Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
USE OF HoM1NG PIGEONS.
Italy First Employed Them as War
Messengers,


For centuries good and bad news,
nra vers for help, secrets of state, tidinSs
of wars victories and defeats have. peeh
cen, under a pigeon's wings. Egyptian
records show that they were used in the
land Of the Pharaohs thirteen centuries
before Christ. Ovid tells that they car
ried the news of the Olymp1an games u
tho distant friends and relatives of the
victors
Three years ago the British admiralty
decided 10 abolish the elaborate carrier
pigeon service which had long been es-
tablished in the royal navy, though the
loft at Malta is still retained. The nrs'
cote was establish at Whale Island, III
Portsmouth hal , a number of officers
at the signaling: chool there training
pigeons al their own expense Inc expert
ments proved go successful that eventual
ly the intelligence department threw an
official aegis over the pigeon cotes, and
the result was the establishment of COM
modious lofts at Portsmouth, Davenport
and Sheerness..
First-class carrier pigeons are very ex-
pensrye: -sme stud birds costing as
much as $50, and they can attain the re-
y
minute The birds were trained all along
the coast and INSTRUMENTATION be
tween dockyards was maintained by this
means.
\ few years ago the Japanese govern
ment obtained all possible information or
country. and purchased a large number OF
birds from English fanciers. Although
to Italy belongs the credit Of having fiTsI
| recognized the utility Of training pigeons
as messengers Of war, France, GERMANY
Russia and Denmark were not slow te
! take advantage OF this mode or sendlhe
news in time Of strife.
1t was during the Franco-German wal
! that pigeons proved their utility as gov
eminent letter carriers. When Paris was
nary channels of communication with the
outside world were cut Off the attent1of
Of the authorities was directed Ito tine
| fact that the carrier pigeons In the city
could be brought into service. At mrs
| the suggestion was ridiculed, but tine
| nracticabihtv of the plan was soon dem
| onstrated. and in very short time pird'
| were conveying news into and out OF tnf
besieged city almost hourly.
During the South African war, Whe1
! Sir George White was peleasueIed a
, I.adysmith, a few pigeons belonging t.
| English fanciers which had been taker
| into the town before the siege. proved o.
inestimable value to the gallant com
mander in conveying messages TO th'
| base at Durham.
The organization Of pigeon posts Iol
military purposes in Germany is OF ar
| extremely practical character. In adoi
| ton to the various government lofts II
| the fortresses and at important strategy
| noints most of the homing clubs pace
| tbeir, birds in case Of need at the dlSpo
| sition Of the state. and in return for TINS
! The same protection is afforded to theil
| nigeons as to those which are the proper
| ty of the government They bear an OF
| fetal mark. and 1t is criminal oHehse
! to trap or shoot them or to detain then
| should they stray into a private loft
| Manchester firm of mill owners Is
| renorted to be possessed of pigeor
| which has been employed as messenger
| fron, one mill to another for over ter
| Years. During that period it has made
! over 1000 Journeys and Travelled over ~,
| 900 miles 1t is calculated that to have
sent the messages by wire would have
| cost 9300.
Homing pigeons are not only endowed
with marvellous speed, but with great en-
Iurance. A few years ago bird belong
| ing to the late King Edward. who was &
| great pigeon enthusiast, as is King
| George. won the national race from Ler
wick. covering SO miles at a velocity o
| BOT Yards a minute.
! This stands in the records of the Ma
| tional Flying Club as one of the best per
! formances ever accomplished in connec
| ton with its races. The speed naturally
| lions. With a strong wind behind Spee(
| Of 500 yards a minute is fairly common
| Whether pigeons return to their home!
| nv means Of sight or instinct is disputed
| point. but as long as life lasts the bir(
| will seek to reach home.