Show tica nw 60 got a 14 llarch 1 fromm ship to sham captain joha john R M bartlett Uart Dart lett U S 24 retired chief ot of tie tle coast 1 signal 11 eer vice 1 during the be war with spain bai has reported to the department on the th value ot of carrier pigeons for sIgu signaling aling purposes the baltimore sun summarizes narl xee the report as follow follows that experiment experiments tx be made for the purpose of training homing pigeons in connection with coast in nal allar lne tor for the rea son that they offer a solution of the aon problem of communication with ves 1 in the off hore shore patrol fleet rese vessels would mot most probably operate la in districts dittri ct having established bases and at uch such a f ron rom the ca eoa as at t and from the inshore patrol that visual signaling would bo be impossible A homing pigeon service cannot be tm im cl and be of any real value the birda birds must be systematically and patiently trained tor for a year or two not only to equip the cotes cot with train ed carrier carriers for that locality but to furnish a block stock of see bred breeder exp experimental r I 1 mental cotea coteel should be located at t the base of naval cot defense dis friets a mall a beseel 1 provided with rith a carrier pigeon outfit and an officer de d tailed tilled to develop this meana means ot of corn com and superintend the be ya temotio twining of the bird birds unless thia this li Is done wit alt intelligence for at least a year it would be useless to rely upon it at all such a system could be economically inaugurated and could tm j maintained at a comparatively slight coit cost A simple routine of drill drills exercises exer and reports bleed based upon our recant experiences could be readily put into operation and small reward rewards or appropriate would tte proficiency in times of p peace ad ce auch such service 1 be of constant chuven leuce letice to thi this department and to the maritime interest inte reel 0 th tb country Cua atry and the contant constant practice would prepare the men n n fr the cf el war attention la lo 10 the ll 11 fact that every other maritime nation hai has uch such a etem system generally much more elaborate than the one herein proposed or and operated under its naval or L maritime department |