Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-20
"VETS" NEEDED
IN u. S. ARMY
Allies Have Thousand in
Charge of Sick Horses, Amer
leans Only Seventy-two
BY HENRI BAZIN


Stdr Correspondent Of the Evening Ledger
| IN France.
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS,
FRANCE, Aug. 8.
| 7 HAVE spent day with an American
l. officer at his work of buying mounts
for the staffs Of Generals Pershng and
Sibert. He is an expert veterinarian and
was sent across the sea eighteen months
ago to make veterinarian investigation
for United States army records, being
still in Europe when the United States
entered the war, and having been since
attached to the force now in training
here. He selected thrty-five splendid
horses, each with a pronounced Arabian
strain. know little about the fine points
of horsefesh but so far as beauty and
| spirit were concerned these animals were
| exceptional.
We have exactly seventy-two veteri-
nary men attached to the entire American
| army. No additional men have been as
signed for this important branch of serv-
ice in the new army We have nothing
in even the semblance of field or base
hospital equipment for horses. If a horse
becomes il! from whatsoever cause, there
is no place TO send him, All precedents
during this war show that so per cent of
horses used for artillery, cavalry, cam
ion or mount purposes contract mango
at the front
To Buy 1000 Horses Month
Mango is contagious disease, and it
plays hob with the horses upon all lines.
Every horse so diseased is a menace to
his fellow horses. And if a cure is not
| effected, the horse eventually dies. Also,
horses perforce are wounded in battle.
| When such is their lot, they must be
killed If the injury is severe or cured in
| horse hospital II their cure be possible.
And beginning at once, 1000 horses
month are to be purchased for American
army requirements in France.
The English have prohted by expe-
rience born of the Boer war, when 60
per cent of their horses were afflicted
with the mango and 80 per cent of all
the horses they used died because proper
treatment could not be given them. Out
of that experience the Kings army per-
| fected a plan OF campaign that has re-
duced the percentage of loss from disease
or durable wounds among horses to per
cent Of the total thus far used in this
war. To do that they went at the Job.
They have $4,000 enlisted men in the
veterinary end Of their army. over these
enlisted men are 1140 officers. The su-
preme in command is a major general,
who has three brigadier generals under
him. They have three enormous base
hospitals, one in Woolwich, England. and
the other two somewhere in France.
| They have three veterinary base medical
supply depots, all in France They have
mange-dipping depots where horses are
sent when afflicted with this malady;
| and after the first dip the fourfooted
fighter or worker looks up and takes no.
| tice when the second comes to him, be.
cause that itch is given a solar-plexus
blow.
Half Million Animals Used
The French army has virtually an
identical equipment. More than $4,000 men
are modified in their veterinary service.
Their commanding officer is major gen.
eraI. They have one more horse hospital
than the English. Out OF 100000 horses
used IN this war they have lost 16 per
cent OF those which received durable
wounds orlcontracted durable diseases.
As said at the outset of this story,
the United States has just seventy-two
men ON this fob, with the highest officer
a major. But in reality the highest horse
medical authority in the outnt Is cap.
,aih. tho major IA command being unac.
t8uainied with horse troubles. Also. the