The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-16

mating the necessity OF writing the messages
However, the pigeon might have soInelhihs ~
say about the matter.
One of the most difficult parts of the work OF
introducing pigeons into the army service was 20
instiH into the minds of the officers and men the
fact that the pigeons are reliable mat tney are
reliable is proved by the experience overseas,
where the birds are retained in forward posluohs
while any ether method. whether telephone tele-
graph, induction buzzers, wireless, wigwag or run
is available, and only when everything else
fails and only the birds remain, then through
barrage, gas, and every other of the diabolcal
inventions of war, more than 81 per cent OF the
messages intrusted to pigeons are safely and
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
airy or movable, but the essential feature Of each
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 with genus
homo. Each loft is 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 Tung, 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 far
as 50 miles and that the pigeons would return to it
swiftly and accurately he would probably have
laughed at you and said something about your
being novice in the pigeon racing and breeding
game The movable loft is one OF the advances
in pigeon lore that the has brought out
This is a very important development, 1t is
highly desirable that the lofts always be to
military headquarters and available for instant
removal with headquarters conditions may
auire. These movable lofts very well con-
structed and interesting homes for these itin-
Grant messengers. They are QUILTED with nesting
boxes observation traps, storage space for feed
water and accommodations for two at
tendants who are constantly duty In fact
they remind one Of the circus wagons that travel
with the smaller circuses about the country.
Another innovation developed the ''owl
Dress" There were pigeons at the front that
developed the faculty for seeing at night
and these were called veritabIe human night owls
In fact they came home much more steadily and
accurately than some OF their civilian brethren
who were wont TO be habitual riders Of the AoWl
express"
The sport of racing and breeding pigeons is due
RI receive an impetus civilian sport that
rhe war is ended and the progress made under
war conditions should not be allowed to lapse
thousands of soldiers viii 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 mentioned in the
first part of this article having been saved by
the pigeons in The battle OF BethuncOurt and
Dead Mans hill