106 ANIMALS USED IN WAR. 



The Clydesdale strain found much favour with the Australian 

 Corps in Prance, and the remarks of the Administrative Veter- 

 inary Officer of that Corps are worth recording : — 



" There is little doubt in my mind and in all I have spoken to 

 in this Corps that the best breed for military work in the heavy 

 class is the low, clean-legged Clydesdale. Most of our horses 

 from Australia were of this type, and they have been very much 

 admired by good judges of horse-fiesh. They are smaller, more 

 active, and yet have always been able to do as much work as 

 the heavier Shire type, added to which they have obviously 

 suffered less from the skin troubles of the legs, such as " grease," 

 cellulitis, and necrotic dermatitis. Their smaller size allowed 

 them to do better on the ration, and proved them to be more 

 economical in feeding." 



He further added with regard to Clydesdales and breeding : — 



"For an Artillery animal, again, the Clydesdale Mare 

 crossed with a thorough-bred stallion, gives as near the ideal as 

 , we have been able to breed in Australia, and the gunner type 

 most favoured by the Indian Army. Breeding with cross-bred 

 stock is not found a success, as animals throw back to unknown 

 ancestors and we get reversions to undesirable types. The 

 method I am advising has been proved by many animals used 

 in this War whose breeders and their methods I am familiar 

 with." 



The Assistant Director of Veterinary Services of the Canadian 

 Corps, who also had charge of all Eemount arrangements of the 

 Corps, while remarking adversely on the Shire during the War 

 — giving the usual objections in respect to "feather," and a 

 brittleness of feet, reported of the Clydesdale as follows : — 



"The old-fashioned, short-legged, round-barrelled type has 

 proved very satisfactory. Those that are leggy, and light of 

 barrel have proved to be of little use." 



I have quoted Colonial and Dominion views specially, pre- 

 suming such to be perhaps more unbiassed than purely Home 

 opinion. 



Since my return to India on a third tour of Service I have 

 visited nearly every Eemount Depot, and I am very much struck 

 with the excellent Medium and Heavy Draught Horses received 

 from Australia, and held under training primarily for Mesopo- 



