The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-31
00C SENTINELS
IN FRANCE TAKE
SHORT RESPITES
Like Soldiers They Are Re
lieved and Sent to Rear
n For Rest

French Front. June 29-(Corre-
epondence)-Dog sentinels of the
French army take their regular turn
of Fepose together with their human
comrades 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 a number of these animals
friaking about with their soldier
friends in the waters of a. canal run
oing through the territory of the
so1nme whence recently the Germans
we're driven. The dogs appeared to
enjoy their relaxation just as much
as che men,. with whom they had just
marched back from the trenches
after spell of duty lasting IL days.
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 .wsr s.sfiEsts sent to the dghting
lines causedufH3h t6sruHsof f1l their
tails dropping. sT7eAeN'e
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 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. In
stead they call the attention of the
soldier sentry by wagging their tails
and moving about nerously. On many
occasions they have given notice in
this way of an enemy patrol moving
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, considerable part of the
French success, in beating off Ger
man raids due to the dog sentinels
acute vision and hearing. One bat,
5 talon of the. famous Alpine Chas
eeurs which possesses a number o.
these animals has, owing TO theil
alertness. been enabled to prepar'
timely defence on six occasions thi
month against German night attacks
When the Germans arrived at tn
French wire they found the rife mel
waiting for them and they wer
driven back with heavy losses. Will
the Chasseurs themselves never los
man Killed.
All the soldiers at the front hav
learned to have very strong confidenc
In the instinct of their dog compan
ions. who participate in all thei
perils and often save them from dealt
or capture
Efforts were made at one time t
use the dogs as companions OF tn
French night patrols which creep GU
between the lines to try to see wha
Is going on in the enemy's trenche.
The experiment. however. was nc
entirely successful. as sometimes tW
French patrols would meet. and tn
dogs accompanying one party woul
attack the men composing the othel
Ifethe same men always went out o
patrol duty 1t would be- different a
the dogs would learn to recogniz
{. them even in the dark, but this nj
not possible.
The dogs, are placed on the reg
mental rosters in the same way g
the soldiers and they also draw regr
lar rations. In the front trencht
they. share with the soldiers all tn
discomforts of underground life, an
when the men are relieved they {
with them to enjoy the comforts (
n cantonments. Then they are cleanl
housed in, kennels, are washed an
brushed and regulaElx fed. and the
are at all times Rettedr by the me-
who regard them as true comrades.
sfhe utilization of dogs for VIZ
work is extending daily. and tho.
fafrrd s11ifa tlo rfix