THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 737, 16 January 1915, Page 6

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

ARRIVAL IN EGYPT. • News from our soldiers at the front is always welcome, and we have to acknowledge a further budget from Mr L. Bartrqp, now a trooper in the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles. _ The letter was written from Alexandria, and carries the welcome information that Troopers Reid, Gould, Fryer, R. and J. Self, Inder, and the writer were in the best of health. A short article on the trooper's horse is appended : OUR HORSES. The life of a horse 011 a troopship is no bed of roses. As a matter of fact, the poor animal has literally no bed at all, and is not permitted under any circumstances, to lie down. If he does by mischance get down, it is by falling, and then the game is found to be hardly worth the candle either for the horse or the unfortunate picquet, for this accident invariably happens at night. The stalls are two feet six inches in width, and each horse is separated by two easily moved rails, which permit of their being moved up and down whilst they are groomed, and the stalls cleaned. The upper rail is a stout jarrah and takes almost, if not all the weight, the lower being Isahikatea, 33 being easily remuVed and quite serviceable. There is one empty stall, at least, at the end of each group, and into this the next horse is moved after being groomed. Then his stall is cleaned. And so or. The horses, by the way, have their heads inwards to the centre of the ship. The boxes hang on by curved irons and are capable of holding a really good teed; in fact, are much larger than is necessary for the amount of chaff, bran and oats, but not too big for the hay they receive at night. All boxes and Bialls are coriespor-dingly numbered. They are cleaned with shovel and broom before breakfast, and afterwards the hose is put on, and this also s'etveß to bathe the horses' legs and helps to keep down puffiness as well as giving the poor animal soma relief in hot weather. Awnings, Ist down and fastened by night if necessary, and pulled out straight to shelter from the sun by day, are provided.* Some of the horstts are on the lower decks, and these suffer sadly from the heat, although all that is possible is done for them, and many there are in the ranks who can be numbered amongst those good people who are merciful unto their beast. Esercißing is carried out by laying matting on the iron deckß, and some "half-a-dozen at a time are led out in various isolated spots. By the way, as there is not too much , matting, or, ratber, not sufficient to exercise all at a time, a war is waged "over which troop shall have the use of it, and those who are keenest on their charger prove themselveß the earliest birds on > this occasion. A horse, nevertheless, is lucky to get out more often than once in five days. Some prove very stubborn and take all sorts of trouble to prevent a kindness being done them. Half-an-hour at a time is all that can be "managed. As there is no lack ofjfeed, for so

little ia required whilst the animal is taking no exercise, otherwise there would be another wild scramble to beat one's neighbour in order to benefit his own beast. So much for the dull routine, and the ennui tell 3 on man and beist, both breeds are by the time we have been over the forty days'limit, somewhat buttle in temper. Horses have a nasty way of patting tbeir ears back and reaching after any old thing' that is in reach, from the wooden stall to the soldier, and leas wary sailor. • Sundry lively bites have been attended to at the dispensary, and these amount to something when received on a bare skin, for in the warmer weather costumes for "stables" is a pair of dungaree pants. The constant standing brings on puffinesa in fetlock and hock which is very awkward to attend to in the limited space, although troopers can be seen crawling in amongst legs of horses rubbing vigorously the while. In spite of all the drawbacks and life, the horse in the main insists on keeping alive, and at the end of seven weeks we have lost but sis out of four hundred horses, although it must be admitted we have had King's weather the whole time. It is said that husband and wife are much inclined v to grow alike as years go on, and really one seems to find man and horse with many characteristics in common. We have a fine sturdy farmer lad, square of shoulder, and deep of chest, short in neck, and as to the head bullet-like. In fact, he is just the same sturdy animal as his chestunt cob, and when he is heard to growl at the horse cne smiles at the thought of self-accusation, but they are a bonnv pair. It would be carrying the thought too far to expect all men tr> resemble such a Rosinante as in view, as one sits on the hatch under a tropical sun, with a gentle head wind, enjoying a ve?y pleasant sun-bath. He is tall, and a poor doer, consequently somewhat spare of flesh, and wall-eyed to boot, the owner a stumoy little Cockney, on tip toe endeavouring to brush his face, which the animal persists in turning away. On the other hand, a tall, slim young Englishman, in build, speech, and manner an officer, nevertheless, a humble trooper, is standing over a stumpy, cheeky Maori bred. The former climbs on bis steed, the latter, aa it wer?, steps on, and so one reailses it takes all sorts to make up a troop. "Stables" are proceeding unusually smoothly to-day. The Sergeant-Major's absence accounts for this, and incidentally al9o for this being written during what Bhould be working hours. Some of the names given are at times peculiarly suitable to the riders: A somewhat pompous Colonel-Doctor has "Dolly printed on the horse cover. It has become impossible to think of the martial medico as other than"Dolly." Now, our Sergeant-Major has ap- ! psared on the scene and ended tnis I act. May little water run under the | bridges ero our poor beasts cun have ' all that their willing breasts may ; wish in free run and roll.