As usual, English unreadiness was the General's only difficulty. There
had been no time to bring up transport from the North-Western stations, and when the start was ordered, there were insufficient beasts collected to move the munitions, the baggage, and the food. There was probably trouble, too, about water, as there is none in the passes. The country, however, was at once swept for camels, mules, and oxen, the animals being in fact requisitioned, though paid for at enormous rates ; and at last there were enough to make an advance just possible. The camels, however, have no business in lands so high, and will perish like flies ; mules are hard to collect without warning ; and the force may depend greatly on the strong but slow oxen. Gradually, of course, cavalcades of beasts will stream in from India, and by the time we reach Chitral the expedition will be fit to go anywhere and do anything. We suppose part of this unreadiness is unavoidable, as the cost of being always ready is excessive ; but we cannot help thinking that a Prussian Staff would be nearer ready than we usually are.
It is the half-civil departments which break down, mainly, we believe, because the methods of " checking " outlay are too elaborate. Every competent General in succession has com- plained of this, but it never gets altered till towards the conclusion of the actual fighting. "Lions carried and fed by asses" is the accurate description of many a British force.
