The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15

and Africa are in constant CONNECT mas
led civilized thought towards war, as
never before.
In one short year from a vague uncer-
tainty, badly planned, the thought of war
has become almost a reality. The finest
science has been brought to bear upon
it. War, if It ever takes place in the
great nations of the world, will be a hid
eous. deadly thing made perfect IN de-
struction by the exact science to which
it has been reduced, by the wonderful
mechanisms thought out for it, by the
arts, human and otherwise, used IN us
preparations.
Long ago, on the nights of the Alps
there were monasteries built for the res
cue of travellers Here pious men went
to dwell, taking with them corps OF
dogs as assistants. These dogs We're
trained AT nightfall they were turned out
into the snow and ice and sent down
the mountain to seek" All night the
monks waited for them to return, and
at the faintest whine wide open flew the
doors of the monastery, and into its
warmth was pulled the faithful st. Ber-
nard, often dragging a half-frozen trav-
eler by the sleeve.
The poor fellow would have persisted
within sight of the glowing windows had
not the dog found him in the snow and
rescued him. At other times all the wait
ing monks received was a staff or fro
zen cape which the dog had brought With
canteen and food they accompanied him
back and found the venturesome owner.
Once more the dog has come to play
an important part in history. Along with
the bicycle corps and the travelling Gre
matory there win be the dog corps 1t
will be attached to the ambulance de-
partment of the army and will do part
of the work for the sick
The dog corps is a thing accomplished
in Germany. 1t will soon be part of our
own army The English are preparing
for it, and secretaries of war the world
over will make appropriations for the dog
corps in every ambulance service.
The part which the dog will play on
the field of battle is stupendous in impor-
lance that the wonder of it is that no
one has thought of it before. He, train
ed, faithful fellow, probably a st. Ber-
nard, Will be turned loose while the bat
VIC II AZ PAOSLOS0 " anu OhN tAlN NONAAN
ed
On a field of battle a wounded man is
a wounded man, but all soldiers know
that a wounded officer is missed more
than a private, and that his life is worth
more in war than that Of a simple man
of the ranks.
The dogs of the ambulance service win
be wonderfully trained for their work.
They will be able to distinguish the Of
fiCara n plI the pOlore fba uniforms
to know localities on the field and to
tell the dead from the living.
In the German army, where the dogs
are employed, every officer has upon his
Jacket the scent of anise This is very
penetrating. A few anise seeds sewed in
the lining of a coat will scent 1t to a
dogs delicate sense Of smell once and
forever though it will not be noticed by
anybody else. The very passing of a
handful of anise seed over his shoulder
straps will scent his uniform so that a
dog trained for anise will know it al
ways.
trained dog on the field of battle will
know when an officer falls. Running
through the dead and dying, the faint
and the fallen he will pick out the Of
ficer unerringly, and Fastening back
with his cap, or his glove, or some little
article taken from the injured officer,
Will summon the ambulance surgeon to
his aid
There will be dogs trained for the anise
scent who viii do nothing else except
ferret out those of high rank who are
down. and who must be saved at any
cost.
But the general training of the dogs
Is Tor all the wounded. dog school, not
less strict than military academy for
boys, Is the place where these dogs get
their training and from which they grad
uate with rank
AT the word "Seekv these dogs rush
out from the ambulance wagons into the
battlefield and are gone. In a minute
they come flying back with a helmet
Clutching the coat of the ambulance sur
geon' they hurry him away to the wound
ed man, and he, after seeing the man.
decides whether the litter shall be brought
or now the man can be assisted to the
wagons, or If it is too late.
Ihere is one point that never has tn he
Taught the dogs. And that is the question
or life or death. By very instinct a dog
knows when man is dead. In the dog s
tnllltary academy no dog has ever been
known 10 make a mistake between a liv-
ing man and corpse. When an average
person could not tell al sight If a man were
DEAD or living, dog will know by the I'M
Iaiilhs instinct OF a sniff. A touch of the
wet muzzle to the mans face and the dis
eliminating dog will turn away from a life
less body and refuse to 90 near il again.
win this one point so much in his favor
by nature the dog becomes much more
easily mans ally in battle
Instead of the great vocabulary which
the family dog learns the battle dog Is
taught only few words. One of these is
water" Around his neck is tied a can
teen OF brandy and one Of water. AS he
reaches the man upon the ground he passes
over him and shifts critically at his cloth
ing.
IL the fallen soldier Is only stunned and
iaint from loss of blood he says Water
and the dog bends low for the soldier upon
the ground to help himself lie knows the
DOG training and knows what to say to
ms tour-footed friend. Having refreshed
hlmselt with swallow he struggles 10 his
leet' and, half carried by The big dog.
reaches the rear, where nc Is cared for.
IL TOO wounded 10 walk he SAYS Garry .,
ana the dos hastens back after the sur
geon.
The race OF dogs employed is the 81
bernard n all cold ana temperate latl-
tuues, nut IN very hot zones the blood
hound can do better work, through he Is
less easily taught and is less reliable he
WORKS more rapidly and better. and wero
l not Tor his brutal instincts he could talfe
the place OF his Rentler friend +he 81