Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-30

To '7et loose the a
dogs Of war" has
emerged from the figu-
rative into the literal. AS a fea-
ture Of the actual fighting dogs are
playing a definite and unique part
in the great struggle which has con-
Vulsed the whole Of Europe. 1t is
not at all unlikely that future dis.
patches from the war front in Bel
GUM will mention achievements of
King Albert's light artillery made
possible through the employment of
dogs instead Of horses.
In the armies of almost every
European country dogs are trained
either as spies, messengers, or to
render aid to the wounded Ger
many, France, Russia, Austria and
Italy have their bands of trained
dogs, and Prussia has employed them
for twelve years. Sheep dogs, span.
iels and short-haired German point
ers are used, two dogs being ap-
pointed to each company. each dog
having its own trainer.
First the dogs are taught to carry
dispatches, deliver cartridges to the
firing line, and then to search for
the wounded or fallen soldiers. AS
soon as one of these is discovered
the dog sets up a loud barking and
the ambulance corps is attracted to
the spot by the noise. If no help
comes, the wise dog takes the mans
cap or tears off a bit Of his clothing
and takes 1t to the field hospital.
Another clever trick OF theirs Is
to give an alarm at the approach of
an enemy. They are trained for this
by one Of their own soldiers being
dressed up in the clothes Of a for
eign soldier for the purpose. In the
early part of their education they
are taken out with an old dog who
thoroughly understands the work.
Another important part Of the
work OF a war dog is bringing up
ammunition during a fight. When
the battle has commenced, the
handler, as the soldiers who train
the dogs are called, takes up q stand
near the ammunition wagon with the
dog. As soon as he sees ammuni-
ton is wanted, he loads the animal
with $50 cartridges, carried In a dou;
BILE saddle-bag, half Of the cartridges
on either side.
Thus loaded, the intelligent beast
does his best to reach the line Of
sharpshooters. and. II successful. re-
turns Immediately to the handler 70
more ammunition, and 80 continues
the work until the battle is over, or;
as would be certain to happen some+
times, he himself is killed. 1t has
been proved that II he is wounded
while carrying out his duties, he can
seldom be induced to again venture
near the place where he has been
shot or cut.
However, the faithfulness OF the
dogs as q rule is wonderful, and,
when loaded with ammunition, they
will never allow the cartridges to be
taken from them by soldiers or an
other battalion. and sometimes only
by those OF their own company, SO
we'll are the dogs taught TO know the
division to which they belong.
When the battle is over their duty
IA to search for the wounded and
bring the news OF their whereabouts
to the hospital corps.
The aversion which the dogs feel
for certain uniforms is inculcated
into them by some German soldiers
putting on French or Russian uni
forms. They then tease or maltreai
the dog, while the other men caresf
and pet him. In this manner the
dog very soon learns to distinguish
between friend and foe.
So intense is that hatred In some
OF the dogs for men habited in any
uniform other than that OF the regi
ment TO which they belong that they
will attack a postman. In order
however, that they shall not do any
injury when on the march, the dog'
are held by the soldiers in leash.
The Russian dogs are chiea'
trained TO assist the medical corpI
IN their work, and TO help in the hu
name task OF bringing aid as rapid!
as possible to the wounded soldier
Big, strong dogs are selected for thii
purpose, ST. Bernards for preference