The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-19
ARMY HORSES OF THE WORLD.
The style of Animals European
Armies Affect.

Armies AhNCNs
Washington Letter in Boston Transcript.
The contemplated expansion of the
United States army 10 100000 men signi-
fies incidentally a greatly augmented re-
quirement for horses and mules in the mil
itary service. At the outbreak Of the recent
bostilities, the war department was en-
blowing 5000 horses and 2,221 mules. IL IS
reckoned that under the new order OF
things when made permanent at least "a
coo horses and 1900 mules will be needed.
There will be, probably, about 10000 cav
airy, requiring an equal number OF horses,
and as many men in the artillery arm, who
win utilize $500 horses To these should
be added 500 horses for various other pur-
poses. OF mules, the customary allowance
is 125 for each regiment of 1000 men, At
present the war department has on hand
23 SAT horses and % Ill mules--a considera-
BILE overplus OF the latter, as will be seen.
In view OF these circumstances, much
interest Is to be found in certain facts
which the government has newly collected
in regard to the horse trade of the world.
They have been communicated by Presi-
dent Mckinley TO Congress, and, by order
Of that body, are abou 10 be published in
big book The reports from abroad, which
make up the bulk of this volume, go TO
show that the nations of Europe are In
need of horses for their immense armies,
and that there is no reason why the re-
duisite animals should not be supplied by
American breeders. The best 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 or
EXAMINATIONS in the world, provides this
branch of Its military service with the
poorest animals on which TO ride.
Efforts have been made recently to
breed up the horses of Russia so as to
render them more suitable for military
purposes, but little progress has yet been
made The Orlon horse, which s the best
In the country for this sort OF use is too
light and has other defects rendering IL I'M
4saitabie for a cavalry mount. AS for the
Cossack horses, they are mere ponies, and
In the shock of battle would have no
chance of other countries. Russia buys her
army horses a home, except those for her
officers being anxious to encourage horse
breeding In her dominions. Tct
Already Russian dealers have begun TO
import considerable numbers Of American
horses by the way of Berlin, and they go
off like hot cakes" being found suitable
for civil as well as for military use. The
question naturally suggests Itself, Why do
not the huSSldUS Duy nurses bIth luEd5teiu
Prussa--a famous horse-raising country,
from which the German government pro-
cures it's cavalry mounts? The answer is
simply that the German government re-
serves the right to make the first selection
of the horses that il wants, and, after 1t
has taken its pick, those left are plugs"
fit only 10 pull cabs or carts. With View
TO improving the native stock, Russia Is
buying stations in Belgium. England ond
Germany but the task promises to be
dong one.
Italy Is In great need of good horses for
her great army. She produces no horses
worth mentioning, but depends on Ger
many for carriage horses and on Hungary
for cavalry horses. The Hungarian horses
are light and nervous and by no means
well adapted for army mounts. OF course
Italy requires a large number OF horses
for her cavalry each year, and American
breeders ought to be furnishing them, in
asmuch as they can supply better ones
than she Is buying elsewhere.
IL must not be supposed that European