Messenger Dogs in the Field 87 



Jim,' he got wounded in the head, so I dressed the hair 

 off and got a syringe and some dressing from a Red Cross 

 man, so he is going very well." 



Keeper Osbourne gives an interesting instance of his 

 dog "Jim' notifying the approach of gas. This was a 

 small cross-bred retriever spaniel and was a most intelli- 

 gent little animal, and is a different dog from the "Jim " 

 mentioned in the foregoing statement. 



Keeper Osbourne's Statement 



" You will be highly gratified to learn that little 'Jim ' 

 by his excellent services and consistency has justly earned 

 our C.O.'s commendation who thinks he is easily the finest 

 dog we have in France. 



"One or two of his services to wit. While in the recent 

 offensive in Belgium he carried important dispatches in 

 wonderful quick time, and it is certain no one else could 

 have delivered such dispatches under such terrific and 

 heavy shell-fire without meeting with bodily harm. 



" At present we are on a much more quiet part of the 

 front, where long distances of trenches have to be traversed, 

 and invariably little ' Jim ' covers the distance of approx. 

 four kilos in the very good time of fifteen mins. And I 

 feel sure you will agree with me that with his consistency 

 this wonderful little dog is invaluable. 



" On another occasion while in the first-line trenches little 

 ' Jim ' was instrumental in first giving the warning of gas, 

 due no doubt to his highly sensitive nose, thereupon he 

 was immediately released with the warning to Hdqtrs., 

 arriving there a little more than three-quarters of an hour 

 earlier than the warning given by wire. His worth is 



