Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-05-17
THE DOGS OF WAR.
Military Men Discuss the Feasibility of En-
listing CANNES Into Service.

listing CANNES Into Service.
A lecture on "The Employ ment of Dogs
for Military Purposes" was recently de
livered at the Royal United States Ser
vice institution by Veterinary Surgeon
Z. T.. Bennett. The lecturer said that
the services which he might be led to
expect from the enrolment of dogs into
the army were varied and could not al
tog ether be definitely laid down. The
most important, however, is that of the
role of sentinel. At night especially it is
of the utmost Importance that troops
should have the benefit of undisturbed
repose, aud it is upon the sentries that
the arduous and responsible duty of
guarding the camp or bivouac mainly
falls. They are now posted double,
which, although greatly enhancing the
general security, increases the number of
man employed on this fatiguing service,
TO the detriment of the efficiency of the
advanced guard supplying them. Any
thing that will tend to increase the Sc
curity of the sentries should be gladly
welcomed; and it is just in this position
of affairs that the services of the military
dog would show to the greatest advant-
age. They could detect the approach
moreover, could gen orally distinguish be
tween fri. nd and foe. The lecturer there
fore thought that the chances of success
full night attacks and surprises would,
by the employment of dogs, be greatly
lessened, if not altogether prevented.
He next dealt with dogs as scouts, aud
pointed out that in an Enclosed or noun
famous district, where the work of scout
oil ia
try, the duties of the advanced guard are
both ouerous ard fatiguing, and the Sc
curlty gained is in no way commensurate
with Efforts toward obtaining it. But If
dogs were employ ed they could be sent
forward to scour the outskirts. and later
in penetrating them together with the
ecouts, which they should always precede,
and, just as the pointer denotes without
fail the presence of the quail, So would
the war dog, with unerripg certainty, de-
tect the enemy if near at hand, and by
his demeanor give timely notice of his
Whereabouts. The dog, again, would
make u valuable courier. Is to the best
breeds to employ, the lecturer thought
for all-round purposes tne native or
farmers sheepdog had most to recon-
mend it. It has been trained through
many generations to watohfulness and
obedience; it Ia observant, tractable, and
easy to teach, carrying out orders with
alacrity and cheerfulness. The lecturer
then gave some interesting details of the
best methods to be employed in the train.
ing of the dogs, and remarked that, in
addition to the duties he had explained,
the dog might he taught to stand fire and
to search for wounded and killed. In
naval warfare dogs, he was sure, would
be found very useful in sharp lookout
against torpedo boats and other dangers
The supply of dogs for military purposes
would, he was convinced, be readily met
by the sporting public. The London
Daily News repocts that an animated
discussion followed the conclusion of the
lecture. Admiral Boys thought that dogs
might be useful to sailors as we'll as to
soldiers. DR.. Fleming, surgeon to the
army. believed 1t would be disadvants-
geou. TO enlist the services of dogs in
this country, because they would be of
little value in any other place in conse-
auence of the climate. If they were to
be useful to the army they would have to
be trained in the country where they
would be employed. Mr.. p. Lindley
urged the the use of bloodhounds as the
best dogs to train for purposes of war.