104 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



though even their own historians admit it was a 

 useless expenditure of time and energy. 



After the close of that war the pigeon service 

 became a recognized element in the French mili- 

 tary establishment and lofts were maintained in 

 all fortresses. Other European countries stocked 

 their forts with birds, but, aside from this, pig- 

 eons as messengers again fell into disuse through- 

 out the world. At the outbreak of the World 

 War, however, they once more were utilized. 



In 1914 the French army reorganized the pig- 

 eon service and greatly widened its scope for 

 actual work in the field. England, though she 

 had employed the birds with success in the South 

 African War of 1899-1902, was slower to rec- 

 ognize their value, and it was not until the spring 

 of 1916 that her armies in France received the 

 first birds from home. But, from that time on, 

 her pigeon service at the front grew until it stood 

 on an even footing with that of the French and 

 the Belgians. When the United States joined 

 forces with the allies, she had no such arm in her 

 service, but upon going into action she quickly 

 realized the necessity for one. Pigeon flying at 

 that time was popular in America. At the out- 

 break of hostilities thousands of birds, trained by 

 private owners, were on hand. A pigeon service 

 was hastily organized, and great numbers of birds 

 were shipped to France, where their progeny saw 

 service on the front lines. 



