Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-14
U. S. ARMY MILE MAKES GOOD.
Weighed Anew in Scales Of Battle in
Europe and Proves Value.

(Correspondence Of Associated Press.
With the British Armies in France,
Jan. 30.-Two years and half OF the
grimmest war in history have wrought
the triumph OF at least one American
nstitution-the army mule. He has
been weighed anew in the scales OF
battle, proved on the fre-swept fields
of France and Flanders, and not found
wanting. In warm winter coat and
with long. inquisitive ears tapping back
and forth in the breeze, he marches up
among the roaring guns with a steady
nonchalance that lends confidence and
faith to the fighting men who depend
so much upon him.
From Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Texas and other stock
farms in the south, he has journeyed to
the war and come into hds 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 He was quite an asset
in the South African campaigns, but
now is a real aristocrat of the trans
port service.
"a most magnificent creature re-
PRED Z S..s.S!. "s7nSS
for an opinion Of the lowly American
mule And he has a much better
character than generally is given to
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. It is just the same
with the mule. He has some ways
with MIN which the British Tommy
didn't quite appreciate at first, but now
that 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 Soinme.
There were days and nights OF unceas-
ing labor short rations and little or no
attention. The strain was constant
and terrific. In exact ratio to the num-
Der employed. six horses suecumbed
where single mule gave way.
The horse. of course, is an animal Of
finer fibre and is far more sensitive. If
he stumbles into shell hole filed with
water he will strive and struggle to get
out until he actually dies Of broken
heart Not so the mule. He has no
| imagination and not much Of an out
look on life. He calmly and philoso-
phically Hes in the shell hole until
some one comes along and digs him
ont.
The mule, some suppositions 70 the
contrary notwithstanding, LIS vulnerable
at times to shot and shell. Many Of
them have been killed in action along
with the horses, and others have died
| Of wounds. But modern veterinary
skill is working wonders for the AMI
| mails Of war and one must be badly
| hurt indeed to be abandoned. The
thick skin Of the mule saves him from
many Of the troubles that beset the
horse. 1t wards OF mud biisters and
the affections that come from the wet
and damp and long exposure
| AS to working values, the horse be-
ing far more anxious to please. will or
dinarily accomplish as much az one
and one-tflird mules. some horses do
the work OF mule and a half. But
they can not stick IT. 80 long.
Visiting a veterinary hospital where
there were hundreds OF horses under
medical repair. 1t was striking to no.
tice but solitary mule among them.
Some one suggested this was strange,