The Elephants were used as a draught animal in conjunction with our heavy batteries in India, particularly those of the siege train (5 Inf Div- Mhow). Elephant batteries are of modern origin, though the animal has been used in war from the earliest times, and can be managed by his mahout with as little difficulty as a well trained Jawan. It is, indeed, astonishing to see the apparently clumsy animal wheeling to the right or left when ordered, as though he, like the gunners who accompany him, had passed a considerable time under the care of the drill Havildhar. Each animal can carry with ease a load of 400Kgs. Its food is usually from 6Kgs to 15Kgs of flour mixed with sugar, or molasses, and 175kgs of green food. It requires at least 100 Litres of water per Diem, but works well on only five hours of sleep. Each heavy gun is drawn by two animals. The gunners are seen in front of the elephants.
Contrast 1897 Artillery with current Bofors Shoot and Scoot!
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