Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-06-15
SOLDIERS DUMB FRIENDS.


AA8COT8 WHOSE R8E8ENCG Of
TEN DECIDES THE BATTLE.
War Horses Frequently Inspire Cour-
age I'm the Heart Of the Dropping
soldier-The Mule Invaluable 10
Our Army I'm the Philippines.
Every man-of-war has its mascot In
the shape of bird or animal before
going into battle, and these dumb
creatures lend a certain amount or
comfort and cheer to the sailors, shar-
ing their danger and privations as well
as their fun and pleasure, writes
George e. Walse, in Golfers Weekly.
The soldiers on land rarely have the
opportunity to carry mascots, but they
always have with them dumb friends,
whose presence more often decides the
fate of battles than the mascots. The
war horses accompany every regiment,
and their performance and actions in
times Of peace, or when under fire, fire.
quently inspire courage In the heart
Of the dropping soldier. Sometimes
the war horse Is mule, but this
otherwise stupid and stubborn creature
Is a marvel in war. Uncle Sam put
more confidence in the mule than in
the horse in the two campaigns In
Cuba and the Philippines, and the
aforetime despised animal has redeem
ed itself from much Of its unfortun-
ate reputation.
The army mule has just the qualities
to make n good soldier. He has no
nerves, and the shrieking Of shells does
not make him unruly and frightened.
When all others are anxious and ex-
cited the mules are quiet and contem-
plative as ever. Give them some good
grass and hay, and they will munich
1t right in the front of the battle. AS
a rule they do not go to the front.
Their mission is to drag supplies and
ammunition in the rear of the army,
but if by accident they get in front
they are apt to show the same stolid-
ity as in the rear. Stupidity some call
it. But sometimes stupidity of this
kind is grand gift.
In Manila the mule has been invalu-
able to our army. Long trains of them
hauled the wagon loads of supplies
and the field pieces and ammunition
carriages through mud and marsh,
across bitches and streams, over logs,
and through jungles that seemed abso-
lutely impossible. There was simply
nothing that these brutes could not get
over, across, or under with their loads,
where our soldiers could go. Much
of the success of the Philippine cam
paign has been due to the skill of
the teamsters in keeping the food and
ammunition supplies well up to the
front. Hardly fighting day had to be
postponed because Of the lack of pro-
visions, and ii was the mule which ac-
complished this work so successfully.
The character of the country over
which the supplies had to be dragged
was wretched in the extreme. The
hubs of the wagons were often sunk
into the mud and water. but the mules
trudged faithfully on. This, as much
as any thing else, surprised the insur-
gents. They could not comprehend
bow the American army could move
their provisions and field pieces along
so rapidly, with the railroads often tie
s,roycd for miles in th"'r rear.
When the field pieces and siege
guns were swung up Into position the
mules were unhitched and led short
distance to the rear. But they did
not mind the roar and explosions Of
the guns any more than If they were
the cracking of thistle leaves in their
favorite pasture field.
Although superior to the horse for
certain lines of work in the army. the
mule will never supplant this more
highly-strung animal for cavalry duty.
When it comes to charging the enemy,
the mule would be too slow. This fatal
defect in his character is never fully
overcome.
A veteran cavalry horse becomes al
most part of the rider. The two
work together, and the nervous sys-
TEN of one is affected by that Of the
other. The horse undoubtedly expert
ences all the hopes and fears of its
rider, and If he has been long in the
service this influence of one over the
other increases.
When column Of cavalry swings In
line to wait the order to charge, both
riders and horses grow nervous If
compelled to wait long. Inaction Is
dangerous. and cavalry leaders rarely
subject their men and horses to this
strain except when absolutely neces-
sary. The horse shows the strain
outwardly by quick, nervous, restless
movements. If the wait is continued
for long time the animal will begin
to tremble and sweat. 1t is not fear,
but nervousness. All that is required
TO dispel this condition is to sound the
buglc call. Instantly the animal viii
begin the charge. 1t is necessary to
hold him firmly at this juncture, O-
he will get the bit i'm his mouth and
rush forward at too rapid gait. In
some new horses there will be n ten
dency to bolt. but as the front and
side lines are made up of old veterans
This is impossible, as the other horses
will keep the fractions ones in line.
Then, as the charge moves forward,
the nervousness Of the horses disap-
pears. They will lay back their ears
and resolve to win or die. They carry
their riders straight to the thick OF
the fight. and never once falter.
When n bullet strikes trooper the
man usually rolls out of his saddle
without word or cry. and the rider
less horse continues the charge with