The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-14
Use or MOVING PIGEONS.
IiaI, First Employ ed Them A. War Mes
srnkers Record Flights.


For centuries good and had news
prayers fer help, se,Tets of state ildinTs
Of wars yict 1rirs and defeats have been
,ent under a pigeons wings FGyHtian
records show that they ~eT" used ia the
land 81 the ThaIaohs thirteen centuries
before Christ. ovid tells that they car
ried the news of the Glympian games 10
the distant friends and relatives a. n"
Nictors.
Three years ago the British Admiralty
says the ondon GLoI' decided Ia abolish
the elaborate carrier pigeon service which
had long been established In the royal
navy though the loft at Malta - still re-
tanned Tn. first cote was established a.
Whale Island. in Portsmouth Harhor
number Of officers at the signalling
school there training pigeons at their
own expense Tn" experiments proved
50 successful that eventually the intClii-
gence department threw an official wEi.
over the pigeon Cotes. and the result Was
the establishment Of commodious lofts at
Portsmouth. Devonport and Sheernrs-
First class carrier pigeons are very
expensive. some stud birds costing a.
much a. G6o. and they can attain tho re-
markahle speed Of nearly | So yards a
minute The birds were trained all along
the coast and interCommunication be-
tween dockyards was maintained 10y this
means
few wears ago the Japanese Govern
ment obtained all possible information
on the subject 81 pigeon breeding in this
country ami purchased large number 81
birds from English fanciers Although
To Italy belongs the credit Of having first
recognised the utility OF training pigeons
as messengers Of war. France. Germany,
Russia and Denmark were not slow 10
take advantage of this mode Of sending
news In time Of strife
II was during the Franco German war
that pigeons proved their utility a. Gov
eminent letter carriers wben Paris was
invested 10y the enemy and all the ordi-
nary channels OF communication with
the outside world were cut OF the attan-
ton Of the authorities was directed 10 the
fact that the carrier pigeons in the CITY
could he brought into service Al first
the suggestion was rIdiculed, hut the praC-
tiCability 81 the plan was soon demon
stratcd and IN a very short time birds
were conveying news into and ont 81 the
beeiegsd city almost hourly
During the South African war. when
Sir Georgr White was beleagIered at
I.adysmith. n few pigeons belonging to
English fancicrs which had been taken
into the town before the siege proved Of
ins-stlmabls value ~ the gallant com
mAnder IN conveying messages TO the base
at Durham
The organization Of pigeon p.-,s for
military purposes in Germany II ~ an
extremely practical character In adj
ditlon To the various Government lofts
in the fort res-es and AZ important strategic
points most 81 the homing cluh- place
their birds IN case ~ need al the dispo-
sition II the state. and IN return for thus
the same protection - afforded to their
pigeons a. to those which ar" the properly
Of the Government They TEAR an Official
mark am II il a criminal offence to trap
or shoot them OF to detaIn them should
they stray into "A prlvat. loft
A Manchester firm of mill owners -
reported to - possessed Of a pigeon
which has been employed a re~Senge
from one mill to anot her for over ton
YEAR, During that PERIOD It has maie
over 700 journeys and travelled over
2o.OOO miles. II - calCuIAted that 10 have
sent the messages by win would have
cost c1u
Homing ri g.ons ar not only endowed
with marvellous speed hat with great
endurance. 4 few wears ago "A bird he-
longing to the late King Edwani. who was
"A great pigeon enthusiast as IL kilg
George. won the national race from IT,
wick. covering SO miles ~ velocity of
81 wards a minute.
THIS stands ~ fl'.. records II tho Mai onal
Flying club al one 81 th" hcSt perform
anCe- ever accomplished IN connection
with IT, Ta,-.S. The speed naturally 10
L-nds largely on atmoeph rio conditions
With strong wind lahInd sI....i ~
IN yards a mInut" - fairly common
Whether pigeons return to their homes
10y means - sight or instinct iSa disputed
point. hU as long ~ life lasts the bird
will seek tn roach home.