The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-30
By Y. b. JOHNs.

The War Department is in the market
for 5000 horses which are very badly
needed in Mexico. Part Of the Gppropris-
ton In the emergency bill which was
passed by Congress Tuesday will be used
TO purchase these additional mounts for
the expeditionsry force.
II is understood that the horses will
be purchased In response to an urgent
appeal from Gen. Funston The fear is
expressed that the cavalry is handicapped
In its effort to capture Villa by the fact
that American horses are not able TO
Withstand the climate OF Mexico There
has been such loss Of horses already
according to current reports that some
of the cavalrymen are now without
mounts. II has been suggested that Mex
lean ponies be purchased for service, but
II is stated that very few OF these are
obtainsble as most OF them have been
seized by the contending factions in Mex
leo during the past two years.
Not only are the American horses un-
ut for service in Mexico. but the question
OF transporting their forage is proving
a serious problem. American horses can
not live on the country and the daily
forage for them weighs twenty-sir pounds
The ration for soldiers only weighs two
pounds and a half and Il is not such
burden to carry the supplies for officers
anu men de IL AHt 1ttO IOf the horses.
II, as reported. Villa has retreated to
the mountains. the problem Of mounts
for the troops will not be such a seri-
Gus one. Even the cavalry will be COM
PEELED to fight dismounted in the
mountains. which will give the horses
rest Then the infantry will prove
more effective in running down Villa
than the cavalry.
In consulting the records Of the War
rDfna h. a..
been discovered that very small pro-
portion OF the American force was
mounted. This is probably due to the
fact that IT was discovered that cavalry
Is not SO effective in Mexics as is gen
orally supposed. II was probably due
to the inability to carry SUFFICIENT forage
for the animals. With the railroads and
automobiles the present expedition in
Mexico is better able TO take care Of
the mounts for cavalry than the force
In the Mexican war. However. as the
lines OF communication from the rail-
roads lengthen the difficulties Of sup
plying the cavalry with mounts and for
age will increase.
Capts. William B. Baker. Twenty
fifth Infantry, and Frank 7. Haines
c. A. c. reported at the War Depart
ment yesterday.
report has been submitted to the
Navy Department which shows that new
diniculties will be encountered in the con-
struction OF the large type Of submarines
which have not been considered. This
grows out OF the differences in pressure
OF the water at the different depths The
report has created a doubt in the minds
OF some OF the naval authorities whether
submarines OF much greater length than
200 feet will be a success. II is stated
that Is feet had been fixed in this report
as the maximum length for a successful
submarine.
Under the present system of construct
ing the submarines they are given a
pressure test at a depth Of lsO feet. Sub
marines frequently get below this depth.
the $50 feet line. Under the plans for the
large fleet submarines the length Of the
boat would be about 315 feet This length
would give a submarine very little mar
gin in which to dive II It did not get be-
low the lSo-foot line. II is estimated that
II one Of these 30o-toot subms rines would
dive at sharp angle the pressure on the
bow might become so great that II would
crush the thin hull of the boat At least
II would be dangerous. according to this
report. to attempt TO operate subna rines
Of SIS feet unless there should be a radi-
cal change in their construction.
The So-ton submarine which has been
advocated by a number Of witnesses he
fore the House Committee on Naval AZ
fairs would be 225 feet in length.