226 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



The horses were formerly purchased from a contractor by a 

 government committee and then assigned to the regiments. 

 This system, however, led to many complaints, as the regi- 

 ments were unable to keep the quality of their horses up to the 

 standard. Of late the manner of procuring horses for the cav- 

 alry and saddle horses for the artillery has been such that each 

 regiment has to do its own purchasing. For this purpose a 

 board is convened consisting of the regimental commander, two 

 other officers, and a veterijiary surgeon. The draft horses of 

 the horse batteries are purchased by a board of officers from 

 various regiments. The remounts for the train are supplied 

 from condemned artillery horses. There are no remount 

 depots, each regiment training its own remounts. An officer 

 is allowed to purchase his mounts where he wishes or he may 

 select them from the horses of the regiment. In the latter 

 case the officer is not allowed for four years to dispose of them 

 unless they become unfit for service. 



