The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-16

mating the necessity or Wrltlhs "e "N-
However, the pigeon might nave
say about the matter.
One of the most difficult parts OF the Work VI
Introducing pigeons into the army service was ~
instfll into the minds Of the officers ana men Tie
fact that the pigeons are reliable. mat thev are
reliable is proved by the experience oVerse"s'
where the birds are retained in forward posltlons
while any other method, whether telephone, tele
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 alapoiical
inventions Of war, more than 81 per cent OF the
messages intrusted to our pigeons are safely ana
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
ary or movable, but thes essential feature or each
is the same. Every effort is made to mike 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 affection
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 If you had told a pigeon
fancier that you could move his pigeon loft as far
as so miles and that the pigeons would return tott
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 8 very important development. as 1t is
highly desirable that the lofts always be near to
military headquarters and available for instant
removal with headquarters as conditions may re-
nnire. These movable lofts are very we'll 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,
they remind one Of the circus wagons that travel
with the smaller ~circuses about the country.
Another innovation developed wins the .owl ex-
nress." There were pigeons at the front thar
deyeloped the faculty for seeing at night
and these were called ~veritable human night owls.
N fact. they came home much more steadily and
accurately than some Of their civilian brethren.
who were won't to be habitual riders Of the "owl
express" 8@
The snort Of racing and breeding pigeons Is dive
"a receive an impetus as a civilian sport now thar
s. war ii ended. and the progress mane under
VAR conditions should not be allowed f. lapse.
1,housands OF soldiers vii, have become familiar
yvithS the hiras and will fave a warns regard for
Them. There will be many who xiII share the
feeling of the officer VINO WINS nentione~ Ia the
trst part Of Sh,s article as having been saved ~
the pigeons h the battle of BethuncOurt and
Dead ltar's hlk5