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GREAT INROADS IN OUR HORSE SUPPLY. Competent Authority Says Over Two Million Head Have Been Exported Already. By C. J. Fitz Gerald. New York. February 24. — Nothing could Rive a more lucid or expressive condition of affairs in this country, in connection with the horse breeding industry, than the following letter from John F. Ryan, the head of the Canadian Breeding Bureau, the leading spirit in the Overseas ■apart Company of Canada and principal in the International Exportation Company of New York. The experiences of Mr. Ryan have placed him in touch with every detail in the horse breeding world. The figures quoted are gathered from official s, mves to Which Mr. Ryan has every access. His description of the horse needed for military work has been gleaned from practical connection with the inspectors of almost every belligerent country as well as American experts. His letter shows the actual need of horse breeding encouragement and determines that preparedness is absolutely necessary in times of peace. Older the existing fretful condition of this country and the probabilities of war. it is almost deplorable to learn that if the United States needed military horses few are to be obtained. The excessive call upon this country has depleted the stock to such extent that it has deprived us of nearly all the good material in that line. We have sold our last loaf, as it were, and nowhere to turn to buy another. The horse situation has become a mutter of most serious import:. nee and demands the immediate consideration of the federal and state governments. Horses from America to the War. Mr. Ryan gives the following interesting and impressive facts: "Regarding the total number of horses shipped from the Halted States during this war. my estimate is that France and England alone have taken 1.M5.000 horses from October 8, 1914 to February 1. 1917. In addition to this the Italian government has taken about 100,000 head and the Greeks about 30.000. "The proportions of cavalry and artillery horses have- changed from time to time during the war. these varying with tile developments on the west front and in the Balkans. "The first contract issued by the French government called for fifty per cent cavalry and forty per cent light artillery and ten per cent heavy artillery. This was in September, 1914. ami the contract was executed in October. November and December. The next contracts were for thirty per cent cavalry, fifty per cent field artillery and twenty per cent heavy. The third set of contracts wen- for twenty per cent cavalry, sixty pet cent field artillery and twenty per cent heavy. Following this came one set of contracts for ten per cent cavalry, sixty per cent field artillery ami thirty per cent heavy. Service for Which Horses Are Used. "The 1917 contract, which I signed a few days ago. is for twenty per cent cavalry, fifty per cent fiedel artillery and thirty per cent heavy. These changes were- due to the mode of warfare. The trench method reduces the need of cavalry, whereas the enormous amount of shell fire in this war has increased the need for field gun horses. It is important to note1, however, that as the war progressed the French buying commissions got to the point where- they took a field gun horse that could easily be used for cavalry purposes and the cavalry horse strong enough to help pull a field gun. These horses have been interchanged throughout the war for the last twenty months. "By April. 1915. or after seven months of buying, there were no re-al cavalry horses available in America. 1 Mas the first to get into Kentucky and secured 5.250. At the present time I could not hope to get more than a carload a week of the real stuff in that state. The same holds true in California. Virginia, Tennessee — in fact all over the country. "The heavy horse is plentiful because he is prexluced in the ordinary work of the horse industry. "For field artillery the French and British are now accepting a small farm chunk weighing from 1.050 to 1.20H pounds, and are continually bemoaning the fact that America has no thoroughbred blood in this class of horse-. As near as I can figure, after having watched many thousand hataaa branded. I believe that thoroughbred blood is necessary in both cavalry and field artillery horses. I know that whenever an inspector. English or French, sees a guniu-r which looks as though he-might have- a dash of thoroughbred blood he selects him at once and asks for more of the same kind."
