The evening times., 1900-03-31
DOGS FOR MILITARY USES.
An Omciai Report of Tests Made In
der German Army Auspices.

der auspices.
Concerning the usefulness of dogs for
military purposes aud the adaptabiIity of
the various breeds for such purposes. the
German Embassy here has received re-
port from the War OHlce in Berlin. 1t
reads in part as follows:
War dogs have been in use in the Ger
man Army for about fifteen years This
year. for the second time. a trial Of these
dogs was held at Oels. Siberia, the results
of which were most interesting from vari-
Gus points of view A. wooded country in
terspersed with coinfelds was selected
sixteen dogs. consisting of FIVE collies,
two short haired German settlers. four
sheeidogs. one poodle. and the rest cross
breeds. belonging to- the GuarCs' Rife and
Jaeger battalions. took part in the trial.
Only officeIs of the Jaeger battalions Of
fciated as judges. PoiEts were awarded
for: Behavior as watch idog; returning to
the trainer from recoEnSitrirg party; go
ing to the reconnoitring party from the
trainer following on the trail Of the train
er and casting of. Capacity for being lead
on the leash fetching and carrying ammn
nition. seeking for wounded and giving
tongue were not tried FOR want of time.
Classification according TO points OBJ
tanned. was awarded in most searching
manner. Only seven dogs gave notice of
the approach OF an enemys patrol by low
growing. whilst five dogs barked loudly.
and four took no notice whatever Of the
enemy
The Young dogs had to cover a distance
of gt,aI no la nd bn oil
dogs three kilometres in carrying of infor-
nation from the picket to the reconnoi-
tring party and back returning OF the
same errand. after the pickets had changed
their positions about 2G0 metres during the
dogs absence. Ten dogs performed the er
rands in the most satisfactory manner.
and. as was proved BY the time tables at
tached to their collars with the utmost
despatch
Taking all the dogs together they may
be reckoned as having taken four and
half minutes to each kilOmetre. Dogs
which gave an unsatisfactory performance
in carrying dispatches were debarred from
taking any further part in the competition.
The shortest time taken in the laying on OF
the dogs was twenty minutee. Following
on the trail was tried for distance of 6lG
metres. and il is certainly remarkable that
crs either from inability to take up the
trail or 10y losing it, the hge colIies full
filled this rest in the most satisfactory
manner The other eight dogs relied too
much on their ewes and too little on their
noses. Unfortunately. It il just the dogs of
the sporting class which cannot be en-
ployed as war dogs. owing to their partiali-
" for game. for 10 reliance can be placed
en- their following a trail if il is crossed by
game Of any kind. The five collies, crosses
between English and Scotch sheepdogs be
longing 10 the Sixth Jaeger battalion,
showed 10 the best advantage. They
proved themselves sufficiently alert. obedi-
ent intelligent with good noses. and indif
ferent to game. The poodle. however took
the first prize. with total OF 90 points
There will tahe place this year a winter
trial Of war dogs in the snow and ice and
for this a prize OF 600 marks has been of
fered from private source"