The Dickinson press., 1896-10-10
DOCS As
The War Department Contempt
ing Their Iise I'm fhe Service.

h War Department Contemplate
Ing Their Use In h Service
1t is stated that the war department
is seriously contemplating following
the example set by European powers
and training dogs for use in the army.
Many German regiments have canine
contingents, and they are drilled as
carefully as the men. These dogs
have proved particularly useful for
transmitting information, in convey
ing messages from patrols thrown for
ward in advance Of an army, and in
maintaining communication between
posts and pickets, for all Of which
their natural qualities recommend
them.
Some years ago in Manitoba, Mr.. r.
B. Hyman had an imported smooth
collie that in winter Gifted acted as
messenger between n shanty in the
Turtle mountains bush and a house
sixteen miles distant on the plains.
There were few houses or fences on
the Manitoba plains in those days, and
often the trail, which was nothing
more than sleigh tracks in the snow,
would be obliterated by a blizzard, but
that good dog would take a message
and bring back q reply in excellent
time, and the service he rendered in
bitterly cold weather was invaluable.
The trail, although obliterated, was
better travelling, because the snow be-
low the new surface was packed down
by usage, than the loose snow on the
prairie, and Nap THAT was the dogs
nance would follow the trail unerring-
ly-many a broncho would do the
same, for that matter-when q man
could have located it only here and
there. But Nap never tried to plow
his way through a, snow drift piled up
across the trail by a blizzard; If the
drift was a big one he made a detour,
but If it was only a narrow ridge two
or three feet high he jumped owe it.
This could be seen by following his
footsteps before they were obliterated
by sleigh runners and horses feet. But
the second winter he got Indifferent,
and at last he came back one day
without having delivered the message.
! 1t was learned some time later that he
had been viewed in hot pursuit of a
fox some miles from the route he had
been sent e Good old Nap! He
| unsupported III lAC 4AAA VI 1CCO, uAu
the following spring his skeleton and
collar were found by a cowboy; he
may have been killed by a wolf, but
there was n rumor that he had been
mistaken by a tenderfoot for a coyote
and slain by a rifle bullet. 1t Is easy
to understand how such a dog, If thor
oughly trained, could be made of SER
vice to al army corps; and the train
ing of these army dogs is said to be
very thorough. 1t has been reduced
to a system, of course, and it is graft
flying to know that corporal punish
ment is avoided us much as possible.
There is no spike collar or check
cord about it; If a dog is too headstrong
or obstinate he is not wanted for army
service. Poodles and collies are found
most suitable for military purposes;
and only males are used. Fierce dogs
are not suitable, and a military dog is
required to growl instead of barking.
Each dog wears a collar that has a
metal plate bearing the name of the
company to which it is attached and
carries a small canvas dispatch pouch.
The Germans consider the efficiency Of
their war dogs of such importance that
an immense amount Of labor is ex-
pended in training them.-American
Feld.