Sentry Dogs 217 



be better done, if a dog is posted with him. If the sentry 



is naturally lazy, or open to bribes, there is n<> remedy, 

 if he is by himself ; whereas the dog cannot be bribed, and 

 does not sleep, so that, at all events, the situation is ren- 

 dered more difficult for the intruder, as he can never count 

 on the dog, even if he thinks he might undermine the 

 sentry's alertness or fidelity. 



In the case of active warfare, the sentrv, in his own 

 interests, is less likely to sleep, and the danger of ;i man 

 doing so, owing to undue fatigue, or any other cause, is 

 greatly lessened if he has a dog with him. 



The sentry dog does not sleep at night, and will either 

 keep his sentry awake, or wake him up, and, in fact, repre- 

 sents the second string to the bow. 



The whole matter may be summed up by emphasizing 

 the obvious fact, that where it might be difficult to approach 

 a sentry post with only a man on duty, it would be a hundred 

 times more so, if there is also a trained sentry dog to reckon 

 with. 



In dispensing with these dogs, it may be said, that a 

 very effective means of defence against unwarned attack is 

 neglected. 



In the case of the second objection, that the dog would 

 give warning and draw the enemy fire, it may certainly be 

 admitted that there are occasions when absolute silence is 

 essential. At these times it would be safer not to post the 

 dog, although even here, by the use of a strap muzzle, 

 any noise which the dog would make could be controlled 

 to a great extent, while by its alert attitude, it would give 

 the sentry warning long before he himself was aware of 

 enemy movement. Apart from this, there are scores of 

 occasions, when no risk whatever is incurred by the dog 

 growling, or even barking. 



