Messenger Dogs in the Field 121 



back with some papers and a shoulder strap off a German's 

 coat with the regimental number on it. 



" On another occasion in the advance on the Ypres 

 sector (1918) the same dog was taken over by the Colonel 

 of a battalion, but he was out of touch with the corps 

 I was with, till the dog came in. I did not know what 

 the message contained, but it was an important one, as 

 this particular battalion wanted to keep up the advance, 

 and they wanted the Belgians to advance as well, in order 

 to make it a success, as they found little opposition in 

 front of them and were well through. 



" I understand also that the first news of the capture of 

 Hill 60 was brought in by one of the dogs. On one occasion 

 we had attacked a German sap, and were trying to hold it. 

 We had run out of bombs, and the doggie was sent back 

 with the casualty report, and for more bombs to be sent up." 



The Americans had no dogs of their own and viewed the 

 messenger dogs with envy. Keeper Sergeant Brown 

 says on this point : 



" I had great trouble to prevent the Americans from 

 appropriating the dogs, as they had no dogs of their own, 

 and they all spoke of the great success of them every- 

 where." 



Corporal Taylor sends the following report, in which will 

 be seen the difference it made to the men when they came 

 under an officer who took genuine interest in the work of 

 the dogs, and also the difficulties experienced in working 

 them, when the troops were not sufficiently instructed as 

 to the importance of refraining from petting and feeding 



