The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-05
HAS PROTESTED
MARE SHIPMENTS
Maj. Gen. Scott Opposed to
Horses Being Shipped to
Europe for War.
KEEP BREEDING STOCK
In Favor of War Department Taking
Charge of Work-Prefers
Thoroughbreds.
KEEP BREEDING STOCK

MAJ. -Gen. Hugh L. Scott, Chief OF
Staff Of the United States Army, is one
of those who believe that there should
be some check on the shipment OF
mares from this country to the Cont
nent for war purposes. Gen. Scott
knows the needs, OF the cavalry per-
fecuy. as It was in this particular
branch of the service that he has been
most actively engaged. and there Is no
man in the army more competent to
discuss the question on its merits, as he
has been stationed at various points in
the West and Southwest where cavalry
must prove their worth daily.
Il am much disturbed" said he one
day recently at his office In the War
Department at the figures issued from
time to time showing the number OF
horses that agents of the belligerent ma
tions are shipping to Europe, and the
situation II particularly alarming when
you consider that quite a large per-
centage or these animals are mares. OF
course they are taking many mares Of
a type that we can well afford to part
with, but there must also be desirables
that we cannot afford to lose. Great
Britain cleaned Us up pretty thoroughly
on material for remount purposes when
pendous conflict of indeterminate
length raging nobody knows what our
plight will be II We do not take steps
to preserve our breeding stock. I have
communicated with the Secretary Of
War, the Quartermaster General and
the Department of Agriculture with a
view to having Congress place an en-
barge on the shipment Of mares Of the
type required for our purposes, and I
am hopeful that action will be taken
at the earliest possible moment"
How could it be handled? Who
would pass upon the type to be re-
tained?" Gen. Scott was asked.
1.-The Department of Agriculture has
charge of whatever experimental work
in horse breeding the government is
now engaged upon" responded the
General. land they should pass upon
all mares offered for shipment abroad.
know it is big work. but it is of par
amount Importance. If Congress will an
thorize the transfer of this work to the
War Department We shall be delighted
to undertake it. 1t is a branch Of the
service which essentially belongs to the
army. as We know the type that is best
qualified for our needs, and We could
take the steps necessary to establish 1t
in the quickest possible time"
What is your idea OF type for cav
airy remounts?' the major general was
asked.
"A horse of from 49, to 16 hands with
from one-half to three-quarters of pure
blood in his veins for the officer and
somewhat smaller for the balance of the
service" was the reply. He should
have the feet and legs that would en-
able him to negotiate any country. This
would consider an absolute qualifica-
lion. Horses bred like this should have
the courage to endure any hardship and
nv experience has taught me that when
bred along these lines they are ready
for duty when other horses are jaded
and useless. Only horses of the greatest
and stamina can stand the re-
luirements of cavalry work in great
many sections Of the United States, par
.icularly in the Southwest and South.
Speed is. Of course. another qualifica-
Ion, and II goes without saying that
hey would possess 1t II bred along the
ines indicated. I am aware that the
ask of producing cavalry remounts is
much greater task today than when
,acing was going on uninterruptedly in
70 many portions Of the union and sires
,uired for the work were at our hand. |
md it Is to be deplored that SO much of
he blood which it had taken more-than
century to establish was lost to the |
ountry. With a returning market, how |
yer. for thoroughbreds there is certain |
o be importations Of blooded stock, and |
am told that many prominent Ameri- |
ans who have been racing abroad are
to make arrangements for |
he return Of their racing and breeding |
tuds. This should give a tremendous 4
npetus to the breeding industry. espe-
tally when it is remembered that Euro
can countries must inevitably come to
s for material with which to replenish
heir decimated studs"