248 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



used alternately as near and off horses ; while upon war mob- 

 ilization they are all to serve as near horses and the off ones 

 are to be supplied by requisition. 



A distinction is made between sergeants' horses and those 

 for corporals and men. The former should be really dragoon 

 or cuirassier horses and should be chosen with an idea of fur- 

 nishing material also for the remount of officers of a regiment, 

 the latter horses need not have so much regularity or be as 

 well-bred. 



Horse batteries demand especial attention, as they are called 

 upon for long marches at rapid gaits on all sorts of ground. 

 Only horses of particular resistance, quickness, and mettle are 

 chosen for this service, and colonels of regiments and com- 

 manders of remount depots are directed to be careful not to 

 furnish field batteries with horses suitable for horse batteries, 

 since the latter horses are not easy to find. 



Annexes. — These are establishments of transition where 

 young horses (under 5) are kept from the time they are 

 bought until they are delivered to regiments. They are 

 maintained on ground belonging to or rented by the govern- 

 ment, or the commune. Their number is regulated from 

 time to time by the minister of war. An important part 

 of the duty of a depot commander is the supervision of 

 his annexes, and he is expected to visit them frequently and 

 unannounced. 



An annex is, according to its importance, either commanded 

 by a captain of cavalry or managed by a veterinary of the 

 second class ; but there is always a veterinary on duty at each 

 annex. The enlisted men are recruited for this special serv- 

 ice, being chosen from jockeys, stablemen, etc. They are 

 given very little military instruction, most of their time 

 being devoted to the horses. There is also usually a small 

 detachment of men detailed from the organizations supplied 

 by the annex. The number of men is generally one for every 

 ten horses. 



The annexes are kept with scrupulous regard to health and 

 cleanliness. They have ample paddocks in which the young 

 horses are turned out whenever the weather is not bad. The 

 horses are also given some work on a small track. They are 

 hardly ever mounted, but are handled as much as possible 

 and initiated in military habits. Their grooming is not very 

 thorough, as the strength of the detachment would indicate, 

 but they are kept clean and in good health. 



