Early in the war the Germans realized the importance of gaining
possession of the French Coast of the English Channel, and thus cut off
communications with England and prevent the landing of English soldiers
on French soil.
The Germans selected Ypres as the point of their offensive and the
English were strongly resisting the drive. Men on both sides were being
mowed down by shell and shrapnel. For many hours the incessant conflict
raged, at one time the Germans gaining vantage positions but to give way
before the bull-dog tenacity of the English. The strong reinforcements
on the German side convinced the commanding officer of the English
defensive that it must be a question of short duration until the Germans
would achieve the desired objective, and they (the English) would be
compelled to retreat. The situation was a critical one and unless the
English were reinforced, the day would be lost and the enemy would have
a clear way to Calais.
Lying four miles to the rear were two divisions of the English army
ready to march to their assistance if required. Quick action was
necessary, as every moment was golden. For a courier to cover this
distance of four miles and reach the commanding officer of the reserves,
close to an hour must be required, and no one could tell what this hour
might mean to the ever weakening defensive. A message was quickly
written and a messenger dog called. The urgent call for assistance was
placed in the bag attached to the dog’s collar and he was given the word
to go. Just twenty minutes elapsed from the time the dog was entrusted
with the message until the officer in command of the reserves had read
the hurried call. The camp resounded with the bugle call “To Arms” and
in ninety minutes from the time the message was despatched, the front
formation of the reinforcing divisions was in active work. The Germans
were driven back with terrible slaughter, and the day was won for the
English.
An English journal in telling this story comments on the event as
follows: “Who can tell what might have been the outcome of a victory for
the enemy at this crucial moment.” Hundreds of other instances could be
recited to show the vital importance of the war dogs’ work.
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