The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-10-05
Dogs ARE REAL
HEROES IN WAR
Nobler Instincts of Animal
Brought Out and Made
Use Of.
BEST KIND OF SENTINELs
Remarkable and Touching Incidents
Recorded About Canine Contin-
gents of the Franco British
Continental Armies-A
Dog Academy.

London.-Mr. Theodore MARBLES. F.
q. s., editor of Our Dogs, writes as fol-
lows In the Continental Mail:
When the war is over and its ter
rible incidence is committed to the his
torian to chronicle in permanent form,
the dog, the traditional friend of
man." must surely come under review,
for has he not often formed a part of
the operations-held the position of a
genuine military unit, and not an I'M
important one either-in the warfare?
In this world war real dogs of war;
have been 'let loose" as in ancient
Roman wars. with this distinction, that
the dogs natural propensity has been
suppressed; all his nobler instincts
have been brought out, so that il has
been possible to employ him with safe
ty and success as scout, sentry, mes
senger, as draught animal for draw
Ing small field pieces in situations
which neither horse nor motor trac-
| ton could negotiate, and last, but not
least, in finding wounded soldiers and
carrying succor to them.
Everybody will have read of the ter
raced colony of dogs In their dugouts
in the north of France, which form a
standing army of war dogs, fully
equipped with every device of canine
military paraphernalia of Lieut.. Rene
Haas and his journey to Alaska and
return to France with upward of one
hundred huskies-a hardy cross be-
tween the Eskimo dog and the wolf
and other sledge dogs of the near Arc
tic regions for the French army; OF
the success of Lieutenant Megnin, ed
itor of L'Eleveur, and his army of wal
dogs, which he organized and success
fully employed on the field of battle
at the instance of the French govern
ment. He was director of the dogs
attached to the Seventh French army
A Dog Academy.
One could write a whole volume up
on the prowess, the exploits, the brav
cry and the usefulness displayed b,
the dog in this great war, but | mus
content myself with recording a few
of the more prominent cases which
have come under my notice of the in
telligence, sagacity, fidelity and devo
ton to duty which have characterize,
the dog under altogether novel con
ditions.
The French have an association o
war dogs, the president of which 1
Mr.. Etienne, formerly war minister
and the acting president. Mr.. Bellan
formerly president of the municipal
council. This association is really
dog academy, in which a curriculum
} of tuition is laid down to fit tn
: psychological capability of each canin
student.
The Prussians attach a team O
, dogs TO every jaeger (rifie) battalion
which are under the control of pract
cal doggy officers. They are mostl
Of the sheepdog breed. register O
which, numbering $4,000, is kept 70
mobilization purposes by the verei
fur Deutsche Schaferhund. Dogs ar
!, also employed by other regiments, u
: to ten with each battalion. They ar
! mostly Of the same breed. but Airedal
terriers, Doberman Pinschers and DO,
ers "a sort Of bull terrier) are ais
employed.
Work OF Belgian Dogs.
Both Russia and Belgium hay
their war dogs. which have been larg
!, ly employed with the greatest success
When the Prussian hosts sweI
" through Belgium the dogs OF King A
bert and his soldiers performed VOL
ders in the way of sentry work and II
) quick drawing into position of fee