140 
MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY DRILL, 1887 . 
The kits and blankets of the detachment are to be made np in 
compact bales of six in each, each mule carrying 12. The spare men 
attached to the reserve carry their own kits. 1 2 The baggage, tent, and 
provision, mules are assigned as follows :— 
MULES. 
C 1 baggage mule carries 
To each detachment each 12 mens* kits 
(. and blankets. 
n mule carries 3 tents,"' 
6 kettles and 3 water 
buckets, the mule of 
the right division car- 
To each division.«{ ries the tents and }>.2 
kettles of the officers, 
the mule of the left, 
those of the mule¬ 
teers. 
1 mule for provision^ ^ 
and forage .J 
The only animals whose loads admit of any increase are the tent 
mules in dry weather 3 and those which carry common shells, but such 
addition can only be admitted when the mules, as well as the rest of 
the battery, are in good condition. 
300 lbs. is to be considered the maximum with which a mule in good 
condition, fit for mountain service, ought ever to be loaded, nor will he be 
able for this weight in ordinary marches, without extreme fatigue and 
loss of condition, 3 unless the load is compact, and so disposed as to 
favour, to the utmost, the animal's power. 
When casualties occur among the cattle in the field, there being no 
spare mules disposable, the commanding officer, if unable immediately 
to procure others to replace the disabled, will appropriate first the 
baggage mules to take up their loads, and the men will then carry 
their kits. 4 
Should the battery have been in action, the mules of the reserve 
brought up to supply expenditure, will be for the moment available, 
but care is to be taken that their employment does not interfere with 
the maintenance of the due supply of ammunition. 
It is desirable, when circumstances permit, that the battery, in 
addition to the resource of its baggage mules, should be provided with 
at least one mule per sub-division spare, making in all 40." 
A description now follows of the “ package" of ammunition and 
1 This principle is adhered to in all Continental Mountain Artilleries I have seen and includes the 
men in the fighting line also ; but is not adopted by us even in temperate climates, and I think 
rightly so. 
2 M.B. officers would welcome the admission of a principle that allowed in their baggage loads 
a margin of weight for rain-sodden tents. 
8 The gun mule load exceeded this by 32lbs. in this equipment (including the saddlery). 
4 It has been found in practice that when such casualties have occurred amongst the mules, 
there has been also imposed a strain on the personnel, and that the men consequently are less fit 
to carry their kits, than at the commencement of the service, which has provoked the casualties. 
