Artesian Wells. 403 



the Transvaal, with a total of 16,000 feet bored and an aggregate 

 daily yield of nearly 2.000,000 gallons. The value of these supplies 

 of pure water thus provided for the Army in the field, and for the 

 troops guarding the Lines of Communication, cannot be overstated 

 in a country like South Africa, with its subtropical climate and 

 comparatively waterless character, the purity of the source of sui>ply 

 having, moreover, a most important influence on the health of the 

 troops, since much of the enormous sickness the Army experienced 

 was due to the consumption of water from contaminated streams and 

 surface sources. The immense advantage of being aljje to procure 

 naturally filtered water is so apparent that the assistance rendered in 

 this direction by the Colonial Government undoubtedly saved many 

 valuable lives to the Empire, and contributed not a little to the 

 success of the campaign. This is the first time in histor}- that boring 

 for water has been a feature in military operations, and the inestim- 

 able value of the results which have followed its adoption in the 

 late campaign will undoubtedly lead to the Water Boring Machine, 

 in qualified hands, becoming a factor of prime importance in any 

 future wars in which the theatre of oj)erations presents difliculties in 

 that direction such as faced the British Army in South Africa. More- 

 over, a scheme has been formulated for forming an Imperial Military 

 Water Boring Department, in which the author suggested the neces- 

 sary details for an organisation by which boring for water could be 

 carried on during campaigns in any part o-f the world. Tt is, under 

 the circumstances, gratifying to learn that not only have the 

 advantages derived from the underground supply j)roved of vital 

 importance to the welfare of our Army in the late War, but that there 

 is a strong hope of the experience gained being utilised by the War 

 Office and a thoroughly trained Water Boring Corps formed, which 

 would, by facilitating IVIilitary operations, add efficiency to the British 

 Army, and, by lessening the death roll of our soldiers by sickness, 

 gain the anpreciation of the whole nation. 



