Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-10

Tf7HE god of war has taken even the
dove of peace and harnessed 1t
to do his bidding. Perhaps not
exactly the dove, but It's next kin, the
pigeon. Homing pigeons, for use in
campaign work, have been adopted by
the armies in the European conflict. and
have now become a part Of Uncle Sans
military establishment. E The birds are
now being used on the southern from
tier. and army officers along the Rio
Grande say these kinsfellows of the
bird of peace will soon be doing yeoman
service.
The use of the homing pigeon was
demonstrated shortly after the out
break of the European war, when the
Germans invaded Belgium The latter
country, long noted for Its celebrated
strains of racing homers. had every
loft registered as part of an organ
lied national Intelligence service, and
the birds We're used in transmitting to
all parts Of the country the first news
and the direction of the German ad-
vance. There was an interchange OF
birds in each city, and with the teie-
phone and telegraph wires cut and the
wireless rendered unserviceable, news
of the invasion was sent by homing
pigeons.
Just how much of the heroic defense
put forth by Belgium was made possible
by the prompt transmission Of messages
borne by pigeons will probably never be
known. But the Information must have
been considerable. AS all ordinary
means of communication were cut of at
fka o,rfe oft frnry yIrff ar
German agents residing in Belgium.
England Immediately took up the
pigeon messenger question. and orders
were sent out that all pigeons ON the
within few weeks. so that German
spies were unable to make use. Of the
pigeons in transmitting, Information
from England. Had spies been able to
use pigeons bird released in England
would easily have flown the distance of
400 miles to the German frontier in a
single day.
Il
AS far back as the siege of Paris
pigeons were used for military pur-
poses. Several hundred were flown dur
ing the siege. and no less than. 10000
messages were transmitted in single
fight. This was accomplished by the
messages being first printed In ordinary
type on large sheets, each sheet con-
tanning some $4,000 words. and then
micro -photosraphed to firns,of coilodion
paper about two inches square. Sixteen
Of these papers rolled and inserted into
a goose quill weighed only one-twen-
ty-ffth Of an ounce. which pigeon
could easily carry over the enemy lines.
OF course, to those messages there We're
no replies. as homing pigeon win ny
In only one direction--to its own home
This obstacle has now been over
come; the LOCATION can. Y seems. be
France last year Of breeding pigeons
in. motor vans. stationed either near
the army headquarters or in telephone
communication with them and some
distance in the rear of the trenches.
proved successful. One instance is
officially reported of a van being moved
distance OF 140 miles from the point
at which the pigeon was, taken out to
be sent to the front In connection with
the aeroplane service. and of the bird
finding It's way home to the van In less
than six hours after It's release. The
pigeon vans are painted in brilliant
colors, so that the pigeons soon recog-
nizesthem as their homes. returning