Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-08
ReGimentaI Dogs.
From the London Daily News.

From the London Daily News
 A French paper has been lifting up it's voice in favor of very humble yet interesting section of the military stablishment-regi- mental dogs. Formerly almost every battal- ion or cavalry squadron of the French army had it's pet dog, an animal who belonged to nobody in particular, but who contrived to serve his many masters with fidelity and zeal He was free of the barrack rooms he dined off the soldiers 1eavings he harbored a proper prejudice against civilians, and parked at them; but he wagged his tail in friendly way to every man wearing red trousers. When the battalion marched out the dog marched out too, stepping decorously by the drum-majors side, with his tail curled, and disdaining the greetings of other dog who might be anxious to salute him in the streets
 Some of these dogs acquired renown in war There was Pistache, the dog of the second battalion of the Third Chasseurs, who got wounded scampering up the heights of Alma, and received medal which he wore to the day of his death tached to silver col lar There was Caprlcorne, who was present with the Sixty fifth regiment at the taking of the village of Magenta, and who is said to have dragged vivandiere by the skirt to a spot where an officer lay wounded and gasp ing for water. This dog got a medal too. It might have been thought that such recollec- tions would have pleaded in favor of martial ly-disposed dogs to all time but General
 
 so many things dear to the military mind drums, drum-majors, beastplates and white gloves-some months ago issued an edict that all dogs should be expelled from barracks. He did not make use of the proverblal excuse that they were liable to go mad but he charged them with being quarrelsome. It was said that when several battalions were quartered in one barrack their dogs fought for supremacy and a still more painful aceusa- ton was preferred against one individual dog of having snapped at the calves of an in- spector-general who had walked into bar racks yard in plain clothes. These charges proved fatal to the dogs, and they had to go. There were some sad leave takings when the four-f footed pets were turned out to find new homes in the houses of married officers for that was the destiny of most of them; and pathetic scenes when some of these animals, their way back to barracks and gambolled in, lesping and yelping with joy.
 It seems, indeed, that few of the cashiered dogs have been able to accommodate them selves to the irksomeness of civilian life. The soldiers, on the other hand, find barracks duller than ever without the dogs, and it is being urged on their behalf that General Farre would do popular thing if he revok- ed his edict It has been announced that in the Russian army dogs are being trained to act as sentries. No such utilitarian purpose is contemplated by those who would like to see the French military dog restored to his franchises; it is simply pleaded for him that he was 8 cheerful companion, who pleased the soldiers by his antics, his cleverness 6for he was sometimes trained to walk on his hind legs and shoulder arms), and who was devoted, watchful, but above all amusing.