The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-05-22

tween the headquarters and the swift
hying airplanes and seaplanes when
other methods were impossible.
America will not he behind other ma
tons in this matter, declares a writer
In the New York Sun. Soon after his
arrival in France General Pershing
cabled home for coops, pigeons and
n staff of men to take care Of them.
Through the American Racing Pigeon
union, which has a membership of
more than 1880 racing pigeon fanciers,
arrangements were quickly made for
the first shipment. D. c. Buscall Of
Riverdale. Md, and J. L. Carney of
Pittsburgh, Pa. both expert racing
homer breeders, were appointed lieu
tenants and went across with a staff
Of men and the first batch of pigeons.
In the early part of 1917 Frank J.
Griffin. an enthusiastic racing homer
breeder Of New Rochelle, induced the
authorities at a fort near his home to
let him set up loft there and equip
1t for testing purposes. The trials
proved so successful that this permits
sion was extended and with the CO.
operation of his fellow members in
the hOming pigeon clubs he set up and
equipped eight lofts containing from
100 to 125 birds each in various other
forts along the Atlantic coast.
Draw on $1,000 Pigeons.
Most of these pigeons were supplied
by members of what was at that time
the New York Concourse association.
which has since become amalgamated
with the United Homing Pigeon con-
course. representing about $50 lofts,
which control approximately 1900
pigeons.
Following General Pershing's message
Mr.. Griffin was commissioned a major
with direct supervision of the newly
created pigeon section of the signal
corps, with headquarters In the chief
signal office in Washington. Certain
army officials throughout the country
were designated to carry out the work
of getting lofts and pigeons for this
new branch of the service. Negotia-
lions were quickly opened with the
racing homing pigeon clubs.
Being a trained racer Of homer pig
cons Major Griffin recognized the ne
cessity of getting only pigeons whose
narents had proved their worth on the
road. md all collectors have been in
structed to issue leg bands only to
such breeders as are known to be men,
hers of some of the racing homer clubs
md have birds with records that can
he verified to breed from. This rule
has heen strictly adhered to since so
much depends on the fitness of the
p,ceon that no chance can be taken.
To Sell Pigeons at Cost.
The government has agreed to pay
50 opiece for each pigeon accepted.
This is regarded by homing pigeon men
nc q low price, since some of the par
onts could not be purchased for less
than $50 to s25 apiece, and young
stors from such blooded stock sell for
GO "a and even higher prices. The
nrice of 50 was arrived at through fig
urinp the cost of raising young Pig
oon and the fanciers periodically
agreed TO 1t.
About 5000 pigeons have already
been shipped across to France and
company of nearly 100 trained pigeon
men has since gone to take charge OF
them. The government has decided to
establish and equip lofts at all the
camps in the country so as to familiar
lie the signal corps recruits with the
now service. The pigeons are to De
used when atmospheric conditions In
terfere with the electrical ana Wig
wogging modes Of communication.
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