Before we leave the subject of the invasion of Belgium
we must say a word as to the manner in which the Germans are using up their horses. This is for them a most serious matter, for if they have not plenty of draught-horses for the guns and transport, and plenty also for their cavalry screens, they will sooner or later be a waterlogged army. No doubt the Germans started with a splendid supply, but the wastage has obviously been unusually heavy. And remember that the Germans, who used to get great numbers of horses from Russia and America and the Argentine, cannot now get a single animal. Their only extra source of supply is Hungary, and the Hungarian horses are not much good for draught, and are also wanted by the Austrians. No doubt the wastage for us and the French will be equally great, but we have the whole of the Transatlantic supply open to us, while the French can get thousands of useful horses from Monocco, Algiers, Tunis, and even Syria. We understand, indeed, that Canada is already sending us some twenty thousand remounts, and very soon we shall be getting walers coming to our assistance, not to mention the South African ponies.
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