"Shocking Narrative"

Frenchmen and Belgians who buy their meat in shops identified by a great gilded horse's head would have been seriously upset last week to read an account which England's Manchester Guardian succinctly labelled "A Shocking Narrative." In England exists an International League Against the Export of Horses for Butchery. The Guardian's informant was a representative of this League who with a veterinary surgeon witnessed the landing in Havre of 77 worn out horses from the Argentine. They were so disturbed by what they saw that they followed the horses to Vaugirard, whence they were taken in wagons.

"The animals had been subject to privation for at least 29 days. Three died or were killed on the voyage. They were tied with their backs to the sea, and their hind quarters were covered with salt from the sea waves. Many of them were not shod. Most of them were lame, a few suffered from partial paralysis, several had been severely kicked and bitten, and two were little more than skeletons. Some of the horses were badly injured while being swung ashore, but they were beaten and prodded violently with sticks. We watched one man strike a horse 35 times. ... At Vaugirard they arrived exhausted and in a deplorable condition. They had had no food or water for 50 hours. The Frenchmen said they must not have food or water for fear they got the gripes. All were lame when they reached the stables. These horses were consigned for butchering but they would not be fit to eat. They would be full of toxins produced by fatigue and by absorption from the bowels."

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