The Benson signal., 1916-09-30
Nobler Instincts of Animal
Brought Out and Made
Use Of.
BEST kind OF SENT|NELS
Remarkable and Touching Incidents
Recorded About Canine Contin-
gents of the Franco-British
Continental Armies-A
Dog Academy.

London.-Mr. Theodore Marbles, r.
u. s., editor Of Our Dogs, writes as fol-
lows in the Continental Mail:
When the war is over and it's ter
rible incidence is committed to the his
tor1an 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 un-
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
nave been brought out, so that it has
been possible to employ him with safe
ty and success as scout, sentry, mes
Senger, as a 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 war
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 whole volume up
on the prowess, the exploits, the bray
cry and the usefulness displayed by
the dog in this great war; but | must
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 characterized
the dog under altogether novel con-
ditiOns.
The French have an association of
war dogs, the president of which is
Mr.. Etienne, formerly war minister,
and the acting president, Mr.. Bellan,
formerly president of the municipal
council. This association is really a
dog academy, in which a curriculum
Of tuition is laid down to fit tl
psychological capability of each C.;
student.
The PruSSianS attach a team
dogs to every jaeger (rifle) battalion.
which are under the control of practi-
cal doggy officers. They are mostly
Of the sheepdOg breed, a register of
which, numbering $4,000, is kept for
mobilization purposes by the Verein
fur Deutsche Schaferhund. Dogs are
also employed by other regiments, up
to ten with each battalion. They are
mostly of the same breed, but Airedale
terriers, DOberman PinSchers and box
ers Ga sort of bull terrier) are also
employed.
Work of Belgian Dogs.
Both Russia and Belgium have
their war dogs, which have been large
" employed with the greatest success.
When the Prussian hosts swept
through Belgium the dogs of King AL
bert and his soldiers performed Won
ders in the way Of sentry work and the
quick drawing into position Of field