SAVED BY A DOG

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1933, Page 1

SAVED BY A DOG

WHY VERDUN DID NOT FALL,

ANIMAL’S LAST SERVICE

Verdun, the French, key position on the Western Front, was falling. A German battery was smashing it to pieces. Supplies were running short. There was no ammunition, no food. Only one thing could save the town —the delivery of a message- to headquarters, giving the position of the German battery. But at Verdun the last pigeon had been killed, the last messenger dog riddled with bullets, and no man could cross the three miles of shell-swept country from the town to headquart-

At headquarters was Satan, a grey-hound-eollie. mongrel. His master, Duvalle, was in. the, trenches at Verdun. These men at the front had hoped for some days that a messenger would come through to them. Satan was the only one who knew the way. VSo they kept constant watch, and then, through the haze of the smoke, they saw a little speck in the distance leaping from crater to crater, making for Verdun. They cheered. It was Satan.

The men gathered and watched Satan ns he ran toward them. At last a bullet found its mark. Satan fell. He rose again, shook himself, and gazed i around, dizzy with pain. His master, Duval!e, leap to the trench parapet and shouted “Satan, Satan!” Even as lie spoke lm was killed. But Satan had heard. Hopping on three legs he struggled along and at last stumbled in the trench. Ho wore a gas mask and goggles. He bore carrier pigeons,, and, a message urging the men to hold on a little longer.'

A pigeon was. rent back, giving the position of the German gun battery. Tt was silenced. Help came.

That is how S' 1 tan, an unknown little mongrel, saved Verdun. This story is told in “Aniip.nl War Heroes,” by Peter Shaw Baker.