The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-06-03
NOT WAR HORSES
ENOUGH FOR ARMY
Six Months Would Exhaust the
Supply Of Suitable Mounts.
BETTER BREEDING NEEDED.

the Government Would BE Greatly
Benefted-Fsderal Aid ls Extended
In Some fnstaneeS 10 Those Who
Improve Their Stock
If the United States should become
involved ia war with first class pow
er less than six months after the com
mencement OF hostilitles we would
have 20 commence mounting cavalry
and horse artillery on draft horses
similar 10 those used for large express
wagons and brewery wagons or else on
type OF smaller horse SO inferior 10
the mounts OF our enemy that the dis
advantage would be marked.
This is the Judgment of army heads
after careful canvass of the entire
country. In which the two most promi
ncnt bankers I'm every rural county I'm
the country were asked 10 send list Of
the number of horses available for the
mounting OF cavalry and field artillery.
the type and conformation OF the horse
being carefully specified In the inquiry.
Training Would Be Futile.
II the country should go 10 war to
morrow the Spectacular horscmanshlp
and superior training OF her cavalry
and light artillery would avail her moth
ing She hasn't the horses. Accord
Ing 10 General AlcshirC, quuriermaSter
general of the army, there are less than
225,OOO horses available for military
service in the country This number
would little more than offer first
mounts TO Il war strength army. I'm the
civil war the federal government in
one year-lS6i purchased and cap
tured nearly 10000 horses. ana during
eight months of that year remounted
! the Army Of the Potomac twice. Shcri-
dams troops were supplied throughout
| the war nc the rate OF three remuunts
/ per annum
Friction between the war department
and the department Of agriculture now
threatens 10 stop the only effort which
has been made IN this country 20 cor
rect this condition. While known as
the army remount service, the real Oh
Iect Is 70 improve the breeding Of car.
rage. light harness and saddle horses
types that make the best all round
horse for farm and city-by Offering
the farmers the free use OF thorough.
bred stations belonging to the govern
ment and directed by the department
OF agriculture.
In Operation Three Years.
This system, IN most abbreviated
form. has been In practice now for
three years and with every possible
success. Such foals as the United
States requires for remount purposes
have been purchased, netting a profit
TO the farmer plus the amount usually
collected by the middleman buying
horses for the army under contract, and
Offering the United States better
horse at less expense for cavalry OF
other mounted military work.
Calling for an initial appropriation
Of 100000 and an annual expenditure
thereafter of 100000 for "A period OF
years. bill for the extension of this
system, introduced by representative
Thomas j. Scully OF New Jersey Is
now awaiting action by the house com
mittee on agriculture. Tie figures Ia
the bin represent the estimates made
by experts of the agriculture and wal
departments as 10 the amount neces
sary 10 give adequate force TO the plan
Representative Scully, after cOnsuta
ton with civilian aud military experts
also has introduced resolution call
ing upon the house military affairs
committee for M investigation 10 de
tcrmiuc whether the present plan
should be supplemented Ia any other
way.
Better Horses only Object.