The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-02
THE DOCS Of war
Hundreds of Soldiers Owe Lives
to Faithful Animals.
Interesting Stories of Their Re.
markable Rescue Work.
FRENCH SHEPHERDS EXCEL
They Are Not as Vicious as Ger
man Dogs.
One Canine Wins Fame as q
Battery Guard.

Paris Dec. Notwithstanding mucn
that has already been recorded OF
them, the ambulance dogs have not yet
been given full recognition for the part
| they are playing in the war, say the
dog lovers.
Through the courtesy Of DR.. Kresser
of the National Society Of Ambulance
Dogs a dozen letters from army sur
geons and soldiers telling in interest
ing detail some Of their intelligent and
coura geous feats, have been brought to
light. First, discussing the general
usefulness of the dog in field ambu-
lance work, DIR. Kresser said this use
fulness had become greater in proper
| ton to the development OF modern
methods of warfare.
."The infantryman today does his
| fighting from the ground, under any
| cover he can find,'' he said, creeping
| through thickets, hiding in bitches. be-
hind hedges and every spot that is like
| ~ to conceal him from the enemy. Nat
urally the same cover hides him from
the view of the stretcher bearer pick
ing up the wounded after the battle.
This duty is further complicated by
| the fact that it must be done at night.
\ as the intensity of fire makes it impos-
during an engagement. In this work
of seeking the wounded at night the
ambulance dog becomes indispensable,
since lights are forbidden to the
stretcher bearers for fear OF exposing
positions to the enemy; consequently
the salvation of hundreds of wounded
soldiers depends upon the sharp scent,
| intelligence and devotion Of the ambu-
lance dog.
1.-The French ambulance dog is the
French shepherd. an animal which is
proven to be far better adapted to the
work than the German shepherd dog
because the German dog is more fero-
cious and is taught to fight the enemy
| as well as to discover the wounded OF
his own troops. The French dog is
taught to seek the wounded Of the enc
my's troops as we'll as his own. He is
as gentle as he is faithful and, as in
the case of Tom,' is the pet of his
company"
The Case of Tom.
The lease of Tom is this:
CASTOR Durand of the Thirtieth in
fantry fell in one of the violent en-
gagements in the Argonne forest.
wounded in the arm by a fragment of
a shell, with a bullet in his jaw and
nearly scalped by a blow from a sabre.
He tried to rise, but a heavy weight
fell upon him and then he lost con-
seriousness. The first thing he became
aware Of was feeling that resembled
a caress upon his forehead. He opened
his eyes and there was Tom, one of the
. ambulance dogs, affectionately tapping
his torn head. He tried to rise, but the
1
was still there. 1t was the body Of one
Of his comrades who had fallen will
a bullet through his heart.
Impossible to extricate himself, hi
finally succeeded in getting to a sit
ting posture. His cap was gone an6
that explained why Tom had not gone
back to the ambulance for help. Du
rand looked, and Tom searched but nj
cap was to be found. go, Tom, and
Z fetch the comrades Durand cried.
: half hour later Tom went into CAM
, and selling the first soldiers coat in hi
] teeth, began Juggling at him. The sol
der did not understand. Then Ton
, barked appealingly but with no NOR
effect. Finally menacingly with no re
, suit Then the doctor came along. H
: understood and Tom gave a yelp o
joy when he realized that he had sue
ceeded. Directed by him the doctor an,
I the stretcher bearers soon found Du
rand. hidden in thicket. where prob
ably he would have passed unnotice
I until he had either starved or died fror
a his wounds. had it not been for Tom.
: They lifted the dead man Off car
! ried Durand back to the ambulanc
/. and Notwithstanding the gravity of hi
q three wounds, he is now mending, al
a thanks to Tom.
i Many Similar Cases.
Toms not an isolated incident Of tn
devotion Of the ambulance dog. cas-
Il is reported from the vicinity of Verdu
o in which a dog discovered a soldier VIII
8 had been wounded in the head and VIII
had received first aid from one Of hi