Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
THE DOGS OF WAR
By J. E. jerks

relief accomplished by the dogs of Mount St. Ber-
nard, St Gotthard, and several Alpine passes where
they have been employed since the Middle Ages as
guides in and in the rescue of lost trav-
elers They the ancestors of the ambulance dog
of the present day, which trained to seek the
wounded in the most unusual places and to guide
the relief corps to them.
The ambulance dog it is proposed shall carry a
saddle containing bandages and dressings while at
tached to the collar is small receptacle of stimu-
lants Some of the Russians have been providing
their ambulance dogs with lanterns for work at
night instead of making them solely the bearers of
restoratives or bandages, which considered I'M
necessary all soldiers carry the first aid package
and, it is reasoned, if is able to help himself
from the medical stock carried by the dog he is likely
to be in condition call for help make his situa-
ton known. 1t is considered by the Russians that
the weight represented by bandages and stimuants
hlnders the action of the dog. One expert believes
that the ambulance dog should have canvas saddle
without pockets, and be equipped with a leather
collar and loud bell.
Even this modified of the dogs of will re-
quire much training, representing careful selection
of animals in the first instance. Dogs may be
trained for special service; but the difficulty to
induce them to do anything beyond what they suppose
to be their function An ambulance dog, for in
stance cannot be used for messenger service,
shown Ill one recent trial, when such dog, being
despatched with a message remained beside a
wounded whom he encountered when on his
errand.
Training the Animals
THE dog best suited for army work of any sort is
one OF medium Size and, OF course OF lntell-
gence and activity The first problem is to get him
accustomed the noise of battle and the suddenness
and confusion of military movement 1t takes usu-
ally at least eight months of unremiting patience
train dog that it will be of any in connection
with an army in the field. The dogs best adapted
for the purpose the sable coies since they have
intelligence to acquire the necessary habits and the
endurance and activity that indispensable in their
work Pointers are useless, since they love the
chase and all dogs of the sporting class cannot be
relied upon to follow trail if it is crossed by game
of any kind. Greyhounds lack intelligence fox ter
riers too small; bulldogs too excitable and
pugnacous; and, of course the large dogs, Familiarity
known the St. Bernard not adaptable to the
purposes of war.
The countries that have given some attention to
the subject include Germany Austria, Switzerland,
England, Holland. and Italy, the last Government
having subsidized ambulance dog establishment
in Rome with very good results. American officers
have not given much serious attention to the subject
and are inclined to look on the matter one more
interesting than practically useful in the wide and
varied domain of the facilities for waging 1t is
realized that in the conduct of battle. under the
conditions that must prevail. risks can be
with uncertain factor. such the dog has
proved to be even under the most favorable aus
pices of training.