Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-29

Messages of vital importance were found on
these German birds. Ten Of these prisoners
are in the lofts at Potomac Park.
| One of the German birds-a fraulein-
made up with Red Eye, formerly attached to
the One Hundred and Sixteenth Field Signal
battalion, and one of the American faces"
AS the army order forbidding Americans to
we'd Germans does not apply to army pigeons,
Red Eye and his Boche bride are now living
happily together in their loft where they have
family nest and two hyphenated eggs.
The pigeon not always fortunate
enough to pass through the battle area I'M
scatched. Shells exploded with such fire.
quency and in such manner that the pigeon
was often caught in the rain of steel. Many
birds, grievously wounded, returned to their
lofts with their messages intact, only to sue
cumb there. Their intense desire to reach
home is sufficient to sustain them while strug-
Cling through the air.
One story is told of the case of an English
bird which was struck by piece of shrapnel
while homeward bound with message. Both
of it's legs were broken, and the aluminium
message holder was imbedded in the flesh by
the force of the bullet. But it's spirit never
faltered. 1t struggled on and on, falling dead
at the feet of the loft attendant. The mes
sage proved to be a pressing one, and the
soldiers were heartily in favor Of awarding
the D. S. c. to this bird for its great display
of courage.
Another bird was released from seaplane
which had fallen and was bling shelled by a
German destroyer The bird rose quickly
and circled about to get its bearings. Shots
resounded from the deck of the destroyer,
the bird stopped short in its fight, and a
stream of falling feathers told that it had
been hit. After a short fall, the bird recov-
cred and flew homeward under great dill
Guilty. Within half an hour three British war
vessels had arrived on the scene. The Ger
mans fed, and the ayators were rescued.
With body and wings lacerated, this heoric
bird had flown thirteen miles naval air
station and given the alarm.
While some of these tales read like fanciful
visions of vivid imagination, all are vouched
for by official documents in the files OF the
war department. Here is one most typical:
A detachment of French infantry was
placed in certain strategic position and told
to hold it at all costs, while their comrades
took up positions in the rear. The Germans
attacked again and again, and the birds sent
up by the advanced detachment bore stories
of unequalled valor and sacrifice. The final
message from the detachment is dramatic in
it's tragic simplicity. 1t reads:
1.-The Boche are on us. We are lost but
have done good work. Have the artillery
open on our position"
It was the messages carried to the rear by
pigeons that saved The Lost Battalion
more than anything else. When the dawn or
October 3, showed that he was cut off, Major
Whittlesey sent back runners with report
on his position. Each runner gave his life.
Pigeons were then sent and it was those cour-
iers of the air that carried the tidings to the
other Yanks in the forest. The messages
brought back by the birds contained exact
descriptions of the location and condition OF
the battalion and expedited measures for its
eventual relief.
Rehabilitation of the pigeon service has
progressed so rapidly that this branch OF the
military establishment is already on peace
time basis. 1t is one of the new branches
that is to be permanent part of the service.
At present there are about $500 birds scat
tered at the various army posts in this coun-
try and in our insular possessions.
When the armistice was signed there were
about 10000 birds in the service, half OF
which were in France. The majority OF the
overseas birds were sold at auction, while
some of them were turned over to Belgium to
help restock her lofts, which were confiscated
by, the German invaders. Belgium is the
home of the carrier or homer, pigeon, as it
is more properly known by fanciers. The
Belgians were among the earliest and most
successful pigeon trainers. Many of the best
flying French, English and American strains
have been developed from Belgian stock.
A large flock of high grade homers will
be imported into this country from England
and France within the next month for breed
ing DurnOSes.