3,350 horses and 54 guns a distance of about three thousand miles, and that was considered a very great feat. With each increase in the distance the space that must be allowed man and horse grows, and an extra amount of food and stores must be carried. For very short voyages of a few hours or less one man can be shipped for each ton of the vessel's displacement. For such a trip a steamer like the Britannic could carry 5,000 or 6,000 men. Actually, she embarked only 1,200 men on the voyage to South Africa, for this reason, that if the troops were to arrive in good health and fit for service, they could not be packed on board like sardines. The British soldier is a valuable and expensive product, and far more carefully treated than the Frenchman or Russian.
[Photo by Gregory.