New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-13
By Haywood Broun

IAccrod.ted to The Pc3Shino Ar1ny III France
for the Nc,o lorid Tribune ard Syn1icatc>
copyright. 1917, by The Tribune Association
SANS OR!GINE, France, Dec. TO-
Quatrc Cent Vingt came out OF the
trenches with an American battalion.
1t was his first vacation from the front
in a year and half. He is a dog of
enormous size, which explains the rea-
son why he was named after the huge
German gun, but Quatrc Cent Ningt is
known for more than size. He goes
back and forth between the trenches
Of friend and foe like A Russian trater-
nicer. Probably he is of German
origin, but the point has never been
clearly established
The French first saw HIM onc late
afternoon when ne came numbering
slowly across No Mans Land and
pushed himself through the wire in
spot where it had grown bit slack.
One French soldier fred at him. The
poilu thought it might be new trick
of the Germans. For all he knew, a
couple Of Boches might have been con-
cealed inside Of Quatrc Cent Vingt
He was no marksman, this soldier, for
he missed the big dog. which promptly
turned sharply to the left and came in.
another point of the trenches. The
soldiers made him welcome, although
there was discussion as to what his
nationality might be. 1t was evident
that he had come across from the Ger
man lines, but it was possible that he
was French dog captured in one of
the villages which fell to the INVADERS
The men in the front line tried him
out with all the German they knew -
Throw up your hands" and "Come out
or We'll bomb YOU" lie indicated no
understanding Of the phrases Later
he was taken further back and exam
incd at length by an intelligence Off
GER, but no single German word could
be found which he seemed to recog-
nze. On the other hand, it was ascer-
tanned that he was equally ignorant Of
French. However. he understood signs.
would bark for bone and never missed
an nvitAtion to eat.
lie Went Back to Germans
During the first week Of his stay
soldiers were generous in giving him a
share of their rations. Later he be-
came an old friend, and did not fare
so well. One night he disappeared, and
an outpost saw him numbering back to
the German lines. The Boches were
out on patrol that night, and appar-
entity the big dog reached their lines
without being fired on. He was gone
three weeks. and then he returned for
a long stay with the French.
SO it went on. He never affiliated
himself permanently with either army
and he never gave away secrets. Pos
sibly his coming gave some sign Of
lack of morale across the way. for
when the men became cross and testv
Quatre Cent Ningt simply changed
tides. There was never any ndica-
tion that he had been underfed even
when tales were about concerning
food shortage in Germany. The Bochcs
took a pride in belying these stories
az best they could by keeping Quatrc
Cent Ningt sleek and fat. OF course.
that was not his name in the German
lines. but no one ever knew what they
called him over there. Once when he
left the Boches in broad daylight the
Germans all along the line were heard
whistling for him 20 come back. but
no one called him by name. The
French chose to believe that across the
way he was known as "Kamcrad." but
there was no evidence on this point
1t is true that he would stand up on
his hind legs and wave his paws when
anybody said "Kamerad." but this was
a trick and Gook teaching.
He Adopted Big Ed
He must nave heard somehow or
other about .hc coming of the Amer
leans. for he left the Germans Mt
room one day When the doughboys had
hardly become settled in their new
home. a French interpreter vouched
for him and he ~as allowed free &C