170 ANIMALS WASTED BY WAR. 



the Ehine, as animals were not permitted to be sold in that 

 region excepting for food. 



In everjr case the same procedure of destruction in the 

 presence of a Veterinary Officer, the guarantee of suitability 

 for food, and the accounting was followed. 



The Disposal of Animals' Branch also maintained Butchery 

 Detachments at the Abattoirs of Abbeville and Boulogne, and 

 dressed carcases for Paris or local consumption and for delivery 

 to the Army Service Corps for Coloured Labour Companies and 

 Prisoners of War. These two small detachments previous to 

 the Armistice dressed 4636 carcases, and 3903 afterwards, 

 roughly at a turn-over of £20 per carcase. For a very long 

 time, even though it represented a reduction of the import of 

 foodstuffs, our Home Government would not consent to the 

 issue of horse-beef as a ration to Prisoners of War, but to the 

 evident appreciation of the prisoners, who were quite well 

 aware of its good sound clean quality, issue was eventually 

 permitted, and about 240 animals per week were dressed by our 

 Butchery Detachments for this purpose. Our own men were 

 also partial to certain delicacies, and several formal requests for 

 liver, heart, tongue, etc., having been received, General 

 Headquarters ruled that such might be issued as a free extra if 

 demanded. Imagine liver and bacon, stuffed heart, boiled or 

 pickled tongue, and brain fritters for breakfast ! 



The total amount realised in France, Belgium, and the 

 Khine Provinces in the disposal of animals for food up to the 

 end of March 1919 reached the colossal sum of £1,313,323. 



