The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-15
USE OF DOGS IN WAR.
APRoPosITlON TO INTRODUCE THEM
INTO OUR MILITARY SERVICE.

INTO OUR MILITARY SERVICE.
All European Countries, Except England,
Are Equipped With n Corps of These
Intelligent Animals-Make Good Spies,
Messengers and succorers of Wounded,
News comes from Washington that
the war managers have been consider
ing a proposition concerning the in
PRODUCTION of dogs into the military
service. 1t is pointed out that these
very useful and intelligent animals are
being used in all the European coun-
tries except England, and that their
services could not we'll be dispensed
with, so firmly have they established
themselves as part and parcel OF the
fighting equipment of the land forces.
Austria, Germany, Italy, France
and Prussia especially have their war
dogs. Trained animals. including
spaniels, sheep dogs, barbets, st.
Demands and pointers are used, and
so we'll trained are the animals that
they are said to be the very best Of
spies, messengers aud sucoorers of the
wounded. The dogs are good spies
because they do not arouse suspicion.
They carry messages across the
lines Of the enemy, and not often do
they fail to reach their homes. There
are two dogs to each company, and q
man is assigned to each animal. These
men are called handlers, and their
| position is considered a sinecure. All
the time of the handlers is devoted to
the dogs, and the great aim OF each is
to train his animal 30 that it may ex-
eel in the duties to which it is de-
tailed. :.
The war dogs are taught to carry
dispatches, to deliver cartridges to
the men in action and to search out
and find wounded soldiers. When q
disabled man is discovered the dog is
trained to bark until aid comes. If
the animal cannot attract attention by
his barking he seizes the man s cap or
some other article of clothing and car
ries it to the nearest comrade of the
disabled fighter. The rest is easy.
Another trick to which the war dog is
put is to give an alarm at the ap.
proach of an enemy. The animal is
trained to do this by being given to
understand that any uniform but the
one worn by the men he sees every
day is covering foe. So dummy
figure is rugged up, and the dog is
taught to leap on this and mangle
and worry it until the guard comes.
After little work, as all who know
dogs will easily understand, the dog
will attack any man who wears a
strange uniform. In some cases post
men have been seriously hurt by the
German dogs. a soldier not being
handy when the letter deliverer hove
in sight of the trained four-footed
warrior.
In teaching the dogs to carry dis
patches the handlers assistant takes
the canine soldier to distance from
the camp, places a dummy dispatch in
the pouch worn on the animals neck
aud tells him to go aud seek his mas.
ter. The creature is delighted, hunts
out the handler, and as soon as the
latter is found the most important part
of the lesson is learned. The Euro.
peans say that the dogs are very fond
of this part of the work given them
They appear to realize the Importance
of their position, much in the fashion
Of the dog who is SO elated and pleased
when his master allows him to carry
home the evening paper or cane
During fight the dog of war is trained
to carry ammunition to the men OF
the outskirts. The handler takes hi,
place near the ammunition wagon, ant
as soon as he finds that cartridges ar,
needed in a certain part Of the fel(
he loads the dog and starts the ANNA
off toward the sharpshooters. TIL,
! dog has been trained for just this kline
of work, and seldom fails to delive
the goods. Then he comes back an,
is sent off with another load. TIL
cartridges are loaded on his back, Isl
on either side, and make comforta
BILE burden. It has been found out
however, that if dog is wounded dur
ing his work he never can be induce,
to pay another visit to the neighbor
] hood in which he was shot. Also
t woe unto any soldier who tries to tax
4 the ammunition from the dog unles
the man belongs to the particular corp
8 to which the animal is attached
: Sometimes even the dogs will. allo'
a only the men of their own company t
!. get,the cartridges, SO faithful are the
( to the training they have been given.
Il After the battle the dog does dut
( in searching for the wounded. II
: finds the helpless soldier, barks q
!, long and as loud as he can, and ther
e if he fails to attract attention, tn
animal seizes something-probabl
: the mans cap-and hurries to th
G nearest hospital tent. The trainin
n for this duty is done with men VIII
?, go some distance from camp, preten
:. to be wounded aud drop in bitches
i The dog is sent out, finds the man an
n is encouraged to bark loudly. III
!. handlers pay no heed to this, and the
r. the soldier in the ditch gives the dc
:. his cap, tells the creature to take
:, home and awaits results. Very fe
lessons are required to bring Ii
:. dogs to keen point of appreciation
:, and it is said that they appear to III
: derstand the situation and realiz
:. what is required of them. When g.
- ing out in search of wounded men Il
> dogs carry TASKS strapped to the
harness, much after the fashion
the Sc. Demands of the Alps.