The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-04
WAR PIGEONS OF JAPANESE

circumstances. This, doubtless, is largely
due to the peculiar strain of birds in
use, many of those imported from the Mid
land fanciers having for generations been
trained to fly across the English channel
from the French coast. The principle of
the survival of the fittest adopted by Eng
fish breeders would doubtless lead to a
strain especially adapted for flying under
the conditions mentioned.
The arrival Of bird carrying dispatch
at the japanese naval lofts Is announced
by an ingenious arrangement of electric
oelis After entering an outer cage the
pird passes through long box, opened at
each end, before entering the loft ITSELF
Wnen an arrival is expected the loft end
OF this box is closed with glass doors. and
the weight of the bird on entering the
poX causes it to tilt sufficiently to allow a
shutter to drop behind the pigeon. which
is thus held captive. At the same moment
an electric bell rings and does not stop
until the bird is removed from the box
ana relieved of its dispatch, the latter be-
ing at once sent to headquarters, where
It's code Is deciphered. AS these birds are
oIten kept in the basket aboard ship for
several weeks, the messenger on its a rrivaI
Is alloWed to remain undisturbed in the
Tort for an equal period in order that its
love or home may be unimpaired; other
wise there would be an element of uncer-
tainty when 1t was called upon for future
service. 800 :
Scouts, both mounted and on cycle. each
carry from four to six birds in a bamboo
cage, slung after the fashion of a knanz
sack, and thus reports are sent back
without the necessity of their leaving
thelr post or observation For great dis
tanees two birds may be flown with thu
same dispatch, but this Is seldom re-
CURED, the usual custom being to repeat
each message on subsequent birds. So
mat the final pigeon liberated would NOT
only carry its OWN but also COW of
messages sent by the birds first liberated.
1t must be understood that the flight OF
the pigeon would be seriously impeded
We're 1t to be burdened with any great
weight and consequently dispatches are
written on specially prepared slips of rico
paper These, contrary to the general i'm
preston, are not tied around the birds
neck, but are rolled and placed in a celIu-
ioid holder. fastened by two clips to the
birds leg, and are thus carried, close I'M
der the tail of the bird when it is in flight.
The total weight of this carrier which IA
manufactured by a Belgium firIsrszis under
four grams ~
Ihe speed of the pigeon is another point
which may be easily misunderstood. AL
though It is true that under certain cir
cumstances pigeon will fly 800 yards a
minute. or nearly eighty miles an hour, yet
this Is only accomplished under excep-
tionally favorable conditions; 1900 yards
minute, or fifty miles an hour, being a
fairer average. This, however, must not
be taken to mean that the pigeon nor
maliy flies the distance between two
places fifty miles apart in an hour, as
owing to its not flying in an absolutely
straight line it would probably take sew
enty-fiye minutes to accomplish the dis
lance. For this reason forty miles an
hour Is the speed usually credited to the
birds. Distances up to 800 miles it would
cover at the same rate, but above that
the average would often be much lower,
owing to the birds not being able to fly
after dark. Whenever possible they are
liberated at such an hour as enables them
to regain their loft upon the same day.
the risk Of capture and the dispatch fall
ing into the enemy's hands being then re-
duced to a minimum.