AMMUNITION COLUMNS 
387 
Tables adapted on this method would be equally serviceable for 
Ammunition Parks and should hold equally good in India as elsewhere. 
In India, Ammunition Parks have a tabulated establishment for 
mobilization, but not so ammunition columns for hill warfare On 
the other hand, Ammunition Columns for service where wheels can go, 
are kept up and partially manned and horsed. 
India is at present the home of the mountain gunner and officers of 
that branch will be well content if Major Simpson’s proposals bear fruit, 
which as they involve no recurring peace expenditure, they well may do. 
The present 50% reserve carried by a mountain battery really belongs 
to the battery ammunition, which without it, is below the usual supply 
per gun. This battery reserve and its transport however forms an ex¬ 
cellent link between the battery and the column. After Dargai, the 
Brigade Division reserve ammunition mules, massed into temporary 
columns for the Tirah Campaign, came back by night to the park at 
Shinawari to replenish and constantly did so during the campaign ; but 
a more complete organization is wanted for any larger operations. 
I have ventured to roughly supplement Major Simpson’s proposals 
with the less hesitation that he has expressly asked officers to do so. 
