Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-02-09
REAL DOGS OF WAR.
Four-Footed Soldiers Enlisted in
European Armies.
They Are Trained to Perform Valuable
service = Employed as Dispatch
Bearers aud In the Hospital
Corps--A Police Sergeant.

service = Employed as Dispatch
Bearers aud In the Hospital
Corps-A Police Sergeant.
The pages of history from the ear
lest times record with honorable men
ton the services of dogs as auxiliaries
IN war. They were utilized in the
Greek and Roman armies, and Corinth
is said to have been saved by fifty war
dogs. King Henry VIII. employed
bioodhounds in France, and the Earl
OF Sussex had no less than eight hum
tlred of them in Elizabcth's army in Ire
land. St Maio, when it formed a sep
aratc republic, was guarded by three
hundred dogs. Philip w., in 17o2, at
Mount Phillippi and at the fort of
Etoilc, fed tho dogs which were at the
gates and which remained uncarcd for
by the Austrians, and afterwards
turned them to useful account as auxil-
larry scntinels and for accompanying
the patrols. In ITS the Turks were
greatly helped by dogs both at the
siege of Dubitza and at Gino Bcrdo
They used them as Gordon to guard
their camps and later to track the I'M
fortunate inhabitants Of the countries
they were devastating There is n fine
for killing dog in Turkey, and it is
cxactcd as follows: The dead dog is
tied up by the tail with his fore
paws touching the ground, and the fine
consists of as much corn as will cover
the dog in that position.
During the siege of Sebastopol the
French on several occasions received
alarms of sorties through the watchful-
ness of q dog called Minette. The fame
of the French military dog Moustache
is renowned When cncamped with
his regiment before Alexandria, the
first night he was the means of detect
ing surprise; he fought at Marengo,
and saved the standard of his regiment
at Austerlitz, for which service he was
decorated on the battlefield by Marshal
Lannes. He captured All Austrian SER
geant, and brought two pri-
Yates as prisoners into camp. He
served also in the Spanish cam
paign and was the means of de-
tecting several ambushes. At dress
parades he invariably appeared at the
head of the regiment, conducting him
self with soldierly dignity. He bore
on his body many honorable scars of
hot encounters, and was finally killed
by q bullet directly after the siege of
Badajoz.
Gen. Skobelcff, in Asia Minor, had a
corps of dogs instructed as sentries,
and they are now used id the artillery
and other branches of the service. The
Germans began experimenting with
dogs in 1885, instructing them on out
post duty. A jaeger battalion has about
twenty dogs Of all sizes stationed with
the advance guard. The Germans
dress men in French and Russian uni
forms land the French have recourse to
similar tactics) who lie in wait and
brighten the dogs, so as to impress
them at once with the appearance of
an enemy. A well-trained collie in a
German regiment on the approach of
anyone he does not know, will hide in
the nearest ditch and will wait until he
passes, the dog will then continue his
tourney only to repeat the process
should he be again interrupted.
II was maxim with Frederick the
Great that it was pardonablc to be de-
feated. but never to be surprised. When
troops are wearied by long marches,
and scntries besides being fatigued
have in addition to struggle against
hunger and severe cold, in such cases
the aid of well-traincd military dogs
would be appreciated by any prudent
commander. 1t has been asccrtainet
that on a calm night dogs can with GER
tainty detect the approach of strangers
up to five hundred yards, and in stormy
weather they will scent an enemy
within two hundred yards and car
distinguish friend from foe.
Regarding the breed OF dogs bes
adapted for military purposes. it is con
coded that the farmers sheep dog ha
the finest qualities. The retrieve
makes a good war dog, and spaniel
have much to recommend them. II
Germany they are considered secon'
TO the sheep dog. Bloodhounds hav
no superior when it comes to tracking
Tn Austria the Dalmatian has beel
trained; Russia prefers the Caucasial
dog; Turkey selects the Asiatic shee
dog. and italy. like England, is expert
menting with various breeds
On the wall of the reading-room Q
Row street police Office, London, hang
the portrait of a remarkable dog. On
day in August 1857, an old starved
homeless animal took up his quarter
on the steps Of seldom-used door COZ
nected with the Office. AS neither 40
nor man had q right to loiter in tina
doorwav. the superintendent gave o.
ders that he should be made to NOV
on As often as he was driven OF
however, he reappeared. The men
the division became at last very muc
attacbed to the dog and adopted him
she CORPS, bestowing upon him II
name Of Charlie. At quarter oeio'
ak every morning the first day reii'
was paraded in the yard OF the stasio
previous to settiag out on DUTY o. y
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