Added to the general despatch is a special report on
the field transport in South Africa which will take high rank in the literature of war. It is in fact an essay on transport, one of its mottoes being that "the regimental transportofficer, however zealous, is an amateur, the departmental transport officer a professional."—This, of course, does not mean once a regi- mental transport officer always an. amateur, for some of the best transport officers in South Africa began as regimental amateurs but have become professionals of the highest ability.—The record of the transport work done between the time of Lord Roberts's landing in South Africa and the relief of Kimberley is tremendous. When Lord Roberts landed be-found--the transport; like -the army,- squandered-- all over South Africa, and his first duty was to pick up the pieces and manufacture mobility out of chaos. This required calmness, the power of waiting, coolness, infinite patience, and steady work. And these qualities had to be displayed while the fate of Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking was trembling in the balance and while the Boers seemed everywhere triumphant. It is not every one who can calmly sit down and plan and construct anew water supply and a new extinguishing apparatus while the house is burning.
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