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LACK OF MILITARY TYPE OF HORSES. The National Security League, which has one hundred and fifty branches in all parts of the United States and whose membership of 10,000 includes the most progressive citizens of every state of the Union, finds a grave menace in the scarcity of army horses, and vice-president S. Stanwood Menken, when seen on Saturday, sounded a warning which should find an echo from coast to coast. "I am told that, with many districts yet to hear from, the army authorities at WJishington have applications for 05,000 head of horses for immediate cavalry and light artillery service. Connecticut wants 3.000 and other states are lacking in proportion. The last census at the close of 1915 shows that the United States had almost 22,000,000 head of horses, but investigation by Major General Ale-shire quartermaster general of the army, taken last January, disclosed the fact that of this number not more than 30,000 were of the proper type, and of these not more than .10,000 were available for immediate service. This is alarming when it is understood that the Mexican campaign will be one where cavalry will be largely employed and the nature of the country makes the possession of good animals imperative. "The cavalry type of horse has not been produced systematically in the United States," continued Mr. Menken, "and it required this Mexican trouble to bring us to a realization of our weakness in this respect. While foreign governments have been experimenting and perfecting a type that would be most acceptable, horse breeding in our country has been aimless except in the production of heavy draught or light harness horse types, and in some instances the breeding of thoroughbreds for racing. The bulk of the 22.000,000 we have today are utterly unfitted for war, which calls for a quick-moving, strong, courageous animal to carry men or guns into positions of vantage or to elude an. army. France and Germany, Russia, Austro-Hungary and Italy have found the answer to the problem by crossing the thoroughbred or blooded horse on the native grades, and each, country has established a type cm bodying the qualities which make for success in a campaign where fatig-ie, shock of wounds ami other rigors must be overcome. Englard, through racing and bur-ting, had fair supply of cavalry remounts when the war broke out, but, she too, has fallen into line and established a governmental stud. "The governments of these countries outside of Great Britain," continued Mr. Menken, "have long considered the breeding of the cavalry and light artillery horses of vital importance. They have spent vast sums for thoroughbred sires, more than 00,000 for single specimens, and, realizing that racing was essential in order to bring out the qualities they wanted to incorporate in their army horsen, they have subsidized the sport. The Graditz Stud in Prussia is a notable example of Germanys farsightedness in this respect, as they maintain that establishment exclusively for racing, anil no sire is considered worthy of reproducing himself until he has demonstrated his qualities in contest. Farmers and horse breeders have access to these sires at a low fee and the governments are ready to purchase the offspring at three" years of age. "Realizing the merits of the system pursued abroad," resumed the speaker, "our army authorities inspected the continental plan of horse breeding and tried to duplicate it in a small way here. Thoroughbred, standard bred and Morgan sires were donated or bought, and the work was launched in a small way in 1913 under the animal husbandry branch of the Department of Agriculture. A special appropriation of 0,000 less than one-half what Germany gave for a single English sire was set aside for the work. Despite this meagre award the work showed progress from the start, but, to the dismay of those interested in the project, the fund was cut to 40,000 in 1914, 0,000 in 1915, while for the current year it stands at 5,000, and there was a desire on the part of some of the members of the committee to eliminate it entirely. And this in spite of the fact that the allied countries have taken from us more than one million head of the very type we need today, many of them mares that should have been kept for breeding purposes. These purchases began at the outbreak of the war, and agents of these countries are still busy." "What would you do to remedy the situation?" Mr. Menken was asked. "I would favor the passage of the Pittmnii-Scully hill for the appropriation of 00,000 to place sires of the proper blood in different states of the Union when? they could be utilized for the improvement of the general horse product of the country, particularly those of the cavalry remount ami light artillery type. Every military authority, including Generals Wood and Scott, are on record as favoring the thoroughbreds for an officers mount and a half or three-quarter bred animal for the trooper. They know by experience the typo of animal best suited for their needs, and by all means let us give them what they want. I would endorse a campaign of education for the farmer and horse breeder everywhere, on breeding and feeding, and I would make it obligatory for all holders of eertain acreage of grazing land to breed a specified number of mares each year. The European system of letting the foal run with the dam after it is a few weeks old insures a sufficient degree of service for these mares which could be kept at regular work, while the foal would benefit by the exercise. I would further advocate the increase in price the government should pay for a remount type at three years old, so that the .production of these horses would yield a profit to the breeder. "We have quite a number of thoroughbred sires that would be available for immediate service, though tin; breeding season is far advanced. Others could be secured before next spring, and in the meantime experts in various parts of the country could be consulted and the best possible plan formulated for the; development of the enterprise. "We have blundered to date," said Mr. Menken in conclusion, "but if we blunder further with the result of foreign experiments to blaze the way we must, indeed, be blind."
