DOGS IN THE GERMAN ARMY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1690, 18 October 1887, Page 3

DOGS IN THE GERMAN ARMY

Among the thousand and one invertloDß, appliance, and wonderful uaoa of men and beasts whloh German genius has doviaed to defoat France m oaae General Biu'anger'o successor becomes unpleasant, the dog piny a a significant role, employed, as ho la, aa messenger and sentinel Exporlmotits havo been made for nearly a year now, and havo proved highly satisfactory. Tne dog manoeuvre of thohuntir battalion was deoidedly the moet Interesting of the recent campaign. Sevenl regiments have been furnished with the Gorman shepherd doge, known for their wisdom tho world over. Each one ia attached, ao to apeak, to the person of a ■oldier, In whom the dog soon reoognliei hia master, and who oondaots the training. While doing duty the dog is kept with the semtir •', and easily learns the require* menu of his post. A few of the experiment* patfotmad before Colonel von dec Golte, Pasha, who repreaanttd the Sultan at the ninetieth birthday of the Emperor, and has since remained to witness tbe reviews, wira surprising. A soldiee, taking a dog from the sentinels, marohed off on a reoonnoitrlng expedition. After writing bis observations and placing them m a o?sket at oat the neok of the brute, the latter was told to return to his mastar, whio'i he did m an Astonishingly short time. One d>g employed m thla sorvlce arrived at his post 10 minutes before a mounted Uhlnn obarged with the same Instructions though the latter rode at a desperate spaed. But even more than this waa aocompliahed, With a meßaage tied about his neck, as In former case, the dog was told to seek a diatant sentinel and bring a return answer. This he did with great epeed, carrying his mesaage directly to hia master vritaout fall. It Is little wonder that Pasha Gol'z was Rttrprised at the experiments given ia hit honor. And they are truly wonderful for tbe present, though bidding fair to become a common place institu'ion m that great machine, the German army. Tbe oonsequences -and possibilities of the shepherd dog service are apparent to all who know anything of military science, and make their citation eupeiflaouß. One thing Is certain, future war between Germany and any of its neighbors will Dot be conducted without Its dog regiment, whloh, though not employed m concert aotlon, will perform services more valuable than the oats of ancient Egypt.