12 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:1— Jan., 1919 



dog is not to kill but to save. As a Red Cross worker he is daily- 

 doing stunts that if he were hiiman would bring him medals and 

 promotion, performing these tasks even when dying like a soldier, 

 if needs be. 



As there are men and men, in the very nature of things there 

 are dogs and dogs. Not every man is equipped by nature to be a 

 warrior, nor is every dog. They have to be disciplined, drilled 

 and taught as much as any rookie, and in selecting them especial 

 attention has to be paid to the branch of the service for which 

 they are needed. This is necessary for the reason that an excel- 

 lent watch dog may never be a good retreiver, etc. How- 

 ever, the ordinary war dog once thoroughly broken in is usually 

 exceedingly versatile. Also, there is one quality possessed by 

 all of them and that is unwavering loyalty. Once taught the 

 color of the enemy's uniform and the dog will hearken to no peace 

 drive from him. "Fight," his master has commanded him, and 

 to the war dog orders are orders. 



Briefly, -some of the duties to which he is assigned are as follows: 



He may be set to watch the sky with 'his keen eyes and give 

 tongue upon the appearance of an enemy plane. He may be 

 used as a guard for captured property such as ammunition, put 

 in command of prisoners, used to track fugitives or arrest anyone 

 who falls under suspicion. He may be set as an alarm clock to 

 warn off the stealthy approach of the foe; trained to give notice 

 of the presence of poison gas when the human nose cannot scent it; 

 employed to haul light ordnance or carry ammunition. He is also 

 an excellent message carrier, scout or listening post assistant, and 

 is even entrusted with the extremely hazardous duty of carrying 

 timed explosives, placing them upon the right spot and then 

 scampering away before they explode. But more than anywhere 

 else is he of value upon the battlefield in the succor of the wounded. 



In this work the Red Cross was quick to recognize his great 

 value and adopt him into its service. For Red Cross work he 

 receives not only the regular military dog's training, but gets 

 additional instruction in his particular line of work. A part of 

 this consists in teaching him to give first aid to the injured, and 

 having done this to return to headquarters and report his case, 

 thereafter leading the surgeons and stretchers to the suff"erer or 

 sufferers. In nosing out injured men who have fallen in inacces- 

 sible and out of the way places his aid is invaluable. Hundreds 



