FOR BRITISH HORSES ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
[To TILE EDITOR OP TRH "Srixoriaoa,"] SIR,—You were good enough last November to publish a letter from myself commending to the generosity of all lovers of horses the R.S.P.C.A. Fund for sick and wounded horses, of which I am Chairman. This Fund, which was inaugurated with the authority
of the Army Council, renders valuable aid to the Army Veterinary Department, under whose orders it carries out its operations. As a proof that the R.S.P.C.A. Fund is working with the full approval of the War Office, the following words, spoken by Mr. Tennant, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, in the House of Commons, will suffice :— • " The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the only Society recognized and authorized by the Army Council to collect funds for the provision of comforts for horses in veterinary hospitals. The expenditure of the money thus collected is under the direction of the War Office. The offers of other Societies have not been accepted." As to the value of the work already accomplished by the Fund, (a) F.M. Sir John French states that lie has received satisfactory reports of the work done up to now by the Society, and has no doubt that its efforts for the care of the sick and wounded horses will have a most beneficial effect.
(b) The Inspeator-G-eneral of Communications overseas has written: "I should like to inform you how very much we appre- ciate the valuable assistance the Society has rendered in the erection of a complete Veterinary Hospital for 1,000 horses on the Lines of Communication, and for all the accessories which have been provided from time to time in aid of the Army Veterinary Service. The Veterinary Hospital is now in full use, and the Society may rest assured that the splendid facilities for treatment which have been placed at the disposal of the State, and the extreme care and forethought which has been shown in providing the same, will bring the reward of an increased number of animals serviceable to the State and the alleviation of animal suffering under the trying conditions of war."
(c) "Eyewitness" at the British Headquarters in France writes : "In the installation and maintenance of these establish- ments the Army Veterinary Corps has received invaluable help from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has co-operated with the Military authorities most generously, loyally, and disinterestedly."
Already the R.S.P.C.A. Fund has, besides providing motor and horse-drawn horse-ambulances, motor-lorries and fodder, petrol- driven chaff-cutters and corn-crushers, and numerous other accessories, erected three complete hospitals, with "wards" and "beds" for two thousand five hundred equine patients, and accommodation for the staff ; and the success of these has been so great that the authorities have asked us to build another hospital, to house and care for an additional twelve hundred and fifty horses. We have felt it imperative to give the order for this work at once, and with the continuance of hostilities the necessary require- meats for the treatment of the sick and wounded horses of the British Army will increase almost daily. Therefore I would appeal to all who appreciate the humane as well as the economic value of our work to subscribe liberally towards this effort.
Cheques, postal orders, &c. (crossed Coutts & Co.) should be sent to E. G. Fairholme, Esq., Hon. Secretary R.S.P.C.A. Fund, 105 Jermyn Street, S.W.; or to C. A. Phillimore, Esq., Hon. Treasurer, at Messrs. Coutts & Co., 440 Strand, W.C.—I am,
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