The Medical Department Of The United States Army in The World War
CHAPTER XX
THE VETERINARY SERVICE
AS PART OF REMOUNT SERVICE
As related in Chapter V of Volume I of this history, when we entered the World War the Veterinary Corps of the Army, established the preceding year (1916),1 was not completely organized. This accounts for the fact that, when General Pershing's headquarters sailed for France in May, 1917, it included no personnel for a veterinary service, nor did it carry plans pertaining thereto; none were existent. Veterinary officers were soon sent abroad in small numbers as requested, but the calls for them did not become urgent until shipments of animals in considerable numbers began in October of the same year.
In the absence of data concerning the organization of a veterinary service,and regulations for its guidance, it was necessary to develop these independentlyin the American Expeditionary Forces. The general organization projectapproved by headquarters, A. E. F., July 10, 1917, provided for 1 mobile veterinaryhospital, staffed by 4 officers and 150 men for each corps, and for a unit of the same composition for each army. Sincethis project did not specify the veterinary service of divisions, the Surgeon General, on September 12, 1917, cabled GeneralPershing as follows:2
In your report on organization you recommend 1 mobileveterinary hospital, consisting of 4 officers and 150 men, for each corpsand for each army. This personnel seems inadequate according to best adviceobtainable here. Surgeon General recommends 1 mobile section of 1 officerand 20 men for each division and 1 base hospital, 5 officers, and 350 menfor each 12,500 horses in forces based on probability of 10 per cent incapacitated.Does this meet with your approval?
In explanation of his plans General Pershing, on September 24, 1917,sent to War Department the following cable:3
Referring to your cablegram 169, report shows only onemobile veterinary hospital of corps and army; it does not include linesof communication veterinary hospitals which are in process of being organized.Am now organizing advance veterinary hospitals of lines of communicationfor 1,000 animals, which will be pushed up close into troop area; alsobase hospitals for 500 animals. Third Cavalry upon arrival will be usedexclusively in remount service to which veterinary hospitals were attached.While immediate project not large enough for ultimate needs, it neverthelessis very flexible and will permit of any expansion necessary. Therefore,do not recommend any changes from present plans until we have more experience.Details of project for these hospitals will be found in study of serviceof the rear forwarded to The Adjutant General, by me September 21.
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The project for the services of the rear of the American ExpeditionaryForces alluded to above, based on the needs of 20 combatant and 10 replacement divisions, was approved by General PershingSeptember 18, 1917. That part of this project which applied to the remount and veterinary service was as follows:
Remount and veterinarian
Item number | Service | Unit | Total number of units | Total strength, officers and soldiers | Animals | Reference |
Q-105 | Corps | Remount depot | 5 | 775 | 2,000 | A. E. F. project, July 11, 1917. |
Q-106 | .do. | Mobile veterinary hospital | 5 | 770 | 2,500 | Do. |
Q-209 | Army | Remount depot | 1 | 504 | 2,000 | Do. |
Q-210 | .do. | Mobile veterinary hospital | 1 | 154 | 500 | Do. |
Q-431 | Line of communications | Advance remount depot | --- | 2,043 | 6,000 | Do. |
Q-432 | .do. | Veterinary hospital | 26 | 7,592 | 26,000 |
|
Q-433 | .do. | Base remount depot | 2 | 2,044 | 6,000 |
|
Q-434 | .do. | Base veterinary hospital | 2 | 298 | 1,000 |
|
| Total | --- | --- | 11,977 | --- |
|
Q-435 | Line of communications | 10 per cent replacement | --- | 1,000 | --- |
|
NOTES.-Q-431. Two squadrons Cavalry increased so as tohave 1 soldier per 3 animals; 28 officers, 2,000 men and 1 captain quartermaster,6 veterinarians, 2 field clerks, 4 sergeant clerks, 2 sergeant storekeepers;total, 2,043.
Q-432. Seven veterinarians, 1 quartermaster sergeant,10 sergeant farriers, 2 sergeant clerks, 2 sergeant checkers, 2 sergeantoverseers, 3 sergeant horseshoers, 1 sergeant saddler, 1 corps saddler,10 corps farriers, 3 cooks, 250 privates; total, 292.
Q-433. One squadron cavalry increased so as to have 1soldier per 3 animals; 14 officers, 1,000 men, and 1 captain quartermaster,3 veterinarians, 1 field clerk, 2 sergeant clerks, 1 sergeant storekeeper;total, 1,022.
Q-434. Four veterinarians, 1 sergeant quartermaster,1 sergeant clerk, 1 sergeant checker, 1 sergeant overseer, 2 sergeant horseshoers,5 sergeant farriers, 1 corporal clerk, 1 corporal saddler, 5 corporal farriers,2 cooks, 125 privates; total, 149.
Q-435. Replacement to furnish all school details.
The project for the services of the rear could not constitute a comprehensiveveterinary program, for a veterinary service was necessary wherever there were animals, whether at the front or at therear. No provision was made in this project for veterinary officers inthe higher administrative positions with corps and armies, or with thesections of the line of communications, and for this reason close contactbetween the troops and the service of evacuation and hospitalization waslost. The veterinary service, A. E. F., for almost a year was conductedconformably to General Orders, No. 39, G. H. Q., A. E. F., September 18,1917. This order attached the veterinary service to the remount service,which in turn was a part of the Quartermaster Department, A. E. F., andthus provided that the veterinary service, despite the provisions of thenational defense act, would function outside the Medical Department, forit charged the remount service not only with the reception, care, training,conditioning, and purchase of all public animals for the American ExpeditionaryForces, but also with jurisdiction of both the mobile and stationary veterinaryhospitals.
General Orders, No. 39, also provided that a 1,000-animal veterinaryhospital with a staff of 7 officers and 293 enlisted men be attached to the advance remount depot in the proportion of 1 perarmy, and that it be capable of subdivision as required. The advance veterinary hospitals were ordered to care for disabledanimals from the corps and army, and for all that might be abandoned byunits. Intermediate veterinary hospitals were to be provided as
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required, and base veterinary hospitals were attached to the base remountdepots in base sections Nos. 1 and 2.
The tables of organization for the American Expeditionary Forces allowed1 remount depot and 1 mobile veterinary hospital for each corps, and thesame for army troops. They also provided for 1 advance and 1 base remountdepot and 1 veterinary hospital and 1 base veterinary hospital for theline of communications, but gave no details for the organizations of theseunits.
No arrangement was made for the coordination of the veterinary servicein the line of communications with that of the several divisions nor evenfor the coordination of this service in the different sections of the lineof communications. Inevitably there ensued defective coordination in thisservice in these several jurisdictions, for in each of them the veterinaryservice developed quite independently.
General Orders, No. 42, G. H. Q., A. E. F., September 26, 1917, authorized1 private, first class, or private, Medical Department, as assistant with each veterinary surgeon, and 1 sergeant,Medical Department, with each principal veterinary surgeon of each regimentof Cavalry and Field Artillery, in addition to the privates above authorized.This order also specified that when animals were treated in a regimentthe commanding officer of the organization concerned would detail men fromthe troops, batteries, or Quartermaster Corps to care for them.
The Surgeon General believed it inadvisable under any circumstancesto depart from the principle that the veterinary service should be controlledby the Medical Department, and to facilitate the adoption of this viewpoint,as well as to assist in organizing the veterinary service along lines similarto those planned for the Army in the United States, in November, 1917,he had two well-qualified veterinary officers sent to France for consultationin connection with organizing, equipping, and supplying the veterinarydepartment of the expeditionary forces.4
These officers carried an advance copy of Special Regulations, No. 70,W. D., 1917, concerning the organization of the Veterinary Corps. Theymade a very comprehensive survey of conditions in the American ExpeditionaryForces, and, in conformity with a request of the chief surgeon, A. E. F.,one of them, on December 27, 1917, made the following explicit recommendationsconcerning the organization and operation of a veterinary service for theAmerican Expeditionary Forces:5
1. Briefly stated, the objects of the Veterinary Corpsshould be to prevent disease among the animals of the Army; to relieveorganizations, especially the mobile units, of sick and disabled animals,particularly those whose mobility is affected; to treat such of these animalsas may be restored to a useful condition, and to attend to the destructionof those which are incurable or which can not be economically treated.With a sufficient and suitable personnel, properly organized and intelligentlydirected, these objects are easily within the range of attainment.
2. The necessary personnel is provided by GeneralOrders, No. 130, Paragraph III (War Department, October 4, 1917), whichdirects the organization of a Veterinary Corps, National Army, for theperiod of the existing emergency, and authorizes 1 commissioned officerand 16 enlisted men for each 400 animals in the Army, the veterinariansof the Regular Army, of the National Guard drafted into the Federal service,and of the Officers' Reserve Corps in active service to be considered partof the total commissioned personnel authorized.
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The personnel may be increased or decreased, as the needsof the service require, upon recommendation of the Surgeon General approvedby the Secretary of War. The grades and the ratios of grades authorizedfor the commissioned personnel are 7 veterinarians with rank of major,to 20 veterinarians with rank of captain, to 36 assistant veterinarianswith rank of first lieutenant, to 37 assistant veterinarians with rankof second lieutenant. The enlisted personnel is to consist of the followinggrades in the proportions indicated: Sergeants, first class, 2½per cent; sergeants, 5 per cent; corporals, 5 per cent; farriers, 20 percent; horseshoers, 1 per cent; saddlers ½ per cent; cooks, 1½per cent; privates, first class, 21½ per cent; and privates, 43per cent.
3. In accordance with section 5 of Paragraph III of thisorder, the Surgeon General has submitted tables of organization of theveterinary personnel, which have been approved by the Secretary of War.Regulations for the government of the personnel have also been submittedand approved by the same authority. The plan of organization upon whichthese tables and regulations were based is as follows:
(a) Veterinary officers, to be attached to divisionalorganizations, whose duty it shall be to closely observe the animals oftheir units for symptoms of communicable disease, to discover and reportto the commanding officer, with appropriate recommendations, unsanitaryor unhygienic conditions or practices which are likely to affect the healthor efficiency of the animals, to treat sick or injured animals, and toarrange for the evacuation to a hospital of those which may interfere withthe mobility of the organization or which may require a major surgicaloperation or prolonged treatment. With each veterinary officer there are2 farriers, 1 private, first class, and 2 privates, a detail of this characterconstituting a veterinary field unit. One such unit is provided for eachbrigade of Infantry, 2 for each regiment of Field Artillery and 4 for theother organizations included in a division. Veterinary units are providedin the same ratio for detached divisional units. Two veterinary units areprovided for each regiment of Cavalry.
(b) An organization which is called a mobile veterinarysection is provided for each division for the purpose of receiving animalsfrom the divisional organizations, giving them such treatment as they mayrequire, and transferring them to a base hospital for treatment.
(c) A division veterinarian to coordinate and supervisethe veterinary service of the division.
(d) A veterinary officer to act as meat and dairyinspector and render miscellaneous veterinary service.
(e) Base veterinary hospitals, 1 unit of 1,250capacity to each 12,500 animals, located on line of communications, advanceor intermediate section, to provide suitable quarters and veterinary servicefor animals which may be affected with communicable diseases or which mayrequire a major surgical operation or prolonged treatment. All animalsrecovering in veterinary hospitals to be delivered to a remount depot underthe direction of the remount service.
(f) Veterinary hospitals for remount depots whichare not located convenient to a base veterinary hospital and also to carefor diseases or injured animals debarked from transports.
(g) Veterinary units in remount depots, 1 unitto each 2,000 animals, to inspect the animals in the depot for symptomsof disease, to discover and report to the commanding officer unsanitaryand unhygienic conditions, to treat minor injuries and ailments, and toarrange for the removal to a hospital of animals affected with a communicabledisease and those requiring hospital care and treatment.
4. The personnel required for these various organizationsis given in detail in Table No. 1, which is attached. In this table personnelis included also for (a) the corps mobile veterinary hospital, and(b) the army mobile veterinary hospital authorized by General Orders,No. 39, paragraph 2 (H. A. E. F., September 18, 1917).
(a) The corps mobile veterinary hospital oughtto prove a valuable auxiliary to the division mobile veterinary sections,acting as a casualty clearing station and thus preventing the congestionof the mobile sections during an action.
(b) The army mobile veterinary hospital will performa valuable service by receiving and providing treatment for animals whosemobility is not affected and which may require
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only several days treatment, thus saving transportationto and from a base hospital and at the same time relieving the divisionalunits and the corps mobile hospital of the encumbrance of such animals.Animals recovering in the army mobile hospitals to be evacuated to thearmy remount hospital.
5. In order to organize, equip, and insure the properfunctioning in the theater of operations of the several elements of theveterinary organization described, and to provide for their coordinationand the cooperation with the other services of the Army, it is recommendedthat a veterinary officer be appointed chief veterinarian, with authority,under the immediate direction of the chief surgeon, to supervise and directthe veterinary service of the American Expeditionary Forces; also thatthree veterinary officers be appointed assistant chief veterinarians toassist in the administrative work, and that the necessary office assistantsbe provided. It is further recommended that for each army corps a veterinaryofficer be designated as corps veterinarian to supervise and administerthe veterinary service of the corps.
6. The organization outlined is largely supplemental tothat authorized for the American Expeditionary Forces by General Orders,No. 39 (H. A. E. F., September 18, 1917). It provides veterinarypersonnel for the mobile organizations as well as for veterinary hospitalsand remount depots on the line of communications. It differs from the latterorganization in that it places the veterinary hospitals and the other partsof the veterinary service under one administrative head and also in theveterinary personnel provided for the hospitals and remount depots, theselatter changes being based upon the experience of veterinarians in remountdepots and in the administration of veterinary hospitals. Nearly all ofthe questions and problems arising in the conduct of a veterinary hospitalrequire a knowledge of veterinary matters for their decision. Moreover,the centralization of the administration of the veterinary service is recommendedbecause every element of the veterinary organization has a definite functionto perform and each must work in coordination with the other at all timesto obtain satisfactory results. This harmonious cooperation can only besecured by placing the control of all parts of the organization under thecontrol of one head. This plan also has the effect of centralizing responsibility.Cooperation between the veterinary service and the remount and other servicescan be arranged for between the administrative heads of these servicesand can be insured, if considered advisable, by regulations.
7. On the basis of the organization outlined above, theveterinary personnel required for the organization which have already joinedthe American Expeditionary Forces is 59 officers and 338 enlisted men.For 3 base veterinary hospital units of 1,250 capacity each, for 1 veterinaryhospital for the remount depot at headquarters of base section No. 1, andfor 3 veterinary units for the advance remount depot, all of which areat present most urgently needed, there will be required 25 officers and1,184 enlisted men, making a total of 84 commissioned and 1,522 enlistedpersonnel for immediate requirements. The proportions of the various gradesand the organizations to which they are allotted are shown in detail inTable No. 2, which is attached.
8. The divisional organizations which have not yet joinedthe divisions now here will require 11 commissioned and 85 enlisted personnel.
9. To provide the veterinary personnel for the other organizationsincluded in the first phase of the priority shipment schedule, 59 officersand 1,005 enlisted men will be required.
10. For the organizations included in the second phaseof the priority shipment schedule, 139 commissioned and 2,519 enlistedpersonnel.
11. For the organizations included in the third phaseof the priority shipment schedule, 137 commissioned and 2,545 enlistedpersonnel.
12. The proportion of the several grades, together withthe allotment to each organization, is given in detail in Table No. 2,which is attached.
13. On information obtained from tables of organizationand from other sources which are regarded as authoritative, it is estimatedthat the organizations included in the first three phases of the priorityshipment schedule will be provided with approximately 195,901 horses andmules. The veterinary personnel authorized for this number of animals byGeneral Orders, No. 130, War Department, October 4, 1917, is 489 officersand 7,824 enlisted men. The total allotment of personnel on the basis ofthe organization described is 430 officers and
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7,675 enlisted men. The proportions of the different gradesauthorized and allotted will be found in the summary at the end of TableNo. 2. The number of veterinarians with the rank of major allotted is inexcess of the proportion authorized because one major has been assignedto each base hospital, but the proportion allowed will not be exceededbecause it is intended that some of these hospitals will be placed in chargeof a captain of the veterinary corps. The slight excess of horseshoersand of privates, first class, allotted can be readily adjusted. The veterinarypersonnel for the organizations which have not yet left the United Statescan be organized there and trained in the cantonments.
At about this time the chief of the administrative section of the generalstaff, general headquarters, notified the chief surgeon, A. E. F., that the commander in chief had decided to suspend the applicationof so much of the Veterinary Corps regulations (Special Regulations, No. 70, War Department, 1917) as was in conflictwith the organization of the remount service, A. E. F., as outlined inGeneral Orders, No. 39, H. A. E. F., and that while the personnel of theVeterinary Corps would remain under the general supervision of the MedicalDepartment, the commander in chief directed that the assignment of allveterinary personnel be made in accordance with recommendations submittedby the remount service.6 In consequence of these instructions,the chief of the remount service, A. E. F., assumed the direction of allof the veterinary personnel on duty in the American Expeditionary Forces.
On January 2, one of the veterinary officers referred to above, in aninterview with the chief of the administrative section of the general staff,learned that the general staff was opposed to organizing a separate veterinaryservice.7 Such a service would therefore have to be attachedto the remount service, an officer of the Veterinary Corps to be designatedas chief veterinarian and detailed as assistant to the chief of the remountservice to exercise technical supervision over the veterinary hospitalson the line of communications. It was pointed out that this would placethe chief veterinarian and the veterinarians in the hospitals at a greatdisadvantage; the results of the hospitals' work would depend to a greatdegree upon how promptly sick and injured animals were transferred to them,and the chief veterinarian would have no control over this very importantmatter. Also it would be impossible for the chief veterinarian to introduceand maintain any custom of inspection to guard against the introductionof communicable disease or to provide for the discovery and correctionof conditions or practices which would impair the health and efficiencyof animals, although it was in this way that the Veterinary Corps couldrender the greatest service. Because of the absence of any system of inspectionmange, glanders, and epizootic lymphangitis, three very infectious diseases,had already appeared among the animals of the American Expeditionary Forces.In view of these and other conditions, it was urged that a veterinary serviceshould be organized as promptly as possible.7
At the instance of the chief of the administrative section, generalstaff, the following memorandum was prepared, January 4, 1918, describing a plan of organization which corresponded as nearlyas was considered practicable with the requirements laid down by generalheadquarters, A. E. F.:7
1. In order that the veterinary service, A. E. F., maybe coordinated with the general plans of organization and operation, asoutlined by you, the following proposals are submitted for your consideration:
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I. ORGANIZATION
ZONE OF THE ADVANCE
2. Divisional veterinary personnel.-One major,Veterinary Corps, National Army, as division veterinarian; 1 veterinaryofficer as meat inspector and for miscellaneous veterinary service; 4 enlistedmen; 1 veterinary officer and 25 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps, NationalArmy, for a mobile veterinary section. One veterinary unit consisting of1 veterinary officer and 5 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps, National Army,with each brigade of Infantry; 2 veterinary units with each regiment ofArtillery; and 4 to be detailed by the division veterinarian to the otherdivisional organizations as required. Total for a division, 15 commissionedand 89 enlisted personnel. Veterinary personnel to be detailed in sameratio to detached divisional organizations.
3. Corps veterinary personnel.-One major, VeterinaryCorps, National Army, as corps veterinarian; 4 enlisted. Two veterinaryofficers, and 35 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps, National Army, for a corpsmobile veterinary hospital, one for each corps; 5 veterinary units-2 witheach regiment of Cavalry and 1 for the other corps troops. Total, 8 commissionedand 64 enlisted personnel.
4. Army veterinary personnel.-One major, VeterinaryCorps, National Army, as Army veterinarian; 4 enlisted men. The veterinaryofficers, and 75 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps National Army, for an Armymobile veterinary hospital, one for each Army; 27 veterinary units-2 foreach regiment of Artillery and 3 for the other organizations included inthe Army troops. Four mobile veterinary sections, 1 veterinary officerand 26 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps, National Army, in each section.Total, 35 commissioned and 314 enlisted personnel.
LINE OF COMMUNICATIONS
5. Evacuation hospitals, to conduct animals fromthe corps mobile hospital, and from divisional mobile sections and Armymobile hospitals if necessary, to the railhead for transportation to baseveterinary hospitals, two for each corps; 1 veterinary officer and 30 enlistedmen, Veterinary Corps, National Army.
6. Veterinary base hospital units of 1,250 capacity,1 to each 12,500 animals in the Army; 1 major or captain, Veterinary Corps,National Army, in charge, 5 additional veterinary officers and 349 enlistedmen, Veterinary Corps, National Army.
7. Veterinary personnel for remount depots.-Oneveterinary unit for each 2,000 animals in the remount depot.
8. Veterinary hospitals, 500 capacity each, forremount depots and ports of embarkation base sections; 5 veterinary officersand 122 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps National Army.
9. Veterinary sections of medical supply depots.-Oneveterinary officer and 5 enlisted men for each section.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
10. One veterinary officer, Veterinary Corps, NationalArmy, as chief veterinarian; 3 veterinary officers, Veterinary Corps, NationalArmy, as assistant chief veterinarians; and 11 enlisted Veterinary Corps,National Army; total, 4 commissioned and 11 enlisted.
II. OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION
11. Divisional.-(a) The veterinary officersattached or detailed to divisional organizations are to exercise closesupervision over the animals in order that the presence of communicablediseases may be promptly discovered, that cases of noninfectious diseasesand of injury may be brought under treatment in their incipient stages,and that sanitary conditions and unhygienic practice may be corrected beforethey can do great harm. These veterinary officers should also provide immediatetreatment for diseased and injured animals and arrange for the evacuationof those animals which require hospital care.
(b) The function of the mobile veterinary sectionis to receive the animals of the latter class, give them such attentionas they may immediately require, and transfer them to the corps mobileveterinary hospital.
(c) The veterinary service of the division shouldbe supervised and administered by the division veterinarian, whose relationto the veterinary personnel of the division should
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be the same as that existing between the division surgeonand the medical personnel. The division veterinarian should also act inan advisory capacity to the division commander on all matters pertainingto the health and efficiency of the division. If, for military reasons,the office of the division veterinarian can not be at division headquarters,it can be located with the mobile veterinary section, unless otherwisedirected by the division commander.
12. Corps.-The corps veterinarian should exercisethe same function with regard to the veterinary personnel of the corpstroops as the division veterinarian does with that of the division. Inaddition, he should direct the operation of the corps mobile veterinaryhospital. He should arrange with the veterinary officer in charge of thearmy mobile veterinary hospital for the evacuation of animals to that organizationand also notify the veterinary officer at headquarters of the advance section,line of communications, of animals to be transferred to the railhead inorder that the latter may send forward from the evacuation hospitals thenecessary conducting parties and arrange for the transportation of theanimals to base veterinary hospitals.
13. Army.-The army veterinarian should superviseand administer the veterinary service of the army troops and direct theoperation of the army mobile veterinary hospital. He should keep the veterinaryofficer at headquarters of the advance section, line of communications,advised of the state of this hospital in order that the latter may makeany necessary arrangements for the evacuation of animals.
14. Evacuation hospitals.-These should be underthe direction of the veterinary officer at headquarters of the advancesection, line of communications. Their function should be to bring animalsfrom the corps mobile hospitals, and directly from the divisional mobileveterinary sections and from the army mobile hospital, if necessary, andcare for them until they are transferred to base veterinary hospitals.
15. Base veterinary hospitals, located in advanceand intermediate sections, line of communications, are to receive and carefor animals evacuated from the organizations in the zone of the advanceand from remount depots and other organizations on the line of communications.Recovered animals to be transferred to remount depots.
16. The chief veterinarian should exercise technical supervisionover the veterinary service, A. E. F. He should be given charge, underthe chief surgeon, of the veterinary personnel, A. E. F., and should haveauthority to detail officers and enlisted men of the veterinary corps,National Army, for duty, and to coordinate the operation of the variouselements of the veterinary organization. The office of the chief veterinarianshould be located as the commander in chief may from time to time direct.One of the assistant chief veterinarians should be stationed at the headquartersof the advance section, line of communications, to supervise the evacuationof animals from the corps mobile veterinary hospitals, and directlyfrom the divisional mobile veterinary sections and from the army mobilehospital when necessary, to base veterinary hospitals in the advance orintermediate section, line of communications. One of the other assistantchief veterinarians should be located at headquarters, line of communications,and should be authorized to supervise and direct the base veterinary hospitalslocated on the line of communications and also the veterinary service ofthe mobile organization operating on the line of communications. The otherassistant chief veterinarian should be in the office of the chief veterinarianto render him such assistance as he may require and to act as an inspectorof the veterinary service.
At the instance of the chief surgeon, A. E. F., a memorandum was preparedby one of the veterinarians from the Surgeon General's Office, giving the reason why the veterinary service shouldnot be attached to the remount service, A. E. F., and a plan for its organization. This, on January 26, met with the approvalof the chief of the remount service.7
On January 30, the chief surgeon invited the attention of the commanderin chief to the unsatisfactory state of the veterinary service in the American Expeditionary Forces.7 His letteron the subject was accompanied by memoranda giving a thorough analysis of the needs of that service and included recommendations,in detail, concerning its organization, official relationships, and operation.
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Meanwhile, the Surgeon General was endeavoring to exert his influenceon the organization of a separate veterinary service, A. E. F., as is evidenced by the following extract from a letter writtenby him to the chief surgeon, A. E. F., under date of January 5, 19l8:8
The Medical Department is charged by law with the responsibilityfor the administration of the veterinary service, and it is believed thatthis responsibility can not be evaded. The department, therefore, doesnot approve, for the present, the amalgamation of the veterinary servicewith any other branch of the military service. The department is endeavoringto obtain good material for the commissioned personnel of the VeterinaryCorps, and is trying to place the whole service on a much higher planethan has been the case in the United States Army heretofore. Until thepersonnel has had greater experience in administrative matters it willneed a great deal of assistance from medical officers of all grades andpositions.
Furthermore, on January 21, 1918, the Surgeon General sent the followingcablegram to General Pershing on the same subject:9
Veterinary service in United States reorganized and placedon independent, sound working basis suitable to requirements modern warfare.Principle followed similar to British service, excepting it is under directionof Surgeon General, which change now recommended by British. Suggest immediatesteps be taken to similarly organize veterinary service with American ExpeditionaryForces, creating chief veterinarian, and vesting in him direct controland responsibility to chief surgeon and commanding general. LieutenantColonel Aitken, British veterinary service, sent here your request, hasbeen material assistance in affecting reorganization. Would you considerhis assignment to your headquarters at early date, as veterinary adviserin coordinating veterinary service of interior and theater operations?New rules and regulations this service approved, printed, and circulated.Copies in sufficient number shipped France.
On February 6, 1918, the following cablegram was sent to War Departmentin reply partly to the above-quoted message and in explanation of the adherenceto the plan of not having an independent veterinary service, A. E. F.:10
Subparagraph A. Not advisable to depart from our plansas given in service of rear project, and put in effect by orders issuedlast September. Veterinary service here branch of remount service; administrativematters at various headquarters handled through remount divisions of chiefquartermaster's offices in which veterinarians are detailed as necessary.As far as possible veterinary officers given complete charge of veterinaryhospitals, but results so far are not satisfactory. Absolutely necessaryhere for the present at least to keep veterinary service largely undersupervision officers of mounted services experienced in administrativework and not create another independent service with no experienced personnel.We have too many loose agencies already. At present it is clear that veterinarypersonnel will render most efficient service if not charged with extensiveadministrative responsibility. The Medical Corps will handle the supplyof medicines and other materials through medical supply depots; will handlepersonnel questions pertaining to veterinary services and exercises supervisionover professional phases of work. Veterinarians in the various headquartersoffices will perform the inspection and supervise performance of the professionalwork.
Subparagraph B. It will be satisfactory if you ship corpsmobile veterinary hospitals in accordance with paragraph 1 your cablegram622. We will reorganize in accordance with our plans and necessities ofservice here. The extra officers and soldiers in addition to those calledfor in our service of the rear project will allow us to strengthen theveterinary personnel assigned to divisional trains of Infantry divisionsso that they will be able to attend sick or wounded animals of Infantryregiments and other units not provided with veterinary personnel. No changesin tables of organization with regard to this considered desirable at present.Any changes found desirable will be recommended later. Do not approve ofassignment 1 mobile section to each Infantry division for evacuating animalsto rear, which under our system is to be effected by corps veterinary units.
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Subparagraph C. Other veterinary units as given in yourcablegram 622 satisfactory. All should be sent accordance priority schedule.
Subparagraph D. Number of officers for all remount unitsas given in paragraph A, your cablegram 673, except corps remount depotsappears excessive. Provision otherwise satisfactory.
Subparagraph E. Reference headquarters personnel for remountand veterinary service following should govern. Necessary personnel willbe part of chief quartermaster's offices and medical supply depots. Unnecessaryand undesirable to have this personnel separately prescribed as presenttime. Sufficient personnel available here for all above assignments providedyou send all remount and veterinary units organized as indicated in precedingparagraphs and supply replacement drafts in accordance with arrangementsfor automatic replacements. If any additional personnel is required fromUnited States for remount and veterinary service you will be promptly advised.
No further efforts were made, for the time at least, to secure the detachmentof the veterinary service from the remount service, A. E. F. However, becausecertain responsibilities of the Medical Department, in connection withthe veterinary service, could not be overlooked, and since these had notbeen definitely covered in instructions promulgated by general headquarters,A. E. F., the chief surgeon, A. E. F., seeking a ruling in the matter,sent, on February 22, 1918, the following memorandum to the chief of staff,general headquarters.11
1. From all that has been said and written and cabledduring the last two months, I gather that, so far as the veterinary serviceis concerned, it is the duty of the Medical Department to furnish personneland supplies for the veterinary service, A. E. F., and that the remainderof the veterinary service will be handled by the remount service. Willyou please indicate if my conclusion on this subject is correct.
2. I consider it most important that a definite answershall be given in this matter before the contemplated change is made. Myonly desire is that the Medical Department shall meet the obligations expectedof it in the organization which has been adopted.
The pronouncement from general headquarters, A. E. F., concerning theabove-quoted memorandum from the chief surgeon was to the effect that, since the veterinary service was a part ofthe remount service, the chief surgeon, after supplying needed personnelto the Medical Department, would report other personnel to headquarters,Services of Supply, for assignment to the remount service for veterinarypurposes.12 In so far as veterinary supplies were concerned,these were to be supplied by the Medical Department.12
The officers who had been sent to France at the instance of the SurgeonGeneral in November, 1917, with a view of organizing a veterinary service,continued their efforts until March 10, 1918, when they submitted a finalreport.7
Believing that there was nothing further that they could do and thattheir mission was a complete failure, they returned to the United States, leaving in the hands of the assistant chief of staff,G-1, general headquarters, A. E. F., a lengthy memorandum and a copy of a general order pertaining to the organizationand administration of the veterinary service, A. E. F., which they hadproposed.7
On March 10, 1918, the chief quartermaster, A. E. F., was directed bythe commander in chief to appoint a chief veterinarian, A. E. F., and accordinglya veterinary officer of the grade of major was assigned to that position.13The newly appointed chief veterinarian's duties were those of a technicaladviser to the chief of the remount service rather than those of an administrator.He was
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not permitted to administer his department; he was subject to the controlof the chief of the remount service, the latter in turn to that of thechief quartermaster. Consequently, in all matters affecting the advancearea, the chief veterinarian had to communicate his instructions through, and subject to the approval of,not only the officers mentioned but also of the general staff, general headquarters.13 The delay in transmittinginstructions through these channels was considerable, particularly whereeach successive head, being responsible for each proposal submitted throughhim, wanted details before he would approve and transmit any request. Thissituation was of most serious import when the outbreak of an epidemic wasreported, for the chief veterinarian, being only a technical adviser forhis own branch of the service, was not permitted even to exercise technicaladministrative duties over other veterinary officers.13 Eventually,however, he was given authority to correspond with division veterinariansdirect on technical subjects.13
Neither the chief of the remount service nor chief veterinarian hadany direct authority in the zone of the advance, so that the administration of the two services, remount and veterinary, in thearmies had to be effected through general headquarters.13 Asa result of this situation some 75,000 animals in the advance area werepractically outside of their administrative control.13
Since animals on purchase were shipped direct to remount depots, and70 per cent of the animals became sick on arrival, the remount depots becamevirtual veterinary hospitals;13 consequently animals cured atveterinary hospitals were issued direct to divisions. Veterinary unitsarriving in France from the United States had to be sent to remount depotsinstead of to veterinary hospitals because of the great numbers of sickanimals there.13 Mange spread extensively among all the animalsof the American Expeditionary Forces, and in the advance zone thousandsof them had been treated by hand through lack of properly constructed mangehospitals with hot sulphur baths.13
A systematic method of remount and veterinary construction did not gointo effect until June, 1918.13 All veterinary hospitals were crowded to the utmost, and half of our sick animals were beingtreated either at remount depots or with their organizations. At one time 600 animals of the 1st Division were turnedover to a French Cavalry regiment for treatment for the cure of mange,as we had not sufficient hospital space to treat them.13 Glandersbroke out frequently among the animals of combat divisions, and becauseit took five days or more through the necessary channels of administrationto reach the outbreak, the disease naturally spread to a greater numberof horses than would have been the case with a more direct system of control.13
On July 3, 1918, General Pershing requested the War Department to sendto France the best available senior veterinarian for administrative duty.14The officer selected sailed on July 30, 1918.
Reports received about this time showed an enormous amount of sicknessand disability among public animals.15 For weeks the noneffectiverate was above 30 per cent, and the prospects seemed excellent for a completebreakdown of the veterinary service and the practical immobilization ofanimal organizations.
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The defects in service which had developed up to this time were attributedby the officer who had been acting as chief veterinarian, to the following conditions:13
(1) Lack of technical administration of the veterinaryservice by a chief veterinarian; (2) mixing of diseased and healthy horsesat remount depots; (3) slowness of construction of both veterinary hospitalsand remount depots; (4) the necessity of entire separation of a serviceof supply such as was the remount service, and a service of salvage, suchas was the veterinary service; (5) the lack of a high ranking officer representingthe veterinary service as a separate organization.
General Orders, No. 122, general headquarters, A. E. F., July 26, 1918,revoked General Orders, No. 39, 1917, but the veterinary service remained attached to the remount service and underits jurisdiction. The chief veterinarian retained technical supervisionof the veterinary service, A. E. F., and the necessary officers and personnelfor this purpose were assigned to his office.
In a memorandum to the commander in chief, A. E. F., dated August 9,1918, the chief surgeon, A. E. F., remarked that the existing organization in veterinary service was as illogical as makingthe medical service of an army a function of the recruiting and replacement service.16 It prevented the developmentof the veterinary service along professional and scientific lines and resulted in the mingling, at all points along the line from rear tofront, of serviceable horses going forward with sick horses going back,thus resulting in a very high mortality rate and a great deal of infectiousdisease. Seventy per cent of the animals in the American ExpeditionaryForces at the time were suffering from sickness, whereas in the Britishservice the proportion was only 7 per cent from all causes.16
At this time a veterinary officer and a remount officer of the BritishArmy were assigned to headquarters, Services of Supply, in response toa cabled request for their services in order that they might give the AmericanExpeditionary Forces the benefit of their experiences.13 Theseofficers, through the headquarters of the British mission, made certainrecommendations for betterment in the remount and veterinary services,A. E. F. The British veterinary officer, who had been of great assistanceto the veterinary service in the United States, obtained audiences withthe chief of staff, A. E. F., and the chief quartermaster, A. E. F., and recommended that the veterinary service, A. E. F., bemade to conform to Special Regulations, No. 70, War Department, which order he had assisted in formulating.13After the chief of staff, A. E. F., and chief of the remount service hadinspected several remount depots and veterinary hospitals, this recommendationwas approved and General Orders, No. 139, general headquarters, A. E. F.,August 24, 1918, was issued, directing that the veterinary service be transferredfrom G-1 to G-4, general headquarters, that a veterinary division be establishedin the office of the chief surgeon, and that the veterinary service, A.E. F., conform to Special Regulations, No. 70, War Department, 1917. Thisorder was the basis of the perfected organization of the veterinary service,A. E. F.
AS PART OF MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
Under the chief surgeon the officer at the head of the veterinary divisionof his office was now charged with the administration of the veterinaryservice, A. E. F., whose relations with the remount service were to bethose prescribed
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by paragraph 138 of Special Regulations, No. 70.17 The organizationof veterinary units was to continue as prescribed by the tables of organizationthen in force.
On August 27, a Veterinary Corps officer was made chief veterinarian,A. E. F., and was assigned to the chief surgeon's office, and, on August29, a veterinary division of that office was organized.16 Itwas through no fault of its own that the veterinary service, A. E. F.,had not been properly organized at an earlier period of its history, butdefects yet were such that they were not overcome until March, 1919.16
The adoption of Special Regulations, No. 70, War Department, 1917, markedthe real beginning of the veterinary service, A. E. F. This new organization provided a simple, direct, and efficientmechanism for the evacuation of sick and inefficient animals from combatantforces to veterinary hospitals in the Services of Supply, where organizedand specially trained units cared for them. From these Services of Supplyhospitals the animals that were free from disease were evacuated to remountdepots and thence returned to service. Animals which were not consideredfit for treatment and eventual reissue were sold to butchers and civiliansor killed to terminate their suffering. Some were employed in the Servicesof Supply.16
The veterinary hospitals were placed under command of veterinary officers,and steps were taken immediately to collect scattered companies and half companies of such hospitals into wholeworking organizations.16 The issue of convalescent animals from veterinary units back to organizations was stopped, andthe policy of passing all convalescent animals through remount depots for reissue was instituted. The prompt rendition ofweekly animal sick reports and their accurate compilation was insisted upon. Requirements were anticipated and reenforcementsfrom the United States, already overdue, were cabled for. Further hospital accommodation was sought, and, with difficulty,an insufficient amount procured.16 These measures led to a materialreduction in animal morbidity.16
The chief veterinarian, A. E. F., exercised direct jurisdiction overthe activities of the veterinary service only in the Services of Supply; in the zone of the armies, administrative contact effectedthis through a veterinary officer with the fourth section of the general staff, G. H. Q.18 Through arrangements with theBritish and the French missions, an officer of the veterinary service ofthe British and French Armies was secured for liaison work.19These officers were assigned to the office of the chief veterinarian, A. E. F.19
As finally organized, the office of the chief veterinarian comprisedthe following:19 The chief veterinarian; executive officer;one inspector; an administrative branch; a construction branch; a personnelbranch; a statistical branch; liaison officers.
ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL
Tables of Organization, No. 331, December 31, 1917, prescribed for aveterinary hospital (capacity 1,000 patients) 7 veterinary officers, 1 medical officer, and 311 enlisted men. Tablesof Organization, No. 109, February 12, 1918, fixed the strength of a corps mobile veterinary hospital at 2 officers, and
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35 enlisted men. Tables of Organization, No. 330, March 10, 1918, prescribedfor a mobile army (or for a base) veterinary hospital (capacity 500 animals) 4 officers and 144 enlisted men. Tablesof Organization, No. 43, January 14, 1918, provided for each Infantry division3 veterinary field units and 1 mobile veterinary section, the total personnelof this service for a division being placed at 12 officers and 51 enlistedmen. Each division leaving the United States was to be accompanied by thiscontingent, part of whose members composed the units above mentioned whilethe others were assigned to division headquarters, brigades, Artilleryregiments and trains.
The veterinary hospitals authorized for the American Expeditionary Forceswere as follows:20 Corps mobile veterinary hospital (evacuation) with 2 officers and 35 enlisted men; army mobileveterinary hospital (evacuation) with 4 officers and 144 enlisted men,and designed for 500 patients with half the equipment of a veterinary hospital;base veterinary hospital (stationary) with the same allowance of personneland equipment as the preceding; and veterinary hospital (stationary) with8 officers and 311 enlisted men. The last mentioned, which was the typicalhospital for the service of the rear, had a normal capacity of 1,000 patients.
General Pershing's project for the rear called for the shipment of theforegoing units as follows: Corps mobile veterinary hospitals, 5; army mobile veterinary hospitals, 1; base veterinaryhospitals, 2; veterinary hospitals, 26.
The phases under which the foregoing units were shipped are shown onpage 209, Volume I of this history. Other units organized which reached France under an additional (October) phaseconsisted of corps mobile veterinary hospitals Nos. 7, 8, and 9.21
Veterinary personnel was also sent to France with 4 Cavalry regiments,6 Engineer regiments, and 29 remount squadrons.22
The 1st, 2d, 26th, 42d, 41st, and 32d Divisions left for overseas inthe order mentioned before the veterinary personnel was fully assigned or the mobile sections organized, but the latter wereassembled and sent over as a part of the first phase.23
With the foregoing exceptions, veterinary organization of the firsteight Regular Army, the National Guard, and the National Army divisions was accomplished at the station when each division wasorganized, and the veterinary units proceeded overseas with their respectivedivisions.23
In April, 1918, the 132 veterinary officers available in France werequite able to meet all needs, but the situation was quite different in so far as enlisted men were concerned.16 Thefirst two veterinary hospitals, comprising some 300 men each, arrived inFrance on April 4, 1918,16 the delay in their arrival beingdue to the same cause that delayed other Medical Department organizations;that is to say, shortage of tonnage and the necessity for giving priorityto combatant troops.16 This shortage of men was somewhat relieved,however, by detailing certain squadrons of the remount service to assistthe veterinary service.16
With some minor changes veterinary units organized in the United Statesin conformity with the project for services of the rear were sent to Franceas called for in the priority schedule.15
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The following tabulated statement shows the veterinary hospital unitsand their enlisted strength which arrived in France between April 16, 1918,and January 1, 1919, with dates of embarkation from the United States andof demobilization:23
| Number of veterinary officers | Number of enlisted men | Date of embarkation | Date of demobilization |
Veterinary hospital: |
|
| 1918 | 1919 |
| 1 | 6 | 300 | Apr. 16 | June 21 |
| 2 | 6 | 300 | Mar. 28 | June 20 |
| 3 | 6 | 300 | May 15 | June 12 |
| 4 | 6 | 300 | Apr. 29 | June 18 |
| 5 | 6 | 300 | May 9 | June 12 |
| 6 | 6 | 300 | Mar. 28 | June 19 |
| 7 | 7 | 300 | July 26 | June 25 |
| 8 | 7 | 300 | .do. | June 26 |
| 9 | 7 | 300 | .do. | June 24 |
| 10 | 7 | 300 | .do. | June 22 |
| 11 | 7 | 300 | .do. | June 19 |
| 12 | 7 | 300 | .do. | Do. |
| 13 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 4 | June 28 |
| 14 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 8 | Do. |
| 15 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 14 | June 29 |
| 16 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 28 | June 26 |
| 17 | 7 | 300 | .do. | July 6 |
| 18 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 29 | June 19 |
| 19 | 7 | 300 | Oct. 21 | Do. |
| 20 | 7 | 300 | .do. | Do. |
| 21 | 7 | 300 | .do. | July 5 |
| 25 | 6 | 141 | Oct. 27 | Jan. 26 |
Base veterinary hospital: |
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 4 | 144 | Apr. 16 | June 20 |
| 2 | 4 | 144 | Oct. 28 | July 5 |
Mobile army veterinary hospital: |
|
|
|
|
| 1A | 2 | 72 | July 26 | (a) |
| 1B | 2 | 72 | Oct. 28 | (a) |
| 2 | 4 | 144 | Nov. 19 | (a) |
Corps mobile veterinary hospital: |
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 2 | 35 | Apr. 18 | (b) |
| 2 | 2 | 35 | July 26 | July 5 |
| 3 | 2 | 35 | Oct. 28 | (b) |
| 4 | 2 | 35 | .do. | do |
| 7 | 2 | 35 | Nov. 22 | Aug. 15 |
| 8 | 2 | 35 | Nov. 23 | June 30 |
| 9 | 2 | 35 | Nov. 24 | July 1 |
Veterinary replacement unit: |
|
|
|
|
| 1 | 13 | 200 | Oct. 14 | (b) |
| 2 | 12 | 200 | .do. | (b) |
| 3 | 13 | 200 | .do. | (b) |
| 4 | 12 | 195 | .do. | (b) |
aAbsorbed in other units.
bAbsorbed.
As shown in the foregoing statement, several of the units were absorbedby other veterinary organizations in France, and never operated independently.They were demobilized with the units of which they had become a part.23
In addition to hospital groups above listed, other personnel was sentover with divisions, corps, and army organizations, until the Veterinary Corps, A. E. F., reached a maximum of 890 commissionedofficers and 9,701 enlisted men.23 The latter were augmentedby 2,000 labor troops who were assigned to this service, and at varioustimes temporarily by several hundred men of the remount service.23There was no appreciable service diminution until April 1, 1919, when theveterinary service began to be gradually reduced and personnel sent tothe United States for demobilization and discharge.23
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The following table shows the strength of the Veterinary Corps, A. E.F., as of various dates:
Date | Officers | Enlisted men | Date | Officers | Enlisted men |
1917 |
|
| 1918 |
|
|
Dec. 15 | 106 | 7 | Nov. 2 | 728 | 5,166 |
1918 |
|
| Nov. 16 | 802 | 5,505 |
Jan. 5 | 105 | 7 | Nov. 30 | 854 | 8,152 |
Feb. 2 | 113 | 7 | Dec. 7 | 857 | 8,275 |
Mar. 2 | 115 | 18 | Dec. 28 | 890 | 8,970 |
Apr. 6 | 141 | 18 | 1919 |
|
|
Apr. 20 | 191 | 596 | Jan. 11 | 835 | 9,282 |
Apr. 27 | 203 | 597 | Jan. 28 | 853 | 9,423 |
May 4 | 214 | 626 | Feb. 1 | 850 | 9,458 |
June 1 | 262 | 1,042 | Feb. 22 | 839 | 9,701 |
June 15 | 326 | 1,635 | Mar. 1 | 832 | 9,661 |
June 29 | 353 | 2,101 | Mar. 22 | 819 | 9,583 |
July 6 | 380 | 2,155 | Apr. 5 | 778 | 9,527 |
July 20 | 421 | 2,246 | Apr. 19 | 759 | 9,430 |
Aug. 3 | 443 | 2,482 | May 3 | 700 | 9,257 |
Aug. 24 | 523 | 4,256 | May 17 | 634 | 9,104 |
Sept. 7 | 555 | 4,413 | May 31 | 551 | 8,560 |
Sept. 21 | 642 | 4,450 | June 7 | 523 | 8,285 |
Oct. 5 | 678 | 4,612 | June 13 | 451 | 6,192 |
Oct. 19 | 719 | 5,055 | June 20 | 329 | 4,819 |
HOSPITALS
No real veterinary hospitals were established in France in 1917.23Such hospitals began to appear in the spring of 1918; so far as recordsgo the first establishments were as follows:23 No. 6, Neufchateau,April 16, 1918; No. 4, Carbon Blanc, May 4, 1918; No. 4, Camp de Souge (detachment from hospital), May 12, 1918;No. 10, Bourbonne-les-Bains, July 8, 1918; No. 8, Claye Souilly, August8, 1918; No. 9, St. Nazaire, August 8, 1918; No. 7, Coetquidan, August8, 1918.
When the Medical Department took over the veterinary service on August29, 1918, there were in operation 11 hospitals, with a total capacity of 11,580 animals. Fifteen had been established,but some had been abandoned.23
On November 1, 1918, there were in operation 15 veterinary hospitalsthroughout the different areas of the American Expeditionary Forces, but not all construction had been completed.The total animal capacity then available was approximately 12,000, butthis was inadequate as many more cases than this number had to be caredfor, thus necessitating the use of picket lines, corrals, paddocks, andother expedients.23
After November 1, however, locations for veterinary hospitals were rapidlysecured at Verdun, Longuyon, and Commercy, in the advance section, andconstruction was rushed to completion at Sougy and Lux, in the intermediatesection.24 Three thousand animals were turned in to the veterinary hospital at Verdunwithin 24 hours after the personnel arrived there for station in December,though the accommodation of the veterinary hospital there was for lessthan 1,700 animals.24
A determined effort was made to locate new hospital sites and have morelabor troops assigned to Veterinary Corps to aid in evacuation and careof sick animals until the veterinary hospital personnel which were on thewater or cabled for would arrive.25
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On November 11, 1918, one army mobile veterinary hospital was in serviceof the First Army, where it had been for several months,26 and another in that of the Second.27At this time mobile veterinary hospitals which had been provided for theFirst, Second, Third, Fourth, and Seventh Corps, were either assigned or available;furthermore, a mobile-veterinary hospital for each of the three other corps was on the shipping program.27Twenty-one veterinary hospitals and two base veterinary hospitals were provided in the Services of Supply, and 10 other veterinaryhospitals and 1 other base veterinary hospital were on the shipping programor in process of organization in France when the armistice was signed.27
When the Third Army moved to the Rhine, locations were secured for veterinaryhospitals at Coblenz and Treves, and personnel to man them was rapidly pushed forward.19 Stablesof knock-down type for 10,000 animals were held in readiness at Verdunfor shipment to the Third Army if required.19
Location of the principal veterinary hospitals, American ExpeditionaryForces, during operations, with the approximate animal capacity of each:23
Location | Animal capacity | Location | Animal capacity |
St. Nazaire | 3,000 | Jeanne d'Arc | 1,000 |
Coetquidan | 2,160 | Neufchateau | 1,700 |
Carbon Blanc | 950 | Claye Souilly | 1,200 |
Camp de Souge | 1,000 | Bourbonne-les Bains | 1,250 |
Gievres | 2,000 | Commercy | 750 |
Nevers | 1,000 | Lux | 700 |
Neuilly L'Eveque | 1,200 | Longuyon | 1,200 |
Triconville | 1,350 | Verdun | 2,000 |
Treveray | 1,000 | Grosrouvres | 300 |
Valdahon | 1,300 | Woinville | 300 |
Veterinary hospitals were established also at Toul, Meucon, Epinal,Sougy, and Treves, in the zone of the armies.28
The maximum number of veterinary hospitals, exclusive of those withthe armies, was 21. The total capacity of these hospitals was 27,614 animals.28
On March 1, 1919, there were 20 veterinary hospitals in operation, exclusiveof army veterinary hospitals with an animal capacity of 26,664, and containing about 20,000.23
After April 1, 1919, the capacity of veterinary hospitals was graduallyreduced, and by May 1, 12 veterinary units had been placed on the priority list for return to the United States, and alllabor troops had been relieved from duty with the veterinary service.29 Only 8 hospitals were then in operation, containingabout 4,000 animals. The hospitals could have been evacuated more rapidly but for the fact that the remount depots were receivinganimals from troops that were returning home and were crowded to capacity.29 Therefore animals were held at hospitalsuntil they were in a salable condition.
After June 20, 1919, demobilization proceeded very rapidly and by Septemberpractically all members of the veterinary service had been returned to the United States except such as weredesignated for duty with the American forces in Germany.23
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SUPPLY OF ANIMALS
Much of the embarrassment of the veterinary service was due not onlyto inadequate personnel but also to the overcrowded condition of the hospitals, which in turn resulted from the fact thatreplacement animals were not available in sufficient numbers at any timeprior to the armistice to permit early evacuations of animals moderatelyincapacitated. This caused great numbers to become totally incapacitated,required hurried evacuation, and necessitated relatively prolonged treatment.23
In July, 1917, the French agreed to furnish our forces with 7,000 animalsa month; accordingly, the War Department was requested to discontinue shipments.27 However, on August24, 1917, the French advised us that it would be impossible to furnish the number of animals originally stated, and the War Departmentwas again asked to supply animals, but none could be sent over until November,and then only a limited number.27
Up to July, 1918, relatively few horses belonged to the American ExpeditionaryForces.16 When it was decided to hasten the departure of Americantroops to France, the prevailing shortage of ship tonnage made it impossibleto transport with troops their full complement of horses. As a result,in April, 1918, although there were six divisions of the American ExpeditionaryForces in France, they had (including all animals in remount depots) only55,378 animals.16 It had been hoped that horses could be obtainedin Europe, but the supply proved altogether insufficient, and consequentlywhat horses the American Expeditionary Forces had were overworked, contracteda large amount of contagious diseases, and rapidly became inefficient throughsickness, with a high mortality.16
Early in 1918, after General Pershing's personal intervention and muchdelay, the French Government made requisition on their country and we wereable to obtain 50,000 animals.27 After many difficulties, thepurchasing board was successful in obtaining permission in the summer of1918 to export animals from Spain, but practically no animals were receiveduntil after the armistice was signed.27 Sound animals sent upfrom depots were soon infected in divisional areas.26
Because of the shortage of veterinary surgeons in the American ExpeditionaryForces, no officers of that corps were available for the inspection ofsome 30,000 of the animals purchased; a result of this situation was theinclusion of a great many diseased horses among those thus procured.23Every effort was made to reduce animal requirements by increased motorizationof artillery and by requiring mounted officers and men to walk, but inspite of all these efforts the situation as to animals grew steadily worse.The shortage by November 1, 1918, exceeded 106,000, or almost one-halfof all our needs. To relieve the crisis in this regard, during the Meuse-Argonneoperation, Marshal Foch requisitioned 13,000 animals from the French armiesand placed them at the disposal of the American Expeditionary Forces.27
EVACUATION OF SICK AND WOUNDED ANIMALS
The system of animal evacuation adopted by the American ExpeditionaryForces, and promulgated in General Orders, No. 39, H. A. E. F., September18, 1917, was similar to that employed by the British veterinary service.23In
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this order it was prescribed that the veterinary service should operateas follows: Animals with organizations of the army that were wounded or had become unserviceable were to be taken over by mobileveterinary units and delivered to the nearest veterinary hospital. The organizations from which these unserviceableanimals were taken were to requisition on the nearest corps remount depot for the animals needed to replace those turnedover to the Veterinary Corps, and the corps depot was to deliver to theorganizations the animals asked for. The corps remount depots were to bekept filled by transfers of animals from the Army depot which was to keepits quota of animals by requisition on the advance or base depots. Allremount depots were to receive at any time any animals that had been curedof disease or that had recovered from wounds at veterinary hospitals. Inshort, the remount service was to keep organizations supplied with serviceableanimals and the veterinary service was to relieve organizations of thecare of all sick or unserviceable animals.
There was no intrinsic reason why this plan should not have worked successfullyprovided it was completely developed. It was merely an outline of the planof supply and evacuation, and since there was neither provision for administrativeveterinary officers nor for the close coordination of the different parts of theveterinary service, inevitably there developed under General Orders, No.39, H. A. E. F., 1917, one veterinary service functioning under the remountservice, and one in each division, all operating quite independently.23Also, no corps or Army veterinary service was provided for in connectionwith moving troops, nor was there any arrangement for coordination of theservices in the base, intermediate, and advance sections.23
The need of an organized veterinary service in the army zone becamestrikingly apparent during the Aisne-Marne operation in the summer of 1918.19In the First and Third Corps, which participated,30 no uniformsystem for the evacuation of disabled animals had been provided for, andeach of the constituent divisions operated its veterinary service independently,caring for its animals and disposing of them on its own initiative andas best it could.26 This lack of coordination in these two corpsentailed a great loss of animals. In the First Corps a corps veterinarianwas appointed who organized a corps mobile hospital of 2 officers and 35men, augmented by a troops of Cavalry.26 It is noteworthy thatthis organization collected disabled animals from the divisions of thecorps and prepared plans for their subsequent shipment to the rear, thusbeing our first attempt to carry out a systematic plan for the evacuationof disabled animals.26
FIRST ARMY
In the plans for the organization of the staff of army and corps, FirstArmy, no provision had been made for a veterinary staff service, but as the necessity for such service was now recognized,an army veterinarian was appointed for the First Army when that force wasorganized.23 This officer operated under the remount serviceuntil the veterinary service was transferred to the Medical Department,August 27, 1918.
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During the earlier operations evacuations of animals were effected inthe First Army as follows:23 Division mobile veterinary sections, located at the most accessible points for receiving animalsfrom divisional units, received and prepared all cases for evacuation. Here first aid was given; the mallein test was administered;if necessary, animals were shod; if in a hopeless condition, they were destroyed to prevent suffering. From the divisionalcollecting points they were transported overland by the mobile veterinarysections to the receiving points of corps mobile veterinary hospitals wherethey were classified, given first-aid treatment as at divisional points,and in turn evacuated to the army mobile veterinary hospitals. These unitswere charged with the temporary care of animals and their shipment to Servicesof Supply hospitals.
At first, the use of railheads for the evacuation of sick animals wasrefused by the First Army, without reference to general headquarters, A. E. F.23 Thus hundreds of animals debilitatedand sick, often suffering from serious wounds, were lost, through beingevacuated long distances overland; literally thousands were retained withdivisions through the inability of the veterinary personnel to cope withthe requirements of long overland evacuation.23 Eventually,the necessity for evacuating by railroad was conceded, but for a time anotherdifficulty obtained.23 Instead of the activity being considereda veterinary one, it was placed directly under G-4 of the army; consequently,this portion of the evacuating mechanism being out of the control of thearmy veterinarian, adequate arrangements could not be made by him to sendtrainloads of sick animals to the hospitals prepared to receive them.23Instead,animals to be evacuated were sent to hospitals deemed most suitable byG-4 of the army, the personnel of which did not always possess adequateknowledge of the receiving capacity of such hospitals. Presently this obstaclewas removed, however, and veterinary evacuating hospitals (sections) commandedby veterinary officers, took over the evacuated animals from divisionsand moved them by railroad to allotted hospitals.23
About October 1, 1918, two army evacuating units were placed forwardnear advanced railheads to carry on the work of receiving sick animals direct from the divisional mobile veterinarysections and attend to their evacuation, the corps units being taken overand consolidated with those of the army.23 This proved of greatadvantage and was the means of saving the lives of many animals that otherwisewould have perished on the way to the rear under the operation of the formersystem.
Because of the great shortage of replacements necessary to keep up theanimal strength of organizations, the evacuation of inefficient animals, unless totally disabled, was impossible duringactive operations.23 This circumstance in turn caused many animalsto be returned which should have been evacuated earlier.
Failure to provide animals for replacements during active operationswas a most important factor in the increase in the number of sick.22It happened repeatedly that the recommendation of veterinarians concerningthe evacuation of unfit animals was opposed by unit commanders, who protestedthat sick and emaciated animals were better than none and that the activitiesof their units would be crippled or wholly suspended unless the sick animalswere retained or
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replaced.22 Consequently, animals were worked until theystarved to death, died in harness or were in such condition that when evacuatedthey could not be cured.22 Also under these conditions mangespread so rapidly that the entire animal strength of some organizationswas affected.22 Inevitably there were great losses which couldhave been averted had replacements been available.23 The retentionof inefficient animals within combatant units hindered in no small measurethe mobility and efficiency of organizations operating on the front line.Not until after the armistice began did these units fail to show hesitancyin evacuating incapacitated animals, and then sick animals long retainedin divisions were thrown in large numbers upon the veterinary service forevacuation and treatment. Upon the removal of a great percentage of thesick, the efficiency of the animals left was markedly increased.23
Adequate provisions could not be made for the flow of evacuations thatensued after the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne operations, and, as a result, the veterinary hospitals were greatlyundermanned and overcrowded.19 Sick animals had been so longretained with divisions, that their evacuation in bulk, although absolutelynecessary, threw great strain on all veterinary
hospitals, and some of them perilously approached collapse.31
The large number evacuated at this time is indicated by the fact that,in 24 hours, 3,000 animals were evacuated to the veterinary hospital at Verdun where the stable capacity was only 1,625.23Fortunately, 10 veterinary hospitals were at sea or under orders to embark, and until sufficient veterinary personnel becameavailable labor companies and remount squadrons were temporarily detailed to assist these hospitals. However, evenwith this increase of resources there was not sufficient personnel to meet the situation fully.23
An efficient veterinary service which gradually brought the animal efficiencyof the American Expeditionary Forces to a standard comparable with that of the Allies was not reached until afterthe armistice was signed.23
The following figures pertaining to the First Army indicate to a degreethe scope of its veterinary service:23 Animals evacuated, 11,507;died, 2,037; destroyed, 1,334; killed in action, 734. The highest numberof animals of the First Army was 93,032, while the average strength was8,841. Mange and debility caused the majority of the evacuations from theFirst Army.
SECOND ARMY
The Second Army evacuated its disabled animals to a veterinary hospitalestablished at Toul, whence some animals were sent to other veterinaryhospitals in the Services of Supply.23 When the Second Armywas organized October 10, 1918,32 it was not intended that itshould at once undertake a vigorous operation. It had a relatively quietsector, and was preparing for an offensive which began three days beforethe armistice was signed and was terminated by that event.27
At this time advanced Veterinary Hospital No. 5 was stationed at Jeanned'Arc Caserene, near Toul.23 This unit had been utilized by the First Army during the St. Mihiel operation. It nowpassed to the control of the new army and was used as a receiving station for all evacuations from the Second Army area. Fromthis point, after a rest, the animals were shipped to Services of
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Supply hospitals. Shortly before the armistice began the veterinaryhospital at Jeanne d'Arc Caserne was taken over by the advance section, and two army mobile veterinary hospital units wereassigned to take care of Second Army evacuations. These were placed atthe advanced railheads and were ready to function in the military operationabout to take place; however, owing to the cessation of hostilities theydid not operate in the manner planned except to receive and evacuate sickanimals from organizations held in the area awaiting orders for movementto the rear. These evacuating units were retained at the points where theywere originally located and were used for the establishment of temporaryhospitals until the Second Army as such passed out of existance.23
As in the First Army, most of the losses and incapacity of animals inthe Second Army were due to the ravages of mange and to improper care.23Replacements being difficult to procure, organizations were loathe to givetheir animals up in the early stages of disease; consequently, they wereheld until so emaciated and diseased as to be a constant menace to theother animals of the command.23
The following tabulation indicates the extent of veterinary operationsof the Second Army:23
Greatest animal strength | 30,391 |
Average animal strength | 12,007 |
Number of animals evacuated | 6,219 |
Number killed in action | 146 |
Number wounded by shrapnel and high explosives | 385 |
Number died and debility and exhaustion | 207 |
Number died from other causes | 298 |
Number missing in action | 27 |
Evacuation of animals from the Second Army was limited to a minimumbecause the crowded condition of the Services of Supply veterinary hospitals made imperative the treatment of largenumbers of animals within their organization. Approximately 30,000 animalswere dipped between February 1 and April 10, 1919, and large numbers ofothers in divisional units were hand treated by sprays.23
THIRD ARMY
In order to provide sufficient animal strength for the Third Army, itwas ordered, before the march into Germany, that the divisions of the First and Second Armies not designated as part ofthe Third Army turn over a sufficient number of serviceable animals, freefrom disease, to units of the Third Army, and evacuate all sick and unserviceableanimals for transfer to veterinary hospitals.23 This naturallycaused a great increase in the number of animal evacuations and consequentcongestion of veterinary hospitals.23
On the march into Germany no adequate provisions were made for caringfor sick and disabled animals; therefore, animal losses were heavy.23
In this army also, mange became one of the most important diseases,and it was not long before a large percentage of its animals were affected.23 The seriousness of the situationwas soon evident, however, and dipping vats were established throughout the army area, clipping of the animals was instituted, andall animals were dipped regularly. By pursuing this method of treatment,
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it was but a short time before the mange situation was well in hand.The number of animals dipped exceeded the total number of animals, formany of them were treated several times in this manner.23
Statistics concerning operations of the Third Army from December 24,1918, to June 1, 1919, are as follows:23
Greatest animals strength | 54,782 |
Number of animals evacuated | 6,504 |
Number admitted to Third Army hospitals | 3,326 |
Number sold from hospitals | 1,141 |
Number turned over to remount depots | 862 |
Number died | 1,199 |
Number destroyed (mostly for butchering) | 1,716 |
Greatest number of mange cases reported (Feb. 14, 1919) | 9,000 |
Number of animals dipped | 54,782 |
Subsequent to August 27, 1918, when such data became available, 317,690animals were admitted to sick report.23 Of these, 105,019 wereadmitted for mange, 21,153 for influenza, 2,079 for pneumonia, 549 forepizootic cellulitis. Mallein tests for glanders numbered 948,065; 9,122doubtful cases were retested; 2,721 animals were destroyed by reason ofglanders. The number of animals transferred from one hospital to anotherwas 71,043; 197,690 animals were restored to duty after treatment; 17,585died after being taken over by the veterinary service. Total losses toAugust 31, 1919, were 63,369.23
The total losses from deaths and missing constituted practically 26per cent of all animals supplied the American Expeditionary Forces.23After the Veterinary Corps was placed under the Medical Department thenumber of deaths among animals amounted to 17,585, as contrasted with 41,373deaths which occurred while the corps operated under the remount service.23
After April 1, 1919, when animals had been placed in salable condition,they frequently were sold to French civilians, by some officer of the remountservice who visited the hospital in order to conduct this sale.29After that date surplus animals were also disposed of under an agreementwith the French Government by which those in good health were to be takenover and sold at auction in the various French regions and the proceedsof sale, less 5 per cent, were to be turned over to the American Government.23
In veterinary hospitals all animals which would not be fit for servicein two months were inspected and condemned, and turned over to the Frenchat a fixed price of 450 francs.24 If too weak to be removedfrom hospital they were sold for butchery purposes.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
MANGE
Mange caused great havoc in the animal efficiency of the armies in westernEurope.23 Its eradication under war conditions was impossible,but the British Army demonstrated that, with proper care, by the adoptionof strict sanitary precautions and the prompt evacuation and treatmentof animals affected, it could be kept well under control.23In that army the number of cases under treatment was reduced from 20,000in July, 1916, to approximately 2,000, two years later.23
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On February 15, 1919, animal sickness in the American ExpeditionaryForces reached its maximum for the whole period of operations, 48,975, or about 21 per cent of the total number of animalsthen on sick report.23 Of this number, 30,756, or about 16 percent, of our animals were suffering from mange. Such energetic measureswere taken to remedy the situation that the number of cases rapidly diminished,and, on March 1, 1919, but few active cases of mange were to be found.23
In the First Army the method of treatment was by the use of sulphurchambers, which proved effective.23 The method of treatment in the Second Army involved the use of dipping vats.23In addition to dipping, however, great numbers were successfully treated in organizations by the use of hand sprays. Thestandard lime and sulphur dip was the agent used for treatment in either case.23
INFLUENZA
Influenza took heavy toll of both animals and animal efficiency duringthe early operations of the American Expeditionary Forces. This condition was inevitable, for at this time all veterinaryhospitals were operated in conjunction with remount depots, and sick andwell animals intermingled with but little opportunity for segregation.Furthermore, fresh remounts purchased from the civilian population wereoften sent direct to combat organizations without preliminary trainingto harden them for active service. Therefore, great numbers of these animalsperished from influenza or its complications and those which recoveredwere left in so weak and emaciated a condition that, being of little valuefor service, they had to be evacuated at the earliest opportunity.
GANGRENOUS DERMATITIS
Generally speaking, gangrenous dermatitis was the cause of the greatprevalence of such foot diseases, variously classed on sick report, as quittor, canker, pododermatitis.23 Causedby the Bacillus necrophorus, which existed in the soil everywherein France, it only became necessary for the standings and roads to becomemuddy to cause its rapid spread. No records are available showing the numberof cases of this infection, for such cases were classed under diseasesof locomotion; but it is beyond question that this disease caused a largepercentage of deaths and disabilities.23
GLANDERS
In former wars glanders had been the disease most dreaded, and the mostreducing of animal strength, but in the World War its ravages were heldat a minimum.23 This was due to the perfection of mallein andits practical application in recent years, thus enabling veterinary officersto detect the disease in its incipient stages. Three different practicalfield tests were available: The ophthalmic, thermal, and intradermic (termedthe intrapalpebral in the American Expeditionary Forces).23
The intradermic test was the one adopted by the Veterinary Corps ofour own and the allied armies, and it proved the most simple and efficacious for field service when its technique was properlyunderstood.23 Many of our
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veterinary officers were not at first acquainted with its techniqueand, undoubtedly, some cases of glanders escaped their attention in the beginning of our operations.23
Following the appointment of a chief veterinarian, A. E. F., in July,1918,33 instructions were given to test all animals at least once a month.34 This test was carried out to the extentrequired in so far as it was possible under existing conditions, and no doubt was the means of reducing the spread of glanders to a minimum.23It is worthy of note that never was there any great outbreak among the combat organizations at the front, although glandersgained considerable headway in some of the veterinary hospitals.23
The weekly report on glanders showed an average of six cases per weekup to November 23, 1918, when, for the week ending on this date it suddenly increased to 34 cases.23Early in 1919, the chief veterinarian, A. E. F., on investigation, foundthat some veterinary officers did not understand the test through lackof proper instruction in technique. Instructions were sent out by him immediately,stating the manner of administering and reading the test, and were latersupplanted by a bulletin from general headquarters, A. E. F.35
In addition to instructions being distributed, officers thoroughly familiarwith the test were sent to all units in the American Expeditionary Forces to demonstrate the intradermic test to veterinarians.23
Because of the prevalence of glanders in our veterinary hospitals, thechief veterinarian, A. E. F., held at St. Nazaire on January 7, 1919, aconference of veterinarians to formulate rules for the administration ofthe intradermal test and for the technique in reading reactions.23
To confirm tests previously made, further tests, both intradermic andlaboratory, and post-mortem examinations were made in a large number ofreacting animals which had been killed.23 The results were notedto confirm the reactions previously given. After a study of the results,recommendations were submitted to general headquarters, A. E. F., on February25, 1919. These recommendations gave full instructions in administeringtests, and in combating outbreaks of glanders, together with sanitary precautionsnecessary to prevent contraction of the infection by sound animals.
The more accurate tests required were followed by an immediate increasein the number of cases reported, the report for the week ending January 18, 1919, showing 391 cases, but, from this datethe number reported declined rapidly. Only 44 cases were under treatment on March 1. The week ending April 19, showed only6 cases, and at this time the glanders situation was believed to be wellin hand. When the task performed by the Veterinary Corps in controllingglanders and the difficulties confronting it are considered, the number of cases destroyed does notappear excessive. Such cases were 2,721, or approximately 1 per cent of all animals supplied to the American ExpeditionaryForces.23
NONINFECTIOUS DISEASES
DEBILITY
Debility, while not properly classed as a specific disease, is worthyof some consideration in connection with a study of the animal morbidity of the American Expeditionary Forces. This conditionwas the result of various
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causes, such as the after effects of influenza, mange, overwork, lackof food and water, improper grooming, delayed evacuation.23 Wastage from this cause alone figured largelyin animal losses, but unfortunately no accurate data can be formulated concerning it.23
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
The losses from digestive disorders, although not excessive, were considerable.23These maladies were usually due to conditions of the forage. Moldy forageoften had to be accepted because of the absence of other reliable feed.23
QUARANTINE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MOUNTS FOR RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
A quarantine for 66 private and 54 public mounts was established atCamp de Souge (Gironde) on May 1, 1919, for animals designated for returnto the United States.23 The quarantine was to cover a periodof 90 days in France and to be continued for the same period in the UnitedStates. This was subsequently changed to 30 days in France and 150 daysin the United States, including time in transit. On account of overcrowdingon the transports bringing the animals to the United States, the quarantineregulations unavoidably were broken, and it became necessary to retainsuch animals for the full period of 180 days from the date of arrival inthis country. The quarantine in France was to start on May 15, 1919, thedate set for the receipt of the last animal, but this was later changedupon request from the office of the chief surgeon, A. E. F., and the timelimit fixed for August 20, 1919, although base section No. 2 was officiallyclosed before this date. For this work there were assigned 5 officers and144 enlisted men, Veterinary Corps.23
The importance of this quarantine can not be fully realized unless itis taken into consideration that the animals in question had been exposed to all classes of infectious diseases incident to thewar. Some of these diseases had never existed in the United States and for this reason most careful and rigid quarantine regulationswere formulated by the veterinary division of the Surgeon General's office in connection with and accordance with recommendationsmade by the Department of Agriculture.23
PERSONNELa
(July 28, 1917, to July 15, 1919)
Col. Berkeley T. Merchant,Cav., chief.
Col. D. S. White, V. C.,chief.
Lieut. Col. Harold E. Bemis, V. C.
Maj. George R. Powell, V. C.
Capt. Horace Z. Homer, V. C.
First Lieut. Theodora C. Beechwood, V. C.
First Lieut. Will W. Korb, V. C.
Second Lieut. Maurice E. J. Evans, V. C.
aIn this list have been included the names of those who at one time or another were assigned to the division during the period July 28, 1917, to July 15, 1919.
There are two primary groups-the heads of the division or the section and the assistants. In each group names have been arranged alphabetically, by grades, irrespective of chronological sequence of service.
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REFERENCES
(1) Bulletin No. 16, W. D., June 22, 1916.
(2) Cablegram from the Surgeon General to General Pershing,September 2, 1917. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(3) Cablegram No. 177, par. 14, from General Pershingto The Adjutant General, for the Surgeon General.
(4) G. O. No. 108, W. D., October 30, 1917.
(5) Memorandum from Maj. L. A. Klein, V. C., for the chiefsurgeon, A. E. F., December 27, 1917. Subject: Organization of the veterinaryservice, A. E. F. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(6) Memorandum for the chief surgeon, A. E. F., Col. J.A. Logan, chief of the administrative section, general staff, G. H. Q.,A. E. F. December 23, 1917. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(7) Letter from Maj. L. A. Klein and A. L. Mason, V. C.,to the Surgeon General, March 29, 1918. Subject: Veterinary service, A.E. F. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(8) Letter from the Surgeon General to the chief surgeon,A. E. F., January 5, 1918. Subject: Organization of the veterinary service.Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(9) Cablegram No. 677 from The Adjutant General to GeneralPershing, January 21, 1918.
(10) Cablegram No. 573-S, from General Pershing to TheAdjutant General, February 6, 1918.
(11) Memorandum for the chief of staff, A. E. F., fromthe chief surgeon, A. E. F. February 22, 1918. On file, A. G. O., WorldWar Division, chief surgeon's files, A. E. F., 211.233.
(12) Memorandum for the chief surgeon, A. E. F., fromthe assistant chief of staff, G-1, G. H. Q., A. E. F., February 27, 1918.On file, A. G. O., World War Division, chief surgeon's files, A. E. F.,211.233.
(13) War diary, chief veterinarian, A. E. F., from March10, 1918, to September 25, 1918. Copy on file, Historical Division, S.G. O.
(14) Cablegram No. 1410, from General Pershing to TheAdjutant General, July 3, 1918.
(15) Annual Report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army,1919, Vol. II, 1211.
(16) Report on the Medical Department, A. E. F., to November11, 1918, prepared by Capt. E. O. Foster, Sanitary Corps, and approvedby the chief surgeon, A. E. F. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G.O.
(17) G. O. No. 139, G. H. Q., A. E. F., August 24, 1918.
(18) G. O. No. 31, G. H. Q., A. E. F., February 16, 1918.
(19) Report on the Veterinary Corps, A. E. F., made bythe chief veterinarian, A. E. F., to the commanding general, S. O. S.,March 1, 1919. Copy on file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(20) Tables of Organization, W. D., 1918, Nos. 43, 109,330, and 331.
(21) Mobile veterinary units. On file, Record Room, S.G. O., 322.3-32. (Veterinary Units, A. E. F.) (V) 322.3-23. (VeterinaryUnits, Camp Lee) (D).
(22) Annual Report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army,1919, Vol. I, 1212.
(23) Report on the activities of the veterinary division,S. G. O., prepared by Maj. C. H. Jewell, V. C., August 31, 1919, underthe direction of the chief of the veterinary division, S. G. O. On file,Historical Division, S. G. O.
(24) Report of the chief veterinarian, A. E. F., undated,made to the chief surgeon, A. E. F. On file, A. G. O., World War Division,chief surgeon's files, 314.7.
(25) Annual Report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army,1919, Vol. II, 1364.
(26) Report of the veterinarian, First Army, to the commandinggeneral, First Army, November 27, 1918. Copy on file, Historical Division,S. G. O.
(27) Final report of Gen. John J. Pershing, September1, 1919.
(28) Organization of the Services of Supply, A. E. F.Monograph No. 7, prepared in the Historical Branch, War Plans Division,General Staff, June, 1921.
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(29) Report on the activities of the chief surgeon's office,A. E. F., made to the Surgeon General, May 1, 1919, by the chief surgeon,A. E. F. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(30) Summary history of the First Army Corps, from itscreation, January 15, 1918, to the cessation of hostilities, November 11,1918, edited by G-2, First Army Corps, November 15, 1918. On file, HistoricalSection, the Army War College, Also; History of the Third Army Corpsfrom April 1, 1918, to September 9, 1918, undated Vol. I. On file, HistoricalSection, the Army War College.
(31) Annual Report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army,1919, Vol. I, 1362.
(32) G. O. No. 175, G. H. Q., A. E. F., October 10, 1918.
(33) G. O. No. 122, G. H. Q., A. E. F., July 26, 1918.
(34) Bulletin No. 37, S. O. S., A. E. F., August 19, 1918.
(35) Bulletin No. 16, G. H. Q., A. E. F., February 25,1919.
