The Opelousas courier., 1905-03-25
|fHB JAP AND HIS HORSE.
EXCEL ALL OTHER SOLDIERS In
PATIENT CARE OF MOUNTS.

II. PATIENT CARE OF MOUNTS.
y The Japanese Soldiers Love of Hi'
Y Horse-cavaIry CT Nippon, Where
i up to 1857 Horses Were Unknown
J.. Have Proved Very Effective in the
] Present War.
The Japanese cavalry was generally
criticised at the outbreak Of the wal
Y because of the poor quality Of the
: horses Japan had been able to secure
Horses were unknown in the old
, Japan and are practically unused
; here now. But the japanese cavalry
) has done pretty well, after all. The
soldiers take care of their horses.
. Writes q field surgeon in the indie
J pendent:
about a week ago I came upon a
company of men who were engaged
n transporting supplies for the army.
The march was beastly, the weather
was vile and the roadless country
was the worst of all. The horses
we're tired. Depend upon it, the men
we're quite as tired as the horses. AS
soon as they came to a halt l saw a
number Of these fellows rush with
heir own c~anteens in the direction OF
4 little stream of water.
why don't you lead your horses
o the stFeam?' I asked n OF the
torsemen. What he said was simply
this: Why? Why, dear sir, these
Horses have made many miles over
Che country where they are two bar
barous to have roads. They are tired,
and We are running to fetch some
water for them And they did run,
these men, like mad, fetching water,
fodder and what little green 7egeta-
ton there could be found.
"And these men, after fetching food
and drink for the horses, after COM
torting them with all kinds of cares
ses, these tired men turned IN and
took to cooking beans in iron pots.
Ask them why it is when they are SO
thoroughly tired, while their stomachs
are empty and their legs are aching
ander them, they should take the trou-
tie of cooking dry beans which are
Tot meant for their mouths. In eX-
planning this matter to a friend OF
nine, I heard one Of these transport
zen say: You see, sir, green feed
/ mean too much of it's not always
good for the horses. Sometimes
green feed and a strange climate
make a rather rock combination for
the poor horse, and then you know
these Chinese beans are notat the soft
est things that you could gbite, and
Heaven knows these horses Of ours
have enough trouble without swal-
Owing these beans green and uncooh-
ed
mo sooner are they done with
their duties toward their horses than
iou find these good horsemen OF ours
tol(ng themselves up in a blanket
ard throwing themselves as If they
we're so many sacks CT potatoes, down
anywhere at the feet of their horses,
and pull for all they are worth for the
land of sleep. l anne upon a soldier
The other day. He was trudging
along a dusty highway and crying
ike a child. / laid my han upon his
shoulder and asked him, What is tie
matter? Are you wounded?' Startled
At first by the touch Of my hand upon
his shoulder, but in a second recog-
nizing that I was nothing more than
surgeon, he shook his head, without
a word. Then he went on cry
ing as bitterly as ever. Naturally,
questioned him as to the reason for
lis grief. All the answer | received
vas a series of sobs, which were more
.leartrending than the ones that had
shaken his body, and, always weeping,
le struggled on.
"At last he tried to say something,
,ut could hardly say one word. His
Jobs broke even one word into so
pieces that / was Obliged to
harpen my wit and sense pretty Keen
Y in order to catch the met 'ing OF
what he was trying to say. l fan
led that he said something about his
what about the horse?' I
.sked. He was overwhelmed once
with his grief, with his tears
nd with his h~eartrending sobs. 1t
7as very pitiful, and the sight Of him
my heart to such an extent
hat I was voiceless for many min
ties. AS soon as I rega:ned my
reath, with a hard-heartedness that
asses all understanding, I persistei
4 saying. What did you say was !
ne matter with your horse"
"tD-d-d-dead!' he at last managed
!, blurt out, and once again he was
by the storm of tears
nd sobs that seemed to rend him {
ito a thousand pieces. I do not know t
by / did not laugh outright. Per- t
APPS his grief was too overwhelming, 7
nd there is that dignity that always t
to the expression OF sincere o
imam emotion. t
Il have een many a soldier bury v
G a hundred of his dead comrades v
ter a fight. ] have V seen such G
/ overwhelming expression Of grief A
was shown by this lonely fell.Hw, n
no had lost his horse and refused tt
be comforted." n