Evening star., 1917-09-14
HORSE PLAYS BIG PART
IN WINNING THE WAR
Attention Given Dumb Beasts Pack
of the Lines and Efforts
Made to Save All.
BY L. PERCY NOEL.
Cablegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.

Cablegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, September 10 CdelayedD.-
Some years ago, in time of peace. the
major was a specialist in horse flesh.
for whom kings and Millionaire horse
owners sent special trains when ia
vorite high-bred animal needed a doc
tor. His fee was $500 Now he cares
for the wounded dumb warriors sent
down to the base from the unhealthy
roads and trails that lead to the
trenches and also sick four-footed la
borers from other parts of the war
zone. According. to an official an
with the British army. Last winter
there We're not less than that number.
Now the major commands veterinary
clearing hospital. where there are al
ways several thousand sick and wound
ed horses, while near by are other
hospitals. When I visited these lately
there were from 10000 to 1900 ami
mails quartered in the hospital group.
Most of them will get well and return
to the front.
since the push in Flanders ex-
planned the major as we walked down
the observation war lines, "the wounded
have been coming to us rather plenti-
fully. You see that many of these poor
to pull them through. Here is one
poor chap we cannot save. A butcher
will be along in the afternoon. The
horse will be given painless death
tomorrow and then he will be sent
to the horse meat market in Paris. In
the meantime we are making him as
comfortable as we can. The poor old
boy had the knee joints in his fore
legs badly crushed by high explosive
she'll"
The major stroked the nose of a big
Missouri mule whose legs were swathed
in long bandages.
There. there my beauty" said the
doctor of famous racehorses and the
kings favorite mounts as he caressed
the big, homely mule. You are going
10 be all right. He has had a hard
time of it, but has been splendid about
it. Isn't he a lovely old thing"
"Um. um,' I replied with no great
enthusiasm. The mule pushed forward
his black head and drew back his lips
as if trying to show his appreciation
of the majors sympathy.
Given Injection of Serum.
a sergeant wearing a white surgical
apron klinked his heels together loudly
What is it. Jones?' queried the ma
jor as he returned the salute.
There is a fresh lot to be inoculated
sir. but they can wait
NO. I'll do it now said the ma jor
Yes sir"
There was a line of fourteen wound
ed mules and horses. Before they could
be received with the other animals it
was necessary to learn whether they
had a certain contagious disease lately
prevalent. The injection of serum
makes it possible to learn this in a
very short time. The major took a
hypodermic syringe and approached
the first animal. While the sergeant
hoi Ia mn Ia he ma inr in
serted the needle under the eyelid.
expected TO see the beast jump in ter
ror when the needle punctured the del
icate part, but SO deftly was the thing
done that the creature seemed to pay
not the slightest attention and made
no unusual movement even after the
major went on to the next animal.
II was the same with all the others.
That surprised me.
When a horse comes wounded after
having had rough time under fire."
explained the major, "he is very nerv-
Gus and does not take the needle as
peacefully as these chaps did just now.
The mule, being an animal of few
nerves, seldom creates Il disturbance"
The veterinary surgeon seemed to
like mules. After an interminable
walk through the horse lines and a
visit to the operating room and lecture
room, where young veterinary sur
geons are taught. we came back to a
little parade ground and stood a little
way off while the men drilled. These
soldiers without guns-stablemen and
veterinary hospital orderlies-went
through a limited manual with a sna u
and accuracy reminiscent of a crack
regiment. 1t was SO remarkable that
thought they must all have been to the
front.
Most of them" / was told, "have
carried rifles. and many have been
wounded at least once. Some have been
transport drivers, SO military discipline
is natural to them. They would be
ashamed to belong to a unit that fell
below the average. But the best quail
ity of all these men and my officers
is that they all love horses, not in a
silly sentimental way, but Intelligent
ly. That Is what the animals need"