The Washington herald., 1907-03-11
Army Rennunfs-

There has been much talk from time TO
time concerning the necessity of an in
dependent and exclusive system Of OBJ
tanning horses for the military service
and an important contribution to this dis
.cussion is in the form of a paper recently
read before the army General STAFF and
War College by Mai James B. Aleshirc
quartermsster, on duty in the Quarter
master Generals office I'm Washington
and one of the abiest officers of his corps.
abundantly qualified 20 address himself
70 the subject with the authority of an
expert. Time was, hack in 1883. when
there was a cavalry bureau with depots
for the supply of horses, the principal
depot being at neIghboring Giesboro,
where was probably, says Mai. Aleshire.
the largest depot ever organized for the
supply Of animals 20 any army. The cav
airy bureau was abolished after three
years Of existence, with a record satisfac-
tory in all respects. Mai Aleshire in his
paper went fully into the details Of the ex-
listing contract system by which horses
and mules are obtained fer military use.
and he pointed out the objections 10 that
method. which included the delay re-
quired i'm making contracts and in the in
sDectiOn OF animals. the difficulty i'm OBJ
tanning information as to the horses, the
liability Of the horses in the large mar
kets to disease, the competition with all
dealers and the commercial world COM
PEELED when army animals are purchased
under contract or in the open market, the
ff1s4 t1 Il,
disposition Of animals before they are &C
cepted and shipped, the impossibnity of
properly fumigating and cleaning the cars
In which horses are transported.
Maj. Aleshire finds that the problem
confronting the War Department is the
supply Of remOunts and transport ami
mails each year to meet the demands for
nearly 1890 horses and more than nOC0
mules, and to be prepared to supply on
short notice an additional S, 800 horses and
1880 mules required to fully equip the
army when it is increased to maximum
strength. He urged the establishment of
a remount service based upon an annual
supply of not to exceed fixed percentum
OF the authorized number of horses TO
each organization. and the purchase of
young horses for both cavalry and artil-
lery, from three 20 four years old, to con-
form with prescribed specifications, and
20 be held at depots until they are in con-
ditiOn and of suitable age for issue 10
troops. generally from six to nine months.
He proposes a separate branch Of the
Quartermaster Generals Office. TO be des-
ignated as the remount division. with
three or four remount depots located with
due regard for climatic conditions. &C
feasibility of railroad and other facilities
for shipment, and character Of country
for pasturing animals. His suggestion of
the location Of these remount depots
takes into consideration the military res
ervations which are now in the possession
Of the government and includes a site
somewhere In Virginia near this city.
where. however. there are no public lands
available for this purpose. It IS desirable
in selecting a site that 1t include a con-
siderable tract Of good grass land and
area sufficient for the various buildings,
stables, veterinary hospital, and quar-
tiers for those on duty at the place.
Maj. Aleshire's paper. it is easy to ap-
preciate, impressed his associates to whom
the suggestions were addressed. It Is real
lied in the service that there are distinct
advantages Of a remOunt system, includ-
ing such profitable results as the supply
of the army with fresh. trained horses;
the creation Of a market for young ami
mails, the prolongation of the period Of
usefulness Of the army horse, less cost
of acquisition and maintenance of the
animals the uniformity as to conforma-
ton, action, &c; the shipment Of animals
under sanitary conditions, and, finally.
the equipment of the army with the best
mounts Of any military establishment in
the world.
These are results which are entitled 10
careful consideration by the authorities
OF the War Department