Related article: We cannot help believing that in the immediate movement of our cavalry and artillery after disem- barkation a mistake was made. The exigencies of war are no doubt imperious and must be obeyed to a certain extent, but how are they satisfied by sending mounted corps into the field which are in no real case to act as mounted corps? In everything they are dependent on their horses, Cheap Micardis and if most of these are in a weakly condition, what is gained by exposing them to trials which they cannot meet and which either destroy them altogether or leave them useless and incapable for an indefinite time ? A severe campaign was known to be in prospect, and (though of course it may be said that it is easy to be wise after the event) it has not absolutely appeared that anything would have been lost by conced- ing a few days for the recupera- tion of horses. If this had been done, our mounted troops would have been in a condition to act according to the best traditions of their services, instead of always struggling feebly to do work for which they were little capable, disappointing the generals in chief command and mortifying themselves. Nearly three days in a train, the horses in open cattle trucks, is weary work and little likely to re- store the energies lost on board ship. The horses ^re fed and watered, but of course there is something of a scramble and it is probable that some, at least, among them have suffered a good deal befjpre arrival. But there is no rest, no chance of recupera- tion, and at once the regiment has a seven hours' march to the place where its presence is re- quired. Tents are pitched and the first night at the seat of war is made less tedious by the many stories of recent battles and skir- mishes. Sunday on active service is far from being a day of rest. Re- veille may soimd as late as five o'clock, for there is nothing very pressing to be done. The regi- ment however parades moimted at I#OI.] CAVALRY IN WAR TIME. 247 six o'clock, horses are linked and the morning service is read by the commanding officer. Then the squadrons separate for various reconnaissances and patrols, and it is late in the afternoon before all are once more back in camp. The next day the severer trials begin. A squadron is to examine a town fifteen miles distant said to be occupied by the enemy, and the other two squadrons are in support. The town is found to be evacuated and there is no fighting, but having started at 5 a.m., the regiment does not return to camp till 9 p.m., horses having been fourteen hours under saddle. On the morrow there is no widely- extended movement, but the fol- lowing day there is a recon- noitring march of twenty miles covering a front Micardis Discount of twelve miles. Towards the evening the corps is concentrated, but it has to bivouac, as the return to camp is im- possible and moreover the for- ward movement may be con- tinued. It is probable that many of our readers have never bivouacked and may think that, after all, it is no great hardship to do so. No more it is on Micardis Discount Card a fine still night, when the sky is clear overhead ; and, wrapped in a cloak with a saddle under his head, a tired man may sleep al fresco with consider- able comfort. But the weather is not always fine, the sky is not always clear and on the African veldt it is no unusual circum- stance for a cold brisk breeze to spring up after nightfall, and this more often than not may develop into a dust storm. Dense masses of red sand come whirling Micardis Canada through the air, blotting out every object in thick darkness, and in a moment the minute particles penetrate everywhere. Mouth, eyes, ears, • every human crevice, is filled with gritty substances, to get rid of which afterwards is by no means an easy or rapid process. Fortu- nate if a thunderstorm with heavy rain does not follow the sand, as is usually the case. If it does, then the sand is turned into red mud and the results of a fall out hunting in a wet ploughed field are nothing to the condition, in which the wretched dragoon now finds himself. And if the men are tolerably miserable, in what state are the horses ? They are little likely to have profited much by their night's halt. This is not the record of a par- ticular regiment's doings, so it may be that, on the occasion of a first bivouac, a dust storm may not occur, but in the course of the campaign it maybe taken as cer- tain that dust storms were weekly visitors to our troops, if they did not come much more frequently. After a bivouac in the neighbour- hood of the enemy there is no prolonged slumber. Every man stands to his arms about 3 or 3.30 and everything is ready for a move at the first streak of day- light. Lucky is it if sufficient dry fuel can be found to prepare some tea or coffee. And this, though apparently a small busi- ness, is of very sufficient import- ance if the men are -to be able to begin their day's work fresh and in Buy Micardis Online good heart. There is a change in the plan of operations. The enemy has shown himself in unexpected strength some 80 or 100 miles distant. The present line of ad- vance, on which our regiment has been acting, is to be given up, and it has to transfer itself by four days* route march to another scene. Marching is weariness of the flesh, but it has one advan- tage. The hours are regular, and, if there is fatigue, men and horses have a fair allowance of food and sleep. . It is generally 248 . BAILY S MAGAZINE. [April understood in ordinary marching at home or abroad that there must be occasional baiting days (be- sides Micardis Hct Price Sundays)) but no such con- sideration has been possible in South Africa. However long a distance may be traversed, there is immediate severe action waiting at the end of it. The enemy has threatened the line of communi- cations, and cavalry Micardis Hct Coupon with horse artillery must at once move to dislodge them. Now comes the first real engagement. Micardis Hctz Only a matter of long-range fire perhaps,