Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1917-01-11
AMERICAN MULE
WINS FAME
Sure-Fouted Animal Doing Great
Service In War.

r'-.rt
IN THE vOSGES MOUNTAINS
Alsace. Nov. The extent to wnlet
the resources of America have beef
called upon during this war 10 pernspl
nowhere more in evidence than in th'
reconauered mountain districts OF th'
former German province of Alsace'
While making trip through that por'
tion of the province now occupied o'
French troops the Associated Press
correspondent came into contact al
many points with signs Of the wid'
range of Americas resources.
Immediately after crossing the form
er frontier between Alsace and france
the correspondent passed a mule tram
most of the animals composing whlcu
had been imported from Algeria. ouI
many from Missouri, Louisiana anu
other states, and had served in trans
mort columns ever since the early days
of hostilities with great satisfaction
to the army authorities. The sure
footedness of these mules and their le-
liability have been great factors IN
keeping the men entrenched on tne
slopes and summit of the Vosges sup
nlied with food and munitions during
the long winter months when otner
road traffic is next to impossible. =
Another method of transport emana-
ting from across the Atlantic IL com
posed of teams Of dogs from Aiaska
aud Labrador. When snow puts out OF
the question any other means OF con-
veying supplies to the troop, these an,
imals are haruessed to sleds in team OF
eight with a leader or guide chosen
from the most Intelligent among them
and they make rapid progress WHO
heavy load over the 'snowfields.
On the day of the correspondent 8
visit one kennel containing $50 dogs
had just completed four successive
DAYS work after a heavy fall or snow
and had in that period conveyed from
the valley to the front line upwards OF
fifty tons of food and other supplies
Resides the dogs from Alaska and LAD
rador there are many breeds OF ami
mails kept in the kennels, usually dug
into the rock at 5000 or 1000 feet up
the hill slope. They comprise sheep
dogs fron Alsace, Scottish collles'
mastiffs and crossbreeds All OF them
apparently enjoy the work and they
are of inestimable service to the
troops. The correspondent had the
opportunity of seeing their training az
a kennel on one of the high peaks OF
the vosges. When team was chosen
and the dogs composing it released
from their leashes all their compan-
ions with one accord leaped and DATE
ed in jealousy. The team selected was
harnesssd to a sled capable OF carry
ing several hundred pounds, on which
two soldiers took their seats. No guild
ing reips were used. the men in charge
RELYING on the perfect training OF toe
animals, who turned to right or left
az their leader in answer to the driv-
er's voice went one way or another
with absolute precision and at high
rate Of speed. The tran atlantic dogs
have become so well accustomed to
their new surroundings that many Of
them have started family life and sew
oral strings of puppies play about the
vicinity of the kennels.
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 thii
work owing to their lightness and the
facility with which they surmoun'
the inequalities of the mountain roads,
over which the cars of the French anC
British ambulances cannot go. IL
nearly every instance these cars art
driven by American boys some o.
them straight from college or uuiver
sity. The Associated Press correspon
dent met young men from nearl!
every state of America on duty at al
most inaccessible spot on many of thu
peaks of the Vosges. They we're taking
their turn in the risky work of con
veying the wounded from the most ad
vanced positions of the front. Ever!
French surgeon who has seen them a
their work is full of praise for thei
spirit of self sacrifice.