FRANCE. 241 



THE REMOUNT SERVICE IN FRANCE. 



It may be said that all horses and mules for the French 

 Army are bought in the open market. The only exception 

 will be mentioned under the heading "Studs and Breed 

 Farms." 



The remount service is charged with the purchase and de- 

 livery of all horses and mules needed for the military service. 

 For the purpose of the remount, France is divided into two 

 "circumscriptions" or districts, each of which is commanded 

 by a colonel or lieutenant colonel of cavalry ; Algeria and 

 Tunis constitute a third district. In these two districts there 

 are 10 depots and 11 subdepots or "annexes," each depot with 

 its annex being commanded as a rule by a major of cavalry. 

 Besides these depots belonging to districts there are 6 depots 

 (having 11 annexes) which are commanded directly by the 

 inspector general of the remount service. 



For the purpose of discipline and police the remount estab- 

 lishments are under the authority of the corps commanders. 



Personnel op the Service. — The personnel is as follows: 



1. An inspector general holding his position permanently 

 and an adjoint (major general and brigadier general, respec- 

 tively) ; 



2. Commanders of districts (colonels or lieutenant colonels) ; 



3. Commanders of depots (with command and supervision 

 of one or more annexes ; generally majors of cavalry) ; 



4. Commanders of annexes (captains, or veterinarians of 

 the second class) ; 



5. Eight remount companies (five in France, three in 

 Algeria and Tunis) ; 



6. Enlisted men belonging to mounted organizations de- 

 tailed for duty at remount depot annexes. 



The depots are intended to receive and care for the horses 

 bought by boards until ready to be sent to the troops (they 

 are never kept longer than twenty days) ; the annexes to 

 receive horses under 5 years, to keep and train them from the 

 time they are bought until ready for delivery to the troops, 

 and to deliver them. 



The inspector general of the remount service directs the 

 service in France, Tunis, and Algeria, being responsible to 

 the minister of war only, with whom he communicates 

 directly. Commanders of districts and of depots not in a 



