56 WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



In the purchase of heavy draught hoi'ses during the late war, 

 it was found that they invariably went sick after removal from 

 their accustomed habitat, and a regular system of temperature 

 taking was instituted which was extended to their arrival in a 

 theatre of war, and before issue to units. A policy of three 

 weeks residence in a Eemount Depot in France was adopted for 

 all overseas animals before issue, and accommodation to admit 

 of this was arranged accordingly. The consequence was that 

 extremely little respiratory sickness existed at the front. 



Bemount Training Depots and Reserve Depots. The issue of 

 animals trained for the purpose required of them in war is a 

 most important factor in the limitation of wastage. It is not 

 sufhcient to buy them as broken animals in an open market and 

 ship them straight to a theatre of war. Some organization 

 must exist where they can be proved and rendered suitable. 

 It would appear to me that India is well advanced in this 

 necessary procedure, and the Eemount Training Depots provide 

 a more than useful purpose. 



Nature of work to toe perlormeci. 

 As briefly indicated in the previous paragraph, animals 

 should start fit and trained for their particular job. It is up to 

 the Commanding Officer of their respective units to look after 

 their interests subsequently. He is their philosopher and guide. 

 A very bright feature of the late war was the splendid manner 

 in which Infantry looked after their horses, and it is certainly a 

 matter deserving of the highest commendation and record in 

 the annals of our Infantry in war. Apart from that spirit of 

 faithfulness and hon camaraderie which battalions showed to 

 their animals, their success was a matter of organization, and 

 lay in the appointment of Battalion Transport Officer. I wish 

 that Artillery, in which Arm the heaviest work and greatest 

 wastage lay, could have been similarly provided. Even a 

 Brigade Transport Officer of Artillery, an appointment part of 

 Artillery organization, to watch the interests of horses in their 

 wagon lines while Artillery Officers were forward with their 

 guns, would have been much better than the " horsemasters " 

 and " wagon line officers " who were appointed, and who were 

 nobody's children. 



