Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-01-10

mating the necessity OF Wrlting lnO s. Il.
However, the pigeon might nave sOlne1uAS =
say about the matter. .
Ono of +be most difficult parts of the work OF
Introducing pigeons into the army service was y
insti into the minds of the ofilcers anu men tlle
fact that the pigeons are reliable. mat they aie
reliable is proved by the experience overseas
where the birds are retained in forward posluons
while any other method, whether telephone. teie
graph induction buzzers, wireless, wigwag or run
ner is available, and only when everything eise
fails and only the birds remain, then through
barrage, gas, and every other OF the dlaDoHcai
inventions of war, more than 81 per cent OF tne
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
arv or movable, but the essential feature OF eQch
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 affection
is through its stomach, the same as with genus
homo Each loft is equipped with 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 pigeon
fancer that you could move his pigeon loft as far
as 20 miles and that the pigeons would return to It
sviftlv and accurately he would probably have
laughed at you and said something about your
being novice in the pigeon racing and breeding
came The movable loft is 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-
nuire These movable lofts are very well con-
structed and are interesting homes for these tin
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 was the 'owl ex-
nress" There were pigeons at the front that
developed the faculty for seeing at night
ond 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 wont to be habitual riders of the FOWL
express.
The sport Of racing and breeding pigeons is due
70 receive an impetus as a civilian sport now that
rho war is ended, and the progress made under
,uar conditions should not be allowed to lapse
Tbousands of soldiers will have become familiar
with the birds and will have warm regard for
Them There will be many who will share the
feeling of the officer who mentioned in the
FIRST part of this article having been saved by
the pigeons in the battle of BethuncOurt and
Dead Mans hill.