Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-27
Monday, January n, 1919.
Don't Forget These Good Soldiers

ice in the war. a LonQon writer 1oT
the Associated Press says:
England's dog army rendered GAL
liant service in the war. Many r SOL
dier owes his life to some poor. un-
cared for. stray dog. For nearly two
years dogs were employed by the
British as messengers, as sentries and
as guards.
Early in 1917 a war dog school OF
instruction was established by the
British war office, and Lieutenant
Colonel Richardson. who has devoted
his life to training dogs for military
and police purposes. was appointed
commandant of the school. Came
keepers. hunt servants and shepherds
were called up from the army to as
sist in the work OF instruction.
After a thorough training in Eng
land the dogs were sent to France,
and on the battlefields their skill,
courage and tenaCity amazed the
army. Otter wounded in the per-
Torrance Of their duties. they never
faltered while strength remained to
carry on. The official record Of their
heroic work tells of successful mes
sage carrying through darkness. mist.
lain and she'll fire over the most diff
hcult ground. IN a few minutes time
dogs have brought messages over
ground that would take a soldier run
ner hours to cross. During the great
German advance last spring part of
the British line in front of famous
French town was cut off by severe
enemy barrage. A messenger dog
was released with an urgent appeal
for reinforcements. It ran two miles
in ten minutes. The result was that
"a French colonial division was sent
up and prevented disaster. The
messenger was Highland sheep dog.
Another dog with a message ran
nearly four miles in 20 minutes. and
still another in the same time car
ried back from the front a map Of
an important captured position. when
a man would have taken an hour and
q half to bring it in.
The dogs which have been found
most successful in war work are col
lies. sheep dogs, lurchers and aire-
dales, and crosses of these varieties.
while in a number Of cases Welsh and
Irish terriers have given excellent re-
suits.
The work Of sentry dogs has been
valuable. especially in the Balkans.
One gave warning Of an enemy scout
500 yards away. On many occasions
dogs have given warning Of enemy
Patrols long before the soldier sem
tries were aware of their presence.
Large numbers Of dogs have been
used for guard duty. many on the
Italian front.
These dumb, faithful creatures that
Lave done their bit to make the world
. better place for humanity, hat Of
them? Is every one of them t.. be
cared FOR by the governments served,
il their owners or human friends are
dead: Will this last demonstration
by mans best friend-only TRUE
friend-serve to ensure the safety Of
its species? Or will the cry OF sheep
killer" continue. and the voice Of the
cringing folk who fear all dogs and
all dogs know it. 60 on shouting. kill
off the Dogs"
We insist that dogs should be re-
strained by law. as humans are re-
strained. and that owners and keepers
should be held responsible for their
canine servants or pets. AS We have
always maintained. we still believe
that every owner or keeper should
know where his dog is every day and
every night. as owners Of cattle and
horses and sheep must prevent their
live stock from preying upon the
property Of others.
Dogs are like human beings In that
they get into bad company. become
cepraved. often a nuisance and s.me-
times menace. il not restrained.
Men do the same. only worse.
A Maine banker tells US that he
was on a Maine Central train, tho
other day. on which were numerous
soldiers. apparently returning home
from some army cantonment He
said that some Of them had been
drinking and some had liquor with
them. Although there were many
women passengers. he averred that
lie never before heard such profane,
vulgar and wholly rough language in
"a public place. Some Of them IN. ist-
ID on smoking cigarets and pipes,
despite the protests Of train en-
lloyes.
These meDhad been let loose from
military restraint and were indulg-
ing in coars@ ungentlemanly and
rowdyish language and conduct that
no One Of them would have thought Of
for single moment if alone. -%um-
bers furnished the Courage" the
"bravado." the animal indecency.
Dogs are like that.
Under wholesome government and
direction dogs have furnished hu-
Inanjty. with constant inspira tion for
loyalty. true friendship. unf1 :line
trust. Civilization owes these dumb
creatures more than it can eve. re.
pay. When we come to dog laws"
and the fauaticaJ hatred that spr.pu.