Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-06
ARMY HAS NEED
Of GOOD MOUNTS
Increased Difficulty in OBJ
tanning Good Horses
Causes Worry

nited states army. who as a surgeon
vas stationed with cavalry regiment
in the southwest for years, Is much
exercised over the growing difficulty
of securing good horses for the ser
vice. General Wood and some other
Officers with him say that the laws
against betting on horse races In
many OF the states are responsible In
a way for the growing scarcity Of
good horses for the service
II must not be understood that
General Wood either personally or 10
his capacity as the ranking officer OF
the army upholds betting he sim.
ply states what he thinks 10 a fact
and deplores the effect n not the
cause When American cavalry Of
ficers recently went to England 10 en-.
gage In a conte OF horsemanshi In.
GLIDING high jumping. With the officers
Of cavalry regiments OF European
countries. they lost most OF the events
because II Va said their horses were
not the equals OF those used by the
foreign officers
Angus, Belmont. who Is chairman OF
the American Jockey club. at dinner
In New York night or two ago. point
I'd 10 the serious menace which threat
ened the cavalry and field artillery
branches Of the t'uited States army
In the depletion OF thoroughbred
horses by reason OF cessation OF
racing" Mr. Belmont has suggested
the formation OF a nationwide asso-
citation 10 be known as the National
Cavalry and Artillery Remount asso.
citation. "a be created from all ranks
OF sports and agricultural life with
the center OF the organization at
Washington 10 keep register on
mares inspected and found suitable
for breeding remounts and artillery
horses Gen Leonard Wood and Cot
Theodore Roosevelt have expressed a
willingness to become vice presidents
Of the association II ia expected tina,
Inducements will be held out 10 horse
breeders In all parts Of the country
20 make a specially OF animals suit
able for the army service
American Record Rides
There has been a general belief
through the years that the foreign
cavalry horses we're better than those
OF America. and yet there are records
In the United States service OF long,
hard rides. the horses coming through
in good condition. which never have
been equaled by men and horses OF
the foreign service The army has
records OF some Of these rides and Il
fears today that the deterioration Of
the American horse may prevent their
repetition n the service should de
mand strenuous efforts on the part OF
the cavalry horses OF the present and
q the near future
Col Theodore A Dodge collected
the Official records Of long distance
cavalry rides and made them public
In book so that they could be com.
pared with the performances OF sol.
der horsemen Of other nations The
colonel declared specifically that he
rejected all "hearsay rides oi which
there is no end and accepted only
those proved by official reports" Capt
: r Fountain Of the United states
cavalry. in the year 1891, according 10
Colonel Dodge made with detach
went ~ cavalry ride Of eighty four
niles 10 eight hours This record Is
youched for and it is better than the
South African record made BY the
Natal Mounted Rifles and o. which
that organization has been distinctly
rroud II must be remembered that
the horses we're brought Though tnis
ride OF Captain Fountain IN good con
di'iou
ls.ton's Remark able Feat
When General lawton VINO was
killed IN the Philippines vas a junior
oflcer OF the army. he rode In the year
1876 from Red Cloud agency. Nebras
IA to Sidney In the same state, q
distance OF l25 miles IN twenty-si'
hours lie was carrying important
dispatches for General Crook and
though the road was bad his horse
WAS in good condition when l.awton
looking five years older than he die
the day before. handed over his bun
die OF papers to the black bcaTi",
captain
General Merritt had a forced march
record that has no American parable
when the conditions Of his journe'
are considered He vas ordered u
the fall OF 1879 TO the relief OF Payne
command. which was surrounded ~
hsstile Indians Merritts comman,
consisted OF four troops " cavalry
but nj the last moment he was or
dered to add 10 his force a BATTALION
OF infantry The dough boys yer,
loaded into army wagons drawn b.
mules. and with the cavalry at th'
tanks the relief column started rh'
distance to be traversed was IN
miles. and Il was made. notwithstand
ing the handicap Of the wagons anC
trails that were muddy and sandy b.
turns. in just sixty-sH hours Al tn'
end OF the march the troopers wen
into the fight. and In the entire com
,nand not one horse showed q lam,
lag or q saddle sore.
False Reading.
WHO breaks. pays"