USE OF PIGEONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 17

USE OF PIGEONS.

MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS.

LIVES SAVED IN INDIA.

LONDON. Carrier pigeons still play a part in Great Britain's military system of communications. The British Air Force runs a pigeon service with four lofts for training and breeding—two in this country and two overseas. The Army also has pigeons overseas. Recently they proved useful in India.

Carrier pigeons performed valuable service during the World War. The number of birds now maintained, however, is comparatively small, and military authorities are planning to expand the service to something like its former size. In the event of war, it is understood the Royal Air Force would be given' the task of co-ordinating pigeon services for the Navy and Army as well as itself.

During the Czechoslovak crisw hundreds of private owners with trained birds offered their services to the Air Ministry, and an extensive register was compiled. In time of emergency thousands of trained pigeons would be available immediately for military use. Within the last year to two various instance* have been reported in which the lives of British troops in an isolated blockhouse in the north-west frontier province of India,' or in a desert post, have been saved by a message carried by a homing pigeon.

The most recent example occurred during trouble in Wazirktan, India.

A detachment of South Waziristan scouts was cut off and surrounded bynative forces. It* only means of calling for help was by pigeon. Within 15 minutes of being released, a bird arrived in ita army loft, and a request for help was telephoned to the Air Force headquarters at Miranehah. An aeroplane loaded with bombs and ammunition was ,over the -surrounded detachment half an hour later. Two others followed close behind. With their aid the detachment continued its fight against hostile-tribesmen. Medical supplies and a first aid outfit were dropped to the scouts. Towards evening the detachment, whose ammunition had bejen reduced to ten rounds per man, signalled for more. In the face of heavy Jre from the natives four load* of ammunition and' a'.fupply of Verev lights were delivered' by 'planes. Combined action by 'planes and scouts drove off tie attacking force of 1500 men with a loss of It killed an 4 15 woundedThe scouts' casualties' were four MIM .and ten wouoded.