The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-10
AMERICAN MULE
JUSTIFIES HIMSELF
ON WESTERN FRONT
Not Capable of Doing Quite So Much
As a Horse, He Nevertheless Is
More Valuable Because He Has
the Stamina to Stick to
Work.

WIN the DFlJlhH armies IN france
Feb. l0.--Two years and half of the
grimmest war in history have wrought
the triumph OF at least one American
institution--the army mule. He has
been weighed anew in the scales of bat
tie, proved on the fire.swept fields Of
| France and Flanders, and not found
| wanting. In warm winter coat and with
long, inquisitive ears Topping back and
forth in the breeze, he marches up
among the roaring guns with a steady
nonehalance that lends confidence and
faith to the fighting men who depend
upon him.
From Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Texas, and other stoekfarms
in the south, he has journeyed to the war
and come into his own. The much
maligned, supposedly stubborn, balky
and generally pestiferous mule, has won
place in the heart of the British army
from which he can never be dislodged.
lie was quite an asset in the South
African campaign, but now is real
aristocrat OF the transport service.
"A most magnificent creature" replied
a British brigadier when asked for an
opinion of the lowly American mule.
"And he has a much better character
than generally is given him He is
something like camel in that respect,
Most people cry down and berate the
poor old camel, but once you get to
know him he is much to be admired. 1t |
is just the same with the mule. He has |
some ways with him which the British !
Tommy didn't quite appreciate at first.
but now they are better acquainted and |
have formed a sort of entente cordiale
the two have utmost respect for each |
other and carry on at the front with
complete understanding and effective
ness"
The mule had his supreme test on this
front in the battles of the Somme. There
were days and nights of unceasing la
Dor, short rations and little or no at
tention. The strain was constant and
terrific. In exact ratio to the number
six horses succumbed where a
single mule gave way.
The horse, of course, is an animal of
finer fibre and ia far more sensitive. If
he stumbles into a shell hole filled with
water he will strive and struggle to get
out until he actually dies of broken
heart Not so with the mule. lie has
no imagination and not much of an out
look on life. He calmly and philosophi.
eally lies in the shell hole until some
one comes along and rigs him out.
Tho nat,fn et.nnnafttn,.5 he
notwithstanding, is vulnerable
at times to shot and shell. Many OF
them have been killed in action along
with the horses, and others have died
If wounds. But modern veterinary skill
3 working wonders for the animals OF
war and one must be badly hurt indeed
o be abandoned. The thick skin of the
mule saves him from many of the trou-
lies that beset the horse. II wards off
mud blisters and the affections that II
ome from the west and damp and long
Exposure.
As to working values, the horse being
ar more anxious to please, will ordi-
arily accomplish as much as one and
ne-third mules. Some horses do the
york of mule and half. But they
annot stick it" long.
Visiting a veterinary hospital where
here were hundreds of horses under
iedical repair, it was striking to notice
ut solitary mule among them. Some
ne suggested this was strange, because
le army had found the mule such
ne animal he had been imported by the
ms of thousands.
That's precisely it," said the doctor in
large; sits because be is such a fine an
nal that you see so little of him here
Because he is generally civil and some
mes goes to sleep just abaft bowling
ne-inch gun, it must not be supposed
e American mule has lost all his old
aft and mulish cunning. AT one of
e hospitals there is sulphur dip" or
Ith, like the cattle dips on western
inches. Most of the horses will plunge
over their heads and swim through,
ting the full benefit of the disin-
rtion. But Mr.. Mule is rather too sus-
cious TO take such chances. He is drawn
with great reluctance and holds his
ad high above the yellow liquid. One
fellow went through six times one
Y but not once did he get his head
It until the sponges were resorted