Show AMERICAN MULE SHOWS HIS superiority k aft V W Z Z HOLE MADE BY BIG SHELL USED AS STABLE two years and a halt half of the grim war in history have wrought the triumph of at least one american institution ution the army mule according to a report in new york sun stin by a writer with the british armies in france he has been weighed anew in the scales of battle proved on the fire swept fields of france and r landers flanders 1 and not found wanting in warm winter coat and with long inquisitive ears cars flopping back and forth in the breeze he marches up among the roaring guns with a steady nonchalance that lends confidence and falth faith to the fighting men who depend so much upon him from missouri georgia tennessee mississippi texas and other stock farms in the south he be has journeyed to the war and come into his own the much maligned supposedly stubborn balky and generally pestiferous mule has won a place in the heart of the british army from which he can never be dislodged he was quite an asset in the south african campaign but now Is a real aristocrat of the transport service A most magnificent creature replied a british brigadier when asked lor for an opinion of the lowly american mule and he has a much better character than generally Is given to him he Is something like a camel in that respect most people cry down and berate the poor old camel but once you yon get to know him he Is much to be admired it Is just the same with the mule he has some ways with him which the british tommy quite appreciate at first but now that they are better acquainted and have formed a sort of entente cordiale the two have utmost respect tor for each cacti other and carry on at the front with complete understanding and effectiveness one mule equals six horses the mule had his supreme test on tills this front in the battles of the somme there were days and nights of unceasing labor short rations aud and little or no attention the strain was constant and terrific in exact ratio to the number employed six hories have hav succumbed where a single gave way the horse of course Is hn animal of finer fiber and Is far more sens sensitive it if he stumbles into a shell hole filled with water he III strive and struggle to get out until he actually dies of a broken heart not so the tha mule he has no imagination and not much of an outlook on life he calmly and philosophically lies in the shell hole until someone comes along and digs him out the mule some suppositions to th the contrary notwithstanding Is vulnerable at times to shot and shell mans man of them have been killed in action along with the horses and others have died of wounds but modern veterinary skill Is working wonders for the animals of war and one must be badly hurt indeed to be abandoned the thick alti shia of the mule saves him from many of the troubles that beset the horse it wards off mud blisters and the he affections that come from the wet ind and damp and long exposure |