Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-26
AMERICA TAKES
BIC PART WITH
WAR

IN THE VoSGES MOUNTAINS. Al
SAGE, Dec. 26.-The extent to which the
resources of America have been called
upon during this war is, perhaps, no.
where more in evidence than in the
re-conquered mountain districts of the
former German province of Alsace.
While making a trip through that por-
ton 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 resources.
Immediately after crossing the for
ner frontier between Alsace and
France, the correspondent passed q
mule train, most of the animals conn.,
posing which had been imported from
Algeria, but many from Missouri. LOU
isiana and other states, and had served
IN transport columns since the earlv
days of hostilities with great salts
faction to the army authorities. The
sure-footedness of these mules, and
their reliability have been great fac
tors in keeping the men entrenched ON
the slopes and SUBMITS of the Vosges
supplied with food and munitions dur
ing the long winter months when other
road traffic is next to impossible.
Another method of transport emanat-
ing from across the Atlantic is compos-
ed of teams of dogs from Alaska and
Labrador. When snow puts out of the
question any other means Of conveying
supplies to the troops, these animals
are harnessed to sleds in teams of eight
with leader or guide chosen from
the most intelligent among them and
they make rapid progress with heavy
leads over the snowfieIds. On the day
of the correspondents visit one kennel
containing LOO dogs had just completed
four successive days work after a
heavy fall of snow and had in that Pc
riod conveyed from the valley to the
front line upwards of fifty tons of food
and other supplies.
Dog Kennels Deep in Rock HiIIsides
Besides the dogs from Alaska and
Labrador there are many breeds of ami
mails kept in the kennels usually dug
irto the rock at three or four thousand
feet up the hill slope. They comprise
sheepdogs from Alsace, Scottish collies.
mastiffs and cross-breeds. All of them
apparently enjoy the work, and theJ
are OF inestimahle service to the
troops. The correspondent had the
opportunity of seeing their training at
a kennel on one of the high peaks of
the Vosges. When a team was chosen
and the dogs composing it released
from their leashes, all their compan-
ions with one accord leaped and bark
ed joyously The team selected was
harnessed to a sled capable of carrying
several hundred pounds. ON which
two soldiers took their seats. No
guiding reins were used, the man In
charge relying on the perfect training
of the animals, who turned to right OF
left as their leader in answer to the
drivers voice, went one way or another
with absolute precision and at a high
rate of speed. The transatlantic dogs
have become SO well accustomed t.
IL cir new surroundings that many of
them have started family life and sew
eral strings of puppies play about the
vicinity of the kennel
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
owing to their lightness and the facii-
ity with which they surmount the in
equalities of the mountain roads, over
which the cars Of the French and Brit
ish ambulances cannot go. In nearfY
every instance these cars are driven
by American boys, some of them
straight from college or university. The
Associated Press correspondent met
young men from nearly every state OF
America on duty at almost inaccessi-
bic spots on many of the peaks of the
Vosges. They were taking their turn
in the risky work of conveying the
wounded from the most advanced posi-
tions of the front. Every French sur
geon who has seen them at work is
full Of praise for their spirit Of self
sacrifice.