Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-15
PIGEONS REAL HEROES
OF FRENCH BATTLES
Fifty in Our Army Worthy to Wear
Distinguished Service
Medals.
Raymond Carroll in Pubic Ledger.


With the American Peace Commission
Paris, Jan. i5-They are the doves Of
peace For months before the arrnistice
day they went forth 10 war quoting
literally an official signal corps report Of
the American expeditionary force, fifty
pigeons Of the United States army have
especially distinguished themselves in
combat liaison and il seemed giorioisiy
fitting that six Of these brave wounded
birds should pass through Paris AZ the
very time when the Peace Conference
was assembling. In charge of a returning
pigeon officer. under special orders cf
Brigadier Generals Edgar Russell and
George s Gibbs, they were en- route to q
base port, where they viii take passage
for the United States.
Recommendation has been made
that these pigeons be kept at one Of
the large geological parks in Philadelphia,
Washington or New York and their lofts
marked with signs recnunting their deeds.
Further, IL is recommended that when these
fearless feathered units of the army die
they be properly mounted and placed with
the stories of their achievements In the
Smithsonian Institute. Along with six
wounded pigeons, three Of whom came from
Pennsylvania lofts near Scranton, were
six Others that deserted from the German
army, each carrying rings marked with the
imperial insignia.
CsR!zzLED VETERANS SOLICITORS.
All lovers Of dumb animals viii ap-
preciate in the extra care and attention
| bestowed upon our wounded pigeons
the sentimental side for two grizzled
! brigadier generals, regular army officers.
| who themselves typlfy the harshness and
rigors Of war, having served IN Cuba and
! the Philippines as well as IN france
| The activities Of these birds with oul
/ army greatly increased during the later
/ phases Of American participation IN tht
| European conflict, their fights averaglns
from FIVE to twenty miles. In the St
| Mihiel offensive they worked both
| with the tanks and infantry, altogethe
so birds being used IN delivering ninety
messages Of important military value iron
the advanced hines. often coming in coverec
with mud and their plumage soaked with
rain.
Many noteworthy performances BY
our birds are in the records. One pIgeor
fro m the lofts at Rampont in the Argonn'
offensive had its leg cut of by a German
/ bullet. but with the important docUmen
hanging by ligament OF the leg carried
on for twelve miles, receiving anotae
bullet directly through its breast bone, anC
fulfilled its mission. Fortunately the
| vitality OF the bird has enabled it I,
survive and its recovery now seems assured
Another wonderful performance, II
fact, a series Of them, were those o
the birds used by battalion OF troop;
surrounded by Germans and cut OF iron
| all relief for five days. Several birds useC
by this organization safely delivered th'
messages intrusted to them. thereb,
| keeping headquarters cognizant of con
ditions and facilitating the relief measure
which finally proved effective. Their,
| are many instances where troops wer'
cut off from all communication or aiC
advanced so rapidly that they had los
touch with ali other organizations an,
pigeons were used with success.
BEATS AIRPLANE IN RACE.
On another occasion bird from th
loft at Fort Lucy, pitted against an air
plane, arrived home IN time 70 permit @
the message being delivered to its final des
tination by motorcycle and still have thre
minutes the better of the contest.
Looking at the handsome edihce o
the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs on th
Quai d'Orsay, where the symbolica
doves OF enduring peace are scheduled I
alight during the next few weeks, | coru'
not refrain from writing story OF the rea
doves that few, bled and died that TIN
day might come