GENERAL. 99 



In a previous section, I endeavoured to show that wastage of 

 animals in war — at least the preventable item of it, was 

 governed or influenced by certain factors which may be 

 summarised as follows : — 



Eemounting, and ability to place animals in spheres of 



service best adapted to them. 

 A knowledge of animal management with particular 



reference to food and feeding, water and watering, and 



bodily hygiene. 

 Acclimatisation. 



Nature of work to be performed, and fitness for the same. 

 Contagious and Specific Disease. 



The same factors come into operation when the merits or 

 demerits of animals in war are reviewed. The greatest of all 

 factors is perhaps the mind of man ; for the merits and demerits 

 of animals, inherent or otherwise, are ultimately bound up in 

 the ability and thoughtfulness of individuals who are consti- 

 tuted their masters, philosophers, and guides. 



Wastage, expressed in actual figures, is not always a true 

 criterion of animal efficiency, but from our experience generally 

 it is possible to formulate a reasonably good idea of the utility 

 or otherwise of the various classes which have been drawn 

 from different countries and localities to participate in war. 



Speaking generally, the close of the Great War presents to 

 our minds exactly the same opinion that was expressed during 

 and at the end of the Boer War — that the small animal, of 

 whatever class or type, is the best adapted for war. The reason 

 is obvious. The bigger and taller the animal, the greater the 

 ration required ; the greater and bulkier the ration, the longer 

 the time required to consume it. Difficulties of supply, 

 amounting at times to shortage, and curtailment of the time 

 necessary for consumption, are inevitable circumstances of 

 war, and especially during particular offensive periods. Debility 

 (poor condition) becomes the chief item of Wastage, and this 

 ■condition may be spelt with four letters, viz., FOOD. The 

 tall, big, leggy animals of any class, as a rule, form the majority 

 of Debility cases. It was a noteworthy feature in France that 

 the small pack animal or cob used for various purposes was 



