Battlefront Beasts

American troops in Asia are abundantly supporting their national reputation as zoophilists. Last week's animal news and claims, relayed by TIME's New Delhi correspondent:

>One anti-aircraft base in China has a monkey named Taps who can tell the difference between the engines of U.S. and Jap planes; he gives the alarm by chattering and rattling his chain, then takes cover, invariably beating the official alert.

>Another monkey, Rupee, roams New Delhi headquarters in a complete sergeant's uniform, has been vaccinated according to Army regulations.

>Most famous mascot in Chennault's China air force is a poodle, Major, born three months ago in a South American base. He now has 20 hours in P-40s (where he rides behind the pilot), knows how to breathe oxygen.

>A New Delhi private owns two Himalayan bears with white V-marks on their chests.

>An Assam fighter base has a pigeon, Tokyo, which lives in the alert shack.

>Serpents have been strictly barred from barracks in New Delhi since two enlisted men wound up a large evening by buying a snake charmer's cobra, taking it home.

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