The New York herald., 1921-12-18
COMPRESSED FORAGE
FOR ARMY HORSES
Bricks of Oats and Molasses
Being Used Successfully in
U. S. Cavalry Service.

An event of interest to horsemen was
tion was obtained from high army Off
cials that the first practical compressed
horse forage is now being developed by
the United States Army. Army Off
ciaIs are not prepared to make known
the formula for the ration. which has
been tested in the principal cavalry
centers Of the country.
Gen. Willard A. Holbrook. chief of
cavalry announced that the Govern
ment has purchased 10000 tons Of COM
pressed oats rations and has been feed
ing army horses and muleg on them to
determine their availability for field use.
Extensive tests have already been
made in the Eighth Corps, and special
tests were conducted at Fort Robinson.
Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston, Fort
Royal, Va, and a number of other
forts over the country, as well as in
pack trains in the Panama Canal Zone
and with the American forces in Cob
lenz.
Until the United States Army started
these experiments Germany was the
ONLY nation that used this concentrated
feed for it's army. Army men have been
trying for half a century to find salts
factory field forage which would reduce
weight as well as bulk and at the same
time give the horses a food which would
keep them in good condition
This new forage is said to be COM
posed Of oats with about Is per cent.
pure cane molasses. The forage measures
6 inches in width by IL inches in length
and u of an inch In thickness. A brick
of this size equals, it is said, four quarts
of oats.
Military men from other nations who
have been here attending the conference
on disarmament are particularly inter-
ested in current reports circulated in
Washington that the question of horse
feeding in time of war on long and
forced marches is at last being solved.
Staff officers in the Office OF Gen.
William ]. Snow, chief of artillery, have
stated that the present tests with this
compressed forage will be taken as the
basis for further experiments in an at
tempt to develop a completely satisfac-
tory field forage ration. All through the
army there is great interest in tho de-
velopments 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 Cavalry un-
der the command of Col. Sedgwick Rice
In October. The cavalry left Camp Rob
ert f. l.. Niche and proceeded to Fort
Brown, Brownsville, Tex. There were
more than $50 animals and less than
$50 officers and men. The rations were
reduced to seven and a half pounds COM
pressed forage and ten pounds of hay
per house per day as against the regu-
lation twelve pounds of oats and four
teen pounds of hay per horse per day.
The march lasted twenty-one days and
every animal was reported to have fin
ished in excellent condition.
A rumor to the effect that successful
compressed ration is being tested by the
United States army has been circulated
for some time. Major Maxwell Muir
ray. who had charge of the battery that
fired the first American shot In the great
war. stated yesterday that this new
ration was interesting every army official
and that it's advantages for war, trans
portation and field purposes had beer
demonstrated. 1t is said that the ration
is not intended for garrison use.