OCT 28 199? CAMBRIDGE, MASS. * THE UNITED SERVICE. EDITED BY L. R. HAMERSLY. JUNE, 1902. THE HORSES OF THE WORLD'S ARMIES. In the present so-called Horseless Age it is interesting to note that the world's armies still require their quota of horses, and one of the most difficult problems to solve, in case of mobilization, is to provide the necessary horses for the great armies of to-day. When it is remembered that up to October 1, 1901, England had acquired about 300,000 horses for her army in South Africa, and that the necessary monthly remounts to replace the losses amounted to about 8,000, some idea may be formed as to what two of the great continental nations would demand in the way of horseflesh in a campaign of any great length. Most nations, therefore, make preparations in time of peace to have in the country the necessary horses, and arrange for their prompt delivery in time of war. England, unlike the continental nations, makes no such preparations or arrangements, and her experiences in South Africa have cost. her more, in consequence, than many years of preparation would have entailed, and she has had poorer material. Great Britain and Ireland contain about three million horses, but of these only about 70,000 are suitable for war. The peace army requires about 19,000, and of these the remounts of about 1,600 are puchased annually, and trained in the depots of Woolwich and Dublin. The only preparations for war needs are a register of about 15,000 reserve horses, which the people keep ready for service, at a remuneration of ten shillings per horse, and the National Defense Act of 1888, which permits the purchase of a certain number of horses when the militia is mobilized. Under this imperfect system England has not only been compelled to buy many horses abroad, but the material she has received has been extremely poor and unsuited to the climate and the work. The difficulties which the army labored under are evidenced in the military operations. After the occupation of Bloemfontein Lord Roberts had to wait for two months before he could advance farther, and this delay was largely due to the condition of his cavalry after the campaign against Cronje, and the time required to procure remounts. Again, after the fall of Pretoria, he had to delay again before opening the campaign of Middelburg against Botha, and largely for the same reason. Meanwhile the Boers were enabled to deliver disastrous blows against his lines of communication, where outpost duty was neglected, due very largely to this same lack of efficient horses. On the continent the system of remounts and horse depots is much more complete and perfect. In France an inventory of all horses and mules is taken every year, their owners reporting them to the local authorities. Lists are then prepared by the latter, enumerating the owners alphabetically, and all horses over six years of age and mules over four, omitting such as are under size or otherwise unfit for service. Heavy fines are imposed on those who render false reports or who fail to report at the proper time. From the inventory lists just mentioned the local authorities prepare three new lists, one setting forth all the horses in the commune, another containing a list of all horses under six and mules under four years, and a third those over six and four years, respectively. These lists are forwarded in duplicate to the Sous Prefects of the Arrondissements, and the latter forward one copy to the Recruiting Office of the district. Abstracts are made of these lists and forwarded to the corps commanders and the war department. The inventories are taken annually by a commission, composed of one officer, appointed by the army corps commander of the military department, and one civilian, appointed by the prefect of the commune. Each commission is assigned to a number of districts. The horses selected are divided, according to height, into a number of categories, for the various arms of the service, the tallest for the Cuirassiers, the next for the Dragoons, then the Hussars, artillery and train. In time of mobilization the horses are bought up by a commission similar to the one just described, notification being sent to the horse owners of the time and place at which they are to produce their horses. In case more horses are produced than are needed for service the proper number is selected by lot. The price to be paid is fixed by law. France requires about 480,000 for mobilization, all of which, except about 25,000, are raised in the country. Remounts are trained in depots about Caen and Tarbes, and in Paris and Macon; and Algiers and Tunis have about ten depots for the army there. The peace strength of the horses of the French army is about 145,000. Italy is very poor in horses, since the total number in the kingdom is not over 750,000. The peace army requires about 45,000, and to keep up this force about 5,000 remounts are required annually, a greater proportion than usual, because the Italian horse only remains. serviceable for about nine years. These the inhabitants are required to raise. There are but six depots in all, and one of these is in Sicily and another in Sardinia. Italy will therefore have to purchase a considerable number of horses abroad in case of mobilization. In Austro-Hungary there is no inspection of horses with a view to mobilization in time of peace, but the number of horses which each province is required to furnish is determined by the ministers of agriculture and national defense. The sudivision of the provinces among the various remount districts is then effected by the civil authorities, approved by the corps commander. The local authorities are required to submit annually lists of all horses in the community, designating the service for which they are fitted. Every year a commission is named for each district, to collect the horses in case of mobilization. These commissions consist of five members: the civilian head of the district, a general or field officer of the army, a veterinary surgeon, and two horse owners appointed by the community. In each district a place of delivery, in case of mobilization, is appointed. There the horses are examined and classified, and for such as are offered at the prices established by the government the commission pays, while the prices of the others are fixed by the official valuers, two of whom are attached to each commission for the purpose. or war. Austro-Hungary has over three million horses in its realm, and therefore has no difficulty in securing the necessary number for peace The peace army has about 78,000 horses, and the remount depots in Hungary, Galicia and Siebenburgen easily furnish the 8,000 remounts required annually. The war army will require 250,000, besides 180,000 to be requisitioned. Germany has, perhaps, the most perfect system. Every ten years the horses of the empire are examined to determine their fitness for service. The commission appointed for this purpose consists of a field officer designated by the corps commander of the region, and a district commissioner. The time and place for producing the horses. for inspection is so arranged as to take the latter from their work but half a day. The persons who are to serve on the remount commissions in case of mobilization are required to be present at these inspections. The serviceable horses are divided into four categories: saddle horses, pole horses, lead horses and heavy draught horses. Lists are prepared and one copy sent to the military and another to the civil authorities, through the regular channels, each higher authority condensing and abstracting the lists it receives, till the final ones arrive in compact form at the war department and the department of agricul ture. The chief of each province, with the advice and consent of the general commanding, decides in time of peace how many horses each circuit is to furnish in case of mobilization, and when that time arrives the horses are again examined, if deemed necessary. This examination and the purchase of the horses is effected by remount purchasing commissions, one of which is assigned to each circuit. These commissions are composed of a member of the provincial administration, an officer designated by the corps commander, who may have another officer as assistant, a veterinary, and three representatives of the circuit. In time of peace each circuit is divided into sections, each of which contains not over 1,200 horses, and for which a commission of three members is appointed by the province, who assist the above-mentioned examination and classification commissions. In case of mobilization the provincial administration informs the presidents of each of these commissions of the number of horses of each category to be furnished by the section, as well as the time and place of delivery to the remount purchasing commission. The horses as determined by the section commissions are entered on lists, which are sent to the provincial administration, and the latter orders the animals to be brought before the remount purchasing commission. The presidents of the section commissions assist the remount purchasing commissions, and see that the horses on their lists are actually produced. An excess of one-third over and above the total number required is held for about three weeks as a reserve, to be taken if needed. Germany has about 103,000 horses in her peace army, and requires about 8,100 remounts annually. In 1900, out of 24,059 horses presented only 9,296 were required and taken. There are about twentyseven remount depots, where the three-year-olds are trained. The peace remount purchasing commissions (of which Prussia alone has five, the other states one each) consist of general staff officer, two lieutenants of mounted arms, and a veterinary surgeon. Russia is the richest of continental nations in horseflesh. Her peace army requires about 140,000, with 10,000 remounts per year, her war army about 450,000. Her system of purchase in case of mobilization is similar to that of Germany. JOHN P. WISSER, THE SCOTS AT WATERLOO. Marshal Blücher, in a dispatch relating to the battle of Waterloo, wrote, that “the Old Guard were baffled by the intrepidity of the Scottish regiments." It was flattering to hear this account of the conduct of the Highlanders confirmed by the prevailing belief both in Paris and throughout France, the French soldiers themselves saying that it was the Scottish troopers who chiefly occasioned the loss of the battle, by defeating the Old Guard. When Napoleon saw the Gordon Highlanders, in their kilts and bonnets, charge the solid columns of the French, he at once discovered their country; and, while they contributed so signally to blast his earthly glory, he could not repress his admiration, but exclaimed, "Les braves Ecossais!"— Hislop's "Scottish Anecdotes." I. Down in the dike like kye we lay, Back of Hougomont's brown chateau, Bonny blue-bonnets ranged in a row. II. France was massed on the plain around, Black dragoons plowing up the ground, III. What the deil was the duke about? Prone cur files in the crowded trench, Torn by artillery inside out, As if the British had had the rout, Lads who always had flogged the French. |