The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-27
ANIMALS IN BATTLE.
WILL THE NEXT CENTURY SEE THEM
AIDING MEN IN WAR;

nwnllows Surer Than Pigeons torks, Fal.
European Military Experts
Have Long Bcon Called On.
When the next European war comes,
1t Is more than probable that it will
have novel and picturesque point Of
military interest about it in the employ
iheht oi animals, which will play quite
as important part i'll the campaigns in
their way MS tho generals and soldiers
Ever since the earliest DAVIS of war
from tho very beginning of things that
iS-horscs have. of course, been militia
ry aids of tho greatest value. Now it is
pianned-indced, several Of the Euro
penn powers are actively making eAper-
imentS-to draft other animals into tho
service, with tho expectation that they
Will he Of great help
France. during the times Of tho Fran
co-9erman conflict, brought the science
Oh carrier pigeons up to II high standard
of efficiency. Then it was Thought that
no superior to this litho little bird could
be found rs carrier of dispatches. But
the French military authorities ure be.
ginning to think differently now. En-
perimcntS have boon made with tho
swallow, and he has proved to he swift
or, surer and altogether moro satisfacto-
~. There is the greatest probability.
therefore. that swallows will be part Of
the army equipment for tho next cam
paign.
A new idea has sprung M in French
on lee |, l., ~,
all, 1t is rather imprudcnt for "A great
army to intrust It's messages, frequently
OF great moment, to such small birds.
30 subject to attacks from the great birds
OF prey that are continually on the ont
look for such ~ they. 1t has been pro-
posed that storks IN, trained for disp:tcl,
service. the theory being that the "ncst
instinct in these birds. their swift. Ger.
tam flight. 'hcir tremendous wing and
ley power and their strength to meet any
attack Whatsoever in the air would rem.
der them ideal messengers of war
In Russia Il theory good deal like
this has already been put into practice,
and number of falcons have, this past
year, been put into trimming for the Isus-
sian army dispatch service and have
proved emincutly satisfactory. The fal.
con himself is Il most warlikc bird, and
ardcntly rcslStS every attack made upon
HIM Warsaw and Brcst Litcwski. ON
the western frontier. h;Ivo been the seats
OF these experiments.
As to animals pure and simple, tho
elephant cannon drawers in use in tho
British army i'll India arc very familiar,
and from the days of the earliest British
possession there have done magnificent
service. In fact, they were INDISPENSABLE
Ill tho sepoy campaigns. The camcls of
the east are also valuable adjuncts in
the battles and forced marches around
desert regions, because of their trench.
douS powers OF endurance
But II has been reserved for Germany
to bring forward dogs as war animals.
An exhibition Of war dog" has recent
" been held III Dresden and some splcn-
dld specimens Of canine warriors shown.
As an attacking column these dogs will
show formidable front against the sol
dierv Of any other nation, and as dis
couragers Of hesitancy during the retreat
OF an enemy they viii prove invaluable
To the regiment possessing them. Bri.
gades Of dragons and hussars viii
doubt less be superseded 10y dog platoons.
The only difficulty that the German of.
iiccrs forescc is teaching tho dogs to keep
ranks until the order "Char.cr' il
given. Internal discussions over bones
aud rations are also To be feared Yet.
at all events. there will be no difficulty
III getting the new funged warriors to
advance upon the enemy i'll spite of shot
and shell
Event that additionally stupid an
NAL, the goose, stupid i'll spite of the fuct
that she Is reported to have saved Rome
ut one tlme-has a possibility Of military
glory under the new ideas There is AN
authentic incident Of Bavarian regi
ment Of light huSsars, stationed at In
golstadt, Germany, who adopted Young
goose during their stay there and made
1t, through Kindness, become so tame
that II was quite the pet OF tho regiment
II showed its gratitude by assuming the
responsibility Of sentry duty and re-
manning faithfully in the vicinity of the
sentry box each day from sunrise to sun.
set
There was no need whatever for the
sentry to keep careful guard, or even TO
walk up and down, for the goose (this
Is historic incidcnD kept her eye open
and when amy one approached would set
up tremendous squawking. Tho sentry
could go to sleep if he pleased (und in
al 9 4 i.