ship. This is a
particularly useful glass, and I myself felt quite lost, late in the
campaign, when I unfortunately dropped the top of mine when riding. As
to binoculars, we found the Zeiss or Ross's very excellent, and all
military officers seemed to use them; but, in my humble opinion, they
are not to be compared with a good small telescope.

At the start of the campaign the want of good telescopes among the
military was most marked, and ours were generally in great request.
Many military officers with whom I have talked on the subject agree
with me in thinking that a certain proportion of small telescopes
should be supplied, say two for every company in a regiment, for the
use of those on outpost and look-out duties. It is astonishing to see
the added interest which any man placed on these duties shows when he
can really make out for himself advancing objects and enemy's
positions without being entirely dependent on their officers to tell
them. A good glass will render reports from these men reliable and
valuable, instead of, as they often are, mere guesswork. At Grass Kop,
where we had one Volunteer Company all armed with binoculars which
were presented to them on leaving England (with the South
Lancashires), the hill was always lined with look-out men on their own
account; so interested were they in the matter.

Our water supply, as at first run, with one water-cart to the whole
Naval Brigade, was inadequate; but later on each unit with guns got,
as they should have, their own water-cart, or else made them with a
cask fixed upon axle wheels, which we were obliged to do for a long
time. Transport for these was either mule or ox; the former, quickest
and best. A field filter for each unit should be supplied if
possible.[8]

[Footnote 8: The proper filtering of water for use in
water-bottles and indeed for all drinking purposes, is most
important, and especially so in hot weather, when men are
always wanting a drink at off times, and will have it of
course. Late in the war, the "Berkefeld Field Service Filter"
was supplied to us by the Ordnance Department, and is very
good; it packs up in what looks like a large-sized luncheon
basket, and is very portable; it is simple to look after, if
directions are followed, and will make about thirty-four
pints in ten minutes, or, enough to fill fifteen men's
water-bottles; conse