The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-11-21
SCHOOL PIGEONS
FOR war WORK
Birds Are Prepared for Battle
lust the Same as
the Men.
PLAY BIG PART IN FIGHTING
Many Times Garry Messages That
Mean Life and Death-Spend
but Short Time in the Front
Line Trenches.

With the American Army in France.
Pigeons must be schooled and pre-
pared for battle just the same as men.
OF the thousands of pigeons flying
over the battle lines, carrying mes
sages and playing their part In the
fight against Germany, all have been
carefully trained. Having natural
'homing" instinct, owing to their
breeding, the birds practically train
themselves, but they work under SUI
pervision of soldiers assigned to the
pigeon corps because of their knowl-
edge of the birds.
When a flock of pigeons is installed
In a certain cote, 1t is kept confined
closely for several days. The birds
are given little food. Then they are
released. Not being well fed, and
therefore not very strong, they will fly
only a few hundred yards from the
cote. Upon their return they are CIV
en- more food. Next day they are lib.
Grated again. This time they will fly
somewhat farther han on the first day,
and again their rations will be in
creased.
By the third day the pigeon really
goes to work schooling itself. The
birds instinct is to become familiar
with the country about its home cote.
The flock will take to the wing on be-
ing released, and swing in an ever
widening circle about the cote. All the
time, as 1t flies, each bird is studying
the terrain, landmarks by which 1t can
find its way home. The next step is to
carry the pigeons up toward the line
for training.
Time in Trenches Short.
Life in the front line isn't any cas-
Ter for a pigeon than for a man. Con
s~equently a birds "trick" in the trench.
es on a stable sector is only AZ hours
AT the end of that time, If not sent
back with a message, the pigeon is
released to fly back home for a dry
roost and a good meal.
When not on duty, pigeons are KEEP
In a dugout and are reasonably safe
from shellfire. But for protection af
forded them they would be exposed t.
instant death from gas.
Carried forward with each basket OF
pigeons is a big square c~ontainer re
sembling a piece of %tarpaulin. That:
the pigeons "gas mask" Made OF
strong, heavy, waterproof material
the "gas mask" fits over the ent1r,
4 hoGInt nf rtnanrC Tt fc lnnd ON th.
inside with chemically-treated materia
that n~eutralizes the effect Of gas. Ii
case of o gas alarm, the soldier look
ing after the pigeons picks up the BIAS
ket, opens up the big container, put
the basket of pigeons inside and close
1t, the folds at the top being so ar
ranged that 1t can be made alright.
Danger From Hawks.
In addition to gas and shell fire tn
pigeons have their enemies Of the al
to combat In carrying out their mis-
sions. A heavily wooded district is es
pecially dangerous for var pigeon:
Many of the birds have been kille
in such places by hawks. A pigeo
usually will avoid flying w a WOO
whenever possible. but often whe
forced to take such a course is CON
PEELED to fly for it's life as a haw'
suddenly swoops from the wood.
If the pigeon lives through shell fire
gas, escapes hawks and arrives nea
Its cote safely, still another danger ma
be waiting, If the bird is nervous an
refuses to be trapped" In man
cases the messages by the birds mea
life or death. Consequently ther
can be no delay in getting them frol
J the pigeons little message box once
, arrives at the cote. The pigeon me-
therefore. keep a shotgun close by, an
| are under orders to shoot down ali
pigeon that does not alight at it's cot
: promptly.
Pigeons have played a prominer
!, part in all fighting In which Amer
cans have participated, from the fir
: raids in Lorraine through the battle {
| Cantigny, the fighting through I'll
Marine region and on to the st. Mini,
t victory. Originally 1000 birds wei
brought to France from the Unite
States. More have come over fro
/ time to time, and pigeons from FrenC
cOtes have REINFORCED Unlcle Sam