Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-26
MULES AND DOGS IN
USE IN MOUNTAINS
Motorcars Made in United
States Driven by Ameri-
cans Transport Wounded
Back From the Front
: Nearly Every State Rep
resented in Ranks.

In the Vosges Mountains. Alsace,
Dec. 2.-(By Mail. Tine extent to
which the resources OF America have
been called upon during this war is
perhaps nowhere more in evidence
than in the reconquered mountain dis
tlicts of the former German province
of Alsace. While making trip
through that portion of the province
now occupied by French troops, The
Associated Press correspondent came
into contact at many points with signs
OF the wide range of Americas re-
sources.
Immediately after crossing the for
mer frontier between Alsaee and
France the correspondent passed a
mule train, most of the animals COM
posing which haG been imported from
Algeria. but many from Missouri.
Louisiana and other states, and had
served in transport columns ever
since the early days of hostiities with
great satisfaction to the army author
tiles. The sure footedness of these
mules and their reliability have been
great factors in keeping the men en-
trenched on the slopes and submits of
the Vosges supplied with food and mu-
iiliOH5 udlliib tllS lOHB WlAlCI ilODlHS
when other road traffic is next to i'm
possible.
DOGS FROM ALASKA.
Another method of transport ema-
mating from across the Atlantic is
composed of teams Of dogs from Alas
ka and Labrador. When snow puts out
Of the question any other means of
conveying supplies to the troops, these
animals arc harnessed to sleds in teams
of eight with a leader or guide chosen
from tho most intelligent among them
and they make rapid progress with
heavy loads over the snowfields.
On the day of the correspondents
visit one kennel containing $50 dogs
had just completed four successive
days work after a heavy fall of snow
and had in that period conveyed from
the valley to the front line upwards
of so tons of food and other supplies.
Besides the dogs from Alaska and Lab
rador there are many breeds of ami
mails kept in the kennels usually dug
into the rock at three or four thou
sand feet up the hill slope. They COM
prise sheep dogs from Alsace, Scottish
collies. mastiffs and cross-breeds. All
of them apparently enjoy the work and
they are of inestimable service to the
troops. The correspondent had the OPP
portunity of seeing their training at
kennel on one of the high peaks of
the Vosges.
When a team was chosen and the
dogs composing 1t released from their
leashes. all their companions with one
accord leaped and barked in jealousy.
The team selected was harnessed to
sled capable of carrying several hun
dred pounds, on which two soldiers
took their seats. No guiding reins
were used. the men in charge relying
on their perfect training of the ami
mails. who turned to right or left as
their leader in answer to the drivers
voice went one way or another with
absolute precision and at high rate
of speed. The Atlantic dogs
have become so well accustomed to
their new surroundings that many of
them have started family life and sew
eral strings of puppies play about the
vicinity of the kennels.
AMERICAN MOTOR CARS.
In the transport of the wounded from
the summit to the hospitals below
many American motor cars are used.
They have been chosen for this work