The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-01-16
Modern Armies Are Larae.

MOueFH Armies are Idt9S.
Nowadays urniies are rvckoned by
hundreds OF thousands. ii not by
millions The strength OF single
division of the A. h. r., was greater
IN men and horses than the hggeri
army commanded by Stonewnl IacL
son hi his entire career. The com
blned armies of Lee and Meade thar
took part in the struggle Of Geltys
burg coulG have done ne more IN til 4
tiranlc conflict that terminated last
November dian hold two-srore 81
luiles OF the western ftonG n ,h.I
United States were called TO arms
whether to defend snme intere,
pediltarly onr Own ~ to fullil
League OF Nations obligations ti,eI
mobilization of from 100000 to 1000
.otn soldiers might be necessary I'll
he I'D theorY that the correct nrh
poritn ef horse strength in HHa
strength in armies was siill accepted
BY military opinion, 209,O00 hnrs
would be required for the ouriitting Of
.hulf u million soldiers, 100000 for the
Quitting of a force Of l,0O0OO0 and.
Ii i'm ARMY Of hnlf II million or q
nillion soldiers had ro be kept IN the
HELD IN state Of military efficiency
Il reserve OF lOUOW 10 S00,UOO wpuh!
be necessary If the future military
forces of the United States are to be
outflitcd with horses on a one to two
basis with adequate reserves AMI
such Scheme of ou,itting would D.
necessary n the armies of the United
States were to attempt intervention
in Mexico TO proteel American I"
European Interests in the maintenance
OF the Monroe Doctrine, il VIII b.
necessary 10 provide an imme,liat
nobilikation force of from 100000 loi
100000 with reserves equally strong
Today the United States could mo-
properly outfit with horses mn arm
of lO0no0 soldiers There are horse
in the country, MANY of them. BIZ
they are mostly draught horses Nor
mans, PercIerpns, Clydesdales, Bel
gians, ShiIes. etc.--whose military use
fulness is limited to the dragging Of
heavy artillery Horses of These
types are not in the least serviceable
TO mobile army. or an army of
maneuver, as the new phrase de
ScribeS am army That must perform
marches of fifteen 20 twenty miles u
day or retreat quickly If strategy sug
gests retreat They are too sluggish /
TOO lacking in spirit The horses tha /
are wanted IRE the light types and o.
these there are so few The aggregai
may properly be said To be q
negligible quantity IN amy practical
scheme of national defense The gaso
line motor long since made the pro
ductlon of this type of horse un
profitable. Farmers and stockmen
have ceased TO raise light horse In
considerable numbers. The creation OF
new supply must be stimulated by
the United States government, but
nothing the government could do
would suffice II there was any inter
ference with the production OF
thoroughbred stations. Stations OF
the thoroughbred types are lndispeli
sible because the offspring Of sucn
stations, whether from mares Of
thoroughbred blood or from mares OF
no particular breeding, proved bes
In half century Of experimentatlo;,
conducted in Europe by the great
military powers before the outbreak |
of the war Of nations and the half |
and three-quarter bred outstayed AMI
outgamed the representatives Of the /
colder breeds under the hard con I
ditlons of actual warfare between
1914 and 1918
Light Horse Not Raised.