El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-04-17
Dogs is Guides
For Soldiers
WhOAreBHnd
Germany Training Them
and the Allies viii Fol-
low the Example.
ny JOHN L. BALDERsTON.

London, Eng. April 17-Everyone
has marveled at the faithfulness and
Intelligence Of dogs who guide and
watch over blind beggars and ped
dlers in the crowded streets Of great
cities Scores Of thousands Of men
have been blinded in the war; It has
been learned here that the German
government has just sanctioned a
scheme to provide officially one
trained canine companion and friend
for every blind soldier who needs one.
and If the experiment succeeds, the
allied governments viii follow the ex-
ample of the Germans in this one good
deed. as they have initiated the enc
my in the use Of poison gas and other
denominations.
After tests. the German sheep dog
and the poodle were selected as the
two breeds most fitted for the job OF
cicerone TO the blind, and the sheep
dog has obtained the palm.
For three months the dog Is
trained, by men who can see, in the
work il viii have to perform. Then
and in four weeks more has thorough
ly comprehended what is required and
obtains its commission and Uniform
Uniform for the Dog.
The uniform consists OF a harness
fastened on the animals breast. TO
which an upright leather leach IS at
tached by sWiVels that the blind man
can unlock when he wants the dog
10 fetch something. Upon the breast
the dog proudly wears q conspicuous
badge bearing a red cross on white
ground. and this official mark Of
rank warns all beholders that the
beast is a member Of the kaiser's mill
itary machine. entitled to claim and
enforce the rights Of its master
A committee Of investigation has
issued a report on the training OF
some hundreds Of sheep dogs Tor the
things a dog learns before it obtains
its harness and cross:
what a Dog Can Do.
When an obstacle is encountered In
the street. or danger from traffic
threatens, the dog sits down When
given the word by q policeman or a
passerby, or when It sees the way
clear. il viii continue. hut IL does
not respond in this case to the COM
maud Of its master, who cannot know
what threatens him.
If the blind man comes TO steps,
the dog turns, rubs against his leg,
and calls his attention, by an under
stood signal. to the fact that he must
step Up or down.
When walking in public gardens,
the good German dog viii avoid grass
plots and flOWerbeds, where "Neroo-
ten" signs flourish. This fact is SOL
EMMY stated in the report; whether
the dog reads the Mornings to keep
Off or knows by instinct that no Ger
man ever IS allowed on the grass. IS
not stated. II the master calls seat.
he IS guided TO the nearest bench
In the street the dog moves TO the
nearest pavement 70 get out or the
way Of approa ching traffic.
Finding Route.
Finally, il is possible 10 send
blind man out on q journey through
city streets with his guide, though
neither knows the way. with assur-
ance that they viii reach their desti-
nation. The sightless soldier is pro-
vided with a card. on which his route
is marked IN raised lines Eacn time
a corner is reached the dog stops HIS
not brigade. who resides at FL Paso,
left his company the middle OF March
without permission He has not been
seen since This is the first deserrlon
Of this organization since its begin
ming in September. 1911
Corp. Myron Kellogg, company
clerk OF the 45th company. 165th de-
pot brigade, IS in the hospital with 2
case Of mumps. but he is doing wei
and expects TO be back with his com
uanv in q Few days.