The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-27
The STURDY MULE
WAS REAL SOLDIER
LONG SUFFERING ANIMAL DID
HIS BIT" IN THE WAR. OF
FICIAL TRIBUTE PAID.

WASHINGTON Almost every
body and everything that contributed
to the winning of the war has re-
ceived some sort of public recogni-
ton from the war department. Even
the patient, long suffering, hard
working and oft ridiculed army mule
has at last come to his ecOmium, in
an appreciation from the quarter
master general.
Here follows the ''low down" on
the army mule as it comes today in
an official publication. "There were
more than $4,000 of him engaged
with the army overseas, and more
than 100000 with the troops in the
United States. Although there was
as much hee-hawing, kicking, baking,
biting and other mulish tricks as
might be expected the army mule liv-
ed up to his established reputation
for enduring, sacrificing and dying
like a soldier.
"They were not all American
mules; some of them were allies like
the troops they fought with. Seven
thousand came from England and
nine thousand came from France and
another 1900 came from Spain"
"There was no comparison said
the quartermaster generals an
nouncement, "between the small,
poorly nourished mule secured in
southern France, and the powerful,
outstanding, mealy-nosed product of
the middle west. There was sharp
criticism in some places of the class
of animals which came up from Spain
for duty on the battle front. But
these little animals were able to haul
machine gun carts, releasing the hea-
Wy animals for duty with the artillery
and ammunition trains.
On Job II Hours.
"There were times during the final
stage of the world war when it was
impossible to give much needed rest
to these animals. There were not
enough to do the work which con-
fronted them, and the result was that
it was necessary to keep on the move
forty-eight, sixty and sometimes sew
enty-two hours with hardly more than
"a pause. Then it was possible only
to feed small amount of grain, and
a few handfuls of hay. Under this
strain the mule went forward, Civ
ing his all uncomplainingly.
Sometimes when engaged it would
seem impossible to get him back to
the front again, but his powerful con-
stitution came to his rescue, and in a
remarkably short time he was able to
return to duty. The mule has always
been given the credit of having his
full quota of brains, but at times it
seemed he had more than his share.
He may run when hitched to wagon,
but invariably does no harm to him
self or the wagon. When tired he
makes his condition known by quit
ting. However, this quality did not
come to the fore during the days of
ST. Mihiel and in the Argonne.
The record Of the mule through
! the world war has been such as to
reflect much credit upon the dam,
the farm mare of the United tates,
as we'll as upon the long cared, loose
jointed progenitor of that hybrid, an
animal indispensable to the success of
our arms in the field.
"Instances have been known where
a pack mule would loaf about the
army kitchen while the cook was bak-
ing bread until he observed the cook
busy at some other duty, when he
would approach the fire, raise one
foot and paw off the lid of. the dutch
oven, grab the hot loaf within and
make of with it on the run. He
would do the same if he observed a
hunk of bacon within easy reach"
A good many farmers these days,
devoted to their horses, say gosh
darn a mule any way" on general
principles. but the army loves and
admires him for services rendered
and would like to see him get the
distinguished service medal. Per-
haps his valor and constancy in war
time will recommend him to softer
sentiments in time of peace.