Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-01-09

mating the necessity OF WrluuR TIE "esS"se"'
However. the pigeon might nave nie'"s ="
say about the matter.
One Of the most difficult parts OF the WORK ~
Introducing pigeons into the army service was to
insill into the minds of the officers ana men the
fact that the pigeons are reab'e That they are
reliable is proved by the experience overseas
where the birds are retained In forward positions
while any other method whether telephone, tele-
graph Induction buzzers wireless. wigwnc or rum
ner Is available. and only when everything else
fails. and only the birds remain then through
bnrrage gas and every other Of the diabOlic,l
inventions of war. more than 81 per cent of the
messages. intrusted to our pigeons nre snfely and
speedily delivered by them to headquarters
These messengers are carried to the front In
especially constructed wicker baskets which can
be carried handiy by the soldier Entrusted with
their care. Back of the lines the pigeons 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 mnde 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 Its stomach the same 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. thMt the mes
sage mny be Immediately obtained and forwarded
TO headquarters.
Before the late war ifS you had told pigeon
fancier that you could move his pigeon loft as far
as SO miles and that the pigeons would return to Il
swiftly and accurately he would probably have
laughed ut 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 war has brought out.
This Is 4 very important development. as II Ia
highly desirable that the lofts always be nenr to
military headquarters. and available for instant,
removal with headquarters as conditions may re-
auire. 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 two Mt.
tehdnnts 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 was the "owl ex.
press" There were pigeons at the front tina,
developed the faculty for seeing mt night
and these were called workable human night owls
On fact they came home much more steadily and
accurately than nome OF their Civilian brethren
s who were wont to he habitual riders OF the FOWL
express"
The sport OF racing and breeding pigeons IL due
ia receive an impetus az Civilian sport now that
,he war IL ended and the progress made under
war conditions should not be allowed to inpse
Thousands Of soldiers will have become samiliu,
with the birds and will have warm regard Ia,
them. There will be many who will share the
feeling Of the officer who was mentioned In IN.
first part of this article AZ hnving heen saved hy
the pigeons In The battle Of Bethuncours am,
Daad Mans hin.