The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-06-06

tailed pigeon with one leg shattered
and twisted out Of shape, yet it is
mute testimony to one Of the heroic
deeds Of the World war. For this bird
is president Wilson," the most IA
nous carrier pigeon of all that served
with the A. E. F. and hero of innumer-
able long and dangerous flights during
the World war.
1t began at Grand Pre-. On the
morning Of November 5, 1918, advance
units Of the Americans were dismayed
to find their communication lines dead.
Radio failed, too, because of the over
crowded air. At Rampont, rs miles
away. was headquarters where staff
officers anxiously awaited word from
Grand Pre-. Between the two points
lay an inferno of fire and smoke, shot
and shell. But there was no other
way. The all-important message was
Entrusted to president Wilson" which
was soon winging its way toward
Rampont.
twenty-five minutes later the pant
ing bird fluttered down in front Of
headquarters at Rampont, the mes
sage, intact, dangling from the torn
ligaments Of its wounded leg. Like
many a human warrior president
Wilson" had been safely through the
fighting from the start only to meet
mishap with the armistice almost at
hand.
That was the faithful little flyers
last time under fire. Nursed back to
recovery president Wilson" for the
past eleven years has been an active
member Of the army pigeon loft at
Fort Monmouth, N. j.. giving the
younger birds valuable pointers in the
art of message bearing under war con-
ditions. Death came quietly to the
famous bird while asleep recently and
the army decided to have the body
stuffed and mounted. An officer Of
the signal corps accompanied it to the
Smithsonian institution where it is
now enshrined.
But even though "Taps" have sound
ed for this hero bird, there are still
living others of his tribe whose rec
Ords are nearly as remarkable. Visit
Fort Monmouth, between Red Bank
and Long Branch. N. j., today and
you can see some of them.
Here you will see most Of the IA
nous war birds which rendered such
valiant service with the signal corps
in France, among them those two vet
Grams, Spike" and "Mocker," almost
as renowned as president Wilson,"
Here also you will see a number Of
captured German birds, but perhaps
most interesting of all are the various
pigeons which played an important
role in the operations of the famous
Lost Battalion"
The story Of the Lost Battalion" is
so familiar to most Americans that 1t
needs no retelling-even though the
name is misnomer and most Amer
leans therefore have wrong idea
about it. For Major Whittlesey's out
fit never was really 'lost"-it was tent
off" or "beleaguered." But be that as
It may, the fact remains that had it
not been for seven carrier pigeons,
which the commander of that devoted
band sent out from time to time, Ma
jor Whittlesey could not have sent
word of his location back to his SUI
perior officers, they could not have
rendered him such aid as they did, the
Germans probably would have wiped
the detachment ont of existence be-
fore help arrived and it would have
been a "Lost Battalion" indeed.
1t was during the push" of the
Seventy-seventh division in the Ar
come on October that six compa-
mics Of the first and second battalions
of the Three Hundred and Eighth in
fantry, one company Of the Three Hun
dred and Seventh infantry and two Sec
lions from the Three Hundred and
Sixth machine gun battalion, all con-
solidated under the command of Mai.
Charles W. Whittiesey, discovered that
German forces were behind them and
they were cut off from communication
with the rear. At 80 a. m. on Oc-
tober 8, Major Whittlesey sent his first
pigeon with this message 1--WE are be-
ing shelled by German artillery. Can
we nee have artillery support? Fire
is coming from northwest" At vari-