32 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



who even hire horses that they should do 

 something as missioners of health by insisting 

 upon the hiring stables carrying out my 

 simple directions ? You cannot succeed with 

 old-fashioned men and places, but it is worth 

 trying in view of the importance of prevent- 

 ing sickness amongst our fast-diminishing 

 number of possible war-horses. They tell me 

 that a few years will see us involved in a 

 great war with a European Power, and they 

 talk of '' defeat or more Dreadnotightsy As 

 one who has seen something of the frightful 

 wastage which war makes on the horse- 

 supply of a country, my own idea is that, if 

 we are to be defeated, it will not be for want 

 of Dreadnottghts, but for want of mounted 

 men and remounts for them. This is to my 

 mind the most difficult problem any Secre- 

 tary of State for War is called upon to face ; 

 but with these questions we have nothing to 

 do here. What we have to do we can do — 

 that is, that we know and make full use of 

 the knowledge of how to take care that these 

 horses which are placed in our charge, either 



