A Messenger-Pigeon Service for Naval Purposes

During the absence of Professor Marion in the summer of 1895, the writer of this paper was in charge of the homing pigeons of the U.S. Naval Academy loft; and, in October, a report, from which the following paragraphs are taken, was made to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy:

"2. During the summer eighteen pigeons made a total of one hundred and ten flights. The long-distance flight of the summer was made by a pigeon that was released from the U.S.S. Monongahela when one hundred and two miles off Cape Henry, or about two hundred and fifty miles from the home loft. This pigeon was out over night, and it had about twelve hours of daylight from the time of its liberation to the time of its arrival at the home loft, thus making an average of about twenty-one miles per hour for the two hundred and fifty miles.

3. In the swiftest flight of the summer the pigeon was liberated at Norfolk, Va., and arrived at the home loft three and three-quarter hours later, thus making an average of forty miles per hour for one hundred and fifty miles.

4. In previous years it was the practice to fly the pigeons in the Chesapeake Bay from the neighborhood of the Virginia Capes to the home loft, and, consequently, the pigeons were not familiar with the coast-line north of the Virginia Capes.

5. During this summer pigeons were liberated at different points off the coast of Delaware and New Jersey in order to see if they would mistake Delaware Bay for the Chesapeake, and also to record their times of flight from points off a coast unfamiliar to them. In all of these trials the pigeons returned to the home loft, and some of them made very good records, considering the fact that they had never flown along that portion of the coast.

6. Pigeons that were liberated from the U.S.S. Bancroft when forty miles off the Fenwick Island Shoal, made their first flights to the home loft in twelve hours of daylight. If they flew across Delaware and eastern Maryland in a direct line for Annapolis they averaged about twelve miles per hour; but if they flew down the coast and then up the Chesapeake Bay, they averaged over twenty miles per hour for two hundred and fifty miles.

7. Pigeons liberated from the Bancroft when fifty miles off Cape May made their first flights to the home loft in eleven hours of daylight. If they flew across Delaware Bay, Delaware, and eastern Maryland in a direct line for Annapolis they averaged about twelve miles per hour.

8. These results are very good when it is considered that the pigeons had never flown along that portion of the coast, and had never flown across Delaware or eastern Maryland, or in the neighborhood of Delaware Bay.

9. A pigeon that had made one flight from off Fenwick Island Shoal was liberated from the Bancroft three weeks later when fifty-five miles off Atlantic City, with the result that it increased the speed of its previous flight by about seven miles per hour.

10. I conclude, from these trials, that pigeons can be trained in a short time to fly from points off a coast that is unfamiliar to them.

11. Five pigeons were taken to Gardiner's Bay in the Bancroft and there put on board the yacht Medusa. After the Medusa sailed from Gardiner's Bay the pigeons were kept below decks in a small basket, and after eight days of bad weather at sea one pigeon was liberated off Winter Quarter Shoal and it arrived at the home loft nine hours later. This pigeon had been away from the home loft for twenty-two days, and it had never flown along that portion of the coast. If this pigeon flew in a direct line across Delaware and eastern Maryland it averaged about twelve miles per hour; but if it flew down the coast and up the Chesapeake, it averaged about twenty-two miles per hour for two hundred miles.

13. The flights of the pigeons of the Naval Academy loft have been of an experimental character, and much more satisfactory results might be obtained from a station located on the coast. By regular and systematic flights over a limited portion of the coast, homing pigeons can be so trained as to form a most reliable and rapid method of communication between ships off the coast and the home station.

14. In time of peace the messenger-pigeon service could be made very useful in many ways, and thus the pigeons could be kept in constant training, so that in the event of hostilities they would be in readiness to render valuable service to our cruisers.

15. The messenger-pigeon service would be especially valuable in the event of hostilities with a government that has possessions near our coast; for then our swift cruisers could scout along the enemy's coast and still be in constant communication with the home station, thus keeping the commander-in-chief informed of all movements of the enemy.

16. On account of the distance from the sea-coast, the Naval Academy could not be made valuable as a pigeon station except for breeding and experimental purposes.

17. As the Navy Department has not undertaken the establishment of a messenger-pigeon service, I have not, in this report, proposed a system for establishing stations or for training the pigeons; and I have not enumerated the many valuable results that could be obtained, both in time of peace and in time of war, from this service."

Since the above report was written, two very interesting flights have been made from the U.S.S. Amphitrite, at anchor in Lynn Haven Bay—a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles from Annapolis. At 9.15 A.M., December 7th, two pigeons were liberated from the Amphitrite, and they arrived at the Naval Academy loft, in the afternoon, with messages from Captain W.C. Wise, U.S.N., as follows:

To Rear Admiral Bunce, Navy Yard, New York:

Amphitrite anchored in Lynn Haven Bay waiting for favorable weather for target practice. Delayed by a snow-storm.

 

To Prof. Marion, Naval Academy:

My compliments, and wishes that this very valuable service be greatly encouraged by the Government. I deem it of great importance, and will do anything in my power to help it.

As the Amphitrite was not within telegraphic communication, the pigeons were sent with messages, and, although very unfavorable weather prevailed at the time of liberation, they arrived in very good time.

The message for Admiral Bunce was telegraphed to the Navy Yard, New York.

When reviewing the results of these flights made by the pigeons of the Naval Academy loft, the fact must be remembered that the pigeons have not been kept in training. The only opportunities for exercising them in long flights have been from the practice ships during the summer months, and from the Government vessels that have occasionally visited Annapolis. Consideration should be given to the fact that these birds had not previously been set free from positions at sea north of the Virginia capes, and that the trials were made for the purpose of determining whether or not homing pigeons, if liberated off a coast with which they are unfamiliar, can find their way to the home loft within a reasonable time. In all the first flights the homers did fairly well, and in the few second flights over the same general route the time was much decreased.

During good weather a trained pigeon will fly successively over the same general route at a speed of forty to fifty miles per hour. In fact, the remarkable speed of seventy miles an hour has been made. Moreover, the messenger can be relied upon to reach home in all kinds of weather. Pigeons trained for flying over the land have frequently made from four to five hundred miles in one flight, and it is reasonable to suppose that they may be trained to fly about four hundred miles over water. The ordinary flights should prove more reliable over water than over land, because the messenger cannot be tempted to loiter with other pigeons or to stop for food. It might be well to have a reserve of the best pigeons for very long flights from sea, say from 200 to 400 miles. Such birds would necessarily be released in the morning, and it would probably be of service to train them at gradually increasing distances by always releasing them in the morning, so that their uniform habit at sea would be to fly away from the sun (or towards it in Pacific waters) when first set free. Four hundred mile flights over water would seldom be necessary, and two hundred miles off the coast would probably be the limit of reliable and swift flights, while the majority would be under one hundred and fifty miles.

Throughout Europe, thousands of messages are sent daily by pigeon post, and the regularity of the speed over established routes is remarkable. Each important naval power maintains, as well, an efficient messenger-pigeon service for the use of its navy. Many such pigeon stations are located along the coast of France, Spain, and Italy; and Great Britain has a very efficient station at Gibraltar. Homing pigeons have been used with excellent results during French naval maneuvers, having been released from ships under conditions such as appertain to actual warfare and made good flights, thus showing that they are not seriously frightened by the firing of heavy guns. For example, on one occasion pigeons were released from a flotilla of torpedo boats during an attack on the Squadron of the North, when off Brest, and the messages were received at Brest in the usual time for the distance covered. There are many private lofts in the United States, but the pigeons cannot be used for naval purposes because they are not trained to fly over sea, and because their home lofts are not located at desirable points. In the event of hostilities, our cruisers employed on scouting or patrol duty off the coast would have to leave their stations and steam to land when necessary to send important information to the Navy Department.

First-rate naval powers, more especially those with long stretches of coast-line, realize the importance of using vessels as scouts in time of war. Fast merchant steamers of large coal capacity are well fitted for scouting purposes. A proper organization of such scouting vessels into a scouting division would prove a particularly valuable aid to a fleet of battle-ships and to the military stations along the coast. It may be remarked that a small fleet of battle-ships with an efficient scouting service, by using its information to decide when to strike and when not to strike, can so baffle and worry a superior enemy, which it cannot actually defeat on equal terms, as to keep him always on the defensive—pursuing a Fabian policy adapted to the sea.

In the event of hostilities between two nations of equal naval strength, the one that has the more efficient scouting division will have the advantage, more or less decided according to the greater or less superiority of this division. In order to obtain the best service from scouting vessels, it is necessary that they should have rapid and reliable communication with the shore from various distances at sea, and the only way of accomplishing this is by means of homing pigeons. The nation that has a number of twenty-knot cruisers of large coal capacity, and homing pigeons trained to make swift flights from various distances off the coast, will have an ideal scouting division.

A period of eighteen months or two years will be necessary to establish an efficient messenger-pigeon service for naval purposes. The pigeons must be confined at the new stations for about one year in order to make them forget their old home or homes, and to acquaint them with their new surroundings. Then they must be trained to fly to the home station from positions off the coast, beginning with short flights and gradually increasing the distance. By constant practice for six months the pigeons could probably be relied upon to average thirty-five miles or forty miles per hour for distances of one hundred and fifty miles. The most satisfactory results would be obtained by flying the pigeons over a limited portion of the coast-line; that is, having a station located on or near the Atlantic seaboard, fly the pigeons of that station from positions as far off the coast as desired, but within certain limits of latitude—say about seventy-five miles north and south respectively of the latitude of the station. By this system the pigeons of each station could be made very familiar with one hundred and fifty miles of the coast-line, and our entire seaboard would be divided into equal sections, with a station in each located near the middle point. When released from a ship at sea, pigeons fly in the direction of the nearest land, and it is almost imperative that they should be familiar with its appearance. For the benefit of stragglers, the pigeon lofts along the coast should be of the same color and construction, so that if a messenger loses its bearings and is unable to find its own loft it will probably find and go to another, whence the message will be forwarded by telegraph. Two divisions of the messenger-pigeon service thus organized, one on the Atlantic and one on the Pacific coast, would certainly be very useful.

The naval pigeon stations should be located on or near the coast at well fortified points, or at points inaccessible to an enemy's war vessels. They might be connected directly by telegraph; and they should certainly be connected with Washington and the various naval stations, and with all military stations and cities on the seaboard. Our most important stations would be those on our coast nearest adjacent foreign territory, for, in the event of hostilities with a government having such possessions, our fast cruisers could scout the enemy's coast, keeping a constant watch on the ports used as rendezvous for the enemy's fleets, and still be in communication with the home station. Our most important stations on the Atlantic coast would thus be at Key West, little over two hours flight from Havana, and in the neighborhood of Bar Harbor, Maine. Our most important station on the Pacific coast would be at Port Townsend or at Port Angeles, State of Washington, only one hour's flight from Esquimault.

Charts should be made containing the locations and ranges of the pigeon stations, so that plotting the ship's position on the chart will immediately show which pigeons may be flown from that position. For example, the pigeon chart would indicate that Norfolk pigeons could be flown from positions off the coast between the parallels 38° 05' N. and 35° 35' N., or in other words, between the parallels seventy-five miles north and south respectively of Norfolk. To avoid confusion and loss of time in the selection of messengers, the pigeon cote for a ship should be so constructed as to have a small compartment for each station on the coast, and the number or name of a station, as well as its limiting latitudes, should be stamped on the door of the corresponding compartment. A ship about to leave port for a cruise between New York and Norfolk would receive baskets of pigeons by express from New York, Norfolk, and the intermediate stations, and these pigeons would be put at once in the proper compartments of the cote. When a pigeon arrives at any station, its message should be telegraphed at once to the proper destination.

An efficient messenger-pigeon service could be obtained by locating stations on the Atlantic coast at or near the following points: Bar Harbor, Boston, Chatham (Mass.), Newport, New York, Delaware Bay, Norfolk or Fortress Monroe, Beaufort (N.C.) or Cape Lookout, Port Royal, St. Augustine, southeast coast of Florida, Key West, Tampa, Pensacola, Port Eads and Galveston. On the Pacific coast: at Port Townsend or Port Angeles, Astoria, Empire City (Oregon), Cape Mendocino or Eureka, San Francisco, Port Harford, Wilmington (Cal), and San Diego. By this system a ship would be within range of a pigeon station from any position along the coast. The above places have rail way communication, so that the pigeons could be sent rapidly to any port along the coast; and even in time of peace all government ships cruising along the home coast should have pigeons on board, so as to be able to report accidents, wrecks, and progress of the cruise. Pigeons have been confined on board ships for over thirty days, and when released have made good flights to the home loft. They should occasionally be released from ships during target practice in order to accustom them to the conditions of battle.

In peace times the pigeon service could be made very useful in many ways other than those mentioned, and the pigeons could thus be kept in constant training. They would be very useful to the Light House Service, being taken by the lighthouse supply vessels and left at the lighthouses and lightships, to be used as necessity or pleasure might demand. During the severe weather of the winter months, the pigeons would often be found especially useful to lightships and life-saving stations for the purpose of reporting wrecks, ships in distress, accidents, or lack of supplies. Cable communication with lightships is frequently interrupted, and pigeons may become the only practicable messengers. They would be taken to the lightships at least once a month and there kept in proper cotes until despatched on service.

A regular pigeon service is in use between Sable Island lighthouse and Halifax, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles. This service would become very useful to Halifax in case of the approach of a hostile fleet. If the cruises of government vessels along the coast are not frequent enough to keep the pigeons in training, they may be flown from steamers engaged in the coastwise trade. Government cotes could be put on board, though baskets would suffice, and the captains of the steamers would probably be very glad to practice the birds, being fully repaid for their trouble by having at hand reliable messengers for reporting accidents, delay of the vessel, or need of assistance.

In time of hostilities we would find much difficulty in protecting the cities along our extensive coast-line, even if we possessed a naval force as large as that of Great Britain or France. It would not be wise to scatter our battle-ships and armored cruisers along the coast and thus be so weak at every point as to be unable to attack or withstand an enemy's fleet. Our probable plan would be to concentrate the battle-ships and armored cruisers at two or more strategic points, to station monitors and torpedo-boats at various ports, and to use the fast cruisers for patrolling and for destroying the enemy's commerce. The coastline would probably be divided into sections, and cruisers of the Columbia and Cincinnati type would be used for patrolling these sections, thus forming a continuous picket line. In order that the patrol vessels or scouts may perform efficient service, they must have reliable pigeon communication.

A large fleet of battle-ships, armored cruisers, and protected cruisers approaching the coast to make an attack on a fortified port, or in search of a hostile fleet, would be steaming, probably, less than twelve knots per hour; consequently, the fast scout, which has been under full steam since sighting the smoke of a large fleet, can easily escape from any pursuing cruisers. Upon being chased, the scout should, if possible, lay a course similar to the apparent course of the enemy's main fleet; so that, when the chase is abandoned, the fleet may again be sighted and more information despatched to the shore station. By keeping a long distance in advance or inshore of a hostile fleet—always, if possible, keeping it in sight, however—a scouting vessel, by despatching pigeons, may be able to keep the shore stations informed of the fleet's movements until it is actually sighted from the land. If one scout should lose sight of the hostile fleet, another would probably pick it up later, and pigeons would carry the news to the shore; thus all the forts and all the ships along the coast could be informed of its approach, and of its general course, speed, and strength.

For the purpose of illustrating the usefulness of the messenger pigeon service, let us assume: (i) that hostilities exist between the United States and a first-rate naval power of Europe; (2) that the United States has an efficient messenger-pigeon service; (3) that her fast cruisers and the fast steamers of the naval reserve are stationed as scouts along the coast from Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, to Galveston; (4) that the scouts have orders to cruise as far as one hundred miles from the coast and to destroy the enemy's commerce, but if the enemy's fleet is sighted the scouts are to keep in touch with it as long as possible and despatch pigeons with information of its movements, speed, and strength; (5) that the scouts are not to engage the enemy's cruisers sent in pursuit, except as a last resort when hard pressed; (6) that the Columbia is ordered to scout from Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, to Browns Bank, the St. Paul from Browns Bank to Georges Shoal, the Raleigh from Georges Shoal to New South Shoal lightship, and the Cincinnati from New South Shoal lightship to Montauk Point; (7) that these vessels are supplied with pigeons from all stations on the New England coast and from the New York station; (8) that the battle-ships and armored cruisers are organized in two fleets—the Northern Fleet being stationed in the vicinity of Long Island Sound or New York, and the Southern Fleet at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay; (9) that coast defense vessels and torpedo-boats are stationed at ports along the coast—three monitors, one ram, and four torpedo-boats at Newport for the protection of the entrance to Long Island Sound, and three monitors and two torpedo-boats at Boston. On June 15th, at 6 P. M., the following pigeon message is received at the Bar Harbor station:

U.S.S. Columbia,

At sea, Lat. 42° 55’ N., Long. 65° 40' W. (31 S. S.W. Cape Sable),

2 P. M., June 15, 1896.

To THE Secretary of the Navy:

Have just sighted smoke of a large number of vessels to N'd and E'd of Cape Sable, apparently standing to S'd and "W'd. I will try to ascertain nature and course of the vessels.

Commanding Officer.

Upon the receipt of this message, orders are telegraphed to the Northern and Southern fleets to be ready to sail at a moment's notice, and the message is telegraphed to all naval and military stations on the New England coast.

On June 15th, at 7.30 P. M., two pigeons arrive at the Bar Harbor station, each with the following message:

U.S.S. Columbia,

At sea, Lat. 43° 03' N., Long. 65° 31' W.,

3.15 P. M., June 15, 1896.

To the Secretary of the Navy:

Have just sighted a large fleet—probably twenty vessels—to N'd and E'd of Cape Sable, standing about S. W. by W. (mag.) to S'd of Georges Shoal, at rate of about nine or ten knots. Will try to keep in touch of fleet until dark, if not chased, and will then try to lay a course parallel to that taken by fleet.

Commanding Officer.

Upon the receipt of this message, the Northern fleet is ordered to take station off Newport, and the Southern fleet is ordered to proceed with all speed to New York. All naval and military Stations on the northern coast are informed of the approach of a large fleet.

On June 16th, at 9 A. M. and 9.35 A. M., pigeons arrive at the Chatham, Mass., station, each with the following message:

U.S.S, Columbia,

At sea, Lat. 41° 21'' N., Long. 67° 14' W.,

5 A. M., June 16, 1896.

To the Secretary of the Navy:

Lost sight of enemy's fleet yesterday at 5:30 P. M., when we were in Lat. 42° 37' N., Long. 66° 17' W., having been chased by three cruisers until after dark. Fleet was still steering about S. W. by W. (mag.), to S'd of Georges Shoal, and had been on that course for about three hours. Made out mastheads of eighteen vessels. Have not sighted the fleet this morning, but I hope to pick up smoke very soon.

Commanding Officer.

The Northern fleet is kept in readiness to sail at a moment's notice, in order to intercept the enemy's fleet if it should head for Boston.

On June 16th, at 12.45 P- M. and at 1.20 P. M., pigeons arrive at the Chatham, Mass., station, each with the following message:

U.S.S. Raleigh,

At sea, Lat. 41° 02' N., Long. 67° 51' W.,

10 A. M., June 16, 1896.

To the Secretary of the Navy:

Have sighted a large amount of smoke bearing about S. E. by E. (mag.) It is probably smoke of a large number of vessels in company standing to the W'd. I will try to learn something more definite.

Commanding Officer.

and at 2.25 P. M. the following message is received at the same station

U.S.S. Raleigh,

At sea, Lat. 40° 52' N., Long. 67° 50' W.,

11.30 A. M., June 16, 1896.

To the Secretary of the Navy:

Have just sighted a large fleet—probably fifteen or twenty vessels— on bearing E. by S. (mag.). Fleet is standing about West (mag.) to S'd of New South Shoal Lt. Sh., at a speed of eight or nine knots. Two vessels have just been detached from fleet and evidently intend to chase me. I am standing for New South Shoal Light Ship.

Commanding Officer.

By this message it is seen that the enemy was standing too far to the S'd for an attack on Boston, and was evidently bound for Newport or New York. Consequently, a despatch vessel is sent from New York to intercept the Southern fleet and give orders to the commander-in-chief to take station off Montauk

Point, as soon as possible, in order to intercept the enemy, to station a despatch vessel within signal distance of the Montauk Point signal station for the purpose of receiving orders or information from the commander-in-chief of the Northern fleet, and to be ready to move with all speed to the support of the Northern fleet.

At 5.30 P. M. and 5.45 P. M., June 16th, pigeons arrive at the

Chatham station, each with the following message:

U.S.S. Columbia,

At sea, Lat. 40° 31' N., Long. 68° 17' W.,

3 P. M., June 16, 1896.

To The Secretary of the Navy:

Have again sighted smoke and mastheads of a fleet bearing E. N. E. ½ E. (mag.), and standing about W. ½ S. (mag.), to S'd of New South Shoal. Speed eight to nine knots. Fleet must contain fifteen or twenty fighting vessels, and has steered the same general course since first sighted by us off Cape Sable yesterday at 2 P. M.

Commanding Officer.

At 5.20 P. M. the following message is received at the same station:

U.S.S. Raleigh,

At sea, Lat. 40° 38' N., Long. 68° 55' W.,

3.15 P. M, June 16, 1896.

To The Secretary of the Navy:

We have lost sight of the enemy's cruisers after having been chased for three and one-half hours, and we will now attempt to find enemy's fleet before dark. My last message was sent at 11.30 A. M. to-day, and stated that a large fleet was sighted bearing E. by S. (mag.), when we were in Lat. 40° 54' N., Long. 67° 50'' W., and that it was standing on a course about West (mag.) to the S'd of New South Shoal, at a speed of eight or nine knots.

Commanding Officer.

and at 7.10 P. M. and 7.30 P. M. the following message in duplicate is received at the same station:

U.S.S. Columbia,

At sea, Lat. 40° 35' N., Long. 68° 34' W

4.40 P. M., June 16, 1896.

To the Secretary of the Navy:

After, sending message at 3.00 P. M. to-day, I steamed ahead to avoid enemy's cruisers and lost sight of fleet; but later I slowed engines, and fleet has just been sighted from aloft on bearing E. ½ N. (mag.) Fleet is still steering about West (mag.) to S'd of New South Shoal Lt. Sh., and making about eight or nine knots. Fleet is large, and has kept same general course since passing Cape Sable.

Commanding Officer.

and at 7.30 P. M. the following message is received at Chatham:

U.S.S. Raleigh,

At sea, Lat. 40° 30’ N., Long. 68° 50' W.

5.40 P. M., June 16, 1896.

To The Secretary of the Navy:

Have again picked up enemy's fleet on bearing E. S. E. (mag.), and it is steering about West (mag.), to the S'd of New South Shoal Lt. Sh., making eight or nine knots. Fleet seems to have between fifteen and twenty ships, and has been making course West (mag.) since I sighted them at 11.30 A. M. to-day. I will keep in touch with fleet until dark if permitted to do so by the cruisers. The evident intention is to make an attack on Newport or Long Island Sound at daylight to-morrow.

Commanding Officer.

The above message is telegraphed to all points on the coast and full preparations are made to resist the attack. The Northern fleet is informed, by despatch vessels, of the enemy's movements; and the Montauk Point signal station is telegraphed to signal the information to the Southern fleet upon its arrival.

At 6.35 A, M., June 17, two pigeons arrive at the Newport station, each with the following message:

U.S.S. Cincinnati,

At sea, Lat. 40° 24' N., Long. 70° 50' W.,

5.00 A. M., June 17, 1896.

To Commandant Newport Naval Station:

Have just (daylight) sighted a large fleet on bearing S. W. by S. (mag.). Fleet is standing in for Newport. Cannot make out number of vessels. I will slowly approach the fleet to learn its strength, and I will run for Newport when chased.

Commanding Officer.

The Northern fleet gets under way at daylight from anchorage near Block Island, and at 7.45 A. M., when 8' S. E. by E. of Block Island, it is signaled by a despatch boat and given the above message from the Cincinnati. The message is telegraphed to Montauk Point for the Southern fleet, with orders to cruise off the east end of Long Island, but within easy communication of the Montauk Point signal station.

At about 7 A. M., June 17th, messages, in duplicate, are received at the Chatham and Newport stations from the Columbia and Raleigh, stating that the enemy's fleet had passed about 20 miles to the S'd of New South Shoal lightship, and had laid a course for Newport between 2 and 3 A. M., steaming about 10 knots; and that at daylight the fleet had been sighted in lat. 40° 12' N., long. 70° 59' W., heading for Newport, and that Columbia and Raleigh were making for Newport. At 7.10 A. M., June 17th, three pigeons arrive at the Newport station, each with the following message:

U.S.S. Cincinnati,

At sea, Lat. 40° 22' N., Long. 70° 47' W.,

5.40 A. M., June 17, 1896,

To Commandant Newport Naval Station:

Enemy's fleet bears S. ½ W. (mag.), distant about seven miles, heading for Newport at speed of about twelve knots. The fleet consists of twenty-three vessels, and, as well as I can make out, are as follows: six battle-ships, five armored cruisers, eight cruisers, and four large torpedo-boats. The present formation is double column, battle-ships leading, with torpedo-boats between main columns. I am making for Newport under full speed, being chased by two cruisers. I have not yet sighted our fleet, but have just sighted a vessel to E'd, off starboard quarter, and it is probably Raleigh making for Newport, as enemy has just sent a cruiser after her. Enemy has just sent torpedo cruisers ahead as scouts.

Commanding Officer.

This message is telegraphed to the Montauk Point signal station for the Southern fleet, and is immediately sent to the Northern fleet by a twenty-knot despatch vessel; and the fleet is signaled at 8.30 A. M., 15 miles S. E. ½ E. (mag.) of Block Island, just after it has made out the Cincinnati and Raleigh, and has sighted a large amount of smoke to the S'd.

At 7.40 A. M. pigeons arrive from the Raleigh with messages of same general purport as the message from the Cincinnati.

At 8,20 A. M., June 17th, three pigeons arrive at the Newport station, each with the following message from the flagship of the Northern fleet:

U. S. Flagship Kearsarge,

8' S. E. by E. (mag.) of Block Island,

7.50 A, M., June 17, 1896.

To The Commandant Newport Naval Station:

Have just received Cincinnati's message dated five o'clock this morning. Will endeavor to engage the enemy about 26 miles S. by E. (mag.) of Pt. Judith. Send the three monitors, the ram, and torpedo-boats with all speed to join me at that point. Sea smooth—very favorable for monitors and torpedo-boats. Telegraph Montauk Point Signal Station to signal Southern Fleet to join me with all speed at a point 26' S. by E. (mag.) of Pt. Judith; also send a despatch vessel to communicate with Southern Fleet off Montauk Pt. Have just sighted two vessels. One is probably Cincinnati. She will remain with the Flag.

Commander-in-Chief.

At 10.35 A. M., June 17th, two pigeons arrive at the Newport station, each with the following message:

U. S. Flagship Kearsarge,

24' S. by E. ¼ E. (mag.) of Pt. Judith,

9.45 A. M., June 17, 1896.

To THE Commandant Newport Naval Station:

Have just engaged enemy at long range. Torpedo-boats are just arriving and monitors are in sight. Enemy's fleet is composed of seven battle-ships, six armored cruisers, six cruisers, and four torpedo-boats. Telegraph Southern Fleet at Montauk Pt. Signal Station to join me with all speed at this point, if you have not already done so. Telegraph Boston to send monitors with all speed to take station to the E'd of Phelps Bank, in order to cut off retreat of enemy.

Commander-in-Chief.

At 1.35 P. M., June 17th, the following message, in duplicate, is received at Newport:

U. S. Flagship Kearsarge,

26' S. S. E. (mag.) of Point Judith,

12.50 P. M., June 17, 1896.

To the Commandant Newport Naval Station:

Have closed to 1600 yards, both sides suffering severely. Enemy's losses are: two cruisers and one torpedo-boat sunk, two armored cruisers set afire and disabled, and two battle-ships partially disabled—unable to fire barbette guns. Have just ordered Cincinnati, San Francisco, and Montgomery to attempt to make the Sound. They are disabled and leaking badly, so send tugs to meet them between this point and the Sound, and tow them to New York with all speed. Telegraph New York Navy Yard to have docks ready to receive disabled cruisers. Monitors are doing effective work. Southern Fleet has been sighted. Brooklyn has signaled that she is seriously damaged and unmanageable. Have signaled Detroit to tow Brooklyn beyond the line of fire and to try to make Newport. Send some vessels to her assistance. Take her to New York if possible, and only beach her as the last resort. Have lost one torpedo-boat.

Commander-in-Chief.

In the event of hostilities, many more pigeon messages than those given in the above illustration would be sent, in order to insure the receipt of the important information. The latest message should always repeat in a general way the information contained in the messages that preceded it. If even a few messages would be received in case of actual warfare, the messenger pigeon service would prove most valuable to the navy. Service of similar value to that given by the pigeons in the above illustration would probably be given in the event of a hostile fleet leaving Havana for an attack on our fleet off Key West, leaving Esquimault for a raid on Puget Sound ports, or appearing on the Great Lakes.

A messenger-pigeon service could be made very useful to the army by locating stations at important military posts. The most important would be near the Canadian and Mexican frontiers, so that an invading army could keep in communication with its base. Pigeons would be very useful messengers during Indian campaigns, especially when the campaign is in a mountainous country. In all such campaigns the pigeons would be efficient, because they are swift in flight and are not in danger of capture by the enemy. They would thus replace the courier, who is in constant danger of capture, and whose speed over mountain trails is necessarily very slow.

The expense of establishing a messenger-pigeon service for naval purposes would be very small in proportion to its usefulness to the government. It must be remembered, however, that such a service cannot be improvised.