Thus the remaining half might have been set free for active operations. Although the fate of Kars cannot materially influence the result of operations in the Crimea, active operations directed against the enemy from Kars might, in the opinion of most excellent judges, have produced very considerable results on the calculations of the next campaign, and on the prospects of the war. But the fall of Kars produces no surprise here — the wonder rather seems to be that it held out so long, and every one appears to admit that he had a secret presentiment that the city must, sooner or later, fall into the hands of the Russians. Every one, at least, who knew the country, felt persuaded that Omar Pasha's expedition set out too late, and yet we all fell into ecstasies at the passage of the Ingour, and talked of the march on Kutais as if these things could save Kars, and no one cared to look at the map or consider the chances of doing so.
The fall of the place now somewhat complicates the plan of a campaign next year, but, wherever we may go, there is unquestionably a strong feeling on the part of our allies against operations in Asia. Next year we are told that the Transport Corps will consist of 19,000 men and of 19,000 animals, for it has been found absolutely necessary to have one man for each mule or horse. The men will be furnished by the army to a great extent, as it is impossible to intrust the animals to many of those who are now employed, and I regret to say that this remark applies not only to Tm-ks and Italians, but to Englishmen. The foreigners in our employment have frequently refused to turn out in the mornings when the weather is bad, and the Italian mule and hoi'se drivers are particularly refractory on such occasions.
Starvation, cold, and the a re/ ii men turn Jiagelli have not the least influence upon them. They produce secret hoards of tobacco and sheaves of pipes, and, like so many Prometheuses, steal fire, and then smoke away with sore backs, empty stomachs, and happy consciences. It may be objected that such extensive di'aughts from the army and such levies of the best men in the regiments will be prejudicial to combatant efficiency, but then the most fighting army in the world is no good if it is not mobile, and it is wise to diminish its numbers — even by one-half — if the act will enable the residue to march against their enemy. It will be remarked that the difficulty at present arises from the conveyance of necessaries (or of supposed necessaries) of life to the army, and that neither baggage of officers or men nor warlike stores have to be carried to the front.
What would the difficulty be if the corps had to carry baggage, tents, Stores, ammunition, and Commissariat supplies? Colonel Wetherall, the Director-General, has already gained the confidence and respect of the officers of the Land Ti-ansport Corps and of the Conmiissariat, and he of course possesses in a high degi'ee the confidence of the chiefs of military departments. So far he is secure of support and of that attentive consideration of his suggestions and opinions, which is invaluable to an officer in his position. But it must not be forgotten that the organizer of the corps, Colonel M'Murdo, laboured long, earnestly, and well to breathe life into it, and that, until he was stricken down by illness, his labours were successful. There are yet the marks of the chisel on the body to which he imparted vitality — it was but rough-hewn, though moving and healthy, when he left us.
It is, perhaps, rather unfortunate that so many commissions in this regiment have been given to non-commissioned officers of tlie artillery and of other bodies, inasmucli as the army is deprived of the services of such a number of excellent men, who can be but badly spared in the present state of our regiments. There is moreover so much apparent confusion in the grades, such as " Quartermaster of Brigade," " Cornet," and " Second Captain," that the corps, in fact, partakes of the characteristics of an infantry regiment, of a cavalry regiment, and of an artillery regiment, and it looks like neither fish, ilesh, nor good red herring. The elevation of so many non-commissioned officers to the rank of cornet gives occasion to many yoiuig officers to ridicule the corps, and to speak of it in contemptuous terms, but these young gentlemen do not recollect that, in the infancy of such a body, it is absolutely necessary to fill the ranks of executive officers with steady, experienced, handy, and energetic men.