The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-27
French War Dogs Take Repose
Along With Human Comrades

RGA>SI NUM-, june IS.-\COI-
respondence.) DOG sentinels Of the
French army take their regular turn Of
repose together with their human coro-
rades in the "rest-camps" of the
second line, where they are relieved
for a time from the nerve-racking
thunder Of the cannon which is their
daily lot in the front trenches.
The Associated Press correspondent
today saw number of these animals
frisking about with their soldier
friends in the waters of canal run
ming through the territory of the
Somme whence recently the Germans
were driven. The dogs appeared to
enjoy their relaxation just as much as
the men, with whom they had just
marched back from the trenches after
a spell of duty lasting twelve days.
Dogs Stand Guard.
These dogs, mostly of the sheepdog
species, do most valuable service, at
night more especially, in company with
the look-outs who have the task OF
keeping an unfailing guard on the front
lines. The dogs have become quite
accustomed to the roar and bursting of
shells, which when the animals were
first sent to the fighting line caused
them to run off with their tails droop-
ing.
Now when the human sentinels are
posted right in face of the enemy the
dogs take up their position quite nat
urally beside them and keep a sharp
watch over mo mans land" Their
ears perk up at the slightest rustic in
the darkness in front, but the dogs do
not bark or growl, instead they call
the attention of the soldier sentry by
wagging their tails and moving about
nervously. On many occasions they
they have given notice in this way of
an enemy patrol moving about stealth.
lily in front and have perceived the ap-
proach of raiding parties Of Germans
long before their human companions
had any idea that any hostile move
ment was in progress.
Dogs Prevent Attacks
In fact, a considerable part Of the
French success In beating off German
raids has been due to the dog-senti-
rels' acute vision and hearing One
battalion of the famous Alpine Chas-
seurs which possesses a number Of
these animals has, owing to their
alertness, been enabled to prepare
timely defence on six occasions this
month against German night attacks.
When the Germans arrived at the,
French wire they found the rifle-men
waiting for them and they were driv-
en- back with heavy losses. while the
Chasseurs themselves never lost a
man killed.
All the soldiers at the front have
learned to have very strong confidence
in the instinct of their dog compan-
ions, who participate in all their perils
and often save them from death or
capture.
Efforts were made at one time to
use the dogs as companions of the
French night patrols which creep out |
between the lines to try to see what is |
going on in the enemy's trenches. I
Experiment Failed.
The experiment, however, was not |
entirely successful, as sometimes two
French patrols would meet and the
dogs accompanying one party would |
attack the men composing the other. |
If the same men always went out on |
the dogs would learn to recognize them |
even in the dark, but this is not poss- |
ible
HC uOSo are PldCcu Ou luc ICSl- |
mental rosters in the same way as the |
soldiers and they also draw regular |
rations In the front trenches they
share with the soldiers all the discoln-
forts of underground life, and when |
the men are relieved they go with |
them to enjoy the comforts of canton |
ments. Then they are cleanly housed |
in kennels, are washed and brushed |
and regularly fed, and they are at all |
times 'petted by the men, who regard |
them as true comrades.
The utilization of dogs for war work
is extending daily and those animals
found unsuitable for active service at |
the front are proving Of practical use
in the guarding of munition works and
other depots in the rear.