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Dogs as Riffians during Melillan Campaign
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Dogs as Riffians during Melillan Campaign
During the Mellilan campaign in Morocco where Spanish troops fought against local Riffian forces, the Riffians dressed up dogs in turbans and burnous and sent them out from point to point in front of the Spanish soldiers. From a distance, the dogs looked very like a man crawling along the ground and tended to draw fire during which time, the Riffians were able to take advantage and shoot at the Spanish. Scenes witnessed by the famous dog trainer Major Edwin Richardson who travelled to the seat of war with an ambulance dog. He described what he had seen to the ILN special artist, H. W. Koekkoek. Date: 1909
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Media ID 14231258
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Aiming Campaign Disguise Disguised Dressed Firing Guns Morocco Shoot Shooting Turbans Warfare Wars Burnous
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In the heat of the Melillan Campaign in Morocco during 1909, an intriguing and cunning tactic was employed by the Riffian forces against the Spanish troops. As the Spanish soldiers advanced, they were met with an unusual sight: dogs dressed in turbans and burnouses, mimicking the appearance of men crawling along the ground. These canine decoys were sent out from point to point, drawing the Spanish fire. As the soldiers aimed and fired at the 'men' in disguise, the Riffians seized the opportunity to retaliate, taking advantage of the distraction to shoot back. Major Edwin Richardson, a renowned dog trainer, witnessed this extraordinary scene firsthand as he travelled to the front lines with an ambulance dog. The ILN special artist, H.W. Koekkoek, captured Major Richardson's account in this evocative image. The dogs, dressed in traditional Riffian attire, blend seamlessly into the arid landscape, their alert expressions betraying their keen senses and readiness to serve their masters. The Spanish troops, focused on their quarry, remain oblivious to the deception unfolding before them. This ingenious use of animals in warfare during the Melillan Campaign is a testament to the resourcefulness and determination of the Riffian forces. The image stands as a poignant reminder of the unconventional tactics employed in the heat of battle and the enduring bond between man and dog on the battlefield.
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