RUSSIA. 329 



foot batteries and horse batteries have been allowed to pur- 

 chase their remounts independently. The amounts they are 

 allowed to expend for this purpose per horse are as follows: 

 Guard batteries, $144.20; field batteries in St. Petersburg 

 military district, 8103; in military districts of Kief and 

 Odessa, §90.12, including all expenses. 



Heretofore all the Cossacks have been required to jjrocure 

 their own mounts. These troops are divided into three bans, 

 each of which has a very different class of horse. The fol- 

 lowing arrangement has been made to improve the mounts 

 of the Cossacks of the first ban, who are gradually acquiring 

 a standing with the regular cavalry. Upon the discharge of 

 the Cossacks who are to be transferred to the second ban in 

 the fall, the regiments of the first ban may exchange their 

 unserviceable horses for serviceable ones by paying a small 

 sum of money. 



Up to 1884 all the cavalry officers, as well as most other 

 officers, were required to purchase their own mounts. This 

 rule is still in force for the guard officers, but the officers of 

 the regular cavalry and horse artillery receive so-called 

 "crown horses" from among the service horses. A second 

 horse ration is allowed so that officers, if they so desire, may 

 keep a private mount besides. Every officer of mounted 

 troops may purchase a service horse from his regiment, but 

 no more than six horses per regiment may be sold each year. 

 " Crown horses " remain the property of the government and 

 may be used only in the service. Since October, 1899, the 

 obligation to keep a private service mount has been extended 

 to officers of the horse artillery, including the mountain artil- 

 lery. Officers of foot troops are allowed to select suitable 

 horses from among the condemned cavalry horses, for which 

 moderate prices are charged. 



The forage ration is as follows : For the guard cavalry 

 (cuirassiers), draft horses of the guard artillery, of the 

 officers' reserve school, and of cadre 1 of the guard cavalry 

 reserve : 13^ pounds oats, 10 pounds hay, and 4 pounds straw. 

 For the horses condemned from the guard and cavalry regi- 

 ments : 10 pounds 4^ ounces oats, 10 pounds hay, and 4 pounds 

 straw. All other saddle horses of the guard cavalry and 

 artillery, of guard cadres Xos. 2 and 3, and of the officers' 

 schools: 12 pounds oats, 10 pounds hay, and 4 pounds straw. 



Cavalry horses undergo one year's training before being 

 turned over to the troops. Each regiment has a depot for 

 this purpose. 



