ARMY HORSES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 5 February 1912, Page 3

ARMY HORSES.

BREAKING-IN OPERATIONS

While thdre' is truth in 'the Napoleonic saying 'that jin' army moves along on itk 'belly, "iir ahothof 'sense its Irfcomotio’n ’ is ’ impossible iVit'hout well-trained' hordes)' anil just now the Sydney Commonwealth deleted horsebreakers are bard at w'ork. Side by side with thd efforts of the followers of the classical equestrian Pollux, experiments are proceeding with the latest engine that 1 Vulcan has ’ evolved,

the motor car, With a view to ascertaining it's valiie for the rough-and-ready work of army transport. For months past the specially appointed officers of the Commonwealth Military Forces have been endeavouring to obtain horsos from all parts of Australia suitable for remount purposes. So far they have been successful, and already sufficient mater-

ial is to hand to keep this military district going for some considerable time. But up to the present the horses in hand can only lie described as “raw material,” and a great deal of training is necessary, before they can be handed over “fit and ready” to

the militia establishments which lieed them. . • . So Avar in 'NcAV South Wales the districts of MusAvellbijOok, Scone, Wejrrik Creek, and Singletpn have been |exjploited, and 165 fine upstanding andmats iiro the result. (( ' Ovtfr 180jiuov<| are 'expected at an early date from flip; northern j and Avhen thdsq come to hand the Ijreaking-ip staff Aa||S have "their time fully occupied, at; air events, until Easter. Breaking-in operations are being a foAv miles out from Liverpool, and here, a staff of fourteen breakers, under Captain M. M. Lyons, staff officer for the Australian Army Service Corps, Avith Mr J. Mullampy as fore-, :■ 'MIU'I 1,. ■■■■ 'Ail* * man brepker, are at Avon;., i ~i!ne Avorlr ojt* breaking-in such a largo riiiim-., her ' of.,pntrained horses to the, qxact-, ing' conditions of artillery and transport Avork is not without .a considerable element of danger, and to cope satisfactorily Avitli the big undcftak-: Ing a staff comprising some of the best horsemen in the State has been got together. They .are, equipped /with all the necessary gear, and their instructions, according to the staff officer in charge, are to turn out the

niAV material Avhich has been handed over to them for any military Avork, ranging from the “carrying of a trumpeter on parade to hauling a ton up T)ruitt Street.” At the next Easter camps the khorses AA’ill be ready for the use of' the militia units, the majority going to make up the establishments of the militia field artillery batteries, and some no doubt to the transport and supply columns. The first camp of the Easter series, Avhich Avill bo held at Glen Inncs—viz., the Second Light Horse Brigade Camp—Avill not have the services of any of the ugav horses at its disposal, but this will not seriously interfere with the operations Avhich have been ordered, as the field artillery attached to the brigade Avill go through its training at a later date. ~ A possible innovation, however, is

in store for the Glen Lines ,camp. For nearly tivo years past the authorities have been considering, the all-impora-ant question of motor transport, and several motor car firms have been endeavouring to find opportunities for showing the capabilities of their commercial automobiles to the responsible officers. It is therefore considered probable that this class, of transport will be available for the supply column at Glen Innes, and if so an excellent opportunity, Av'hich has been long aivaitcd by both the military authority and motor exports, Avill be afforded.