The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-01-24

inotinp tba. necessity of writing the messaseS'
However, the pigeon might nave so"e'hins '"
say about the matter. -.
One of the most difficult parts of the WORK OK
Introducing pigeons into the army service was 10
instill into the minds Of the officers ana men the
fact that the pigeons are reliable. Ihat uhey are
reliable is proved by the experience oVerseas'
where the birds are retained In forward positiohS
while any other method, whether telephohe' lele-
graph, induction buzzers, wireless, wigWaS 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 dlaDollcal
inventions Of war, more than 81 per cent OF the
messages intrusted to our pigeons are safely anu
speedily delivered by them to headquarters.
These messengers are carried to the front In
especially constructed wicker baskets when can
be carried handily by the soldier intrusted with
their care. Back Of the lines the pigeons are kept
I'm either of two kinds Of lofts or home, station
ary or movable, but the essential feature or eacn
Is the same. Every effort is made to make each
bird comfortable, happy and attached to It's home.
This Is done most effectively by the method OF
feeding, as the approach to the BIRDS anection
Is through it's stomach, the same as with genus
homo. Each loft is equipped with a trap through
which the birds are taught 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 mes
sage may be Immediately obtained and forwarded
to headquarters.
Before the late war II you had told q 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 out.
This is a very important development, as it is
highly desirable that the lofts always be near to
military headquarters and available for instant
removal with headquarters as conditions may re-
ouire. 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 accommodations for one or two at
PENDANTS who are constantly on duty. In fact,
thov remind one of the circus wagons that travel
with the smaller circuses about the country.
Another innovation developed was the 'owl ex'
nress" There were pigeons at the front that
deyeloped the faculty for seeing at night
ond these were called veritable human night owls.
Tn fact. they came home much more steadily and
accurately than some Of their civilian brethren,
who were wont to be habitual riders Of the FOWL
express"
The sport of racing and breeding pigeons Is due
m receive an impetus as a civilian sport now that
rhe 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 will have a warm regard for
them. There will be many who will share the
feeling of the officer who was mentioned In tht
first part of this article as having been saved by
the pigeons In the battle of BethuncOurt aW
Dead Mans hill.