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BEWARE YOU WHO DECRY THE HORSE Is It Not Treason to Destroy tho Breeding Industry in Those Perilous Times i If it bo treasonable to do anything by word or deed tlint impairs our military efficiency with regard to sny shipbuilding motor manufacturing railrond transportation mid other vital activities why is it not equally infamous to howl down the horse It is an incontrovertible fact that oven in this latest and most scientific of wars the horse is more neces ¬ sary than over before and that tho supply rapidly diminish has boon largely reduced as much by the effects of a malignant propaganda as by the wonomii exigencies that lessen demand In lato years the cries of down with the horse horse ¬ less age passing of the horse and similar ob ¬ jurgations have been heard throughout the land while at the same time the contending nations have been scouring the earth for horses their require ¬ ments being estimated to be one horse for every three men in the service of arms armsCompetition Competition in business affecting tho horses sphere is commendable and the life of trade but when such selfish considerations materialize into a form of persecution that is detrimental to tho best interests of the national weal it is time to call a halt Instead of such drastic methods as have been used to displace the horse a spirit of live and let live should prevail at least so far as the commercial phase of the situation is concerned but when that kind of business promulgation reaches the point of endangering the lives of our heroes at the battle front the nobler impulses of patriotism must be rallied to inspire a reactionary sentiment sentimentWe We are not merely expressing sentimental wishes but stating facts as to the critical importance of the horse It is irrefutable for example that three months before Germany precipitated war that coun ¬ try had purchased 350000 horses from France alone thus proving that the most militant power of the world foreseeing appreciated the inestimable advan ¬ tage of the animal This number was only a drop in the bucket so to speak compared to the thou ¬ sands upon thousands of horses bred in Germany and AustriaHungary and bred for many years with an especial view to their value for campaign purposes purposesBOUGHT BOUGHT THE BEST FROM ENGLAND ENGLANDFrom From England too Germany had purchased the best stallions for breeding available without regard to price paying as high as 125000 for a single horse the famous Ard 1atrick which so far as we know is still in tho enemy stud The losses of horses by tho Central Allies have nevertheless been stupendous and it is believed that they have not been replaced by at least fifty per cent In the final shocks of the fray this will tell against the enemy tremendously although we believe their cavalry has been maintained in the background at the ful ¬ lest strength awaiting mobile action when the trendies have been abandoned abandonedIn In view of these circumstances and especially in response to the call from General Pershing for more horses and more horses as they say of ships and for more cavalry and more cavalry the Secretary of War lias instituted a tardy but strenuous drive to fulfill the obligations imposed and which in the bettor prepared countries were never overlooked nor undervalued undervaluedWhole Whole volumes have been printed on the deeds of the horse but it is not necessary to revert to them as they are known to every intelligent reader of history As much if not more could also be written of the horses incalculable services in the present struggle It should suffice now for every ¬ body who loves his fellow man and who is sacri ¬ ficing affection and fortune for the cause to realize the stupendous significance of the horse in tills titanic struggle for the freedom of the universe It sounds hackneyed and inadequate to quote Hichard IIIs desperate appeal A horse A horse My Kingdom for a Horse but never was there a time when tho immortal phrase applied with such sonorous open diapason as at this moment when kingdoms tremble to fall at the approach of which ¬ ever may be the mightier hosts thunderous vibra ¬ tion of horses hoofs Long live the horse mans Itest friend in war as in times of peace New York Rider and Driver
