The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-30

all of these trials excellent records have
9een made, the more excellent when the
land and water entirely unfamiliar to
them. In regular messenger pigeon ser
vice, when the fights ure known to the
pigeons, excellent time can be made, but
the flights of the pigeons OF the loft of the
Naval Academy. arc OF an experimental
character, and ii is thought that much
more satisfactory results would be OBJ
tanned if the stations were situated upon
the coast.
Lieut.. Austin NJ. Knight who has been
much interested in this work, wrote for
The United States Naval Institute a paper
assuming the case OF foreign fleet APP
applying the use of pigeons as an aid in
out defense.
Whatever position might be taken up
it a line OF light, swift vessels. as spies,
ana upon the rapidity with which these
vessels could communicate with the inner
line would depend in IL large measure. the
success of the defense. Suppose a vessel
or this outer line 10 discover an cnemy's
fleet standing TO the westward. She would
haSt%n toward the squadron of defense,
or toward the nearest point of the coast
from which it might be possible to com
Washington. and with the cities threat
encd and, if not ovcrtakcn by an encny's
cruiser or by shell from a battlcship,
and If she did not break down she would
ultimately communicate the fact that at
a certain time. already long past, an en-
cmy's fleet was standing in for some I'M
Let us suppose that instead Of hasten
ing off herself she could dispatch a num-
ner Of pigeons with the certainty that
iy as. she could carry it, and far more
quickly, and that then, keeping the enc
my In view, she could follow It's move
messengers with particulars OF his
strength his course. and his apparent in
tcntions. 1t is not difficult TO see the Inn
mcnse value OF system which promises
the possibility of such service"
he lesson learned ut the siege of Paris
that carrier pigeons are to be relied upon
IN cNtrcmiticS when nothing else will suf-
flee caused the organization OF q regular
military pigeon service In almost every
Continental nation of Europe. Almost all
of the fortrcsscs OF Europe are provided
with pigeon lofts. In France, Germany,
Austria, Italy. Spain and Portugal the
organizations of the military pigeon posts
Is very complete 1t has been extended to
Russia, Denmark and Sweden, and even
Africa has been brought into communica-
non with Spain by stations at Ceuta and
Melita. England has recently established
a station of considerable importance at
Gibraltar insuring communication with
Tangicr and with vessels cruising in the
vicinity of the Straits Of Gibraltar. The
military budget OF France assigns n credit
of $4,000 for the annual cost Of signaling
and pigeon lofts. The German govern
ment has the most extensive and complete
system in operation in Europe, although
II spends hut 5000 a year Russia spends
$1,000 year. Italy has extensive military.
pigeon communications. and the birds arc
trained out at sea- as those of the United
states are. with view TO their employ
mcnt as messengers from the cruisers OF
Inc coast 1t will thus be seen that in
these experiments there Is ample prGce-
dent for the United States
NO actual steps further than the inves-
tlGation or German methods have been
taken by the War Department in regard
10 the use of dogs as messengers in time
of war, but the matter is looked upon
with FAVOR. and before long il is believed
that certain breeds of dogs will Il, bought
and trained at some of the cavalry posts
In the West. Germany has set the exam
several German regiments have canine
auXiliarics. There the training OF the
dogs is allotted to an officer who Is fond
Of them and understands them, and he