clip. The
great object of this stretcher carriage has been to obtain mobility,
strength, and lightness combined with efficiency and a ready and easy
means of transport for sick and wounded, no matter where a patient has
to be transported from. The loaded stretcher and wheeled carriage can be
readily handled by one man on good roads, and by two men in rough
country. The springs prevent any jar being felt by the patient on the
stretcher.]

(_b_) For the longer journeys to the Field or Stationary hospitals, the
service wagon and other transport vehicles came into use, particularly
the South African ox-wagon.

[Illustration: FIG. 6--Indian Tonga on the march. (Photo by Mr. Bowlby)]

The service wagon (fig. 7) is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle, drawn by ten
mules. The good construction of the wagon was amply proved by the manner
in which it stood the hard wear and tear of the present campaign. It is,
however, very heavy, and in comparison with its size affords very small
accommodation. Two lying-down patients and six sitting is its entire
capacity. Some modified patterns were in use, notably those with the
Irish and Imperial Yeomanry Field Hospitals, capable of carrying four
lying-down cases, the men being arranged in two tiers. Major Hale,
R.A.M.C., made a very successful trek from Rhenoster to Kroonstadt with
some of these, carrying twice the regulation number of lying-down cases
in his wagons. Some modification in the mode of fixation is, however,
necessary to increase the security of the stretchers of the upper
series.

A really satisfactory wagon, combining both strength and comfort, still
remains to be devised.

[Illustration: FIG. 7.--Service Ambulance Wagon, the six front mules
removed.

(Photo by Mr. C. S. Wallace)]

During the later stages of the campaign, a very large number of patients
were transported by the South African ox- or mule- (buck) wagons.
Although not of prepossessing appearance, and unprovided with any sort
of springs, these vehicles were far from unsatisfactory. The ox-wagon
consists of a long simple platform, 19 ft. 2 in. in length, 4 ft. 6 in.
in width, from the sides of which a slanting board rises over the wheels
for the posterior two-thirds. These bulwarks increase the actual width
to 6 ft. 6 in., which corresponds with the gross width occupied by the
wheels. One third is covered by a small hood 5 ft. 6 in. in height
erected on wooden stave hoops. The latter was often absent in transpor