Bisbee daily review., 1917-02-11
AMERICAN MULE IS HELPING ALLIES WIN
 BATTLES IN FRANCE
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN

WITH HE Bhl llSH ARMIES IN FRANCE. -(Correspondence of The Associated Press)-Two years and half of the grimmest war in his tory have wrought the triumph of at least one American institution-the army mule. He has been weighed anew in the scales of battle, proved on the fire-swept fields of France and Flanders, and not found wanting. In warm winter coat and with long, in quisitive ears Hopping back and forth in the breeze. he marches up among the roaring guns with a steady non chalance 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 his own. The much maligned, supposedly stub born. balky and generally pestiferous mule, has won a place in the heart of the British army from which he can never be dislodged. He was quite an asset in the South African cam paigns, but now is a real aristocrat of the transport service.
 "A most magnificent createure." re- piled a British Brigadier when asked fp=a Nfs I,a mule. And he has a much better character than generally is given to him. He is something like a camel in that respect. Most people cry down and berate the pool 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 him which the British Tommy didn't quite appreciate at first, but now that they are better acquainted and have formed sort of entente cordiale, the two have utmost respect for each other and carry on at the front with complete understanding and effectiveness"
 , The mule had his supreme test on this front in the battles of the Somme 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 number employed, six horses sue combed where a single mule gave way.
 The horse, of course. is an animal of finer fibre and is far more sensi- tive. 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 the mule. He has no imagination and not much of an outlook on life. He calm ly and philosopshically lies in the shell hole until some one comes along and digs him out.
 The mule, some suppositions to the contrary notwithstanding, is vulner- able 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 veterin- | ary skill is working wonders for the animals of war and one must be badly hurt indeed to he abandoned The thick skin of the mule saves him from many of the troubles that beset the horse. It wards off mud blisterS 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 ordinarily accomplish as much as one and one-third mules. Some horses do the work of a mule and half But they cannot stick it" so long Visiting a veterinary hospitay where there were hundreds of horses under medical repair. it was striking to notice but solitary mule among them. Someone suggested this was strange. because the army had found the mule such a fine animal he had been imported by the tens of thou sands.
 That's precisely it." said the doe or in charge. its because he k such I fine animal that you see so little of him here"
 Because he is generally civil and