50' WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



severest. On asking if the battalion had any of the original 

 horses it possessed when I knew it in Ireland in 1910-13, the 

 officer, with the greater pleasure and pride, brought out the 

 original pair of wagon horses and the pair of machine gun cobs. 

 I had hit the happy theme in one act. Such is animal manage- 

 ment. Where are the Victory Medals ? 



Horse Shows. To the minds of a good many people, Horse 

 Shows in war would appear to savour of frivolity in the face of 

 a grave situation, but from an instructional point of view — as 

 object lessons, they are to be recommended. They also afford 

 pleasure and relaxation to the individual and a break from 

 trying circumstances. Most Divisions in the B.E.F., France, 

 had their Shows, and the prize winners took part in Corps and 

 Army Shows. Perhaps too much concentration on individual 

 horses or teams was displayed, and a most useful form would 

 relate to whole units. The interest which they created was, 

 nevertheless, all to the good of the animals. 



However, there is another side to the picture, and one which 

 1 personally think is an equally good — perhaps a better object 

 lesson. This is to be seen in Veterinary Hospitals on Lines of 

 Communication, and is represented by the flotsam and jetsam of 

 war. If it is necessary to show all and sundry what animals 

 should be like by means of horse shows in war, it is all the 

 more expedient that those charged with the care of animals 

 should witness what they should tiot be like, and what wastage 

 really means. For this reason Classes of Animal Management 

 were held at Veterinary Hospitals on Lines of Communication 

 for young officers and non-commissioned officers, and to these I 

 will refer under the heading of " Army Veterinary Service as 

 an Instructional Agency." 



Watering and water discipline. There is probably nothing 

 that knocks animals out so rapidly as lack of water, or water so 

 " impure that animals refuse it. It is essential that water 

 arrangements both for men and animals, and a proper water 

 discipline, should be specially instituted. I remember an Army 

 Commander in France taking me to a map in his room and 

 specially drawing my attention to a portion of country over 

 which a large offensive was to be made. It was the waterless 



