Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-14
FI5EJ.sS Must BE-
TRAINED FOR BATTLE
Though Birds Have Natural In
stinct Great Care Must Be
Used With Them.
BY FRED s. FERGUSON,
Press Staff Correspondent.

BY FRED S. FERGUSON.
United Press Staff Correspondent.
With the American Army in France.
-(by mail.)-Pigeons must be schooled
and prepared for battle just the same
as mon.
OF the thousands of pigeons flying
over the battle lines. carrying mes
sages, and playing their part in the
fight against Germany. all AVE been
carefully trained. Having natural
"homing' instinct owing to their breed
ing the birds practically train them
selves. but they work under supervision
of soldiers assigned to the pigeon
corps" because of their knowledge of
the birds.
When a flock of pigeons is installed
closely for several days. The birds
are given but little food. Then one
day they are released. Not being we'll
fed, and therefore, not very strong,
they will fly only a few hundred yards
from the cote. Upon their return they
are given more food. Next day they
are liberated again. This time they
fly somewhat further than on the first
day, and again their ratiops will be
Increased.
BY the third day the pigeon really
goes to work schooling itself. The bird
goes to work schooling itself. The birds
instinct is to become thoroughly famil-
i0 i tAi( JUN ~ WIN
cote. The flock will take to the wing
on being released, and swing IN al ever
widening circle about the cote. All the
time, rs it flies, each bird is studying
the terrain, landmarks by which it can
find it's a home. The next step is
for training. On the first day they
are taken out about a llilometer nearer
the front from the cote, and there re-
leased. The birds rise high in the air,
set their bearings, and then head for
Tie cote. The second day they are
OF TWO kilometers more and finally are
released from the frontline proper for a
trial home. They are her ready for
real battle line work.
Life in the front line isn't any easier
for a pigeon than for a man. Conse-
QIently a birds trick" in the trenches
on Il stable sector is only 48 hours. At
the end of that time, if not sent back
With q message, the pigeon is released
tn fly back home for a dry roost and a
good meal.
in the trenches pigeons also face the
:onaiaon enemy of the men-shells and
gas. When not on duty. pigeons are
safe from shell fire. But for protec-
ton afforded them they would be eX-
posed to Instant death from gas, As 3
result of measures taken to Protect
pigeons from gas, many stories have
sprung up about gas masks" for the
birds, he impression being given that
each pigeon was equipped with a tiny
mask of some sort. This isn't the case.
Have Gas Masks.
Carried forward with each basket of
pigeons is a big square c%ontainer re-
sembling a piece. of tarpaulin. That's
the pigeons "gas mask" Made of
strong, heavy water proof material, the
gas mask fits over the entire basket
of pigeons. 1t is lined on the inside
with chemically treated material nat
neutralizes the effect of gas. In case Of
a gas alarm, the soldier looking after
the pigeons picks up the basket. opens
up h big container, puts the basket
of pigeons inside and closes it. tho
folds at the top being so arranged that
it can be made air tight.
In addition to gas and shell fire the
pigeons have their enemies of the air
to combat in carrying out their mis-
sions. A heavily woodGd district is
especially dangerous for war pigeons.
Many Of the birds have been killed in
such places. not by. bullets or shells.
but by hawks. A pigeon usually will
avoid flying over a who'd whenever
possible, but often when forced to AXE
such a course is compelled to fly for
its life as a hawk suddenly swoops up
from h wood.
IL ll1o pigeon ives rO.tSH smell lire,
gas. escapes hawks and arrives near
it's cote safely, still another danger may
be waiting, if the bird is nervous and
refuses to be trapped" Isl many cases
the messages by the birds r.ean life
and death. Consequently there can be
no delay in getting them from the
pigeons little message box once it ar
rives at the cote. The pigeon men,
therefore, keep a shotgun close by,
and are under orders to shoot down
any pigeon that does not alight at it's
cote promptly. A pigeon that refuses
to alight at it's cote can be coaxed
down in a majority of cases by send
ing up another bird that will lead it
back. If his fails, the pigeon must pay
with its life. Fortunately. recourse to
the shotgun by pigeon mcM is not often
necessary.
Pigeons have played a prominent
part in all fighting in which Americans
have participated. from the first raids
in Lorraine through the. battle of
Cantigny, the fighting through the
Marine region and IN to the ST. Mihiel
victory. Originally 1000 birds were
brought to France from the United
States. More have come over from
time to time, and pigeons from French
> cotes have reinforced Uncle Sans fea-
/, thered messengers.