Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-04-26
Horse Is Factor In War.
From Leslie's.

From Leslies.
Lloyd George recently declared that the
British have 100000 horses engaged
in this war. 1t is estimated that on the
western front alone the number of horses
and mules in service is close to 5,000,-
900, and as the American Army in France
grows so will the numbers of animals
A high military officer has stated that
apart from man the horse is the most i'm
portant factor in the war, while another
authority has declared: IF we had a hun
dred guns for every German gun, and
hundred shells for every German shell, and
our supply of horses gave out the Allies
could not win the war"
In spite of the great advance of motor
transportation the horse has not been
ousted from his position as chief transport
and BAGGAGE agent in war. Motors are
disable only where there are roads to travel.
There are no roads on a battle field. Mo-
tors cannot cross fields ploughed with
shells and soaked with rain. They cannot
carry even themselves across ravines and
swamps, over hills and through thickets.
In the range of shell fire motor is most
vulnerable. A stray shot comes along and
blows off one wheel; the machine is use
less. But If shot kills one or two horses
Of gun team. the dead are cut away and
the gun is hauled with animals left I'M
hurt. 1t is even possible to secure more
horses and hitch them in few minutes
a crippled motor may take weeks to repair.
Hence, there is a point where motor
transportation ceases, a point beyond which
only the faithful horse and mule may OPP
crate. The point may usually be found
about six miles back of the front line
trenches Across those six miles of danger
land every gun must be hauled by horses
every shell, every cartridge. every ounce
of food must be carried by horse or mule.
War has restored to the horse his old work
as pack animal, not only in the Italian
Alps, but on every fighting front in Europe.
The service Of the horse In this war is
beyond computation; his value, worth and
usefulness would only be fully realized if
by chance the supplies Of horses in Ameri-
ca should fail. Our own army will require
an enormous number of animals. If Ameri-
ca should send to Europe an army of S.
100000 men. she will have TO transport
to France and maintain there a force of
1.250,000 horses and mules-one animal
for every four men.
Once within the zone Of war the horse
assumes a value he never previously pos
sessed. He is precious. The army knows
what few hundred. more or less, mean
in a tight place what few thousand
cavalry may mean in pursuit or a rout.
And the horse is cared for at his value
Britain. France. Germany, Italy. Austria
all have highly equipped veterinary STATS
engaged in the care Of animals.
And not only these, but auxiliary organi-
cations are backing their governments in
the care Of animals just as the Red Cross
helps in the care Of soldiers. In each
warning country these organizations have
rendered invaluable service. "Only when
the full history of this war comes to be
written will the world realize what mag
nifcent service has been rendered to the
British forces in France by the Royal So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails, said high British officer on visit
to our War Department at Washington.
America, too, must have helper in the
care Of army animals. just as Britain and
France. not to duplicate the work of the
Government, but to supplement and I'll
in the gaps. For this purpose the Ameri-'
can Red Star Animal Relief was founded
by DR.. William o. Stillman, of Albany, N.
Y, president of the American Humane AS
ISOLATION, at the suggestion Of Secretary
Of War Baker.
.