The Washington herald., 1908-01-26

Paris. Jan. 25.-Quite an unusual sight
was witnessed yesterday on the race
course Of Vincennes. Instead OF steeple-
chasers or trotting horses, with their
mulu-colored jockeys, the pesage, or IN
closure, was taken uD by a curious col
lection Of police dogs and their masters
or trainers. The Club Fraucais du Chen
do Defense de Garde ct de Police an
entirely private association Of amateurs.
had obtained permission TO use the race
course for 4 series of experiments. 70
which the police authorities we're invited.
The ground was frozen. and the immense
plain Of the largest race course near
Paris looked like piece OF some remote
desert
About fifty persons IN all including
three Fashionable women had come 20
witness the trials, which were to consist,
first, In a test Of the dogs obedience and
intelligence. He was 10 walk quietly be
side his master. held IN a leash. and then
loose. TO explore the ground, sit on guard.
crouch down in concealment, or bark at
the word Of command. Rolf was told 10
out Of his throat three times. as If he
understood exactly how many times was
sufficient for the occasion. All the dogs
went through the first part Of the pro-
gramme with success.
The Man-hunt.
The most interesting trials next were
the man-hunt and arrest Of supposed bur
glars Two men were dressed up as
Apaches They were thoroughly padded
from head 20 foot with mattress-lke COW
erlags. and well did they need them, for
the dogs took their business in earnest.
Each man also wore an iron mask and
steel helmet as wei as iron gloves. A
dog was first told TO escort one OF his
prisoners TO a given place. He marched
close at his side. and woe 10 the man Il
he made the slightest attempt TO escape.
The dog would make a fierce bound at
him and throw him down IN an instant,
catching, as a rule, the mattress padding
where It was thickest. and burying his
teeth viciously IN the mans supposed
flesh.
An armed attack was then represented.
A man, representing a burglar, crouched
with his back against a wall. stood con-
cealed, armed with a club and q revolver.
The trainer came along with his dog. and
was not supposed 10 see the man iH con
cealment. The imaginary burglar sud
denly pounces ont on him, fires shot
and catches the man by the throat The
police dog. however, hardly gives him
time In an instant he seizes the man
and bowls him over, beIab0ring him at
the same time with his teeth. The man
IS allowed 10 use his club as best he can
on the dogs back. but the animal easily
has the better Of him. and the blows only
stimulate his vig0r.
One Animal Coward.
Only one animal out Of nineteen Ger
man sheepdog, refused hattie, and acted
the coward. All the rest performed their
part with powerful conviction. and it may
well be surmised that a real burglar.
though armed with club and revolver,
would have Jared very badly under such
an attack. Seven dogs especially distin-
guished themselves by their clever and
almost scientific behavior.
The best Of all seemed to he a big mas
tiff called GarCon. who has been for some
time already in the police service of R0u-
baix. Prizes have been offered by n.
Clemenceau, the premier, who takes a
great interest in these experiments. and
by n Lepine. prefect Of police. who was
represented at Vincennes by the police
cOmmissary OF Joinville NJ. Hennion,
chief Of the detective bureau. viii he
present at the next trials Further eX-
periments viii also be made i'm few
days with ambulance dogs in which the
war office takes GREAT interest