The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-24
WAR DOGS" USED IN BATTLE.
Act as Scouts, outposts and Red Cross
Assi stants.

In medieval times the war dog often
appears defending conveys and lug
gage, and dogs clad in mail, with
scythes and spikes jutting out were
used to distract the enemy's cavalry.
Even port-fres were placed on the
dogs backs to set fire to the enemys
camps.
The Turks also used dogs as scouts.
Napoleon, in Italy, used dogs as scouts,
and one, Moustache, became famous
for tracking spies.
But nowadays they do things with
wal dogs that would have astonished
the ancients. The Germans lave used
them for 90 years. Spain and Holland
have taken them up We use diem in
the Philippines. Great Britain alone
Is, as usual conservative.
Dogs are used as scouts to warn
troops of lurking enemies, as outposts
and as messengers between pickets,
supports and reserves, Particularly at
night are they useful In battle togs
carry ammunition to the firing line,
and after it is over they can beat the
heu CTUSS men dI UuibliS hhc NpuhN
ed
The best war dogs ans medium-sizea
for they do no actual fighting, buf
belong rather to the Intelligence de-
partment They must come OF work
ing stock and have hard feet. Collies
have, ON the whole, pro~d most fit
ana female dogs are far preferable to
males.
Sporting dogs cannot eradicate their
love of chase. which might lead to the
gravest consequences in military en-
ployment. Greyhounds have little in
telligence, bad noses, are difficult TO
teach, and are all born hunters. Fox
terriers and the other terriers. arc too
small. Bulldogs and bull terriers are
difficult to manage. The poodle has
intelligence, but 1t is not fitted for the
work Newfoundlands, ST. Bernards,
mastiffs and Danes would soon. tire on
hot march in summer. For draught
purposes they could be used, as in the
Italian army, but they lack endurance.
The war dog should assist the ad-
vance guard, scour the country and
scent the enemy's ambuscades; and a
dog so trained in peace should be in
valuable in war. For instances. take
the services he renders to the customs
officials on the various continental
frontiers, where the smuggling by
means of dogs loaded with contrahand
has to be kept down.
The war dog should scout ont by
word of command, and his movements
should be an easy index of the where
abouts of an enemy; the smallest in
dentation of ground should no hanger
serve for an. enemy's ambuscade. The
dogs can also scent out tracks of the
enemy and bring him to bay; but the
eyes of a scout must be fixed only ON
the dog to watch his movements. and
on nothing else. In reconnoitring hills
the scouts should remain at the. top
and put out the dogs over the top. In
reconnoitring detiles the dogs should be
sent UP both sides and through the
center. In examining villages the dogs
should be sent up the principal streets,
and all haystacks, gardens, etc, should
be visited while looking out for lurk-
ing enemies;. in fact, dogs do this work
far quicker than dismounted men.
Two hundred dogs, chiefly sheep
dogs, are al present attached to the
German forces operating in Herrero
Land, Africa. under Gen. Won Trotha
One of them, Flock" has been sent
home to Kiel invalided. He was
wounded by a bullet in the engagement
of Opajbo while scouting in front of
the skirmishing line. He displayed the
greatest feariessness under fire, and
worked fauluessly until disabled The
Japanese are using a number of dogs
for recommending purposes; they are
attached to long ropes and are we'll
trained. The Russians are, employ
ing dogs for sentry and messenger
work.
Capt. Persidsky of the late Count
Kellers staff, writing from. Odessa,
says: In finding the wounded men
with which the millet fields are strewn
nothing has succeeded like our seven
dogs; their intelligence. especially the
English-bred ones, 10 extraordinary."-
New York Mail,