The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-09

mating the necessity OF writing the messages
However. the pigeon might nave sone"'s ~
say about the matter.
One of the most difficult parts OF the work OF
Introducing pigeons into the army service was 10
instill Into the minds OF the officers ana men 'c
fact that the pigeons reliable. That they are
reliable is proved by the experience overseas
where the birds are retained In forward posltiohs
while any other method. whether telephone, teie-
graph, Induction buzzers. wireless. wigwag or run
ner is available. and opy when everything else
falls, and only the birds remain. then through
barrage, gas, and every other OF the dlaboiica'
inventions of war, more than % per cent OF the
messages intrusted to our pigeons are sarey anu
speedily delivered by them to headquarters
These messengers nre carried to the front IN
especially constructed wicker baskets which cnn
be carried handiy 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
airy or movable, but the essential feature OF ench
Is the snme. Every effort Is made to mike each
bird comfortable, happy and attached to Its home
This is done most effectively by the method of
feeding the approach to the birds anection
Ia through Its stomach. the same as with genus
homo. Each loft IL equipped with trap through
which the birds 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 Obtnined and forwarded
TO headquarters.
Before the late IL you had told pigeon
fancier that you could move his pigeon loft as far
ns so miles and that the pigeons would return to II
swiftly and accurately he would probably have
laughed at you and said something Hbout your
being n novice In the pigeon racing and breeding
game The movable loft is of the advances
in pigeon lore that the war has brought out
This is very important development, us 1t is
highly desirable that the lofts always be near to
military headquarters and available for instant
removal with headquarters conditions mny re-
ouire These movable lofts are very well con-
structed and Interesting homes for these itin-
Grant messengers. They outfitted with nesting
boxes observation traps, storage space for feed.
water and accommodations for one or two at
tendants who are constantly duty. In fact.
they remind of the circus wagons that travel
with the smaller crcuses about the country.
Another innovation developed was the "Owl ex-
press" There pigeons at the front that
developed the faculty for seeing Mt night
and these were called veritable human night owls.
In fact they came home much more steadily and
accurately than of their civilian brethren.
who were went to he habitu:! riders Of the "ow!
express"
The sport of racing nnd breeding pigeons is due
10 receive an impetus as n civilian sport now that
rhe war is ended and the progress mnde under
war conditions should not be allowed to lapse.
Thousands Of soldiers will have become familiar
with the birds and will have regard for
them, There will be many who will share the
feeling of the officer who mentioned in the
first part of this article as having been saved by
the pigeons IN the battle of Bethuncourt and
Dead Nfansa hill