PREVENTION OF WASTAGE. +3 



have to fall back considerably op my memory, at least so far as 

 the British Expeditionary Force, France, with which I was 

 closely associated, is concerned : — 



The pre-war strength of our Home Army in horses was 

 approximately 23,000. 



During the first twelve days of the war 166,000 horses were 

 impressed. 



The strength in horses of the original Expeditionary Force, 

 which mobilized and went to France, was 53,000. 



Between August, 1914, and the middle of 1918, roughly 

 450,000 horses were bought in the United Kingdom. 



Over 700,000 animals were bought overseas in the United 

 States and Canada on British account for various theatres of 

 war. The United States Army itself when it mobilized required 

 a large number of animals. To say nothing of what its troops 

 in France possessed, it had at least 350,000 animals in training 

 in Depots in view of being sent to France. 



At one period of the war in France, the British Expeditionary 

 Force possessed roughly 475,000 animals, of which 89,000 were 

 mules. The total wastage from death, destruction and missing 

 amounted to approximately 250,000 up to the end of December, 

 1919, and about 25,000 sold to agriculturists (prior to sales on 

 demobilzation) . Roughly, therefore, during the four-and-a 

 half years, 750,000 animals took part in the war in France, in- 

 cluding British, Indian, Canadian, Australian,' New Zealand 

 and Portuguese Troops. 



In August, 1914, 193,319 horses were on the strength of the 

 French Army, while 799,661 were required. By November, 

 1917, 1,188,539 animals had been purchased in America and 

 Spain to supply wastage. 



The Belgian Government, in addition to obtaining horses 

 through British Remount Depots, purchased in the Argentine. 



Our demands for Mesopotamia and to a considerable extent 

 for Egypt were met from India and Australia, remount opera- 

 tions from this side approximating 43,000 horses and 500 mules. 



East Africa was supplied from South Africa. 



The drain therefore of suitable animals for war purposes by 

 the Allied Powers was stupendous, and it must be remembered 

 that the demand chiefly related to animals of a draught type. 



