Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1917 — Page 3

HOW TO TELL THE RANK OF OFFICERS

Washington. sioned officers wear a black and gold hat cord. On the collar, of his shirt a second lieutenant wears a brohze ornament—for the infantry crossed rifles with the number of his regiment in the upper angle; for cavalry, Crossed Sabers; field artillery, crossed cannon; coast artillery, a shell on the cressed cannon; engineer corps, a tu/reted castle; signal corps, crossed flags with a flaming torch; medical corps, a wand entwined by two serpents; quartermaster corps, gold key crossed with sword and surmounted by a wheel and eagle; ordnance, a bursting shell. He will also wear one-quarter-inch stripe around his cuff. A first lieutenant will wear the same insignia and in addition one single 'Silver bar on ea ch side of hi scol 1a r. On hi s overcoat he wears a single scroll of narrow black braid. A captain wears two silver bars and a double scroll of braid. A major wears the same insignia with a gold oak leaf on his shoulders and three scrolls of braid. A lieutenant colonel wears a silver oak leaf and four scrolls of braid; a colonel, a' silver spread eagle and five scrolls of braid. A brigadier general wears a silver star; a major general, two silver stars; a lieutenant general, two stars with a coat of arms of the United States between. The noncommissioned officers wear chevrons above the elbow to denote their rank; a corporal, two chevrons; sergeant, thrpe; first sergeant, tltoee, with a diamond or lozengetln the center.

AMERICAN FLYER ‘COOL CHAP’

British Aviation Officer Tells How One Reported After Mixup With a “Fritz." London.—‘‘Those bally American flying chaps are a coolish lot,said a lieutenant of the Royal Flying corps, back with about a pint of German shrapnel in hls body. “The other day one of those La Fayette boys ran afoul of a Fritz ‘archie’ and had to get to the ground tn a hurry. He dropped near our aerodromes and mussed things up a bit. After untangling himself from his machine he limped up to our commanding officer: “ ‘Are you the big noise around this joint?’ he asked our brass hat. “ ‘No, sir, but lam the comm anding officer here,’ our chief countered. “ ‘Well,’ said the American, ‘l’ve just dropped in to tell you that I’ve sprinkled gasoline all over your grass plot.’ ”

BIRD BURNS FARMER’S BARN

Flies With Blazing Twig Into the Hay Loft and Blaze Causes Considerable Damage.

Middle River, Minn. Fire destroyed the barn of William Huff, a farmer living nine miles south of here. Mr. Huff declared that the fire was caused by a bird which carried a twig, one end of which was aglow, Into the hay loft. Not far from the barn a brush fire was burning. The nesting bird carried a twig which had been burning in the brush fife, but which was thought to have blown away from the immediate vicinity of the fire, tq the barn. Mr. Huff, who was working in the barnyard, said he thought he saw a slight trail of smoke as the bird flew past him, but did not investigate. In a few moments the barn was afire. Two valuable horses were burned and_ the building destroyed.

DRAFT FINDS MODEL HUBBY

Indiana Man Never Tasted Liquor, Home Every Night, Never Played Cards. Shelbyville, Ind.—Through the examination of men to obtain Shelby county’s quota fortfcefirst National army, Dr. William W. Tlndiill and Dr. F. E. Bass, the examiners, believe they have found a model husband. A young man from Jackson township was unable to pass the physical examination, being under weight. Then he volunteered the information that he had never tasted beer or whisky or any other intoxicant, that he had never uttered a “cuss” word in his life, that he had never played with cards or dice and that he would rather be at home every night with his wife than any other place that he knew. The examiners have marked a red cross opposite his name? so that he may be looked up,ln the future.

White Birds a Peace Sign.

Pottsville, Pa. —An Invasion of white sparrows in this portion of the state Is the precursor of world peace in the near future, county officials believe. Not since the ending of the Civil war in 1865 have these birds been seen here, but now they are appealing in considerable numbers. Deputy Prothonotary Samuel’Delbert and Deputy Sheriff Thomas O’Donnell saw a flock of the birds at the courthouse recently. When O’Donnell ripened a window one flew in, perched on his shoulder, chirp•si gayly and flew out again. • • ’

ALLIES PATROL SEAS OF WORLD

Mightiest of Fighting Vessels Maintain Closest Blockade in History. SCOUT SHIPS EVER ON MOVE Submarines of Central Powers Find Their Most Profitable Hunting Ground in the Mediterranean — —ltaly Hit Heavily.

New York. —On the seas of the world the fighting vessels of the allied nations maintain the most gigantic and effective blockade ever enforced since the triremes of Caesar overran the Mediterranean in the campaign that preceded Pompey’s annihilation. In this sea that Jias swallowed'the hulks of the navies of Carthage, Greece and Rome the “camouflaged” units of the mightiest engines ever set afloat by man meet in a constant test of skill and daring. The Anglo-French-Greek-Italiart fleet maintain a stringent blockade of every mile of Mediterranean coastline. Despite the alertness of the allies in this sea the submarines of the central empires find' here their most profitable hunting ground. The kingdom of Italy is suffering the throes of a serious coal shortage due to the severe losses of Italian shipping, supplemented by neutral and British shipping, in these waters. Indeed, the sinkings are so numerous and vital that a serious Italian offensive may be always forestalled by the undersea power of the German empire. Out of one fleet of coal ships safflng from Genoa to Liverpool and numbering twelve units, on I y fl ve~refuf hedTb~tfieiF’hoffiexport. '

In the eastern Atlantic and the English channel there is in effect the most extensive- and impenetrable blockade of any. During the day, British and -French scout ships nose their precarious ways among the shallows in close proximity to the German coastal waters watching for a sign of enemy forces. These waters are thickly strewn with mines, both nations mining extensively to suit their programs of attack "or TTcTense. Sporadic raids by German light units are occasionally successful hut these are becoming rarer and rarer; Steel nets are also being used by the British navy to combat the submersibles. These, in spite of all reports to the contrary, are still in an experimental stage and are of doubtful effectiveness, especially since a submarine has been evolved with machinery for the destroying of the most powerful nets now in use by the admiralty. ' Altered at Nlqht. With the coming of night and darkness, the schedule is altered somewhat, and merchant fleets which have been forming in sheltered ports during the day are convoyed across the channel in well-defended routes. The convoy consists of no capital ships, but of destroyers and scout boats, which rush along in devious courses and at terrific speeds. With protecting units in front, behind and surrounding them, the fleet usually gains the borders of Dutch territorial waters in safety. Here the naval squadron stops short and the merchants go safely on into their ports of destination. Shortly aft-

TO LIFT BAN ON MRS. BESANT

Mrs. Annie Besant, head of the Theosophical society and her coworkers, may be permitted freedom of movement and action in India, if they promise to abstain from unconstitutional and violent., political agitations. The Indian government is prepared to recommend the removal of restrictions ■which were placed upon her activities in India ICthe promise is made. ’ Mrs. Besant was expelled from the Bombay presidency last year. She was forbidden to lecture or take part in meetings or publish her writings in India. and with her associates was restricted to residence in certain areas.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

LITANY OF THE TRENCHES

When you’re in the army two things are certain. Either you’re mobilized or you’re not mobilized. If you’re not mobilized, then there is no use to worry. If ’“you are mobilized two things are certain. ' Either you’re at the front, or you’re behind the front. If you’re behind the front, then there is no use to worry. If you’re at the front, then two things are certain. - Either you’re in a battle, or you’re not in a battle. If you’re not in a battle, then there is no use to worry. If you're In a battle, then two things are certain. Either you’re wounded or you’re not wounded. If you’re not wounded, then there is no use to worry. If you’re wounded, then two things are certain. —r ——- Either you’re wounded slightly or you’re wounded severely. If you’re wounded slightly, then there is no use to worry. If you’re wounded severely, then two things are certain. Either you will recover, or you will die. If you will recover, then there is no use to Worry. / If you die, you can’t worry, anyway, so what’s the use?

erward a returning convoy which has been formed emerges, and, under the protection furnished to it. takes its way westward. Occasionally a straggler is torpedoed, and mine victims are at intervals found. Holland, though a neutfal, has her place in the blockade of the world’s waters. Eliminating Dutch waters of floating mines and anchored mines which have lost their anchorage forces, the Netherlands to maintain an extensive force of trawlers. Her neutrality wopld be frequently violated by either side of the warring nations should she enforce in any lax manner the marine law of the three-mile limit. In the western Atlantic the republics of the United States and Brazil patrol with light vessels practically the entire American continent. Canadian cruisers have their part in this work. Due to the naval policy of the United States every merchant vessel in United States registry forms a portion of the naval forces in so far as blockade antt xlefense against the undersea boats are concerned. These vessels are armed by the United States navy and navflf! gunners sail on every ship.

The principal forces in the Pacific are Japanese cruisers and destroyers. They have taken over the former German Islands of the Marshall and Marianne groups and the east and west Caroline archipelagoes. The capture of Tsingtau was assured through the Japanese naval strategy. They lost by a mine the cruiser Takachido before this fortress. Valuable service was rendered to the British and Australian cruisers operating in this part of the world in the shape of coal and munitions. It is a signal fact that of Japan’s 6,039 miles of coast no foreign enemy has succeeded in forcing an entry since the Peary incident Ln 1853 and before that since the attempted Mongol invasion in 1281 under Kublai Khan. The most recent entrant in this struggle is the kingdom of Siam. The king’s yacht and several antiquated motorhoats form their "navy,” which blockades in its»small way a portion of coast where no danger is ever likely to come, typhoons excepted. British and Portuguese gunboats have the duty of policing the coasts of German East and Southwest Africa. From Port Said to Aden the Red sea is quiet under the control of British gunboats. In the Black sea the upper hand is still a matter of contest. Both contenders seem to be intent on preserving their “fleets in being,” to quote a pet phrase of naval strategists. Only unimportant brushes have occurred, but the addition of the fugitive German units, the Breslau and the Goeben, have undoubtedly materially strengthened the Turkish forces. The Germans seem to be more than able to defend their ports recently captured from the Roumanians, and the Russians exhibit a distasteful temerity about attaeking In fprce. Mines in great quantities have been strewn Tn- these waters. -•» _ In the Baltic the Russian fleet has thus far pursued a policy of shunning any action whatever. At least all attempts of German strategists to lure the Russians from their blanket of mine fields have failed. True, they lost earlier in the war a number of small units and at least one capital ship through ill-considered actions, but since the first few months of the war they seem to have withdrawn and conceded the Germans tacit control of the Baltic, Some small raids are reported, but the German admiralty has failed to comment on them. They do not neglect, however, to plant great numbers of floa ting mines and thus make the Baltic a dangerous sea to navigate. Observers have reported sighting large German fleets protected by innumerable trawlers as mine sweepers steaming through The Russian evacuation of RigA> merely emphasizes the German control of this sea. A sea attack on Petrograd is a possibility of the near future.

A French invention to warn an aviator when he is deviating from his Intended course consists of a form of camera obscura.

Teaching Food Conservation Methods

Community food demonstrations have been given on the public school grounds and other public places in Washington. The picture shows volunteer workers In the uniform es ‘the food administration conducting an open-air demonstration.

Animal Resources of the Arctics May Relieve Meat Shortage in United States

As war’s drain on food resources continues to grow more acute new reservoirs have to be tapped. Already reindeer meat from Alaska is replacing beef on the Pacific coast, and Christian Leden, ’ the missionary-ex-plorer of Greenland and Hudson Bay, sponsors a plan for mobilizing the food resources of the Arctics, the Boston Globe says. It appears that the Eskimo, belleving antmals are sentby the great_splrIt to be killed for food, conceives It to be his duty to kill all he sees. Enormous quantities of most valuable meat are thus washed —meat which the Northern tribes could, Mr. Leden thinks, easily be induced to save and sell to the people of the lower altitudes. The German army, from the very start of the war, has been fed largely on dried meat. One pound of dry meat is equal to five pounds of fresh meat, and it is, in addition, far easier to transport. The Eskimos are especially skillful in drying their game, which would make a resort to. this source of food supply all the more feasible. The Arctics are far richer in animal resources than we of the temperate zone suppose. Caribou, walrus, salmon—all are prolific of foodstuffs, not to- mention the by-products of leather, furs and oil. It is the explorer’s computation that the Arctics, even moderately exploited, would yield enough meat to feed 70,000 men for a year. He assures us that caribou makes the best venison, and that the walrus, being himself fond of oysters, makes good food.

Something New Under the Sun.

For fighting fires in cellars or the holds of vessels a revolving nozzle has been invented that can scatter 1,400 gallons of water a minute over an area 125 feet square. To make badly broken bones reunite more rapidly an English surgeon has Invented a system of screws to be’ passed through the fragments and then pressed into position. English experimenters have at least partially discovered the secret processes used i,n the manufacture of German and Dutch decolorizing carbons for the sugar industry. Above 'and beneath the airchamber in an automobile tire of French invention are sections filled with elastic strips, which come together and support the tire when punctured. The phonograph and telephone are employed in a South Carolina inventor’s automatic fire alarm that calls up a central operator and tells her just where a blaze is starting. Vessels that are lined with metal

Vary the Potato Dishes.

_—; — F When potatoes are plentiful and cheap, vary the form in which they are served, says the United States department of agriculture, and so bring about the eating of more of the tubers. This will furnish starchy food < in a good Wholesome form and at the same time reduce the drain on wheat. Try preparing your left-over potatoes in the following way: Potatoes With Cheese Sauce. Season two cupfuls of cold diced potatoes with one-half teaspoonful salt, and one-quarter teaspoonful pepper. Reheat in a double bol 1 er. Prepare a cheese sauce in the following manner: Mix two tablespoonfuls of flour, three-quartersteaspoonful of salt and one-quarter teaspoonful ox pepper to a smooth paste wiQi -three tablespoonfuls of cold * milk. Add this and one-quarter cupful of grated cheese to one cupful of boiling milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumping. Place the reheated potatoes in a serving dish and pour over them the cream sauce.

that will conduct electricity to heat liquids as they are poured from one to another have been patented by an inventor in Pennsylvania. Norway expects to produce 100,000 tons of peat for fuel this year and Denmark 500,000 tons, the former country having 216 machines at work as compared with 55 last year. An Oregon Inventor is the patentee of a sanitary drinking cup to be mounted on a faucet so as to be swung out of the way when the faucet is used for its usual purpose.

Let Child Act for Himself,

The men and women who make good in this world are the ones with originality and initiative. After an idea has been presented there are hundreds of people who can finish it out or follow it out. but the one who thought the idea and presented it is the one who Is the most valuable and who is the so-called “one in a hundred.” , Parents often crush out individuality in their children. The fathers and mothers who rule with a kaiser’s iron rod and who think and act for their children are nothing short of criminals, says an exchange. Children should be taught to rely upon themselves, to think for themselves —to be sure, with prudent advice—and to carry out their own ideas and plans unless they are radically wrong or preposterously ridiculous. On the other hand, it is just as criminal to let children take the bit in their mouths and run away or to be so free-willed that the parents mean nothing at all but meal and room tickets as it is to bring the children up in a militaristic fashion. Strike a golden average.

How Gas Smothers Plants.

From an investigation of the poison; Ing of park vegetation near gas works, it appears that the green coloring matter in plants is affected and gradually disappears. With the soil charged with gas, asphyxiation, through lack of oxygen in the roots, checks assimilation and the formation of new substance in the plant cells. The first change to be noticed is a drying of the edges of leaves and other green parts, and the lessening of transpiration thus caused gives an accumulation of water that tends to rot and kill the stalk at the base.

Investigators in Bavaria have found that the more bread schoolchildren eat the better the condition of their teeth.

SMILES

Recalled the Circumstance. She —Tom, do you remember the night you asked papa for my hand — how fortunate you were? He —Perfectly—he asked me to lend him $lO and I didn’t have it.

Putting Her Right.

/this Sometimes Happens. “She married a diamond in the rough. I’m told.” “Yes. It was a most unfortunate marriage.” ~ 3Z? “How so?” “She lost her own polish trying to give him one.” Few Do. “That after-dinner speaker seems to know a lot.” “Yes, but onq thing he doesn’t know.” “What's that ?” “When to quit”

She —I tell you, Billy, I won’t stand for being treated this way. Now that we are engaged— He—Oh, I forgot to tell you. That stuff’s all off.

Send Letters of Cheer to Soldier Boys

If you have a boy at the front or in a training camp where Uncle Sam’s armies are being prepared for service in the trenches, write him cheerful and encouraging letters. Keep out of your letters anything that might cause him worry or grief or make him dissatisfied with his lot. This is the plea of an officer to the mothers and fathers and sisters andsweethearts of the men in his command. Upon those at home, he declares, rests much of the responsibility for making efficient and courageous soldiers out of their boys. “You who wait at home with aching hearts, have not discharged your full duty by merely giving your sons and loved ones to the cause,” declares this officer. “In his new experiences, in a strange land, away from relatives and friends, exposed to the Immoral influences that too often Invade the camp, weakened by homesickness, nervous from viewing or contemplating the horrors of war, exhausted by the burden of your boy will need your help most, your love and gentle words of encouragement. As you love him and desire him to be brave and true, you must write and encourage him, and do all you can to help us speedily mold him into a ’first-class fighting man.’ “You now can splendidly serve your country by writing encouraging letters to your boy. A good letter from you will greatly Influence your boy’s life, and improve his work. You must write no gloomy forecasts, nothing that would cause dissatisfaction or worry or grief. He will have all he ean bear of this at the front. All letters should radiate love, cheer, courage and hope. Don’t let the shadow of your own sorrow, however great, fall upon the letters you write to your boy. “Every mother should know that efficiency is the best protection for her son; that skillful men who have studied their part, whose minds are clear, not only contribute more to the success of the organization but stand a far greater chance of escaping Injury, both from the enemy and disease, than the man who is not efficient. “Inspire your boys. Make them feel that you at home are ‘rootin' and *bettln’ for the home team. Urge them to do all they can to become their own ideal of the best soldier and the best man. Encourage them to honesty, sobriety and morality. Tell them of your confidence in their strength, character and courage.”

Animals That Never Eat

Have you ever realized what a number of scientific appliances have been named after animals? And can you furnish an explanation? A mechanic puts his work upon a horse, or buck, and he punches or bends it by a convenient bear. Hoisting is done by a erab, a convenient cat is part of the outfit of a shop crane, and a kit of tools is ever at hand. A crow helps to straighten work, a jack to lift it; a mule pulley helps to drive machinery which a donkey engine turns. A fish connects parts end to end, shells are used all over, while a worm does quiet but powerful work.

Extra Large Size.

“There goes Miss Bullion, the heiress. It Is said that a German duke once drank champaign out of her sllpper.” “Possibly so,” answered the caustic young woman. “Some of those foreign noblemen have an astounding capacity for wine.”

Impossible. Dolly—At last I have met my Ideal! Kind-hearted, modest, patient, selfdenying. But, alas, married! Daisy—Don’t worry! No woman will Hve long with such a freak. YouU get a chance at him. No Words. “Mrs. Gabfest Is an Incessant talker.” “I don’t see how her husband ever gets In a word.” “He doesn’t try. His part of the conversation Is confined to grunts, lifting of eyebrows, shrugs and nods.”

Complication of Diseases.

“I understand you have all been sick up at your house and had to have the doctor. Who was the sickest?” “Pa, when he got the bill.’’

Growing Old Together. Creditor—l shall call upon you every week until you pay this blit! Hardleigh—Then there To ba every probability of our acqualntancg ripening into friendship.