116 ANIMALS USED IN WAR. 



her Southern neighbour for agricultural purposes. However, 

 the ground- work of Canadian horses is our best English stock- 

 Many of the London General and other Omnibus Companies, 

 and general utiUty horses shipped from England to South 

 Africa during the South African War, which were universally 

 well reported on for their endurance, were Canadian horses; 

 and Canada has always shown a desire for custom in the supply 

 of our home Army. The prairies of the West are excellent for 

 the production of good stock for Army purposes, both draught 

 and saddle. Our Kemount Purchase system abroad at the 

 beginning of the late War was based on Canada, Eeception 

 Depots at approved centres being arranged. Ports for embar- 

 kation earmarked, and Purchasing Depots or Centres contiguous 

 to the Canadian Pacific Eailway forming part of the general 

 scheme. A rather remarkable and interesting fact, showing 

 how easily horse-breeding is influenced by circumstances was 

 that in the early eighties, when bicycles of the pneumatic type 

 took so strong a hold on people's minds, it was strongly 

 considered that the days of horses, at least those of pleasure and 

 of a riding class, were numbered, and in the practical Western 

 World down went the production. I may at the same time 

 mention that Mr. Dunlop, the inventor and originator of the 

 pneumatic tyre which bears his name, and whose photograph is 

 to be seen so prominently in advertisements, is a Veterinary 

 Surgeon, and one whose delight in discussion on horse politics 

 is not in any way diminished by the importance of his discovery 

 or by his retirement from the active domain of his profession. 

 • Wastage in the light draught classes of horses during the latg 

 War was, however, chiefly met by importations direct from the 

 United States of America, where the greatest field of purchase 

 lay. This was particularly so at least when the United States 

 herself entered into the conflict. No other country in the world 

 is so richly endowed in horses, and in this class of horse 

 especially. Her resources are remarkable, and the aid which 

 she could afford to the Allied Powers in the command of the 

 most useful animals of the world was a prominent factor in the 

 downfall of the enemy. 



Into the composition of the eighteen millions horses with 

 which the United States of America is credited, and taking them 



