The herald., 1896-01-22
TO HELP Mankind IN WAR
Possible Use TO Which Birds and
Brutes May Be Put
IN MILITARY OPERATIONS
Swallows Said 20 Be Slrer Than
Pigeons as Carriers
N MILITARY OPERATIONS
How Elephants aii Dogs Are Empioyed-Ths
Goose Not So Stupid When it Is
Doing Guard Duty

When the next Eurcpeanwar comes it is
more than probable that 1t will have
novel and picturesque point of military in
terest about it in the employment OF ami
mails, which will play quite as important
part in the campaigns in their way as
the generals and soldiers. Ever since the
earliest days of war--fron the very begin
ming of things, that is-horses have, of
course, been military aids of the greatest
value. Now it is planned-dndeed several
of the European powers are actively max
Ing experiments-to draft other animals
into the service, with tho expectation that
they will be of great help.
France, during the times Of the Franco
German conflict, brought the science OF
carrier pigeons up to a high standard of
efficiency Then it was thought that no
superior to this 1.-the little bird could be
found as a carrier of dispatches. But the
French military authorities are beginning
to think differently now. Experiments
have been made with the swallow, and he
has proved to be swifter, surer and alto
gether more satisfactory. There is the
greatest probability, therefore, that swal-
lows will be part of the army equipment
for the next campaign.
A new idea has sprung up in French
military circles nevertheless that after all
it is rather inprudent for great army to
intrust it's messages, frequently of great
moment, to such small birds, so subject to
attacks from the great birds of prey that
are continually on the outlook for such as
they. Is has been proposed that storks be
trained fw dispatch service, the theory be-
ing that the "nest instinct" in these birds,
their swift, certain fight, theirtremendous
wing and leg power and their strength to
meet any attack whatsoever in the air
would render them ideal messen gers of
war.
The stork certainly could combat sue
cessfully any hawk and almost any eagle.
Besides, his splendid strength would make
it possible for great bundle Of dispatches,
of weight and size that dozen carrier
pigeons or swallows would be unable to
convey to be sent at once under one cover.
In Russia theory good deal like this
has already been put into practice, and
number of falcons have been put into train
ing for the Russian army dispatch service
and have proved eminently satisfactory.
The falcon himself is most warlike bird
and ardently resists every attack made
upon him. Warsaw and Brest-Litewski, on
the western frontier, have been the seats
of these experiments.
As to animals pure and simple, the ele-
phant cannon drawers in use in the Brit
ish army in India are very familiar, and,
from the days of the earliest British pos
session there, have done magnificent serv
ice. In fact, they were Indispensable in
tho sepoy campaigns. The oamels of the
east are also valuable adjuncts in the bat
ties and forced marches around desert re-
gions because of their tremendous powers
of endurance.
But it has been reserved for Germany to
bring forward dogs as war animals. An
exhibition of war dogs" has recently been
held in Dresden and some splendid speci-
mems of canine warriors shown. AS an at
tacking column these dogs will show a
formidable front against the soldiery of
any other nation, and as discouragers of
hesitancy during the retreat of an enemy
they will provo invaluable to the regiment
possessing them Brigades OF dragons
and hussars will doubtless be superseded
by dog platoons. The only difficulty that
the German officers foresee is teaching the
dogs to keep ranks until the order
"Chargel'' is given. Internal dissensions
over bones and rations are also to be
feared Yet, at all events, there will be no
difficulty in getting the newfangled war
riors to advance upon the enemy in spite
of shot and she'll.
Even that traditionally stupid animal
the goose-stupid in spite of the fact that
she is reported to have saved Rome at one
time-has possibility Of military glory
under the new ideas. There is an authen-
tic incident of q Bavarian regiment of
light hussars, stationed at Ingolstadt, Ger
many, who adopted young goose during
their stay there and made it, through
kindness, become so tame that it was quite
the pet of the regiment. 1t showed its
gratitude by assuming the responsibility
of sentry duty and remaining faithfully in
the vicinity of the sentry box each day
from sunrise to sunset.
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 incident-kept her eye open, and
when any one approached would set up
tremendous squawking. The sentry could
go to sleep If he pleased-and indeed many
of them did-yet, strange to say, no sentry
during tho goose's sojourn in the camp
was ever caught mapping or found want
ing. In fact the soldiers used to say that
the goose did the best duty in the regi-
ment.-New York World