Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/645

the army has to bring with it every man, horse, and waggon

of the vast train it requires.

And the character of the transport varies as widely as the quantity required. In some countries large waggons are most suitable, in others, light carts only can be used ; in others, again, recourse must be had to pack animals, horses, inules, bullocks, camels, and elephants, or to coolies and native carriers. Evidently no establishment can be framed that shall be equally suitable in all cases. The existing transport, therefore, is based on the requirements of an army operating in a civilised country, with good roads, where the transport can be mainly done by waggons; while for special expeditions, such as those to Abyssinia and Ashantee, special transport is organised. The waggon in common use is the " general service waggon," a strong four-wheeled (equirotal) waggon, drawn by four horses, weighing 16 cwt., and carrying a load of 30 cwt.

The transport companies at the disposal of the Control have to carry the equipment and baggage of the staff and departments, to horse and drive the ambulance and field hospital waggons, and, above all, to carry the supplies and reserve stores of the army, the bringing the daily sup plies to the troops being the duty which taxes them most heavily.

The charge and issue of warlike stores is a duty of ever- increasing importance and difficulty in these days of scientific warfare. In most armies this duty devolves on the officers of the artillery, whose education specially qualifies them for it, and the question was warmly dis cussed when the Control Department was formed. It was ultimately decided to unite all supply duties under the Control, providing, however, by an admixture of artillery officers for the necessary scientific knowledge within the department.

The following table shows the establishment of officers of the Control Department in 1873, with their full pay, and the daily rates of half and retired pay to which they become entitled:—

Nos. (on Full Pay.) Rank. Full Pay. Half Pay. Retired Pay, after 30 years service. 3 14 40 53 135 142 12 20 36 Controllers 300 200 140 18 6 11 6 090 100 14 6 10 6 1 10 110 13 6 10 070 046 12 6 083 053 2 1 13 100 16 8 11 8 078 100 14 090 Deputy-Controllers* Assistant-Controllers* Commissaries * Deputy- Commissaries* . . . Assistant-Commissaries * Paymasters* Deputy- Paymasters* Assistant- Pay masters *... 455, of whom 116 were abroad and 339 at home.

Note.—In the ranks marked thus * the full pay is increased after five years service in the rank by amounts varying from 2s. 6d. to 5s. daily. A reduced rate of retiring pay is allowed to officers of over twenty but less than thirty years service, who are permitted to retire. In addition to the numbers shown above, 40 sub-assistant commissaries are appointed, on probation, at a rate of 6s. 6d. per day.

Medical Department.—Hospitals.

The Medical Department comprises 4 ranks of medical officers viz., Surgeon-General, Deputy-Surgeon-Geueral, Surgeon-Major, and Surgeon, and the officers and men of the Army Hospital Corps ; the whole being under a director-general at the War Office. The officers of the two higher grades are employed chiefly as administrative officers superintending districts or large hospitals ; while the surgeons-major and surgeons are attached to regiments and corps, or employed as executive officers in the hospitals. Every battalion serving at home or in the colonies has one medical officer attached to it ; and every battalion in India has one surgeon-major and two surgeons. First appointments in the Army Medical Department are given to candidates who possess two diplomas or licences for medicine and surgery, and, after attending a probationaiy course at a general military hospital, pass a satisfactory examination in military medicine, surgery, hygiene, and pathology. On appointment as surgeons they rank as lieutenants, and after G years full-pay service, as captains. Promotion from surgeon to surgeon-major is by seniority, but officers may be specially promoted for distinguished service. Surgeons-major rank as majors on appointment, and after 20 years full-pay service (in the two ranks), as lieutenant-colonels. Promotion from surgeon-major to deputy-surgeon-general, and from that to surgeon-general, is by selection of the Comrnander-in-Chief, with approval of the Secretary for War. Deputy-surgeons-general rank as lieutenant-colonels from the date of appointment, and after 5 years service in the rank as colonels ; and surgeons- general as brigadiers for three years, and afterwards as major-generals. The establishment and rates of pay of the several ranks are shown in the following table:—

No. Rank. Daily Pay. 10 33 439 625 Surgeons-General s. d. t. d. 200 rising to 2 10 1 10 ,, 1 17 17 6 170 10 15 Deputy-Surgeons-General . . Surgeons-Major Surgeons 1107, of whom 476 are employed at home, 130 in the colonies, and 501 iu India.

All officers have a right to retire on half -pay after 20 years service. Surgeons and surgeons-major must retire at the age of 55, and surgeons-general and deputy ditto at the age of 65. Officers retiring after 20 years service receive a rate equal to half their full pay at the time ; after 25 years full-pay service, a rate equal to seven-tenths of full pay.

The Army Hospital Corps consists of 11 "captains of orderlies," 10 lieutenants, 264 sergeants-major and sergeants, and 1060 rank and file. They are employed entirely on hospital duties, and are under the direction and control of the medical officer of the station, though subject for discipline to the military authority. The officers and non-commissioned officers rank with the corresponding grades in the army, but their authority is confined to their own men and to patients and men attached to military hospitals on duty. Appointments of officers are made from the non-commissioned officers of the corps : the ranks of the corps are filled by volunteers from the army, men of good character, able to read and write, of not less than two years service, and not over 30 years of age; and by recruits, whose direct enlistment is specially authorised. They are variously employed as clerks, compounders of medicines, cooks, &c., but principally as attendants on the sick in the general hospitals in peace, or in field hospitals and ambulances in war.

Hospitals are either " general " or " station " hospitals : to the former special governors or commandants are appointed; in the latter the internal administration is under the senior medical officer. The Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, whither all invalids from abroad are sent, is the largest General Hospital ; it has a large staff, a medical school, and accommodation for 973 patients.

Station Hospitals are organised at all large military

stations, for the sick of all regiments or corps quartered there. The hospital is under the immediate supervision of the principal medical officer, usually a deputy -surgeon- general, and all medical officers at the station are available

for such general service in it as he may direct; but