ition from peace to war.
Not only was the Remount department required to provide horses and
mules for a far larger British army than had ever before taken the
field, but that army was operating at an immense distance from its
base over a larger extent of country than any over which a British
army had ever before been called upon to act. Besides this, no force
previously sent into the field by any nation has included in its
composition such a large proportion of mounted men. Consequently, the
demands on the Remount department were of unprecedented magnitude.[27]

[Footnote 24: A proposal to send 700 Argentine horses and
mules "to acclimatise, anticipating next year's casualties,"
was sent to the General Officer Commanding S. Africa, in
April, 1899.--Tel. Q.M.G. to G.O.C., S.A., 28th April. (S.A.
Series No. 3.)]

[Footnote 25: The total number of animals furnished by the
Remount department up to August, 1902, was as follows:--

+-----------------------+-------------------+----------+
| Horses. | | |
+------------+----------+ Mules and Donkeys.| Total. |
| With units.| Remounts.| | |
+------------+----------+-------------------+----------+
| 20,251 | 450,223 | 149,648 | 620,122 |
+------------+----------+-------------------+----------+]

[Footnote 26: Court of Enquiry on Army Remounts. Q. 8,
Minutes of Evidence.]

[Footnote 27: Court of Enquiry on Army Remounts. Report,
Para. 234.]

[Sidenote: Absence of depots.]

What contributed not a little to these demands was the absence of
preparation in South Africa in establishing beforehand depots from
which a regular supply could be maintained, and in which imported
animals could rest after the voyage and become to a certain extent
acclimatised before they were used in the field.

[Sidenote: Partial provision of depots.]

In June, 1899, the Inspector-General had represented the necessity of
sending out a proper remount establishment to receive animals, and a
supervising staff. This proposal was only adopted to the extent that,
on June 22nd, sanction was given for an Assistant-Inspector of
Remounts, accompanied by a small staff, to go to South Africa. In
August, 1899, approval was given for the retention of the e