310 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



but, when not assigned to some officer, these horses serve as 

 saddle horses on the same footing as the battery horses. 



The use of these horses is optional to captains of field artil- 

 lery and horse artillery regiments, but obligatory for subal- 

 tern officers. The commanders of corps may, however, 

 authorize subalterns, requesting permission, to substitute 

 private horses for the chargers. The charger is used only in 

 the service and in such cases outside the service in which the 

 commander sees fit to permit its use. It may be kept in the 

 stable of the officer to whom it has been assigned. Expenses 

 for bedding and shoeing for officers' mounts fall to the sum 

 allotted for those purposes for battery horses. The forage 

 rations are the same as for battery horses. The care of the 

 horse is provided by the officer. The corps commander, for 

 the good of the service or on request of the interested par- 

 ties, may authorize officers to change chargers for others from 

 among the available horses of the same category. 



When a charger is found unfit for the service as an officers' 

 horse, he is carried on the roll as a battery horse, the term 

 "charger" being efi^aced. A report to the minister is made 

 of such cases. If the unfitness of a horse for service is pro- 

 duced by the carelessness of the officer to whom he has been 

 assigned, the council of administration deducts from the 

 remount allowance of this officer the sum representing the 

 depreciation of the horse. 



