THE CONSERVATION OF HORSES IN WAR

BY CLARENCE J. MARSHALL

Professor of Veterinary Medicine

The writer recently made a trip to the war zone of the English and French Army for the purpose of making observations on the usefulness and care of horses in war. This trip was made possible through the generosity of a friend of the University of Pennsylvania. At the same time he was appointed a delegate by the presidents of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Humane Society to make observations for them along the same lines. All furnished valuable assistance in arranging for the passport and letter commendatory from the Secretary of State, the Honorable Robert Lansing, and our diplomatic representatives abroad for the necessary authority to get into the lines of the two armies. Permission was promptly obtained from the War Office in England to visit their remount stations and veterinary hospitals in England and France. Similar permission was obtained from the French War Department to visit some of their remount stations, veterinary hospitals and cavalry schools. At the same time an opportunity was given for investigating the work of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Blue Cross, which is a branch of the Dumb Friends League in London. Every courtesy was afforded by these armies and societies to make the trip useful and profitable. The writer feels under a great debt of gratitude to each of them for the kindness and assistance so generously and promptly given. The experience was wonderful and the surprises many. It is hoped that due allowance will be made for any extravagant opinions that may be expressed in reviewing the observations made.

In reference to the necessity for horses in war, there can be no question. It is true that much of the work formerly done by them is now handled by machine-drawn vehicles. Each

has its place. Handling the supplies for an army is an immense undertaking and without horses an army would be hopelessly handicapped. In the early part of the present year the English government had something over 400,000 horses engaged in the war, while France had about 300,000. Wayne Dinsmore, Secretary of the Percheron Society of America, collected, through the Bureau of Foreign Commerce of the United States Government, figures showing the number and value of horses, mules, harnesses, saddles, wagons and motor-drawn vehicles that had been shipped from this country to the belligerent nations from September 1, 1914, to June 1, 1916. There were shipped during the twenty-three months 611,790 horses valued at $134,943,456; 167,387 mules valued at $34,198,955; wagons valued at $2,461,611; harnesses and saddles valued at $25,739,015; a grand total of $197,343,037. During the same time the value of motor-drawn vehicles imported amounted to $143,122,124. There was a balance in favor of the horse to the extent of more than $50,000,000.

The kinds or classes of horses needed in war are: Riders, light and heavy draft, and pack. The riding horses are used by the light horse troops, mounted infantry, pack and cavalry. Those used by the first three average in height from 14.2 to 15.1 hands, and the cavalry horses are 15.1 hands and over. Light draft horses, fit for field artillery and transport wagons, are 15 hands and over. The Shires, Clydesdales, Belgians and Percherons make the ideal heavy drafters the same as in civil life. Much of the heavy hauling is done in fields, woods, mountains, etc., where it is impossible to operate machine-drawn vehicles. The American mule has proven itself most useful in the various kinds of work.

The remount service of an army looks after such duties as purchasing horses, issuing them to the various units of the army, disposing of those that are unfit for service in the army, maintenance of an equal standard in units, studies the horse supply of the world for peace and war requirements and the mobilization in horses. This service is well organized and its duties carefully outlined. In the English army, the remount service

is controlled by the quartermaster general through the remount directorate, which is a branch of his department.

The army veterinary corps is under the control of a director general at the War Office. He is a veterinarian and has the rank of major-general. The general function of the corps is to secure the efficiency of the animals of the forces in the field by preventing the introduction and spread of transmissible diseases, reducing wastage among animals by means of prompt application of first aid, relieving the field army of the care of sick and inefficient animals, the presence of which hampers mobility, treatment in hopsitals of animals removed from the field army and by replenishing veterinary equipment. The chain of organization for this purpose is as follows: Veterinary officers with field units, mobile veterinary sections, veterinary hospitals, veterinary convalescent depots and depots of veterinary stores. The whole being controlled by the director of veterinary service, who is assisted by deputy directors, and assistant directors. Sick, wounded or otherwise unfit animals are turned over to the veterinary corps, which has entire charge of their care and treatment. When cured, they are turned over to the nearest remount section. If the case is found to be incurable, it is destroyed or sold, as considered best by the proper veterinary officer. The results from handling disabled animals in this way have been surprisingly good. Of the first 100,000 that passed through the English veterinary hospitals, seventy per cent were returned to the army cured, and in most cases better horses than when first purchased. Better results are now possible, for the reason that the hospitals are established, better equipped and the men are better trained to carry out instructions.

By a corps is meant a department of an army having its own organization and head. This is true of the army veterinary corps. Men enlist for the veterinary corps the same as in other branches of the army. There are something over 18,000 men serving in the English army veterinary corps. They are under military discipline, wear an army uniform and conduct themselves as good soldiers should. An effort is made to get men

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who are not qualified physically for fighting. Where so many men are required, it is not possible to get all that have had experience in handling or caring for horses. Some are from stores, factories, mines, etc., and army life is the first opportunity they have ever had to care for or handle horses. large proportion of the men connected with the veterinary corps were thoroughly trained horsemen before the war began and every effort has been made since to teach all employees the details of good horsemanship.

In the hospital service a grand total of 382 men of all ranks are allowed to look after each 1,000 horses. The commanding officer is a major. With him are associated two captains, two lieutenants, a quartermaster and one warrant officer. All the officers except the quartermaster are veterinarians. In addition to the above officers, there are four staff sergeants whose duties are general, and ten sergeants. One sergeant is assigned to office duty, one to the pharmacy, one to the operations, four on general duty, one detraining and entraining, one on forage and one in the quartermaster stores.

There are twenty-four corporals, including six lance sergeants. They are assigned as follows: One to forage, one to operations, one to officers' mess, one detraining and entraining and twenty to general duties.

There are fifty-four privates (dressers) which include fifteen lance corporals. One of these is assigned to office work, one to pharmacy, eight to operations and forty-four to various wards.

There are 261 privates (grooms). These are assigned as follows: 200 for grooming (one for each five horses), twenty detraining and entraining, and conducting parties, twelve drawing, preparing and issuing forage, ten cooks (one for officers' mess, one for sergeants' mess and eight for men's mess), nine batmen or servants, three on police duty, two storemen, one orderly and four in the sanitary squad.

One farrier staff sergeant has general supervision of shoeing. He has two farrier sergeants, four shoeing smith corporals and eleven shoeing smiths. There is one shoeing smith for each 100 horses and an extra smith to look after foot operations.