The Cordova daily times., 1917-01-03
ALASKA DOCS ARE USED IN
 ALSACE

IN THE VOsGEs MOUNTAINS, Al sace, Jan. 2. The extent to which called upon during this war is perhaps nowhere more in evidence than in the reconquered mountain districts of the former German province of Alsace. While making trip through that DOT l tion 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 mer frontier between Alsace and France the correspondent passed a mule train, most of the animals com posing which had been imported from | Algeria but many from Missouri, Loui siana and other states, and had served in transport columns ever since the early days of hostilities with great satisfaction to the army authorities The sure footedness of these mules and their reliability have been great factors in keeping the men entrenched on the slopes and summits of the Vos- ges supplied with food and munitions during the long winter months when other traffic is next to impossible.
 Another method of transport ema- hating from across the Atlantic is com. posed 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 loads over the snow fields. On the day of the cores pondents visit one kennel containing l5O dogs had just completed four sue cessive days work after a heavy fall Of snow. and had in that period con veyed from the valley to the front line upwards of fifty tons of food and other supplies. Besides the dogs from Alaska and Labrador there are many breeds of animals kept in the kennels, usually dug into the rock at three or four thousand feet up the hill slope. They comprise sheep dogs from Al sace, Scottish collies, mastiffs. and cross breeds. All of them apparently enjoy the work, and they are of ines ttmable 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 team was chosen and the dogs composing it released from their ieashes. all their companions with one accord leaped and parked 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 the perfect training of the animals 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 Transatlantic dogs have become so well accustomed to their new sur roundings that many of them have started family life and several strings of puppies play about the vicinity of the kennel
 In the transport of the wounded from the summit to the hospitals be. low many American motor cars are used. They have been chosen for this work owing to their lightness and the facility with which they surmount the inequalities Of the mountain roads over which the cars of the French and British ambulances cannot 20. In nearly every instance these cars are driven by American boys. some of them straight from college or univer- sity. The Associated Press correspon- dent met young men from nearly every state of America on duty at almost in accessible 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 positions of the front Every French surgeon who has seen them at their work is full of praise for their spirit of self-sacrifice.