Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-18
RED CROSS DOG
WEARS STRIPES
AND Y. D. BRAND

Lieut.. Burr accompanied oy MS pet
dog. "Gita". left on the morning train
Monday for Worcester. Mass. and
New York Lieut.. Berry arrived in
This city about four weeks ago from
France. where he has served for II
months az the front. He has been
passing d few weeks az his home in
Nassalboro with his parents. NJ. al?
Mrs WILDER Berry. He expects 10 le-
ceiye his discharge from active duty
sometime this month.
Lieut.. Berry tells OF many inter
esting experiences while at the
front. ard although telling little
about himself he Will talk lot about
the Red Cross dogs. and especially
'Gita'. who has come from France
to live n the future with his new
master. Lieut.. Berry. "Gita' Is one Of
ne famous Led Cross dogs. and has
had a very active part in the great
World War. being enca ged IN the
last hattie at Nerdun. and doing her
TIT in various ways to help win the
war. and for the help and good Of
tn wounded soldiers. Her duties
were to assist the Red Cross work
ers. and carry messages TO and from
the front lines. She always carried
water in little canteen TO give the
wounded soldiers. she also hunted
for the wounded soldiers. and e. the
Red Cross workers know where they
were lying, SO that they could receive
first aid. "Gita" is very proud of the
fact that she has been SO active in
service. and is wearing two service
cheErons. indicating one year in SER
vice. which she wears on her right
forearm and wound stripe on the
front chest. She has a brand on her
hind hip. which reads (Y. d. Yam
hee Division. "Gi.a' Is thorough
bred German police dog, out is known
as tn" Belgium Police dos as they
do not like To he called Germans. Al
though she is not yet quite onc year
old. she has Ieen active in service
since she was old enough TO be train
ed for the work. Her parents have
also haen in the Red Cross service
and her father has been in the fight
ing for the past year as Red Cross
" VI hSi. NJ I-IStISH anu EcEtH
people used the dogs a great deal
and the Germans had them trained
20 assist in various ways, in fac.
have used them for a number Of
years. but the American Red Cross
had only commenced t. use them
towards the last Of the war They are
about as large as fox or wolf and
are known as a one man dog. as they
can only have one master at time.
They make a fine police dog, and
will not have anything to do with
another master. An incident which
occurred on the boat when Lieut..
Berry was returning to this country
with the dog. is interesting. as he
tells OF one time in particular when
ne was walking on deck with the
dog. one Of the soldiers passed them.
and 5 he lifted his hand to salute
inc officer tieut. Berry,. The dog.
tninhing that the soldier was going
70 strike his master. sprang forward
ready TO grab him by the throat. This
little Incident shows how loyal they
are to their masters.
The dogs are very valuable and
sdhnct nc touSnl very easily,
there are not many in service that
can he spared. but Lieut.. Berry was
fortuante enough to purchase this
young lady for the sum OF $50. The
usual price for the sale of the dog
is 800. Lieut. Berry was offered the
sum OF $500 when he arrived in New
York for the dog. but this did not
tempt him to sell her.
The German police dog. which is
used by the Germans. Is more val
liable TO them than to the English.
French or Americans. as they are
trained to hunt the enemy. They will
60 to the front on the American lines
and stand there in order to give the
Germans an idea where the enemy
is located, then they walk On to an
other post and give the same sig
nal. then return to their masters. who
send shell 20 the American lines
to blow ZIP the line. Towards the las,
OF the war. at hrst sight. the Ameri-
can soldiers were ordered to shoe,