Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-10
NAVY PLANS SALE
OF CARRIER BIRDS
CIassed as Complete Sea-
going "FIops," Pigeons May
Be Sold at Auction.

1t appears that the Army's war birds
have turned out to be the Nays doves.
Soldiers swear by them and sailors
well, sailors just swear.
Anyhow, the Navy may hold a pigeon
auction soon. If the Army wants to
bid in some perfectly good sea-going
messengers, all the Army needs is the
cash.
Getting inside the regulations. one
hears that the pigeon is something of a
flop" as an aeronautical nfe-saver
nautically speaking.
They won't be good sailors and they
refuse to live on the airplane carriers
where they might make their mark
Once liberated, they make for the near
est land and prefer an "A. w. o. L. v
rating to additional sea duty.
Cling to Plane Wings.
Aviators have found that often when
thu pigeons are released from plane,
particularly over the water, they cling
to the wings of the craft instead OF
bearing a message back to the homing
point.
This penchant of sea-going pigeons
has given rise to the opinion in the
Bureau of .Aeronautics that airrnen have
heaved more monkey wrenches and
fired more Very pistols at them than
the birds are worth.
Too, the development of radio COM
munication between the airplanes and
their bases has largely removed the
need for feathered messengers. In the
event of war, officers believe another
flock can be quickly trained should the
necessity develop. As it IS, the Navy
will continue to maintain pigeons at
the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst and
at the Naval Station. Guam.
For the rest, they will be disposed OF
if a recommendation by the Bureau OF
Engineering. Navy Department, is ap-
proved py Secretary Adams.
Auction Sale Planned.
II was learned today that engineering
officials have urged that rs birds from
Hampton Roads, 100 from Pensacola
and SO from Newport r. l., be assembled
with the $50 pigeons at Anacostia, and
the lot offered to fanciers and sportsmen
at public auction.
The apparent failure of pigeons on
the sea has not been duplicated on land.
Perhaps the difference lies between the
varied working conditions, and not IN
the quality of the birds themselves.
The Army numbers many priced birds
among its messengers. They are con-
sidered reliable under certain conditions.
and have often carried messages which
would otherwise have gone undelivered.
The Bureau of Navigation has rec
commended that the SO, birds at Port
au Prince, Haiti; the so at Pearl Har-
Dor, Territory Hawaii; the SO at Coco
Solo, Canal Zone, and the IS at San
Diego, Calf, be disposed of at those
local points rather than shipping them
to AnacoStia.
Sale Is Approved.
The Bureau of AeronauticS, which
recommended in the first instance that
the pigeons be acquired, likewise took
the initiative in recommending their
disposal. The Bureau of Engineering
has now recommended that the Bu-
reau of Supplies and Accounts sell the
birds at autcion.
The pigeons and their care are taken
cognizance of by number of bureaus:
The training. is done under the eye OF
the Bureau of Aeronautics. The per-
sonnet that care for them comes under
the Buerau of Navigation. The trans
portation for the pigeons-mostly motor
cycles that take them into the country
and from which they are released to
keep the birds in training-are under
the Jurisdiction of the Bureau OF Yards
and Docks, while the Bureau Of Engi-
neering owns and maintains the pigeons
and their housing facilities.
With the sale OF the pigeons, otncers
point out, personnel and material will
be released for other duty. effect1ng yet
another economy for Uncle Sam.