Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1881-11-10
WATCH-D0GS IN WAR.
How the Urai WoIf-Dog Is To Be
Utilized by the Russian Army.

IOIIHdJlOn VIII De gained from tne
German, Austrian, and Russian
maneuvers just drawing to close.
We shall see the result of the close in
spections and the exercises that have
taken place in Bessarabia, at Konitz,
and in Hanover, in articles written in
the continental military papers, and in
changes made in regimental accoutre-
ments; possibly, at some distant day
1t is to be hoped, the consequences of
the lessons inculcated will be made
clear upon the battlefield, and victo-
ries may date from the peaceful move
ments Of 1881. A few glimpses of
what has been done are meanwhile af-
fOrded us. The Germans have developed
a more rapid plan of attack, and, it
should be added, of defense also, that
has been known before. They have
decided again to use artillery in heavy
masses, as against batteries and half
batteries maneuvered by isolated
majors and captains; and they are re-
ported to have come to the conclusion
that cavalry will henceforth play a
more important part than ever in the
operations of war. So, too, with the
Austrians. Cavalry maneuvers of
great Importance have taken place, and
a new kind of flank attack, supported
by artillery, developed. But to the
Russians must be placed the credit of
two most important experiments. They
have, after great trouble, discovered
the ranges at which felG-artiilery is
most serviceable, and have decided
that in future guns must be brought
more completely into action than
heretofore Recognizing the fact that
their artillery was extremely useless as
handled in the late Tur lsh war, they
have decided to reduce the range at
which practice is to be made, and in
future their guns will come into action
at from 1000 to $500 yards-never
farther off than the latter distance
while they may be sometimes be as
close to the enemy's line, especially
when it is broken by heavy musketry
fire, as eight hundred metres. And
beyond this they have issued instruc-
tions to the effect that in future more
skill is to be displayed in the use of
guns, and that SO soon as an enemy is
ascertained to be in the possession of
the right range, it is to be remembered
that under cover of smoke the ield-piece
may be gradually pushed forward by
hand from fifty to hundred yards, in
order that the foe shall continue for a
time to fire away on point no longer
occupied. Craftier still in their gener-
alton, the Muscovites have formed a
corps of watch.dogs for the purpose of
aiding sentries in the discharge of
their duties, and have selected the
wolf-dOg Of the Ural mountains us one
that will growl at the approach Of Il
stranger, and will not bark a trouble
some alarm.
Russian ingenuity goes further even
than this, however. Dogs are to be
employed to explore periodically the
environs of camps, with view to dis
cover the whereabouts Of an enemy.
Sent out at given signal, and in
predetermined direction, they will be
made TO search the country for GER
tain distance, and then return. Their
appearance, tranquil or otherwise,
when they return, will, such is the
conjecture, determine the presence or
absence Of an opponent; and upon the
information thus gained the army can
act. Again, each dog is to have IA GER
tain number, and an irremovable collar
capable of containing dispatches, and
an effort is to be made to train the an
imals somewhat after the manner of
homing pigeons to carry letters when
needful, or to take messages from one
commandant to another. In fine, the