Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-01
CANINE HEROES
MAY co UNSUNG
Male Companions, However, Will
Never Forget Part They
Played.
HEAR NOISE OF BATTLE
Many Carried Munitions With
Unerring Accuracy to
Front Lines.
HEAR NOISE OF BATTLE

PARIS. November 3o-Just outside
the many little cemeteries scattered
throughout torn and bleeding France.
little mounds. little piles Of stones or
even crossed sticks give only vague
suggestions that beneath. it all there
lie the bodies OF unsung heroes-the
war dogs.
Underneath these unsophsticatcd
mounds there lie the 81. Bernard. the
scotch collie, the Great Dane. the mas
.siN1 NcwioundAand, the irish setter,
,he pointer, unu. as the uougnuoy 5
characterize it, lots oil just pain
uuSs'--eaun and every one a hero
ineS CAME from everywhere, these
canine hc,ocs; from scotland, England
ana france, anu from The land the
male companions. they were mex
pcrlcnced but brave.
oo But , a very small per cent Of the
customed to the noise and din OF bat
t'e Others seemed actually unwilling
seemed 10 expect or ask for their in
Haad lie, services was pat on the
always paid in full.
Their training began at d; safe dis
lance behind the lines. where they could
tary kennels were installed at such
ira ming stations. and once Fido was
assigned TO his doghouse his training
began in earnest A war dogs health
is as carefully watched as that of any
human tighter.
stated periods veterinarians look Fido
over TO see that he is sound Of body
and cold of nose Should he he all
ing" he Is hustled into the dog am
hulance and quickly escorted to the
dog hospital The most startling OF
delicate operations have been per-
gree of success that the great ma
jority of them have been able TO re-
turn to the battle fields.
In connection with their teaching
battle is the training they receive to
dodge the bullets of the enemy snipers
may be hearing most important
message. and extra effort Is ALWAYS
made TO pick him on" For this
teach the dogs to duck the instant
they hear the ping Of the rife.
is wonderful how quickly they
and drop instinctively at the sound OF
the rint. Then follow The lessons in
searching for wounded soldiers. These
are the Red Cross dogs. which have
first aid outfits fastened about their
bodies Their wonderful services in
this capacity may be easily imagined
who lay slowly bleeding TO death on
the battle field has been saved by the
timely arrival of the Red Cross dog
dogs n Savs bes1 R"o@n s to- carly H%
teen ioaves Of bread at one time ia
hungry soldiers lighting in isolated
is placed in sacks strapped over the
animars back, and the soldier who has
been cut off from direct communica-
ton will gladly bear witness TO tile
sable.
SOME DOGS ACTUALLY
TAKE HAND IN FIGHTING
Then, of course, there is the wa.
hand In the lighting. Many Of them
are trained to carry hand grenadcs 10
soldiers cut of from the line OF COM
carry munitions III the sacks strapped
about them.
French dogs. especially. are experts
in carrying munitions, making their
wEy with uncrring accuracy through
communication trenches to the front
line
others carry bullets in sacks pro.
vided for such work and ii is sur
Drisine how, they manage TO carry
such heavy loads and arrive al their
II is doubtful If ever canine sa-
gacity has been appreciated until the
great war. For instance, when Fido
passed through the very apex of bat
tie and has been relieved of his bur
den, his first move Is TO jump and back
feat
AS the countless human interest
stories drift back from. the field of
battle tho brave deeds of the war dogs
will he recounted over and over.
Tn passing. II is safe to prophcsy
that every Fido having passed sa feiy
through tho ordeal has won for him.
self a lasting home with the soldier
or soldiers with whom nc was di-
rcctly associated There is a feeling
Of understanding between q dog and
n man. hut let tho pair pass through
a war. and that feeling ripcns into
nothing short ofloye.