New Britain herald., 1926-02-16
PIGEON FLYING
 GROWS POPULAR
lhis Is Especially True in the
 Far West

San Francisco, Feb. iG P>--Train- ng of carrier pigeons, which nntll 'ecently in the west was almost eX- nusiyely an army poace-time pursuit a quicken the combat forces most dependable means of communication In shel-rocked battle fields, has .aimed a position of popularity as nyilian sport along the Pacific toast. Tostercd and encouraged by ,rmv and reserve circles. pigeon- living has grown in favor until the lumber of clubs existing and tht membership engaged in this pastime Sresage rivalry with Atlantic sea- board enthusiasts for supremacy,
 An affection for the dolicately ,red birds, gain in war time by ther Effectiveness as a means of liaison has been turned into an appreciation If their sporting possibilities. The living courses that have been map ped and used in pigeon racing along he fringcd borders of the Pacific ,ffer, because of varying climatic conditions, as difficult tests for bird taminn ahd training efficacy as sau be found.
 In competitions from Salem, Ore.
 Oakland, Cal, the tiny racers ,ss through the chilled air stratas ,t}ve snow-capped mountains; rsugh logs and mists: through ,atl rare and heavy atmosphere ,nd at the finish through the hot ,Iy dry air above the san Joa- :ni,' Valley of California. Under r,aa,, severe conditions the birds taa.., make the time registered in .,"o. "a,D. contests nor fly continuously
 .a,i.hout the day as do the east
 rIeeons. But the contests de- t,, hardness and a fortitude ,ot ,,;ill prove of inestimable value rn,,, men believe. if their use ,ourd ever again be required in ,arfare.
 1Aate next June most of the clubs ,fT the west will unite for flights ,u .om Pocatello, Ida, to Oakland. ind from Salem to Oakland. From 700 to 1000 birds likely will be entered.
 Signal corps pigeoneering at pres snt. besides encouraging clVllian m .erest, Is directing efforts toward the better training of night-flying birds; breeding of those able to fly effect. Nely through fog and at high mountain attitudes, and to inter island flights where q practical neacc-time use for the birds pre- vaila.
 Col. Arthur 6. Cowan of Ninth r'orps Area Headquarters, believes ! that experimental work started In Panama and carried on extensively at Ross field, Calif,, and at Homo I,ilu will give the United States a vastly superior bird equipment. Though the pigeon was recognized es n military adjunct as early as the fifth Egyptian dynasty abont 3opo R, C., America's entrance into thH war found this country, he said, the only one of the great powers Vlr- Mally without trained pigeons. Ger many had an efficient and well es- r,hlishcd service which was used by Y II arms ana h ilS 'Ilt' Nt iii = 5~''i''to ,lcssnges from intelligence oporat- les in England 10 the war depart mont at Berlin.
 American army officers learned That the artillery baraEos played ! qvoc with telephone and radio sys' tnmS and that when advanced or de- trchcd units found themselves fa' from friendly lines and the need was trecnt. 10 notify headquarters ina i,io pigeon was the most trust 4worthy messenger. II could noun I1p!dly, quickly getting above ar'u lnry fire and gas clouds and flyint tat express train speed, seldom failed iin deliver. When every other mcthot .of communication had failed. th llirI nine times out of ten go through safely. sometimes cNhibitini hcroism that won war dcpartmen commendation,
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