165 ANIMALS WASTED BY WAR. 



Chaptee III. 

 DISPOSAL POE WOEK. 



There was very little disposal at first in Prance except of 

 animals died and destroyed. It was not until the beginning of 

 November 1914 that definite casting rules were published in 

 Eoutine Orders. The Indian Mounted Troops on proceeding 

 up-country left some very inferior animals at Marseilles. Many 

 were unsuitable from a Eemount point of view, and infirm. 

 They were cast and sold ; the worst were destroyed. I do not 

 think it could have happened under a system other than 

 Silladar. But in the early days of rapid mobilisation our Home 

 Force was not altogether free from its Methuselahs and infants. 

 I rather fancy that in some instances father had dropped out of 

 the ranks and his place taken by a member of his family of 

 questionably discreet years, or vice versa. It is wonderful how 

 such things arrange themselves when the desire for combat or 

 otherwise (particularly the otherwise) is concerned, and even 

 more wonderful is the adroitness with which these warriors 

 find out Veterinary Hospitals and the reputed comfort thereof. 



On the publication of Casting Eules, sales were held at the 

 Base, Advanced Base, and at Paris. After a while these were 

 stopped by order of the Army Council in deference to public 

 opinion at Home, and instructions were issued that all cast 

 animals were to be destroyed. From an economic point of 

 view this made little difference, as it was possible to obtain 

 almost as good an average price for purposes of food as for 

 work. But the destruction of really useful life has very little 

 to commend it, indeed it is sheer waste ; and moreover, in spite 

 of all argument which can be brought forward to the contrary, 

 sentimental or otherwise, an animal, useful still in certain 

 spheres, has just as much right to live as the man or woman 

 who advocates or clamours for his destruction to remove him 

 from any danger of cruelty. 



The French Ministry of Agriculture was much perturbed at 

 the order for destruction of horses, as they depended on us to 



