short, decentralisation was to be replaced by concentration of the
transport for redistribution in proportion to the wants of the
service. The change of system was effected successfully under the
supervision of Lord Kitchener and Major-General Sir William Nicholson
whose experience of similar arrangements in Egyptian and Indian
campaigns were of much assistance to the Commander-in-Chief. Returns
of the mule-transport in possession of units were called for, and on
January 24th an Army order was published withdrawing mule-transport
with certain exceptions. On the 29th January a further order was
issued, giving the details of the vehicles which were to remain with
units and stating how their draught was to be provided. The general
transport obtained by this withdrawal was formed into companies of
four sections each, each company consisting of forty-nine wagons, one
Scotch cart, and a water-cart; it was calculated that one of these
companies would suffice to carry the baggage and two days' supply of
food and forage for an infantry brigade of four battalions or a
cavalry brigade of three regiments. The ox-transport was organised in
companies of one hundred wagons each, from which convoys could be
formed, as required, to fulfil the functions of the supply columns of
the previous system.[302] These transport companies were placed under
Army Service Corps officers, and the administration of the whole was
at first undertaken by the Deputy Adjutant-General for Supplies and
Transport, Colonel Richardson, who had been transferred from the lines
of communication to the Headquarter staff. The general principles now
adopted were that complete transport, and transport animals for
certain vehicles still left in charge of units, should be placed at
the disposal of the commander of any force when it was ordered to
move; such transport was to remain with that force during the move,
but on its completion was to be returned to the transport department,
so as to be again available for whatever duty was most urgent.

[Footnote 301: The "regimental" system was, however, retained
by the force under Sir R. Buller until the break up of the
Natal army, in October, 1900.]

[Footnote 302: Mule companies had 520 mules; ox companies,
1,600 oxen.]

[Sidenote: Difficulties in practice.]

Some difficulties naturally arose. By the abolition of regimental
transport the services of the regimental officers and