Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 229, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1918 — Page 3

Love and Uncle Sam

By KATHARINE EGGLESTON

Of The

Dear mothers of soldier boys, wives of soldier men, sweethearts of soldier lovers, with the arms of our love round each other, let us reason together. From some of us, surely, love’s supreme sacrifice will be demanded. But it is not giving our best to death; it is seeing the soldier come home crippled or blind or deaf. Every heart among ours aches in the giant grasp of pain at the thought In the streets of London before this war began, there were crippled and blinded men, pitifully capitalizing their infirmity as they thrust their bit of green or bunch of lead pencils forward to cover the fact that they were beggars. In every other country where war has laid its devastating weight there are such men. Even here, where we have pensioned the veterans of the Civil- war, we have the tragic evidences consequent on men’s knowing that they are not helping in the world’s work. These were the sons of mothers like you, the husbands of wives like you, the lovers of sweethearts. For a month or a year, the glory of their .sacrifice burned brightly around them. They j were heroes In love’s eyes. They were petted and appreciated. Then, the routine of life swept on. The other men went back to business. Their wives and their mothers and their sweethearts went on with life accompanied by the agreeable support of their money-producing efforts. Perhaps the men tried to make places for the maimed companions.. But the dimming thoughts of the war were the mist that began to shut the maimed ones away from participation in the life where they could render no service. The women who loved and clung to them had to find work to support themselves and the heroes. And, even they grew less conscious of the heroism and more conscious of the strain of making ends meet. Worse, yet, a deterioration set in within the mind and heart of the hero. It was not his fault that he could be of so little use. He had given more for his country than some of the men who were blessed with the favor and comfort resulting from active service and the accumulation of a competency. Bitter or discouraged or else Just slipping without much resistance into the position of grocery-

OF WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

Of The Vigilante*

What is in the mind of the American citizen while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is being played? Of what are we thinking? Are we thinking of the flag and all that it stands for, or are our minds otherwise engaged? Of course, it is reasonably certain that we are thinking of something, but have our thoughts the slightest connection with the message our flag is currying to the enemy? We obediently arise with the first sonorous note of the anthem and we remain standing till the end. We have learned, or we are learning, to “face the music” more or less at attention, and we are developing the conviction that it is an offense to chatter while the Strains of our war song, perhaps our death song, fill our ears. But are wj thinking of “The Star-Spangled Banner?” - Or are we silently urging the musicians to hurry up and be done with It so that we may resume an Interrupted occupation? Are we impatiently waiting to take up a broken .conversation; a game of bridge; the telling of a story; the reading of a newspaper; the liberal art of criticizing the war department, the navy or the administration; or, what is Infinitely more Incompatible, exploiting the hateful efficiency of the foe? Pay Respect to the Flag.

We sit in public places, and we arise because we are in public places. We suspend for the moment our physical interests, and we look about us to see if other people are doing the same. Some of us get up grudgingly and stand as we happen to have been sitting, with our backs to the music; some of us go on knitting; .others of us continue to keep our bands in our pockets and our cigars in our mouths; others" think that nothing more is required of them than the lowering of the voice to an undertone; others consider a bland expression of resignation. to be efficient; and some fall into an attitude of tolerant submissiveness. There is little or no evidence of exaltation, no sign of an inward thrill, no suggestion of a profound emotion. The beautiful, inspiring concentration of thought that attends the “Marseillaise” is lacking; the full-hearted sensation that glorifies “Rule Britannia” is absent; even the fervor of the Teuton as symbolized in guttural acclaim is sadly wanting. We. the most imaginative, The most alert people In We world, are totally devoid of Imagination during Jha rendttbm of our war song. Why should we not think, or even

store loafer ami'courthouse lOungrx the hero of a thne forgotten became t kind of tolerated zero in the life oi Jfia community—or an actual nulsaiu-e Dear mothers, wives, sweethearts, this is not a picture too highly colored. You know of men far-fallen from the heroic days when they came home bearing the signs of their great giving. Then, what would I whisper to the deeps of your heart so sacred to your soldier-men? By the strength of the love you bear them, save their glory untarnished! How? There is work that a man without a leg can do with his two hands. There Is work that a man bereft of sight can do by the sense of touch.'There is work, that a man whose arms are gone can do with his feet. Our blessed heroes can be taught work that will, in some instances, make .them, even more able to earn than they were before the war. The government is looking after this. Then what can we do, mothers, wives and sweethearts? We can—and we must- —give bur men to the government a bit longer, give them till they are equipped to take men’s places in the active world. It means holding our hearts, that yearn so terrifically to have them again, in the strong grip of our common sense. Duty of Our Women. When you ache to get them back, to have them right close to you, to make it all up to them, just remember that the mothers and wives and sweethearts of those men whom. you now regard as ciphers loved and yearned as you do. Just keep a tight hold on the thought that tte shiftless, uncontributing member of society, who dec- ‘ orates a dry gpods box or hunches up in a wooden at the courthouse, came home to hearts that blazed with fervor as yours is blazing now. And save your men from what your eyes convince you is their certain future. Six months or more, under the wise hand of the government have served, and they will be fitted for further service. Six months or more of loving waiting on your part will bring you home a hero whose glory never can be dimmed by the smudgy hand of circumstances. Six months or more of positive encouragement will keep him from falling a victim to the despair that will come when your loved one returns to the life he has left robbed of the arm or leg or eyes which have been so essential. It is really up jo us, the women whose love is the great rock of shelter and comfort for our men, to encourage—even to insist upon their taking advantage of the opportunities which the government will provide. Up to the women! We have not failed our men yet! We never will, not though the way we tread is red with our own heart’s blood!

pray, as the French, the English and the Germans think and pray while their song of hope is being sounded? “The Star-Spangled Banner” is our battle song; It goes into the thick of the fight with our flag and our boys. It* emphasizes our hopes, our aims, our * longings; and of what are we thinking—we who stay at home — while its strains are falling upon our ears? Are we, so to speak, playing, the game? Beginning of Our Prayer. Why shouldn’t we, one and all, great and small, think alike for as long as five minutes in each day? Let there be but one thought, one prayer, while the hymn is ringing. From one end of this great land to the other let this be the beginning of our prayer the instant the band strikes up “The Star-Spangled Banner:” “God be with our flag and our soldiers and our arms wherever they maybe!” And let this be the end of our devout, intensified prayer as the last note dies away: “God give us victory!” Not perfunctorily, not as a matter of duty, but with our hearts ip it, our nerves aqulver, our eyes glowing with the fire of enthusiasm. One thought, one prayer in a hundred million minds! Every heart full, every mind intent as we face the enemy!: For, after all, this Star-Spangled Banner of ours is facing the foe in a far-off land, and there is no other direction in which we may look. Our men go with the banner to the music of guns; we stand at home and face, not the guns, but a group of fiddlers 1 Our thoughts, our prayers, nevertheless should be the same as theirs. Our silent prayer, however, brief, should be for victory. Let us always utter it, one and all, while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is being played. “God give us victory!”

OVER HERE

By CLYDE B. WILSON.

of the Vigilantes. What's that? Three thousand mils* >way? God, man! Say softly, that, I pray. For fear our friend who Ilves lust down The street—yes, right here in our town— May hear this thoughtless thing you say: That war’s, three thousand miles away. I’d answer not for his reply If he should hear. He'd pass the He To you so quick, hot blood you’d sweat At words you speak hut to regret. For just a moment, come with me A few steps only, you shall see Right at your door this thing you say Is full three thousand miles away. The list of ‘‘Killed In Battle” gives Our deighbor’e son—yes, he who lives Just down the street Come see, I pray If war’s three thousand miles away.

Their State.

“The Finns appear to have tbd; political state in an appropriate ct.fl dition.” ■ ' - “How so?” "It is in a pretty kettle <A fish.”

BROWNING GUN IN CLASS BY ITSELF

Remarkable New Tool Better Than Anything of Its Type. DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER

Fired From Shoulder or Hip In Bursts of Twenty Shots In Two and OnoHalf Seconds—Air Cooled, Gas Operated. By JAMESjL COLLINB. (From the Committee on Public Informs- [: »> tton. Washington, D. C.) Three hundred senators, representatives, Journalists, and army officers of the French, British, Italian, Belgian and American forces stood behind a little squad of ordnance men the other day at a rifle range outside of Washington. “Attention!” commanded the officer to charge of the squad. “Shoulder fire one magazine—-semi-automatic —Ready! Load! Aim 1 Fire!" x ' There was a popping like that, say, of half a dozen packs of giant firecrackers all set off at once.* It lasted about ten seconds, the time required to fire 20 shots from what looked like an ordinary rifle in the hands of each soldier. Five hundred yards away the dirt flew behind a row of small targets set up 16 represent men. “Shoulder fire one magazine—automatic —load!” was the next command given. But a different volley was heard at the command “Fire!” It sounded like B-r-r-r-r-r! and lasted only two and a half seconds!' If you want to estimate the rapidity, listen to the ticking of your watch, which averages about four ticks per second, and realize that the automatic Are of this weapon was Just twice as fast—eight standard army rifle cartridges fired in a second with one pull of the trigger. And that was the new Browning machine gun which Uncle Sam was about to manufacture at the rate of thousands a week, and had brought to this rifle range for its first public exhibition. ' - % Other methods of firing were shown with the gun placed at the hip and with the soldiers marching toward the target, firing as they walked. Then the spectators crowded around and began asking questions. “Is it air cooled or water cooled? Whatt does it weigh? How fast can they be made? What do they cost? Is Lt a better weapon than this machine gun or that?” All Were Convinced. Among those present was -one member of congress who, a few weeks before, during an anxious inquiry into our war had stated his belief that the Browning machine gun was only a dream. And now he was allowed to fire the weapon himself, and planted a succession of bullets in the distant target with an accuracy which left no question to his mind as to the tangibility or accuracy of this new tool of the Americhn soldier. On the following morning newspapers throughout the country published a detailed description of both this gun, known as the “light Browning,” and another type called the “heavy Browning,” which, was also demonstrated, being fired from a tripod, water cooled, and fed with canvas belts containing 250 cartridges eacto It has fired 20,000 shots to a little less than 48 minutes. Each legislator and journalist asked .his own questions, and there was an honest spirit of Inquiry evident. Every American present, while admitting the Impressive nature of the test, seemed to feel that he was personally representing the nation and bound to overlook no technical details touching the efficiency of these new weapons. And to that matter each American did truly represent the nation which has been keen to discover every part of our war program open to question, each according to his own light and reading. The reader of this article, too, will want to ask his own technical questions, and for his information all the facts about both types of guns have been summarized separately, so that attention here may be concentrated upon another aspect of the machine-gun program—its tactical use as a tool apart from the mere details of how much it weighs, how fast it fires, how many shots a second, how many times it jams In a test, how it is cooled, how many parts it has, how quickly they can be taken down and put together again,

etc. One of the first questions asked by everybody concerning the light gun, for instance, was: “Is it cooled by air or water?” And the answer to that question is: “By air—but cooling is not a problem with the light Browning.” Naturally, a statement of that sort comes as a surprise to the man in the street who has heard that machine guns are subject to the terrific heat of smokeless-powder gases, which sometimes develop the destructive temperature of 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and that keeping a machine cool in action is one of the chief problems with tliat type of weapon. But when the tactical use of this particular arm is understood, one easily understands how cooling may be disregarded in the light Browning, and its deslgn developed in nthtj/ directions for.other purposes. So we will try to get the tactical point of view—which is the point of view of the American soldier carrying this light automatic rifle over the top in France by the hundreds and the thott-

sands, and probably the tens of thousands, and not Inconceivably by hundreds of thousands before the Hun is beaten. Provide Something Better. .Our ordnance department has been working since we entered the war to send American soldiers to France with a complete kit ofi tools representative of American inventive ability. First rising up tiie job of cracking the Hun out of trench, shell box. and subterranean tunnel, and ascertaining what the allies have found useful in the way of saw, hammer and hatchet, the ordnance department has worked to. provide something a little better in every case, from poison gas and gas masks to machine guns and high-explosive shrapnel.

The light Browning, also known as the “automatic rifle,” requires no cooling apparatus, because to its tactical use in battle as a tool it will be called upon only for what are known as “bursts of firing." It is a remarkable new tool, better than anything of its particular type yet developed, and different from every other weapon to the world. Its nearest prototype is the French Chauchat automatic rifle, which has proved extremely effective. At the present stage of tactics the Browning automatic rifle will be a superior tool for perhaps three definite Jobs in trench warfare. First, being as portable as the ordinary army rifle, it can be quickly brought into action along every part of a trench by defenders to stop the advance of an enemy. -With the heavier types of machine gun fired from a tripod and requiring considerable time for getting into position, if not permanent emplacement, such resistance of invaders to a pinch might prove difficult With the new Browning firing 20 shots automatically to less than three seconds, or 20 shots semiautomatlcally as fast as one desires to pull the trigger, loading with, a fresh magazine each 20 shots in a couple of seconds, an entire trench front can be protected with outbursts of machine-grun fire, which will not have to be continued long to do the work—not long enough for heating of the gun to become a problem. Sweeps the Trenches. The third job for this characteristic Yankee notion comes when our fellows have reached the enemy trenches. At that moment, even though but a few arrive, the Browning automatic rifle is expected to replace the bayonet and bomb under certain conditions, and multiply the effectiveness of each soldier who gets across No Man’s Land, for the rapidity and accuracy of the Browning fire is such that it will be only a matter of seconds to sweep an enemy trench to- both directions, There are other tactical uses for the weapon. As few as a dozen of these automatic rifles are sufficient to lay down a temporary barrage at right angles to a trench front, and even twe of them quickly placed at opposite ends of a trench front can establish a cross fire as effective as a barrage under some circumstances. For with each gun firing along one leg of a. letter V meeting and passing somewhere out in No Man’s Land, the chances of an enemy getting through this V will be very slim —this will be a defense equivalent to frontless rifle fire from dozens of individual soldiers, and can be established with the minimum of exposure. These are the tactical points of the new weapon, and one has only to consider it from this viewpoint to understahd that technical questions such as have been raised by laymen during recent discussions of the merits of one machine gun as against another do not touch the heart of the military problem —both the design of this gun and its use as a tool in battle are palpably matters to be left to military men. Another interesting viewpoint on both the light and heavy types of Browning guns can be gained by briefly considering the general development of machine guns as fighting tools. From the days of slings and stones and arrows fighting man has sought ways of delivering enough missiles into the ranks of an advancing foe tc stop him. With gunpowder and portable guns the number of missiles increased, and also their deadliness. The* matchlock fired clumsily from a tripod was-replaced by smooth-bore muz-zle-loading guns, and then muzzle-load-ing rifles, breech-loading rifles capable of firing shots singly, and finally the repeating rifle, with a capacity of five or six shots in rapid' succession. Then Came shrapnel, delivering a spray of bullets over a considerable range, and also the first machine guns equipped to fire hundreds of shots to rapid succession, but at first so heavy and clumsy that they could not be moved much more quickly than artillery. Fired From Shoulder and Hip.

These first machine guns are known as the heavy types and were presently reduced in weight and developed in mobility, becoming what are known as the portable intermediate types of which the Lewis gun is an example. Still further lightness and mobility were wanted, however; something that would convert an ordinary rifle into an. effective machine gun for brief outbursts of fire. In other words, the true type of light machine gun as exemplified first in the French Chauchat and now in the light Browning. These two fighting tools far the only ones of their type, and at present only the French and American armies are equipped to use them tactically, the British army doing its machlne-gufl work with the portable Intermediate Lewis gun. According to reports from our military observers in France, the drift of the French army is* decidedly toward greater use of automatic rifles of the highly portable type. The Browning gun is the only gun of its type, that can be fired from the shout der and hip.

LONG SKIRT IS IN LIMELIGHT

New York^—War necessity everywhere! Ingenuity expressed, therefore, in a thousand ways. Turning and twisting to find out how good results can be obtained through uncharted channels is the effort of each individual, the mass of shops, and the host of designers. This is the summing up, writes a fashion authority, of the entire spirit as expressed in women’s appareL It it not a continental spirit; ft is a world spirit It pervades lands where fighting is unknown; it rules in homes from which no fighters have gone and in which there has always been a serene confidence to the ability to arrive at a comfortable conclusion.

The old, easy method of dressing has vanished. Perhaps it is gone forever.. It is a temptation to dip back into the past and recount the episodic adventures and experiences through which women have gone when great wars devastated a country and used up its raw materials. It is not only the constitution that follows the flag; it is women’s apparel that follows it for years after the flag has ceased to be a symbol of battle and remains only a symbol of patriotism. All -the great wars have definitely changed the course of women’s clothes, although they may not have left upon them the lasting impressions that wars have left upon men’s clothes. The male portion of the world rarely thinks of this fact—that every garment he wears is almost directly responsible to some explosion of mankind. Reverting to Pioneer Daye. It is no simple thing to saunter down Main street today, drop into a shop and buy any kind of galloon, braid, embroidery or other ornamentation for gowns. One finds that manufactured articles are becoming more and more limited. The war industries board has gone into the situation with such thoroughness that manufacturers have been requested to lop off several thousand items that are considered as nonessentials. Once upon a time this world, which dearly loves a phrase, twisted and turned the words “irreducible minimum” in fantastic ways to suit a variety of meanings. This phrase was a sister in popularity to President Cleveland’s famous “innocuous desuetude.” Today the expression that has superseded all others is “the elimination of nonessentials,” and there are thousands of women who will tell you that that means both “Irreducible minimum” and “innocuous desuetude.” ’ It

The sketch a gown of heavy black satin, with a barrel effect obtained In the skirt through width at the hips and narrowness at the hem, and the whole surface laid with flat tucks. The tight bodice finishes at the normal waistline with a narrow cravat belt. There Is a fence collar of white organdie. The fluted hat is of black satin with a crown of ermine.

is well for an extravagant continent that the Irreducible mlnifhum can be arrived ,at through'compulsion. Trimmed With Bits of Themselves. A report of what women have done in devising ornamentation for their clothes would read as an interesting bit of war history. Out from the depths have come some of the ornamentations. The—designers, however, liave found that the best way to trim a gown is with itself. There is very little danger then of its becoming a patchwork quilt Tucks have returned, therefore. They have been launched on the new auutmn gowns as something of a novelty? They are not permitted in woolen clothes, because the- government asks us to omit every inch of superfluous worsted material, but we are omitting it by the yardage instead of the inch, and are finding ourselves

quite content with composition gdwns that have only a dash of wool in them, and often none at all. A woman depends on furs, capes and top eoata for warmth. As for the materials which are available today, they may last through the winter. There is much talk of wearing satin, taffeta, pongee and va-

Wide tucks trim the most fastidious gowns. The frock is of heavy Chinese silk, with tucks from hip to hem and a row of white crochet buttons. The full sleeves are held in with tucked wristlets.

rlous heavy Chinese silks throughout the cold weather, making them comfortable for the open or for heatless houses by the addition of warm underwear and top coverings. The designers have banked heavfiy on the usage of thin materials for next winter and therefore they have brought about /this resurrected fashion of trimming a gown with itself, which Is quite easily done when the material Is soft and pliable. When tucks are used they are arranged horizontally. They do not confuse themselves with pleats, which are vertical. A few of the new skirts are tucked from the bone of the hips to the hem, the tucks touching each other and made from an inch to two Inches wide. Sometimes this constitutes the entire trimming of a gown. But when the skirt is extra narrow at the hem the barrel effect is more striking than it has been for two yean. Foulard First Choice for Autumn. There is really an extraordinary amount of foulard worn in the changeable September weather. It is so comfortable in the house, and so easily covered In the open, that It presents itself as first aid to being well dressed. There are broadly checked foulards in black and white, and others that have a dull blue or orange stripe or figure running through the checks. Whatever the choice, they are made simply. One does not go in for Chinese blue, pink or amethyst these days, except when one wears gowns In the house that have served through the summer, but colors such as black and white, purple and brown, gray and deep blue are chosen In these foulards for the street. This fabric lends Itself admirably to self-trimming. The skirts are tucked from hip to hem or knees to hem, and when there is a peplum or a long chemise tunic it has five or eight tucks to finish it. Affecting the Waistline. There is no possibility of reducing our waists to a small measurement. The planked-shad type which has prevailed for eight years can wear Its sashes where it pleases, but what about the thousands of other women, thin and stout, who have allowed their waists to broaden out into sculptural measurements? These waists have muscles that are strong and unpllable, and they will not be squeezed in by corsets. Therefore, only the willow type—the, slim, little, boneless youngster—can pull in her waist and tie a sash around it with impunity. One thing is practically certain; If the tight, draped skirt brings back the normal waist, women will allow the straight line of their figures to continue, and they will merely drape the wuist in its new, large measurements, without an attempt to make themselves uncomfortable. (Copyright. 131’, by the McClure Newepaper Syndicate.)

Use Furniture Fringe.

They are trimming hats with furniture fringe.