rt was cut off, only two ox-wagons and the two water-carts
being allowed. This greatly hampered the Field hospitals on the march,
and when they arrived at Bloemfontein and had to undertake the work of
Stationary hospitals, their efficiency was seriously impaired. Again, on
the advance from Bloemfontein to Kroonstadt many of the Field hospitals
were unable to accompany their respective divisions, not alone on
account of the number of patients remaining in them, but also because
the mule transport had been otherwise employed for military purposes.

The transport of the ambulances and hospitals stands in a very special
position. As far as my experience went, neither ambulances nor hospitals
were ever taken or retained by the Boers, and consequently the transport
animals originally devoted to this purpose should have been held sacred
to it.

_Hospitals._--Accommodation for the wounded was provided under canvas in
the Field hospitals, also in the large General hospitals. Beyond this
iron huts were erected in many of the Base and Station hospitals. At
Capetown, Maritzburg, and Ladysmith barrack huts were modified and
equipped as hospitals, and in towns such as Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and
Johannesburg large civil hospitals were at our disposal. Beyond these
sources of accommodation, churches, schools, public institutions, and
private houses were made use of in the smaller towns.

As to the broad question of canvas _v._ buildings, experience amply
showed that in a climate such as is possessed by South Africa, canvas
affords the greater advantages. The hospitals are more mobile, more
readily extended, and the more healthy. Except under unusual conditions
of rain and dust, the patients did excellently in the tents.

Rain and dust were occasionally most troublesome, especially when
combined with wind. I once saw a whole hospital, fortunately unoccupied,
levelled to the ground in the course of some twenty minutes. Under such
circumstances iron huts present advantages, and were on many occasions
utilised with much success. They are readily erected, and it would have
been a considerable improvement if a number of them had been ready for
use at the earliest part of the campaign. Except in the matter of
weight, they possess in a considerable degree the advantage of mobility
possessed by canvas, and in addition they offer much more protection
from the weather. On the other hand, they are more liable to become
unhealthy from prolonge