DISPOSAL ON DEMOBILISATION. 177 



A, B, C, were re-classified by Remount Service into : — 

 X. For Post Bellum Army and Army of the Ehine — 

 Y, For repatriation to England for sale. [the Best. 



Z. For sale on the Continent, including mules. 



From a given date, fixed at 1st January, 1919, stock was 

 taken of all animals on the strength of units. Forage and 

 Animal Accounts were adopted by units in Army areas as well 

 as those on Lines of Communication, so that check on disposal 

 could be maintained. In transfers for purposes of sale or 

 repatriation the peace Army Form 0. 1640, a very useful Form, 

 and modified to suit the occasion, was used. 



Category " D " (Destruction), animals were got rid of as soon 

 as possible, and "Veterinary Hospitals and Convalescent Horse 

 Depots cleared with all speed, to hold animals demobilised. 



By the first week in February it happened that men were 

 being demobilised at a greater proportionate rate than animals, 

 and a sale in bulk of 50,000 to Belgium having proved a failure 

 through slowness of take over, it was decided that Armies 

 should arrange sales in their respective areas, using the Mobile 

 Veterinary Sections of Divisions and Veterinary Evacuating 

 Stations of Corps as Disposal and Accounting units, the 

 Eemount Service supplying the animals from their " Z " 

 Category by local arrangements. The usual sales by Veterinary 

 Service on Lines of Communication were extended considerably 

 and again fed with " Z " Category animals from Eemount 

 Service, who at the same time progressed with the repatriation 

 of their " Y " Category horses to England up to approximately 

 62,000. So rapid was the disposal by sale that it was necessary 

 to cry a halt at the beginning of April lest it was over-done. 

 The machinery of disposal had got into such good working 

 order, and demand for horses had become so great, that there 

 would have been no difficulty in disposing of many more 

 thousands at fairly good prices. "Heavy draughts" were keenly 

 sought after, and prices from £100 up to nearly ;£200 were 

 given in some instances. Sales by private treaty, and selection 

 by Municipalities and Farmers' Associations were also arranged 

 through Prefects, and these were appreciated as intending 



