ARMY HORSES’ FATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 143, 2 June 1936, Page 8

ARMY HORSES’ FATE

Animals Left in Egypt Before it was too late something has been done about the Army horses in Egypt. There were 22,000 horsese and mules left alive in Egypt after the war, and because there was a shortage of ships to bring them home it was thought cheaper and quicker to sell them on the spot. In consequence the Egyptian peasant was able to buy a good beast for a few shillings, and, having done so, lost no time in getting his money’s worth by working him on the land. Nobody wants to say a hard word about the diligent Egyptian peasant, but he was not the man to allow his horse to work less hard than himself. The oldtime fancies about the Arab and his steed do not apply to the animals set to work on Egyptian farms. The poor creatures farec. so badly that the tale of their sufferings reached England, where a fund of £32,000 was raised to help them. For three years efforts were made to trace those whom the Army had sold into slavery. Many survivors were found, many of them in such a shocking condition that it was merciful to destroy them. It was feared that such things would happen again, but it has now been stated in Parliament that all Army animals not needed wil. be destroyed under military supervision and none will be sold to the local inhabitants. Thai is a great and humane step forward. The tale of our old warhorses is a tale of deep shame for all of us, and it will not now be repeated.