The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-17

style Of Animals Eurepean Armies AZ
feet.

washington Letter In Boston Tran
script)
The contemplated expansion Of the
United States army TO 100. 600 mon signi-
tes incidentally . greatly augmented re-
quircment for horses and mules In the
service. At the outbreak OF the
recent hostilities, the w,r department
was employing 600 horses and 22al
mules. 1t 10 reckoned that under the new
order Of things, when made permanent,
At least "a, 600 horses and $4,000 mules
win be needed. There will be, probably,
about 90, 600 cavalry, requiring an equal
number Of horses, and rs many men In
he artil lery arm, who will utilise 2SOo
horses. 10 thsss should be added 1900
horses for various other purposes. VI
mules, the customary allowances 10 lso
for each regiment of 1000 men. Az pres
ent the war department has on hand
s3,647 horses and a3. Ill mules-a consider
able oyerplus of the latter, rs VIII be
seen.
interest 10 to be fonnd In certain facts
which the government has newly collected
In regard to the horse trade OF the world.
4 hey have been communicated BY Presi-
dent Mckinley to Congress, and, by order
of that body, are about to be published In
a big book. The reports from abroad,
which make up the bulk Of this volume,
90 to show that the nations Of Europe
are IN need of horses for their immense
armies, and that there IL no reason why
the requisite animals should not be sup.
Piled by American breeders The hest
opportunity seems to offer itself In
Russia, which, with Its gigantic bodies
of cavalry, has no good horses on which
to mount them. In fact. the government
of the car, while possessing one of the
largest cavalry organizations in the world
provides this branch Of It's military ser
vice with the poorest animals ON which
to ride,
Efforts have been made recently to
.breed upi the horses of Russia SO as to
render them more suitable for military
purposes, but little progress has yet been
mace. The Orloff horse, which is the
best in the country for this sort Of use, Is
il unsuitable for u cavalry mount As
for the Cossaok horses, they are mere
ponies and in the shock Of battle would
have no chance when opposed TO the heavy
cavalry horses OF other countries. Russia
buys her army horses at home, except
those for her officers, being anxious to
encourage horse. breeding In her domin-
ions
Already Russian dealers have begun to
import considerable numbers of American
horses by why Of Berlin, and they go Oh
like hot cakes, being found suitable for
civil MS well as for military uses. The
question natural ly suggests itsolf, Why
DO not the Russians buy horses bred In
eastern prussia-a famous horse-raising
country, from which the German govern
ment prooures its cavalry mountsf The
answer Is simply that the German govern
ment reserves the right to make the first
selection OF the horses that 1t wants, and,
after has taken its pick, those left are
"Ilugs," lit only to pull cabs or carts
With a view to Improving the native
stock Russia is buying stations IN Bel
gium, England and Germany, but the
task promises to be long one.
Italy Is in great need Of good horses for
her great army. She produces ro horses
worth mentioning, but depends on Ger
many for carriage horses and on Hungary
for cavalry horses. Ihe Hungarian horses
are light and nervous and by no means
well adapted for army mounts. VI course
Italy reouires large number of horses
for her cavalry each year, and American
breeders ought to BIO furnishing them,
inasm uch Ms they can supply better ones
than she Is buying elsewhere.
1t must not be supposed that European
nations are looking TO this country to
supply them with army horses In time OF
peace. On the contrary, their policy 10 TO
I'D 1avalnn hnraa- hrpQhin0 IA
home, so that there may be no need TO
look elsewhere, sven in time OF war. for
the necessary horsefiesh to mount their
cavalry draw their cannon, or move the
camp impsdiments Nor do these govern
ments send agents to America to buy
horses. such animals as are supplied by
us for the use Of foreign military estAb-
lishments are bought chiefly on this side
of the water by private dealers how TINS
trade may be encouraged will presently
be shown.
France and Germany, the largest users
OF army horses. employ methods pretty
much alike In purchasing animals Tor
military purposes Tho vholenDusiness is
in the hands of "renount commissions,
each Of which consists of several Officers
and veterinary expert. These boards
have full powers and discretion, only
limited by the number Of horses ordered
bought and the average price per head
allowed. They sit at stipulated times
and places, and all those having horses TO
offer are at liberty to bring them for in
spection. The officers decide what price
they will offer for each beast, subject to
favorable report by the veterinary. and
the owner may refuse or accept as he
chooses There are ak remount com mis-
sions In Germany, three OF them buying
in eastern Prussia, most OF the cavalry
horses, and the other three purchasing in
north Prussia chiefly draft animals for
ARTILLERY and baggage trains.
1t Is Of much Importance that American
breeders, II they are to Introduce their
stock into this market. should know ex-
actly what lis wanted. Accordingly 1t
may be explained that horses, to be ao-
oepted for service in the German army,
must be of solid dark colors, without con-
spieuuus markinRa A wsll-bred, low
short, thickset horse with strong TANKS,
high tail, brttocks full and square. ribs
we'll rounded out, weli-shaped legs with
plenty of bone, and good feet. is about
the thing de- ired. Excellent animals of
this type are reared in eastern Prussia,
where the breed 10 known as TrAkehenen.
1t appears to have originated with native
mares crossed with Russian stock. Dur
ing the last 70 years crossing with Eng