232 British War Dogs 



of climate, long periods of want of water, the stony ground 

 and sharp grass, my dogs were, with the exception of a few 

 days, always fresh and ready for work, and always on the 

 alert. My dogs showed their excellence as sentry dogs. 

 I handed over one to First Lieutenant Bahr, of the roth 

 Dragoons, whose duty it was to clear the country of 

 straggling Herreros. This dog accompanied him in all his 

 expeditions, and proved himself entirely reliable and 

 useful, and was always in good health. 



" The sentries were only posted a very short distance 

 in front of the pickets, and there was no use for messenger 

 work. As sentries the dogs did excellent work, in occupied 

 posts, at wells and cattle posts, and such-like, and pre- 

 vented many surprises and stealing of cattle. 



" It must be absolutely laid down that dogs' feet are 

 absolutely hard, and that they are accustomed to work all 

 day, or they are useless. 



' Captain Hinsh, Headquarters Staff, reports his dogs 

 are a great protection to the column to which he was 

 attached. Lieutenant V. Doring, 2nd Field Regiment, 

 19th Dragoons, stated his dogs have given excellent results 

 on patrol, in action and in camp and on the march." 



I remember the Kaiser, in one of his characteristically 

 flamboyant speeches, just about the time of the outbreak of 

 the Great War, stating that, in the event of the enemies 

 of Germany attempting to dictate to that State, " every 

 dog and cat in the country would march for the defence 

 of the Fatherland." 



This was naturally taken as a mere figure of speech, 

 in this country, and Punch gave an amusing description of 

 probable eventualities in such a case, in which it was sug- 

 gested that care need be taken, that the regiments of 



