The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-31
DOG SENTINELS
ON FRENCH FRONT
They Take Their Work Along with the
Soldiers and Are Doing Most
Valuable Service.

French front, July 3l.--Correspondenc,
Dog sentinels Of the French army take
their regular turn of repose together
with their human comrades in the rest
camps" of the second line, where they
are relieved for time from the nerve.
racking thunder of the cannon which is
their daily lot in the front trenches.
The Associated Press correspondent
to-day saw number of these animals
| frisking about with their soldier friends
in the waters OF canal running through
the territory of the Somme whence re-
Gently the Germans were driven. The
dogs appeared to enjoy their relaxation
just as much as the men, with whom
they had just marched from the trenches
after a spell of duty lasting twelve days.
These dogs, mostly of the sheep dog
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 ac.
customed 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 natur-
ally beside them, and keep sharp
watch out 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 wag
ging their tails and moving about nerv-
ously. On many occasion they have Civ
EN- notice in this way of an enemy patrol
moving about stealthily in front and
have perceived the approach of raiding
parties of Germans long before their
human companions had any idea that
any hostile movement was in progress.
In fact, a considerable part of the
French success in beating off German
raids has been due to the dog sentinels'
acute vision and hearing. One battalion
possesses number of these animals has, |
owing to their alertness, been enabled to
prepare timely defense on six occasions |
this month against German night at
lacks. When the Germans arrived at |
the French wire they found the rife
men awiting for them ana they were
driven back with heavy losses, while
he Chasseurs themselves never lost a
nan killed
All the soldiers at the front have
earned to have very strong confidence
n the instinct of their dog companions.
who participate in all their perils and
,ften save them from death or cap
.ure
Efforts were made at one time to use
he dogs as companions of the French
light patrol which creep out between the
ines to try to see what is going on in
he enemy's trenches. The experiment,
however, was not entirely successful, as
sometimes two French patrols would
meet and the dogs accompanying one
'srty would attack the men composing
he other If the same men always went
ut on patrol duty it would be different,
S the dogs would learn 10 recognize
hem even in the dark, but this is not
ossible.
The dogs are placed on the regimentsl
osters in the same way as the soldiers
nd they also draw regular rations. In
he front trenches they share with the
oldiers all the discomforts of under
round life, and when TIE men are re-
eyed they go with them to enjoy the
omforts of eantonments. Then they
re clearly housed in kennels, are washed
nd brushed and regularly fed, and they
re at all times petted by the men, who
gard them as true comrades.
The utilization of dogs for war work
extending daily, and those animals
'und unsuitable for active service at the
ont are proving Of practical use in the
harding Of muntion works and other
pots in the rear.