Britain's War-horses
see also illustration by Fortunino Matania : Goodbye Ol' Man
Mr. Scarth Dixon approaches the subject of cavalry mounts from the horse expert's point of view.
In recent years we have heard it constantly stated that the horse would be of no further use in war, or of very little, at any rate. Yet no sooner does a war come along than the "bookish theoric" is put to flight, and, as in the Boer War, we had demonstrated the necessity of mounted infantry, so in the present war are we shown that cavalry has a leading place in modern battles. It is the opinion of some, who are in a position to speak with authority, that cavalry will form a much larger proportion of our army than hitherto, when the reconstruction which will be necessitated by the conclusion of the war is undertaken.
The question of what description of horse is likely to be best adapted to the requirements of modern cavalry is, therefore, an interesting one and, moreover, one of national importance. Cavalry will, on the whole, be differently used to what it was in the days of Anglesey and Cardigan. Then it was the only force available for scouting purposes; now the aircraft has practically taken that duty out of its hands. But for quick movements in front—motor traction is impossible across turnip fields, or plough or ridge and furrow—for charges which may turn the tide of battle, cavalry is likely to be as much used as ever for many a day. Of late cavalry has been put to another purpose, and our cavalry soldiers have done fine work in the trenches. Here, then, is work which Napoleon and. his contemporaries never thought of putting their cavalry to, and even in recent wars that branch of the service has been kept to what may, for want of a better phrase, be termed its "legitimate" uses.
What, then, is the type of horse best adapted to the dual purposes in which cavalry is likely to be employed in the future? In the first place, the modern hunter, as we see him in fashionable show-yards and at the fixtures of fashionable hunts, is the kind of horse to be carefully avoided. He is too tall—too far away from his work—and too narrow, and however well-fitted he may be to carry a man in a fast thirty minutes in a flying country, he is incapable of going through the hardships of a campaign in a satisfactory manner.
It must be remembered that the weight of a cavalry soldier and his equipment is no trifle—18 stone for a light dragoon. Saddles are obliged to be large and heavy in order to avoid sore backs, and arms and accoutrements add up quickly. Then there is the state of the ground to be taken into consideration. Big battles bring in their train heavy rains, and the cavalry has frequently to be executing manoeuvres, the success of which depends upon their expedition, in ground several inches deep in mud.
To cope successfully with this combination of difficulties a short-legged, well- balanced horse is needed, with well-placed shoulders, good muscular back and a good middle. He must be wide rather than tall, and a hardy constitution is indispensable. One weak place in the modern hunter as a cavalry horse is that he has been used from his early days to a warm stable, and he feels the effects of the hardship of standing in the lines in frosty and wet weather. Another reason why a tall horse is to be avoided is that it is desirable for it to be as easy as possible for the soldier to mount, and however active a man may be, a horse standing 15 hands 2 inches is quite tall enough to mount out of from three to six inches of mud, when he is exhausted by fatigue. Captain Frank Tompkins, of the U.S. Cavalry, whose troop made the good march of 127 miles in a trifle less than thirty hours, says that he found the horses of about 15 hands stood the work better than those of 15 hands 2 inches.
These facts would seem to show that we shall have to take up a new departure in our horse-breeding, at any rate so far as remounts are concerned, and it seems not improbable that we shall have once more to have recourse to a large infusion of Arab and Barb blood. This time, however, it will be for the purpose of breeding half-bred horses, and not of improving our racing stock. The Arab is considered by many experts in America, such as Colonel Spencer Borden and Major Benton, both men of wide experience, as the best cross to use for cavalry horses, and it would seem that we cannot do much better than follow an example which has been set in the United States. And the sooner we get rid of the fashionable craze for tall horses the better it will be for England as a horse-breeding country.
W. Scarth Dixon
In addition to the Army Veterinary Corps, private agencies ameliorate the lot of horses.
Anyone who knows a horse on active service at the front, anyone who loves a horse, will gratefully acclaim the work of the Blue Cross Fund (of which Lady Smith-Dorrien is President), organised in London by Our Dumb Friends' League at 58, Victoria Street, S.W., to help the horses wounded in battle. The Blue Cross is recognised by the French Government, and permission has been granted to instal eight base hospitals for horses as near the fighting line as possible. The French military authorities have, moreover, undertaken to collect the injured horses and deliver them to the Blue Cross hospitals, which greatly facilitates the work. The outfit (instruments and drugs) of each hospital costs 150, to say nothing of its maintenance and the services of a skilled staff of veterinary surgeons and assistants to run it. The number established must, therefore, depend largely upon the financial support forthcoming.
The first report from France (dated December 4) has arrived at headquarters. Three Blue Cross hospitals were open and at work at that date—at Serqueux, Provins and Troyes; while two more (at Vernon-Cisors and Fontainebleau) were expected to be in full swing towards the end of the month. On December 14 the news came that 192 horses had been treated at Provins and 187 at Serqueux. The figures were not given for Troyes, probably because of an outbreak of glanders. Many of the horses have had successful bullet and shell extractions, and everything is done to alleviate their sufferings, and to cure the wounded as quickly and efficaciously as possible so as to get them back to the ranks. Besides providing comfortable and sanitary stabling, the Blue Cross has rented meadows quite near the stables, so that the invalids may get out to graze and exercise and enjoy the fresh air and any gleams of sunshine vouchsafed. There, with the sound of guns not far distant, they may dream for a little space of the old peaceful days at home, and recover their nerve for future activity. Everything for the Blue Cross work has to be sent from England: motor trolleys, cars, drugs, medicaments, surgical instruments—even forage. Various ways of helping are indicated in Circular No. 5, to be had from 58, Victoria Street.
Another society for succouring Army horses on the battlefield has been recently inaugurated at Geneva by a conference of representatives.of the countries at war. It is styled the Purple Cross Service.
E. M. E.
