ARMY HORSE-BUYING SCANDAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145941, 26 September 1917, Page 4

ARMY HORSE-BUYING SCANDAL.

33.000 ANIMALS DIE WHILE

WAITING SHIPMENT,

Remarkable figures concerning an excessive mortality among horses purchased for army purposes are given m an article in London Truth. Hie writer “Up to a recent date—somewheie about the end of Alny—more than a quarter of a million army horses and mules had died during the war. In addition to those somo 30,000 had been sold owing to old ago or disease. Ibo total, therefore, came to upwards of 280,000 animals; and tins figure docs not include animals that have died in Alesopotamia or in operation m Africa outside Egypt, for most of which the Indian Government is probably accountable. . , “Such a rate of mortality is beyond excuse or palliation, while the 30,000 sales in consequence of ago or disease point directly to scandalous laxity m buying. In addition to the animals that have died there were at a recent date 84,009 more under treatment in veterinary hospitals in England, France and tho ‘Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces. “But the most significant fact of all is that 33.000 animals have died in America while awaiting shipment, while 6000 have died at sea in course of transit. Here we have 30,000 animals purchased for military purposes, not one of which has been available for that purpose owing to.their previous disease.

“As a sidelight upon the general quality of the animals purchased I am told that some which have survived the Atlantic voyage were found to ho over 30 years old. Somo are oven said to have died upon tlie gangway at the port of shipment under riio exertion of walking on board.” The writer concludes by remarking that he had been told the average price of a horse was about £4.0, “so that the material waste can therefore be measured in millions of money.”-