160 ANIMALS USED IN WAR. ' 



Battle of Peiwar Kotal (2nd December 1878) packing four 

 Horse Artillery guns up the steep ascent of the Kotal during 

 the night, leading to the surprise of the enemy. Their immense 

 strength, their silent movements, and aptitude for climbing over 

 rough ground were of especial value for this purpose. 



The drawback to elephants in Heavy Artillery is that they 

 are very gun shy, and it was for this reason, and the difficulty 

 of providing them with their enormous rations, that they lost 

 their place as War animals. A big animal of this kind is also 

 a fine mark for the enemy, and when one is knocked out or 

 rendered ineffective it is relatively a serious loss of animal 

 power to its unit. 



Elephants in heavy batteries continued for some fifteen years 

 after the Afghan War, and I recall those of a Battery, and their 

 stable (still in existence) at Jansi, of which I had charge nearly 

 thirty years ago. I remember, too, the old joke against th6 

 Veterinary Officer — that when his elephant patient required an 

 enema, application had to be made for the local fire-engine. 



As transport in the Chin-Lushai Expedition, the 70 animals 

 employed proved most valuable, and performed very excellent 

 work. 



The only association the Army of India now has with the 

 elephant is the scale of diet still permitted to be retained in 

 Army Transport Tables. Sic transit gloria mundi. 



