Show ST. ST MARKS MARK'S BEGGARS BEGGARS' APPEAL FOR LIVES OF CHURCH PIGEONS Birds Fed by Tourists Now v Share Scant Fare of Mendicants By United Press VENICE July 17 Several Several hundred poorly clad begg beggars rs the friends of the pigeons that daily gather in the shadow of the famous fa famous famous fa- fa St. St Marks Mark's cathedral descended upon the tho police headquarters headquarters head head- quarters th this s afternoon when whon a report spread over Venice that the pigeons were to be bo M Military authorities have learned that carrier pigeons are being used by Austrian spies In Lombardy and in tho vicinity of Venice to send Information across the tho Adriatic to the Austrian forces Close watch is being kept on all private owners and in several villages near Venice Venico thousands thou sands of pigeons were killed by the tho police early in the week without with with- out specific orders from the tho mill mili tary tay The thousands of pigeons about St. St Marks Mark's every noon for years have won their meals from the tho hands of tourists Since the tho outbreak of the war the tho beggars of of Venice Venico have havo shared their food with the birds The police t told ld the tho spokesmen for the beggars this afternoon that the tho St. St Marks Mark's p pigeons geons will not be bo dis di- I except at nt the direction of I army commanders |