ELEPHANT ARTILLERY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

ELEPHANT ARTILLERY

THE MOST CTKIOUS CORPS LN THE BRITISH ARMY.

The Heavy Battery of India is the most curious corps in the British Army. In fact it is absolutely unique in the world. This is the elephant artillery of our great Eastern Empire. It is rightly called heavy, for everything is heavy about it. The elephants each weigh several tons and the guns match them; oven the men seem to be chosen for their weight and height. In all the Empire the only thing to match this strange corps was the Camel Corps which did such good service in the desert inarch to Khartum in the illstarred expedition across the desert to i the relief of Gordon.

The elephants of this unique battery are almost as human as their drivers or the gunners who man the guns. They are subject to just as strict a discipline and seem to understand its meaning as fully as the men; they have their own kit and accoutrements, parade for their rations, go on route marches, salute their officers with uplifted trunks, and, in short, do a hundred duties which the most intelligent horse woidd never be expected to do. Just as if they were soldiers of the King-Emperor, a record is kept, too, of each elephant's length of service, his age, height and weight, and last but by no means least important—to the elephant at least—of his character! A bad elephant has a bad time and vice-versa. While the good, obedient, ruly elephant, who does his drills smartly, keeps rank, pulls his share, and refrains from quarrelling and fighting gets cakes and sugar-cane and other dainties which his soul desires, the unruly, lazy, insubordinate, refractory and otherwise misbehaving beast, like Mother Hubbard's poor dog, gets none! Instead he gets the most complete and whole-hearted basting and beating in this world!

Neither "whips nor scorpions" are any use on the hide of an elephant. They simply tinkle him and make him laugh. He thinks his keeper is having a lark with him. The only effectual way of punishing an elephant corporally is to give another elephant the job. This is what is actually done, and the instrument of eastigation is a heavy iron chain which is wielded with great efficiency and no little satisfaction by a well-behaved and willing comrade. 810, BUT HANDY.

It is a great sight to see the elephant drivers mount. The great beasts stand in a long line with their drivers facing them. Both stand stock still at attention until the order is given, "Prepare to mount I" Every trunk is thrust out, the men leap upon them, clutch the ears to keep a balance and again stand stock still. At the word ''Mount!" the trunks are uplifted, and the men clamber up the wrinkles of the big beasts' foreheads, and in a twinkling tfiey are seated on their necks. As the elephants pass out of the lines each one salutes the officer.

At washing time each elephant takes his bucket, dips it and sluices his own hide, whilst his keeper does the scrubbing. In fact the elephant is a real "handy-beast" exactly as the bluejacket is a "handy-man." Compared with u horse they can do a thousand things for themselves, even to t\ - ing themselves up for the night! Occasionally there is concerted mutiny. Some time ago, for instance, the heavy battery was route-marching in very hot weather and had to ford a pretty deep and wide river. When the elephants reached the middle they all with one accord refused to budge. They had arrived at the elephant's paradise and there they were content to stay in a state of bliss.

Wallowing in the river, deaf to coaxing, threatening or scolding, they remained for three days. Needless to say there was very little sugar-cane rations or sweets and lolli-pops stirring in the elephant lines for weeks after that episode. The heasts were on hread and water diet, prison fare. But they had lived for three days and probably deemed the payment exacted not excessive. Whatever further native regiments come over from India to take part in the European war it is to be feared that the Heavv Batterv will not he one of these.