Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1918 — Sabotage and the Dog [ARTICLE]

Sabotage and the Dog

By ISOBEL FIELD

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Hag it occurred to anyone that the numerous tirades against dogs that have been appearing in the newspapers all over the country in the shape Of “letters from the people” may be of alien enemy origin J Why should the same arguments against man's best friend appear in New York dailies at the same time they are coming out in the newspapers of California, Texas, Oregon and elsewhere? What ’ attracted my attention was finding the identical letter in my home town paper (Morning Press, Santa Barbara, Cal.) that I had read in the New York Globe. It was signed by different initials but the wording and arguments were the same. “Dogs eat sheep. We need mutton. Therefore, all flogs should be exterminated.” All over the West last summer there were unusually destructive forest fires; crops {were destroyed, cattle poisoned, and a mysterious horse disease appeared in many localities. Though the evidence has not been made public, it is common knowledge that these depredations were the work of enemy aliens. The work was done with a system that suggested German efficiency, and was no doubt paid for by German money. That being so, the elimination of watch dogs would be of immense importance, and the only conclusion is that the whole propaganda is the work of our enemies. They would influence us to kill our own dogs for the convenience of German agents, who, without these guardians, would have a freer hand in sabotage. . . ; ; No Trouble In Scotland. The argument that dogs cannot be kept in a sheep-growing country is refuted by Scotland, where there are more dogs to the square mile than any country In the world. One cannot “draw near” a Scottish hom£ without

oearlug “the watchdog's n«>ue-*t nark. In many families each member has his; owii dog and bo -child's life Is considered livable without one. But the l)e»t evidence pf all is the shepherd himself, who would be lost without the- help and companionship of his dogs. & Be on Watch for Enemies. Scotland is a great sheep-growing country, yet it loves the dog; gives him his due lb life and reveres him in death. At the castle In Edinburgh there Is a little plot of ground where the dogs of the Scottish soldiers are buried; it Is a charming spot, and on many little tombstone! there are tender tributes to departed friends. In front of St Giles cathedral in the same noble City there is a monument with a little Skye terrier, and upon it, carved in stone, an inscription to “Robbie,” who refused to leave the church-yard where his master was buried and died upon his grave. We want more dogs in America —not fewer. They would be of great service guarding ammunition plants; In helping soldiers on guard at aqueducts and bridges In ferreting out suspicious characters, the forest rangers all over the West would find them invaluable in densely Wooded country. Farmers, shepherds, cattlemen and ranchers need them; and the sneaking incendiaries, poisoners and devastators would find their work much harder If there were more watchdogs on guard. We must not part with our dogs. One has only to read what dogs have done and are doing In this war to realize the extent to. which they can be trained. It is said that the Red Cross dogs can detect life in a wounded soldier lying out in No Man’s Land when the doctors themselves are in doubt They carry messages through shot and shell; they bring up food and water to the first line trenches, and many a brave man owes his life to the intelligence and fidelity of a dog. In future when we read any of these “letters from the people” advocating the destruction of the dogs—lt would be well to find out the names and addresses of the writers and send them to the secret service department to be investigated. We have many scores to settle against the Germans, and not the least of them is their Insidious, treacherous propaganda against the best friend God has given to man.