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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2433, 23 October 1886, Page 2

A singular story appears in one of tho French military papers, and, if the details 1 are correct, it is not surprising that the incidents should have excitod something like a sensation at tho French War Office, It is stated that a gentleman at JN evens, the other day, shot a pigeon, and found its wings Btamped with tho Imperial arms of Germany, while attached to them was a quill with a cipher despatch. The pigeon and doapatch were, it is said, sent to tho French War Office, and enquiries being made, appoar to confirm tho beliui that the Germans have established pigeon stations on French territory, and that messages are oven nowexchanged between the stations and the-military staff at Berlin. Should these ; ' statements pro™ true, they may well cause both uheasinons and anger in France. ,it is a very strongstep to organise pigeoft'-Btations, with a' view to'invasion, in a country with which' peaceful relations prevail. It is cejtain that this system was, previous to the w,j'rof 1871, carried on by Gpwir offlcors to an extraordinary extent, and that tho invading army was far'botloj acquainted with every road and byway, and with every particular of the country, than their defenders. But this establish ]

tnent- ofVpigeon -posts i • : : country,"for'thepurposeo?-givrng-aisiat-' -. ance _to ; hny invading- army, • would' •. : certainly seem to be an indefensible step, ;:. and'one ttllioli the French bi've a tight to .:' K3ont. '- ,' : ■'''',' ' : ' '