THE DOGS OF WAR 13 



of men are alive today who, had it not been for some keen scented 

 Red Cross dog would have been overlooked by their companions 

 and died where they fell. 



If a man is dead upon the field the dog pays no attention to him, 

 but if alive he stands over him that the wounded one may remove 

 the first aid package which he carries about his neck, and this 

 ha\nng been done he hastens back to headquarters regardless 

 of the thickness of machine gun or shell fire and reports to his 

 superior officer. Having indicated to him by a series of barks 

 that he has found someone who needs assistance, he turns about 

 and guides his human comrades back to where he left his man; 

 and \sath his dut}' done here goes sniffing away in search of the 

 next unfortunate. There is said to be a record of three thousand 

 men having been located by Red Cross dogs at one hospital alone. 



He is given credit for having saved Verdtm by carrying messages 

 when the wires were all shot away and commtmication cut off. 

 Be that as it may, there are thousands of dog heroes working 

 upon the front today, many of whom have been wounded a 

 nimiber of times. But so far as known, "Baldy" is the only dog 

 who has a service flag of his own. "Baldy" was the leader of 

 the famous dog team of "Scotty" Allen, who drove his dogs from 

 Nome, Alaska, to San Francisco on a tour for the American Red 

 Cross, and he has twenty-six stars in his flag. Each of these 

 stars represents a son or grandson who has enHsted for active 

 ser\4ce "over there", and that they have done their duty like loyal 

 American dogs is proven by the fact that more than one of the 

 stars that greet Baldy's now age dimmed eyes upon his flag are of 

 gold. 



To My Dog, Blanco 



J. G. Holland 



My dear, dumb friend, low lying there, a willing vassal at my feet; 



Glad partner of my home and fare, my shadow in the street. 



I look into yoixr great brown eyes, where love and loyal homage shine, 



And wonder where the difference lies between your soul and mine. 



I scan the whole, broad earth around, for that one heart which, leal and true, 



Bears friendship without end or bound, and find the prize in you. 



