september - october - Fort Sill

THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL
of animals while the smaller capacity depots are placed well up to the line
of the Combat Zone to facilitate rapid replacements to the Army and Corps
Depots.
Assuming operations to be beyond the seas the flow of replacements
would be as follows: From Concentration Depots in the Zone of the Interior
where the animals, after purchase, are conditioned until fit for shipment;
then to the Embarkation Depots where they will be given the most careful
tests to prevent any sick or injured animal from being shipped overseas; to
the Concentration Depot at the Port of Debarkation which will
accommodate 7200 animals; to the Concentration Depot in the
Communications Zone which also accommodates 7200; to the Army Depot
with a capacity of 1200; to the Corps Depots, each caring for 400; and
finally to the Division where the Division Remount Officer will issue them
to the units within the Division.
This scheme of replacement is not rigid, for example, animals may
come direct to the Concentration Depot in the Communications Zone from
purchases in neighboring countries or by requisition in the Theatre of
Operations. Also, when possible, animals should be issued direct—by
shipment overland or by rail—from the Concentration Depot in the
Communications Zone to the units in the Combat Zone. The reason for this
is apparent when it is recalled that a Field Army has a total of 90,177
animals, while its Remount Depots capacity is only 2400, or less than three
per cent., replacements on hand. Thus it will be seen that the issue of
animals from the Communications Zone is necessary in order to keep the
Army's small replacement reservoir intact for possible emergencies.
Direction and Control.—As in the Zone of the Interior the Remount
Service is charged with the care, conditioning, training and issue of animals
in the Theatre of Operations. Within the Communications Zone this
Service operates Concentration Depots to supply animals in the various
sections of the Zone. G-4 of the Corps consolidates the requisitions of
Corps troops; G-4 of the Army consolidates the requisitions of the Corps
with those of Divisions and Army troops and the finally consolidated
requisitions go to the Communications Zone where they are filled from
Concentration Depots, when possible, so that the animals in the Corps and
Army Depots may be reserved for emergencies.
Animals are delivered through an Army distributing point for animals,
often to the Division at its railroad. A representative of the depot in the
Communications Zone is sent with them and remains with them until final
delivery has been accomplished.
Methods of Issue.—The Depot Commander may issue the animals
directly from the depot to the receiving organization; or by an overland
convoy; or by shipping them by rail or water.
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