The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-24
Army Horses To Be Fed on
Compressed Ration.
.. S. Cavalry Service Invents
and Tests New Feed.
FOUND SUCCESSFUL ON TRIAL
Said to Contain Best Quality
Oats and MOIasses.
Formula Is Kept Seeret-Inter-
national Interest Aroused.

Washington, d. C., Dec. 24.-An
event of interest to military men and
horsemen was made known here yes
terday when confirmation was OBJ
tanned from high army officials that
the first practical compressed horse
forage is being developed by the
United States army. Army officials
are not prepared to make known the
formula for the ration which has been
tested in the principal cavalry cen
tiers of the country.
General Willard a. Holbrook, chief
of cavalry. announced yesterday that
the government has purchased 10000
tons of compressed oats rations and
has been feeding army horses and
mules on them to determine their
availability for field use. According
to a statement made in the office OF
the chief of cavalry, extensive tests
have already been made in the Eighth
Corps area when commanded by Ma
jor General Frederick Dickman. Spe-
cial tests were conducted at Fort Rob
inson. Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston.
Fort Royal, Va, and number #
other forts over the country as well
as in pack trains in the Panama canal
zone and with the American forces
in Coblenz.
Germany Tried 1t Out.
Until the United States army started
these experiments, it became known
yesterday. Germany was the only ma
ton that used this concentrated bulk
form of feed for it's army Army men
have been trying for half century to
find a satisfactory field forage which
would reduce weight as well as bulk
and at the same time give the horses
d food which would keep them in good
condition.
This new forage is said to be com
posed of the finest grade oats with
about 1S per cent pure cane molassas
for food value. The forage ration
measures six inches in width by twelve
inches in length and three-quarters
of an inch in thickness. A brick of
this size equals four quarts of oats.
Military men from other nations
who have been here attending the
conference on disarmament are par
tcularly interested in current reports
circulated in Washington yesterday
that the question of horse feeding il.
time of war on long and forced
marches is at last being solved by
the United States.
Will Make More Experiments.
Staff officers in the office of Cen
eraE Williams ]. Snow, chief of artil-
lery, stated that the present tests with
as the basis for further experiments
in an attempt to develop a completely
satisfactory field forage ration. All
thru the army there is great interest
in the developments of this latest
problem in the care of the army horse.
Horsemen all over the country were
interested in the last test made by the
army to determine the food value Of
this forage. A march of 450 miles
was undertaken by the Twelfth cav
airy under the command of Col. Sedg-
wick Rice in October The cavalry
left Camp Robert E L. Niche and
proceeded to Fort Brown, Browns
willie, Texas. There were more than
$50 animals and less than $50 off
GERS and men. The rations We're re-
duced to seven and half pounds
compressed forage and ten pounds of
hay per horse per day as against reg
ulation twelve pounds of oats and
fourteen pounds of hay per horse per
day. The march lasted tWenty-one
days and every animal finished in ex-
ceIlent condition.
A rumor to the effect that a sue
cessfuI compressed ration is being
tested by the United States army has
been circulated for some time. Major
Maxwell Murray, who had charge u
the battery that fired the first Amer
lean shot in the great war, stated yes
terday that his new ration was inter
eSting every army official and that its
advantages for var, transportation
and field purposes had been demon
strated. 1t Is said that the ration IS
not intended for garrison use.