Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-07-11
Dogs IL THE WAR ZONE
MEET DIFFERENT FATES

lie was shot by an American Sentinel
While on duty as a soldier, carrying
message, says Fred S. Ferguson,
with the American forces in Picardy.
The other dog still lives, but for
the coming Of Americans to the lit
tie village that was his home, he
might have died of neglect and star
yation. This dog is now known as
Tommy Just what his French name
was no one knows. He's of the
crossed bull and fox terrier variety,
and had bath since he fell into
American hands, and Is getting fat
On the left-overs of food from Amer
lean messes. Whatever he was in
yhe days Of his puppyhood, he's
Salvation army dog now, and the
friend of every soldier who lives in
or passes through the village.
If there is anything a soldier in
the field loves most next to his let
tors from home, his smokes and his
hunkie, it's dog. Consequently there
IS a feeling Of pity as the men in
the trenches look out over the para
pet and see the stiffened body of
the Boche dog. He happened to be
born on the other side Of the Rhine.
Therefore, he was an enemy. He
could not reason why one man was
his friends and one his foe. He only
knew that when he was called and
something was slipped in the little
aluminium container on his collar, he
must go to the place to which he
nad been taught to go. Neither did
he know that when he galloped be-
yond the German wire and out into
No Mans Land his lean form was
silhouetted against the sky in the
gathering darkness. He knew only
this was the short way to the next
yo5t command.
Though only a dog, he was part
Of the monster German war mach
inc that IS menacing the world.
Corporal Clark of E company of
III. -- infantry loves dogs as much
as any soldier But, you must re-
nember, the Boche dog was born Oh
The other side of the Rhisa. He was
Clark's enemy The corporal raised
his gun and fired The Boche dog
dropped dead. Clark slipped out
through the wire, unfastened the
dogs collar and brought it back.
The collar was sent into headQuart-
ers.
The little aluminium message box
that hung at the dogs throat was
opened. The message contained val
liable information as to relief in the
enemy lines and told other things
which it is necessary to know. The
colonel Of Clark's regiment sent him
1 note commending him for shooting
the dog, declaring him to be a quick
witted soldier of action"
Tommy does not know the story
of the Boche dog. In the first place
he doesn't understand much English
yet. Then he's having too much
fun frolicking with the American
Toys to listen. Tommy has lived
through the tragedy in his life, and
forgotten it. When thousands of men
like the Rochee dogs master swept
forward and captured Montdidler,
Just across the way from where Tom
my lived, his people fled. They were
farmer folk. They piled what house
held goods they could on their high
two-wheoled cart, climbed on top,
and with probably an old man or q
little boy driving the horses, they
hurried away. Tommy was forgotten
in the haste to flee from the wrath
of the German guns and men.
lie wandered around disconsolate
for days while strange French col
onials lived in the house his folks
mad left. Then they departed, and
The Americans came. The Salvation
Army moved into his house. He wag
ged his tail at the sight of woman.
And when the little woman reached
down and petted him, he was glad
all over. He was going to like her,
lie decided, so he didn't run and hide
rs he did when the colonials were
about.
Tommy was dirty, but when the
matter of a bath came up, he let
everyone know the dirt did not both
er him. He made an awful fuss
about it. But when finally bathed,
he let everyone know he even liked
being clean. Now he has a little
strap for a collar and is as proud
as any American dog.
If Tommy has real good luck may
be he'll see the United States some
Gay. But if you don't see Tommy
maybe you'll see the collar of the