Messenger Dogs in the Field 125 



night, pigeons were useless. The result of a raid, or minor 

 offensive, giving the line captured and consolidated had to 

 be returned to Higher Command by runners, or dogs. 



" In one instance in an attack on a small factory, half 

 a mile west of Vieux Berquin, the attack had to cross very 

 flat, swampy ground, with two small streams, the advance 

 originating from the western edge of the Foret de Nieppe. 

 The report that the attack had been successful, and a 

 plan showing the line consolidated, reached Corps Head- 

 quarters by messenger dog in 50 minutes, the total dis- 

 tance being 13! miles. (I regret I do not know how far 

 from the Corps Headquarters were the Kennels, and how 

 much of the distance was done by the telephone, but 1 

 should say very little). The next report, which was a 

 duplicate, sent off at the same hour by runner to Brigade 

 Headquarters, and thence by telephone, arrived at Corps 

 Headquarters one hour and thirty-five minutes after the 

 messenger dog report arrived. This statement was pub- 

 lished in Corps intelligence, and in the 29th Divisional Orders 

 of that month. 



" (Signed) K. E. Milford, 



" (Major R.F.A.)." 



The record of the dogs' work, was kept by the keepers 

 when on duty at the front, on time sheets, of which the 

 following are specimens : 



