epartment succeeded in furnishing, and even in exceeding, the
numbers demanded from time to time. It had undertaken the transport of
horses purchased abroad, an arrangement which, while relieving the
Admiralty, caused no competition, as a different class of ship was
required. Horses and mules purchased in various countries were poured
into South Africa. They were used up almost as soon as they arrived.

[Sidenote: Difficulties of Remount department.]

There was no arrangement made for easy and rapid expansion. "The
Inspector-General of Remounts could do no more with the organisation
with which he was furnished; his functions were strictly limited, and
his staff even more so. It was inevitable that when a department so
equipped, and with no provision for expansion, was called upon to
extend its operations largely, there must be some lack of system."[31]
In addition to these difficulties, the department had to face others.
It was from the first made the object of attacks in the Press and in
Parliament. It was scarcely possible that the circumstances as here
recorded should be understood. To the labours of the officials,
already worked to breaking strain, was added the duty of preparing
constant written explanations of their actions, and this to an extent
that seriously interfered with the despatch of their current business.

[Footnote 31: Report of Royal Commission, Para. 187.]

_Army Service Corps._

There was no difficulty in bringing the personnel of the transport
companies and supply detachments of the Army Service Corps up to the
war establishment laid down for them. Yet the total strength of the
corps, with its reserves called up, was far below what was required to
meet the calls which were eventually made on it. "After withdrawing
nearly every officer of the corps from England and stations abroad it
was necessary to employ in South Africa 126 additional officers of
other corps up to June, 1900, which number was increased to nearly 250
later on in the war. To replace officers in England and stations
abroad, 98 retired and reserve officers were employed. The transport
personnel (non-commissioned officers and artificers) of the companies
in South Africa, when they were subsequently divided into two, was
hardly sufficient to carry on the work, but a large number of
promotions were made to fill up the deficiencies. With the supply
branch in South Africa, 364 civilians were engaged as clerks, bakers,
and