HORSES IN WAR

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 27

HORSES IN WAR

BRITAIN'S POSITION OTHER NATIONS' BREEDINGS Interesting figures _ showing how leading - European nations were building up their horse strength to meet war contingencies were given the. New Zealand Veterinary Association by Captain Clifton, of the New Zealand Permanent Forces. The United' Kingdom showed a drop of 13 per cent, in 10 years, from 1,800,000 to 1,200,000. The Army was concerned with two types of horses, both over 15 hands—- - (a) riding horses; (b) light and medium’draught and “trotting vanners.” The first type showed a slight increase from 51,000 to 54,000, but the second type a very heavy drop from 197,000 to 65.000. The margin of requirements was quite inadequate for mobilisation, and if war came before the present mechanisation was complete Great Britain would be forced to buy abroad and pay heavily. Breeding of this type was haphazard, _ and no scheme could improve the position within six years. There was a _ decrease in the number of men trained to handle horses and horse-drawn transport, but there was no difficulty in getting mechanics and drivers for mechanised units. The horse_ by no means belonged to the past in warfare. .

Russia aimed at building up a horse population of 22,000,000 by the end of 1937. Army remounts were bred at special stud farms, but all horses on collectivised farms were bred with an eye on a future _ war. Russia aimed at a combination of aircraft, tanks, and horsemen. France maintained 2,800 “ national ” stallions at 22 depots, and to this extent breeding was subsidised by the State for military purposes. Germany had a similar system. In 1932 she had 5,713 approved stallions, either State-owned or subsidised. A similar procedure whs followed in most European States. The British Army, with the exception of divisional cavalry and divisional artillery, was being mechanised, and in the event of war these would follow suit. If necessary there would be no difficulty in providing horses in New Zealand for an expeditionary force similar in size and organisation to > that of the Great War. Repercussions of trouble in Europe in New Zealand would make Mounted Rifles vital here, as much of the country could only be traversed afoot or mounted. During the discussion which followed the valuable effect'of the efforts of the Hunting Improvement Society in England were mentioned, and a motion urging the necessity of breeding the utility horse in New Zealand, and supporting any measures to have the Remount Encouragement Act of 1914 brought into operation, was endorsed .