The Washington herald., 1914-08-17
EUROPE IN need
OF ARMY HORSES
Market Experts Predict Cry
of Shakespeare's Richard
iii Will Be Heard.
RECALL THE BOER WAR
Prices for Mounts Will Soar to Un-
heard-of Levels in Short
Time.

Dealers and horsemen are wondering
what the great war in Europe will bring
forth in the way OF a demand for army
horses here. They have not forgotten
that Britain's petty little African war
took 10000 horses and mules out OF this
country alone a decade ago. nor are they
unmindful of the revolution in horse
breeding which has taken place In the
United States since that time.
Though the number of horses has in
creased more than 60 per cent in the last
fifteen years, the number suitable for
army purposes has fallen on tremendous
ly, according to the opinion Of nearly all
horsemen who are familiar with existing
conditions throughout the country. These
experts say that practically the whole
increase in numbers Is represented by
draughters.
There has been a veritable boom in
breeding Percherons, Belgians and other
keavy types, as any one may discover by
looking over the official lists OF licensed
stations in the Western States today.
These "mastodons of the prairies," as
John H. Wallace used to call them In de-
rision, have done more, perhaps, than the
automobile has done to curtan the raising
of light, active types like the trotters, the
thoroughbreds and the Morgans, among
which the warriors are found. Farm
bAB lNAAO"1 AAOAo PAOAeoDAS
and easier to raise and handle, and that
is all they want to know.
Substituted Motor Cars.
France and Germany. with their extern
sive system Of well built and well kept
roads. must have substituted motor We
hicles and big horses for light types in
vast numbers OF late years, with a con-
sequent decimation OF their reserve stock
suitable for. cavalry service. England has
none to spare. Austria has more than a
fair supply, and Russia has millions Of
wiry, hardy horses not unlike our bron-
cos, and Injured to all the hardships which
war entails. II the fight goes on for any
considerable length of time some OF the
nations engaged are likely to repeat the
frantic call OF Shakespeare's Richard III
for mounts. according to the belief Of
many horsemen here.
Already big concerns are putting out
their lines in readiness to command
thousands of light. active animals for
quick delivery at New York to any
European power that Is strong enough
at sea to come and get them. Prices
will soar to unheard OF levels IL this
trade sets in, the dealers say, and re-
ports from the West state that the
markets there are already hardening
in anticipation OF the foreign demand.
An interesting phase OF the conflict
will be its test of the European scheme
Of breeding cavalry horses, under gov
ernment supervision. France, Germany.
and Austria have gone into this
scheme extensively, maintaining studs.
substituting stations suitable to get
army horses and purchasing some Of
the best running and trotting sires in
Europe and America for this purpose
whether these well bred, well fed re-
mounts from the government studs
can stand the hardships of campaign
ing on short rations as well as the
wiry little plains bred ponies the Rus
SLAMS will put into the field remains to
be decided.
Another Interesting Query.
Just what part the mounted troops will
play in the great war game Is another
interesting question. The cavalry has been
called the eyes of the enemy. but this
function seems to have been taken over
to some extent, and perhaps to a great