The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18

1.-TWO hundred dogs. chiefly sheep
dogs, are at present attached to
the German forces operating In
Herrera Land under General Won Trotha'
writes Maj. E. Hautonville Richardson
, in the Nineteenth Century and After.
One of them, Flock. has been sent home
to Kiel invaded. He was wounded by
bullet In the engagement of opajbo
while scouting in front Of the skirmishing
line. He displayed the greatest fearless
ness under fire, and worked faultlessly
until disabled.
The Japanese are using number of
dogs for accommodating purposes; they
are attached to long ropes and well
trained. The Russians are employing
dogs for sentry and messenger work.
In Mexico, in the guerilla war; colonel
of volunteers trained some dogs who
gave the guerilla insurgents warm
time. If they tried ambushes they were
scented out, and their plans failed; if
they returned into the depths of the
woods they were tracked out by the
dogs, and attacked when preparing to
camp for the night.
" - IVES Ch6ht mus " NC oblC " PiN-
vent the enemy from creeping up in the
grass and surprising, giving timely
warning; and the march of troops in
thick country should be covered by dogs,
and they should also follow up the scent
OF the retreating foe In action dogs
are also trained 10 carry ammunition 10
the firing line, their size rendering them
d smaller target than man.
The extraordinary characteristics of
the dog-the watchfulness, dociity, the
acuteness OF his senses, his affection for
mankind, and his speed, enable him to
be of immense value for military pur
poses, and the employment of dogs for
such purposes can hardly be called an
invention of modern times.
Far back in the mists of antiquity we
gather that the usefulness of the dog
as an auxiliary in war was known, and
to the ancients belongs the honor of hav
ing first used dogs in this connection.
They used them for the purpose Of de-
Tense and attack, but the war dog of
today, in consequence of a completely
different method of warfare, has to full
fill totally different duties, and as a
means of actual attack or defense. is out
of the question. 1t may not be without
interest to recall few of the historical
dates, referring to the many-sided use
of war dogs and the many people who
used them.
Plutarch and Pliny both mention war
dogs in their writings. At the siege of
Mantinea, Agesilaus employed dogs, as
did also Cambyses in his campaign in
Egypt 1000 years B. c. Aeneas mem
tions dogs as being used to carry dis
patches in their collars. The Cymbrans
and Teutons had their battle dogs, who
inspired fear in the Roman legions.
Vegetius, the Roman military writer, in
forms us that dogs were posted In towers
on Notifications to give the garrison
timely warning of the enemy's approach
by barking. and on a relief at Hercula-
neum Is a representation of a war dog,
clad in armor, defending Roman post
against barbarians. The Gauls had also
large packs of war dogs clad in armor,
and Attila. King of the Huns, had i'm
mense feroeious hounds to guard his
camp.
In Medieval times the war dog often
appears defending conveys and luggage;
and dogs clad in mail, with scythes and
spikes jutting out, were used to distract
the enemy's cavalry and bring confusion
in his ranks. Even port-fires were placed
on the dogs backs to set fire to the en-
emy's camps. The Knights of st. John
always used dogs on outpost duty. and
no patrol was allowed to go without
them. In 14I6 the Swiss dogs fought the
Burgundy dogs in the battle of Grandson;
and at the battle of Merten they de-
stroyed the Burgundy dogs.
After the discovery of America by the
Standards many of the natives were
tracked and worried by the fierce blood
hounds of the invaders. In 1918 King
Charles the Fifth of Spain had 1000 dogs
and 1000 mercenaries placed at his dis
posal by the King of England to fight
against Francis the First of France
The French and the Spanish or rather
the English. dogs, which acted as skr-
mishers on both sides. met in fierce bat