American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-31

,na,,ro tho necessitv of writing the messages.
However, the pigeon might have somethins 10
say about the matter.
One of the most difficult parts of the work OF
introducing pigeons into the army service was 70
instill into the minds OF the officers and men the
fact that the pigeons are reliable. That they are
reliable Is proved by the experience overseas
where the birds are retained In forward POSITIONS
while any other method, whether telephone, teie-
graph. Induction buzzers, wireless, wigwag or run
ner is available, and only when everything else
fails, and only the birds remain, then through
barrage, gas, and every other Of the diabolicai
Inventions Of war, more than 81 per cent OF the
messages intrusted TO our pigeons are safely ano
speedily delivered BY them to headquarters
These messengers are carried to the front In
especially constructed wicker baskets which can
be carried handily by the soldier intrusted with
their care. Back OF the lines the pigeons are kept
in either of two kinds Of lofts or home, station
nry or movable, but the essential feature OF encn
il the same. Every effort Is made to make each
bird comfortable, happy and attached to Its home.
This Is done most effectively by the method OF
feeding, as the approach to the birds affection
n through its stomach, the same as with genus
homo. Each loft is equipped with a trap through
which the birds are tnught to enter and leave
without fear. Each time the bird enters the trap
an alarm Is automatically rung, notifying the
attendant Of the return of the bird, that the meg
sage may be Immediately obtained and forwarded
to headquarters.
Before the late war II you had told a pigeon
fancIer that you could move his pigeon loft as far
as so miles and that the pigeons would return to II
swiftly and accurately he would probably have
laughed at you and said something about your
being a novice in the pigeon racing and breeding
game. The movable loft is one of the advances
in pigeon lore that the war has brought cut.
This is a very important development, as II II
highly desirable that the lofts always be near to
military headquarters and available for instant
removal with headquarters as conditions may re-
qulre. These movable lofts are very well con-
structed and are interesting homes for these itin-
Grant messengers. They are QUILTED with nesting
boxes, observation traps, storage space for feed,
water, and accommodation for one or two Mt
tendants who are constantly on duty. In fact,
they remind one of the circus wagons that travel
with the smaller cireases about the country.
Another innovation developed was the FOWL exr
press" There were pigeons at the front that
developed the faculty for seeing mt night
and these were called veritable human night evils.
In fact. they came home much more steadily and
who were won't to be habitual riders Of the "owi
express"
The sport OF racing and breeding pigeons IN due
10 receive an impetus as a civilian sport now that
the war Is ended, and the progress made under
war conditions should not be allowed to lapse.
Thousands Of soldiers will have become familiar
with the birds and VIII have a warm regard for
them. There will be many who Will share the
feeling of the officer who was mentioned in the
first part Of this article as having been saved by
the pigeons in The battle Of Bethuncourt and
Dead Mans hill.