view raw text
NEW BREED OF ARMY TRANSPORT HORSES. More interesting perhaps than the German authorities frenzied appeals for money is a communication to the "Allgemeine Sport Zeitung" in Vienna from Duke Mugiicl of Brugunza. who has been serving on tin- Eastern front as Colonel of the Kaiser Wilhelin Hussars, concerning the hardiness if the |K»nies known as "Koniki." Of no definite bre. d. the Duke wrote that those little horses have been doing most wonderful service in the carriage of material, etc.. from the reserve to the foremost fighting line. "I see many thousands of these little horses proceeding daily in endless columns. Almost all other breeds, whether of warm or cold strains, have long ago vanished. One now and then meets Ardennes or Hungarian horses, but in poor condition, and occasionally horses that are evidently thoroughbred, these last working faithfully until they drop. In contrast to all others, however, the little ""Koniki" is always fresh, round and light-hearted, and they drag simply extraordinary heavy loads on their primitive wagons, over roads which are no roads at all. but unfathomable mire. They are simply wonderful." the Duke goes on. "but it would be difficult to say how they originated." He has seen them in West Russia, in the Carpathians, in Galicia. and Poland, and also in the Sevcn-gebirge and Bosnia, and he bought two of them to carry his baggage, etc.. while he declares that they have been the saviours of the situation in the matter of transport from the reserve lines to the front. Also that the Germans in Serbia soon discarded their big horses and took to using ""Konikis." The Duke winds up by asking "What shall be done in the way of raising these military indispensable?" and by deploring any paaaMa attempt in future at "improving" the breed. This is all interesting. and sheds a new light on the question, at all events, of horses for Army transport purposes. — London Sportsman.
