ion A. No. 16 British Field Hospital.
" " 68 Native " "

If the column is required to move out, they will be joined _en route_
(if necessary) by a detachment of No. 3 company Bombay Sappers and
Miners.

(By Order) C. H. U. PRICE, _Major_,
_D.A.A.G. Aden District_.

The following officers of the regiment accompanied the
column:--Lieutenant Haskard, Lieutenant Wheeler, Lieutenant Smith,
Second Lieutenant Tredennick, Second Lieutenant W. F. Higginson.

The following standing orders are quoted in full, as they give a good
idea of the scope of the operations, the difficulties likely to be met
with, and the precautions taken to overcome those difficulties:--

COLUMN STANDING ORDERS BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL F. P. ENGLISH, COMMANDING
ADEN COLUMN.

_December 24th, 1902._

1. _Water._--It is anticipated that in all probability it will be
difficult to obtain good drinking water in sufficient quantities on
some of the marches into the interior. All ranks are therefore
cautioned to husband their drinking water as much as possible. Troops
and followers should be forbidden to draw water from the camel tanks
without permission from the officer in charge, and be cautioned
against drinking water from any but authorised sources, as some of the
water on the route is brackish and liable to bring on diarrhoea.

Each unit will detail an officer or selected N.C. officer to be in
charge of the water camels, who will see that their supply is only
drawn on by order of the officer commanding, and that great care is
taken to prevent wastage. Whenever possible, water tanks and bottles
should be replenished; halts will be made for this purpose.
Water-bottles will be filled overnight. On arrival in camp, the
sources of water supply will be pointed out by the staff officer, and
sentries posted to see that the right people draw from the right
source.

2. _Country and Inhabitants._--It should be remembered that the
country through which the column will march to Dthala is in the
British Protectorate, and that the inhabitants and their property must
not be interfered with. All supplies must be paid for, and foraging is
strictly forbidden.

3. _Camps._--On arrival at the camping-places, the staff officer will
point out the sites for the camps of the different units to N.C.O.'s
detailed for that purpose. Officers commanding units