Messenger Dogs in the Field 103 



the messenger dogs during their work in the war, I may 

 quote from the official report on this point, which even 

 then onlv deals with the time after the formation of the 

 dogs into concentrated service, and does not take into 

 account the period previous to that, when they were 

 allotted to battalions. 



" During the nine months the Messenger Dog Service 

 was working as a service, the three section kennels were 

 moved thirteen times, and shifted practically from one end 

 of the line to the other. 



" During this period section kennels were placed at 

 Kruistraatt, Kemmel, Noordpeene, Wallon Capell, Mor- 

 beque, Hinges, Villers au Bois, Viller Bocage, Vaux, Dury, 

 Menin, Blandain, Lille. 



" Both at Lens and Villers Bretonneux, dogs had to run 

 through towns, which the enemy daily saturated with mus- 

 tard gas. At Lens especially, the dogs were called upon 

 to use their intelligence." 



Another portion of the official report reads : 



" Proceeded to Battalion Headquarters of 1/14 Rifle 

 Brigade. The CO. who had been using messenger dogs 

 from the front line trenches back to the ramparts at Ypres, 

 told me that all the dogs he had used had done extremely 

 well and proved very reliable. 



" Visited A.D. Signals XIX. Corps, who showed me some 

 reports which had just arrived in from different divisions, 

 on Messenger Dogs. The Divisions continue using their 

 dogs, and taking them up with them as the troops advance. 

 Excellent use is being made of the dogs, and in two cases, 

 the first news that their objectives had been taken, was 

 brought in by Messenger Dogs." 



