The Ordway new era., 1918-05-10

tween the Headquarters and the swift
flying airplanes and seapanes when
other methods were impossible.
America will not be behind other M
tIons in this matter, declares writer
In the New York Sun. Soon after his
arrival In France General Pershing
cabled home for coops, pigeons and
a staff of men to take care of them.
Through the American Racing Pigeon
union, which has membership of
more than 1,Soo racing pigeon fanciers,
arrangements were quickly made for
the first shipment. d. G. Buscall of
Riverdale, Md. and ]. L. Carney of
Pittsburgh, Pa, both expert racing
homer breeders. were appointed lieu
tenants and went across with n 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 fort near his home to
let him set up loft there and equip
1t for testing purposes. The trials
proved so successful that this permis-
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 1900 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-
OH lofts
which control approximately 1900
pigeons.
Following General Pershings message
Mr.. Griffin was. commissioned 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-
dons were quickly opened with the
racing homing pigeon clubs.
Being a trained rncer Of homer pig
sons, Major Griffin recognized the ne
cessity of getting only pigeons whose
parents had proved their worth on the
road. and all collectors have been IN
structed to issue leg bands only to
mch breeders as are known to be mem
bers of some of the racing homer clubs
and have birds with records that can
be verified to breed from. This rule
has been strictly adhered to since SO
much depends on the fitness of the
pigeon that no chance can be taken.
To Sell Pigeons at Cost.
The government has agreed to pay
81 apiece for each pigeon accepted.
This is regarded by homing pigeon men
As a low price. since some of the par
ents could not be purchased for less
than 500 to S25 apiece, and young
sters from such blooded stock sell for
k3, 81 and even higher prices. The
price of 50 was arrived at through fig
uring the cost of raising young pig
con and the fanciers periodically
agreed to it
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
lxe the signal corps recruits with the
new service. The pigeons are to be
used when atmospheric conditions In
terfere with the electrical and wig
wngging modes of communication.