The transport arrangements of the Army seemed for a time
to be in serious jeopardy, in consequence of the obstinate opposition of the Turkish Government to the embarkation of the mules bought in their provinces. An article in the Times of Tuesday shows that, so far as railway transport is concerned, needful provision had been made in good time. So long ago as July 6th negotiations had been completed, under Sir Andrew Clarke'e direction, for the purchase of four engines and five miles of permanent-way material ; and a company of the Royal Engineers were being daily instructed and practised in railway working on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, under the command of officers who had served with Sir Andrew on the Indian Public Works. The ' Canadian' was despatched direst for the Canal, with men and materiel, on August 10th, and was the first transport that reached Port Said, whence it was ordered on the 23rd by the Admiral to put to sea again, and anchor outside. The difficulty of landing the engines at Ismailia caused a certain delay, but the real hitch in transport was the obstinacy of the Turkish Government about the mules, which it needed a very strong hint from Lord Dufferin to suppress.
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