The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-10-23

NlUC III WHICH II hnnulu hV plh9NN ~
emphatic gestures. lie then shook
hands with the bandmaster rejoined the
inspection party and soon aitcrward
was a cloud of dust down the valley,
The Military Ceremony.
You ought to hear the way our muSi-
clans play "rhe Marseillase' now at
the daily lowering Of the two flags fol
lowing the sounding of retreat" at o
p, m Both it and THE Star Spangled
Banner" are always played; heart
gripping military ceremony, at which
time every soldier in sight, French and
American, haltS aud stands at atten-
tion The French national air is rem
dered time perfect, thanks to the per
sonal interest of a French general
whose regard for the little things of
life has given him world fame.
Speaking of little things, ! was at the
stables the other morning watching a
private soldier, who was formerly en-
ployed as groom by J, Pierpont Nor
gan, breaking in a fractions horse, 1t
was his misfortune TO get behind the
animal and he instantly sailed through
the air for at least ten feet, He struck
the ground in a pile, He thought he
was done for,
He slowly scrambled to his legs, limp
ing badly, and the first thing he did
was to pull out his timepiece, which he
regarded ruciully All that he said was :
81 don't mind that horse kicking me,
but the -- critter has broken my
watch
A Kind Horse.
One of our young lieutenants from
the officers reserve lists (thc men of
this class of officers the old regulars
have humorousy designated as
"picklesD has an exceedingly literal
mind, The army practice has been for
officers to own their mounts, for which
the government makes an extra yearly
allowance of $50 for one horse and
800 for two horses Coming to France
in hurry, as we did the question arose
as to what disposal the various officers
made Of these mounts before leaving
the United States.
! Accordingly the new lieutenant, as
did others, got a telegram from some
body higher up, intrusted with the ad-
iustment OF the horse question Wire
disposition of your horse"
He replied Kind and gentle"
Having opened the subject OF houses,
| must narrate the events of an infer
cSting forenoon spent at observing the
purchase in France OF horses for the
American army; particularly those for
light and heavy artillery and officers
mounts. My host was a West Pointer
who probably is the best polo player in
the army ma jor in rank and a gentle
man by instinct. II he has not beer
made colonel by the time this article
is printed, official discernment OF worth
is running lame.
100000 Horses Bought In U. S.
Since the war began France ha
bought about 100000 horses In tn
United States Northern Africa an,
South America were also combed fol
horses. Besides, France herself Is {
great horse country, the famous Nor
man, Percheton and Bretagne breeds
Of the foreign purchases many thou
sands died on the way TO France, ant
the war itself has dcvoured hundred,
of thousands. Yet when on account oI
the scarcity of tonnage and the utter
lack of animal transports the grav,
question arose, Where will the Ameri.
can expeditionary forces get Their
horsesl the French government said
Take the best OF what we have left.
Today good draft horse in Franc,
is worth not penny under 81 0NO
counting in the losses sustained anC
cost of transportation from the plac,
Of original purchase. Suppose horses
are bought by the French at our Ameri
can inland horse depots at from $lS
to 500 each. They must be fed anC
kept until enough are ready to make {
worthwhile shipment 10 seadboard. A
the embarkatlon port they are held a
least another ten days for transports
A special ration is given them to pre-
pare them for the voyage. lnsuranc,
and freight costs in wartime are fright
fully high. All this goes toward in
creasing the value of the horses whicI
survive Therefore was not excited Il
find that the American government wa
quite willing to pay from 500 to $40
for horses here in France which on
army Immediately needed The yer
animals had themselves eaten thei
heads off several times at that price
, The Belle Isle Dairy company ar
. closing out the dairy business. w
l have all kinds Of supplies that dairy
! men and farmers need, Sale Novem
] ber | l9l7. at Belle Isle. Oklahom