THE CASUS BELLI 9 



as scouts by a specially selected officer, who must 

 himself be a /muting man ; they are given a badge 

 and increased pay, and are generally made much 



" Specially selected," because a ''hunting man!'' 

 If the Russians consider it a qualification with 

 such hunting as they have, how much more must 

 we do so whose officers can have the " image of 

 war " par excellence ? 



Instances of the use of horsemanship and of 

 " hunting education " to the soldier might be 

 multiplied ad nauseam; perhaps, however, it would 

 be more convincing to the disbelievers if they 

 would ask the soldiers of the present day a few 

 questions. Let them ask the young Cavalry officer 

 what gave him that eye for country which enables 

 him to say to himself confidently — " Ah ! that's 

 Middle wood ; " or " By Jove ! I must take the 

 squadron to the right, those willows mean water ; " 

 or " We must take a pull in this heavy ground 

 or the horses will be blown ; " or " The troopers 

 will just be able to get safely over this fence." Or 

 ask him, how does he manage to keep his head 

 and see which is the best way to go with such a 

 rush of men and horses behind him } Again, how 

 did he learn to tell when his horses are fit and 

 when they are not, when they are tired and when 

 they are fresh ? 



Say to him, oh sceptical one — " What taught 

 you all this sort of thing, young sabretache ? — was it 

 the riding-school, or was it the Cavalry Drill Book ? " 



