Chapter 19
Section 19 of Animal Heroes by Ernest Baines. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Animal Heroes by Ernest Baines. Belgian war dogs.
For centuries, dogs have been used as draft animals in many parts of Europe, notably in Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Northern France. Attached to small, two-wheeled carts, they draw vegetables to market and deliver milk and light merchandise of all kinds to the houses in the cities. They were also used on the small farms for churning milk.
A churn is attached to a small treadmill, and a dog trots up the revolving incline until the butter is made. As a rule, these animals are fairly well treated, and special laws have been enacted for their benefit. The little carts are nicely balanced on their axles, so that the weight of the load rests on the wheels and not on the shoulders of the dog. The Belgian police are instructed to stop any driver who is using a dog without proper harness,
which should include a broad flat band for the chest, for it is by his chest that he pulls. Properly equipped and on a hard level road, a good draft dog can draw 500 pounds, and a pair can pull half a ton. It seems quite natural then, that when the war broke out and when everything useful was being pressed into service, the Belgians did not overlook their staunch draft dogs. Among the first to use them after the Germans broke into the little country were the refugees,
and on the roads it was no uncommon sight to see one of the dog carts laden with household furniture, and perhaps with children perched on top, being drawn out of the invaded territory by a broad-chested dog with a stub tail, its owner assisting by means of a chain or rope attached to the axle. At that time, there were only a few draft dogs in the army. Several of the machine gun companies had four each, but at the call to arms the government requisitioned all that were needed.
A Belgian officer in DeLiet Antwerp, when the first lot of civilian dogs from that section were turned over to the army, told me what a pathetic sight it was. Dozens of men brought in their beloved pets and helpers, and in many cases the parting was very hard. They told the soldiers the names of the dogs, dwelt fondly on their peculiarities, especially what they liked best to eat, and exacted promises that they would be kindly treated, and brought back to them when the war was over.
Their work in the army consisted in drawing light-running, two-wheeled machine gun carriages with a Maxim gun mounted in each, or ammunition carts to supply these guns, or water carts to carry drinking water to the gunners. Because the dogs were already broken to harness, their military training was usually quite easy. They quickly learned, en avante, forward march, and when the command, halt, was given, the soldiers caught and held the cart to show the dogs that it meant to stop.
At the command, crochet, the men laid hands on the dogs' backs and pressed until they lay down, and at the order, to boot, the animals were pulled to their feet. The work of training was speeded up by harnessing a recruit with an old machine dog, who knew and obeyed every military order promptly. When the guns went into action, the work of the dogs was often dangerous but usually simple. An officer ran forward and selected the gun position, and at a signal, the dogs leaped in their harness and carried the gun to him at full gallop.
The gun crew lifted the gun, tripod and all out of the cart, and sat on the firing line, while one man swung the dogs around and ran them back with the empty cart to the nearest available shelter. Twelve companies of dog-drawn machine guns were used in the Belgian Army during the war, and approximately 500 dogs were drafted to draw these guns in the ammunition wagons and water carts which accompanied them. They were nearly always at the front and did splendid service.
They took part in the battles of Liège and Namur, were in action close to Antwerp and Louvain, and assisted in the capture of 500 prisoners at Eichardt. A good many gun dogs were killed in action, and many more were wounded. Well behind the lines, there was established what might be termed a dog remount depot, where fresh dogs could be obtained as needed.
In connection with this, there was a dog hospital, where sick and wounded animals received medical and surgical attention. When campaigning, the dogs were fed once a day and watered three times a day, sometimes oftener when the weather was warm and opportunities frequent. In winter, they often slept across the legs of the gunners for mutual warmth. Every morning they were groomed with curry combs and brushes, and now and then they were given a bath, usually without soap.
When, on the march, they came to a river or creek, if there was time, the dogs were permitted to refresh themselves by taking a swim. A section of the machine gun company, including ten dogs, with their guns and carriages, ammunition and water carts, came over to this country in charge of Lieutenant Joseph Shepard's of the 7th Regiment Belgian Army. After a rough voyage, during which the dogs were very seasick, they landed here in good condition and made a tour of the principal cities, to take part in some victory-loan parades.
There must be many who still remember Max and Bernard, Baron and Pamboula and their fellows, those steady-eyed four-footed warriors who strode through the streets with a modest dignity which befitted veterans who had fought for the right. They were feasted and honoured throughout their stay, and were almost as popular as the handsome young officer who brought them over. The latter entered into the spirit of the parades, of which he and his dogs were a feature wherever they went. On one occasion in St. Louis, when Pamboula barked sharply at a young woman who was trying to pat him,
she jumped back and said to Lieutenant Shepard's, Why did he do that? He said, buy a bond, Mademoiselle, answered the Belgian officer smiling, and the girl, being a good sport, laughed and bought one.
