Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-05-04
USE OF DOGS IN WAR.
TRAINING THEM TO PERFORM
AMBULANCE SERVICE.

VUVU SUOB oV0 SU0s Nv VsybV8
Fast, Rush 70 che sWeeee Of the
Wounded.
Much attention has been attracted
by the experiments Of a man named
Bungartz In Germany with dogs He
has discovered that dogs can rcadilr
be trained to carry succor to TIE
wounded on the field Of battle or to
carry the Iuckless soldier into place
Of snfety in n specially contrived
ambulance. Recognizing the immense
importance OF this work, and not
wishing to overburden his pupils
brains. Bungartz has trained dogs
for this purpose alone. and these are
called hospital. or Red Cross dogs.
For this duty cOllies IRE used, as
for the other. this race having no
equal in hardihood, intelligence and
fidelity.
The Red Cross dog wears the same
harness as his fellow Of the regulars.
with the additionOf large red cross
on the saddlebags. u lantern to be
strapped on his back ut night, and q
small flag with red cross on white
ground, which he carries when on o
message between the ranks OF the
hospital columns. In the saddlebags
he carries. beside his biscuit, every.
thing necessary for the first bandag.
ing, and even we'll protected flask
! OF brandy. The dog must be trimmed
with oil his harness on. that he may
become accustomed to It's weight and
pressure, and may know 1t for u part
Of his duty.
The professional training begins In
the room in which the dog has had
his prclimin Ary lessons in obedience,
His master holds him In leash, while
the assistant takes the dogs rug and
lies down on 1t In another corner o
the room. The master leads the dos
o little way In the opposite direction
then turns suddenly and with thu
command, Forward, march! Seek
the wounded" leads the pupl
directly up to the PROSTATE man
Tho latter then gives the dog some
iavorite morsel, but, first, the pupi
must have obeyed the command Il
give tongue. Then the process Is re
peated again and again until on com
mand. "Seek the wounded" tn
dog without leash goes directly to thu
assistant and gives tongue at once
Then the lessons are continued on
OF doors. ut first In open country
where the distance IL heightened
and, finally, the assistant hides him
self In o bush or ditch until the do
learns to seek Independently.
The last lessons and the tests o
the finished pupils ore held ct night
and Bungartz tells OF remarkabl
work done by his dogs on nights d
dark that the seeking party passe
within five feet Of the PROSTATE ma
on open ground and but for tn
collie would not have found him
Bungartz's prize pupil, female col
lie, not quite year old, learned i
two weeks to find the most CAREFUL
hidden man with perfect ease and In
dependent Of any help but the CON
mand, Seek tho wounded!'
Any war historian or soldier wi,
has seen battles can tell how tn
death roll Is swelled by those OF tn
wounded who have crept away int
tho ditch or hedge to escape Il,
bursting shell and rush Of hoofs an
wheels, and then. not found by til
oyerworked hospital column, are r,
ported as missing" Or found to
late to recover from hurt which
but for the delay, might not hay
been fatal. This Is the noble dut
for which Bunganz trains his dog
There Is no thicket too close, no dltc
too deep, but that they can find tn
wounded man, and once found, the
do not leave him until help comes
The dogs IRE also taught to crouc
! beside the wounded man, II he sho
signs OF life. that he may open til
bag and find the reviving flask. I'll
little lantern, securely fastened
the back strap, enables the seeker
to follow the dog on dark nights, on
. brings hope to the wounded when Il
: friendly light appears.
Tho Red Cross dog Is taught
. carry messages. as does the arm
dog, and has his little white 4,
placed In o packet on the saddle ba
that all may know what errand he
on and lead him Alright or not deli
him unnecessarily.
Bungartz has also constructed
inodel dog ambulance for carryir
|. the wounded from the field. whi'
= will considerably tighten the work
the carriers, and the society 10 to &C
= lect funds sufficient to supply d
field hospital with these wagon
The dogs to draw these ambulanc
need no special breeding or trainin
any strong, sure footed, docile Al
rnnl will do