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beyond the appointed term of five years, though it would be detrimental 
to keep individuals permanently on it. 
It is a striking fact that there remained much to be wished for in carry¬ 
ing out the service of the Quarter-Master-General's department. It was 
especially perceptible that those entrusted with the duties of getting the 
columns into marching order did not exercise sufficient influence, neither 
did they do so during the march. The only explanation I can offer for this 
is the general character of the English officer, which itself arises from that 
of the nation. The English officer is not sufficiently accustomed to enter by 
direct surveillance and personal dealing into the details of the service; too 
much is left to the discretion of a few. So long as you have to deal with 
bodies of troops consisting of old non-commissioned officers and old well- 
trained soldiers, this answers very well; in the Abyssinian army, however, 
the Land Transport consisted of heterogeneous elements thrown together on 
the spur of the moment, so that an accurate conformity to regulations and 
a constant watchfulness became necessary. Here a mere supervision did not 
answer, and disorders on the marches were the necessary results. 
Cavalry . 
The saddlery and equipment of the cavalry is excellent, though the saddle 
might be a little lighter and smaller, and the total weight (322 lbs.) the horse 
has to carry is enormous; in fact it was found necessary to lighten this weight 
from Tocado, and reduce it to 210 lbs. The remainder of the men's baggage 
was carried on mules, which increased the length of the train to an undue 
proportion; however, it was the only means of making a march possible in 
such a country, and I firmly believe that if the cavalry of the future is to 
maintain its position against the improved arms of the day, great though 
the disadvantage may be, it will be necessary to resort to like means for 
European cavalry in European wars—namely, to carry the men's baggage 
in carts, and only to allow absolute necessaries to be carried by the horses. 
Their manoeuvres appeared clumsy, and similar to the Austrian Drill 
Regulations of 1854. However, trials are now being made in England of 
the new Austrian drill, which is certainly by far the best in existence. It 
was impossible to form an opinion as to their value, capabilities, and rapidity 
in marching, in a column consisting of men and animals of all races and 
descriptions. 
Artillery . 
The artillery consisted of twenty-four guns, two mortars, and fourteen 
rocket troughs. The whole of this artillery was brought as far as Magdala, 
except two Armstrong guns left behind in the entrenched camp at Addigerat, 
and the six S.B. mountain guns, which did not advance beyond Senafe. 
The two 7-pr. steel batteries, of which I received as accurate a description 
as it w r as possible for me to obtain, have answered very w^ell. The materiel , 
ammunition, and service of the guns w^ere excellent. In regard to accuracy 
and range, I hold that they are inferior to our 3-pr. mountain guns. The 
excellent qualities which characterise these batteries are:— 
1. Their portability. 
2. They are arranged for vertical as well as horizontal fire. 
