Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1918 — Page 3

TREAT YANKS AS ONE OF FAMILY

Somewhere in France. Many American slldlers are having the unique opportunity, as well as the pleasant experience, of learning French customs and seeing French homelife by being billeted right in the houses of their Gallic hosts and host- ■*' 1 . In one of the villages of centra! France, high up among the hills, where one can get a magnificent view of the surrounding “peaks,” the valley pnd the winding river below is billeted a regiment of American artillery lads. Most of them are from California, others are from North Dakota, Montana, and. other states of the Coming up the road from the" fallway station one crosses the mill race with Its ancient stone bridge, passes the- “moulin noir” and entering the -village after “recall,” sees the soldiers lolling about In the houses or seated •about- the tables in front of tiie wine =shops talking to their French friends whose guests they are.; * From one of the village streets •clear through the town the houses are marked with the number of Americans billeted there. One place may have painted at the side of the •doer, “24 men” and another' “2 officers, 14 men.” Down In the narrow side streets are more billets and from -these winding passageways the sdl■dlers come in scores after the evening mess to wander along the “main •drag” and visit billets of their friends In other batteries. No Formality There. Life Is very informal in this village since the Americans came. The •doors and windows of the home-bll-lets, opening right Into the streets, - reveal the soldiers’ beds made up In ship-shape military manner, the -floord scrubbed spotlessly clean and everything as neat and tidy as a home might be expected to be. 11 In many places, sanitation, crude in most French towns, at least,' from an American’s standpoint,’ has been Improved and living conditions Improved not •only for the soldiers but for the civilian natives as well. “How do you like living In billets?” was asked a raw-boned gunner who said his home had ben in Idaho. “All right now,” came the response. ■“We did not think much of it at first; we had to go too far for mess. The cook shack is away up there on the hill in the square behind the •church. And In our billet we had to •climb a ladder to get into the haymow. I’d rather live In a tent, especially in the summer. But we all say, like the French, ‘C’est la guerre’ and let It go at that. “But we’re learning a' lot about the French, getting a lot of insight into -their lives which we could not get ■otherwise. We’re learning to sympathize with them more than ever. I believe It makes us better soldiers. I know for sure that It makes us heenef to fight the Germans when we heftr some of the facts the French people tell us. Why, In our house alone the old man and old woman who live there have lost three sons In the war and another Is a prisoner of the Germans. “Oh, we get along all right The

MACHINE GUNNERS GALLOPING INTO ACTION

British machine gunners are particularly actve in the great Franco-Britlsh-Amerlcan drive in Picardy and Flanders. This British official phot<? «raph shows some of them galloping into action. ' ‘i*"

BOMBING ENEMY’S DUMPS

Behind the British Lines in France. —The British aviation communique frequently contains a brief line to record that “direct hits were obtained upon an enemy dump" at some point behind the German lines. This colorless announcement may seem to the reader in America nothing more than the record of a dull piece of routine, but the deed itself is different from its record. 'X-#*. A British airman, Lieut. Wi A. Barnes, has given the Associated Press the following account of a recent 58minute raid on a German dump as characteristic of this form of activity: “On this particular night there was not enough .moonlight for a long raid, co the target given us was a German ammunition dump. * - ' 5 “Dumps are by no means easy tar- ' gets to find at night, for they are seldom situated near amr definite landmarks and are usually well camouflaged. By the study of maps and pho--1 ;

women do our washing and - mending and they’re always anxious to do a lot of extra things for us. We sure will miss these people when we move from here. It will be like leaving home again.” Music and Craps. The black troops are bringing America’s folk songs to Europe. Whether he is in*the overalls of the stevedore or the olive drab of the fighting man going over the top, the American negro sings just as he does in the cotton fields of the sunny Southland or the dock along the shores of the Great Lakes. The nearness of the war, the whizz of the bullets and the roar of the cannon fall to mar the eternal nonworrying attitude of Xhe American negro. -- Their barracks at night are alive with music. At least one man in every squad has managed to bring a banjo along or made enough shooting craps to buy one in France. Speaking of craps, it’s the great barrack room sport of the negroes the., first day after payday. And every, "niche they can get In out of sight of their white Officers sees a crap game going. Then when one or in the regiment have got all. the’money in camp they go back to singing the old-time songs and playing them on their" banjos until another payday rolls around. If morale follows In the footsteps of music, then the colored troops must' be “jess fun of it, boss I”

MUTINY GROWING IN GERMAN ARMY

Officers Are Defied and 20,000 Deserters Are Said to . Be in Berlin. TROUBLE ALSO IN THE NAVY Four Torpedo Boats Are Seized, and Attempt Is Made to Escape, but Two Are Sunk by Pursuing Battleship. London. —General demoralization of Germany’s population and widespread •and growing-disaffection in the German army, accompanied by mutiny 1 and desertions, ar^ described in a dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from its Rotterdam correspondent. The correspondent says that information reaching him is so sensational as to inspire skepticism, but declares he has received undoubted corroboration from authoritative sources. He asserts that the Germany arnjy is filled with despondency and seething with mutinous spirit, and that alarming outbreaks have occurred in several units, principally Bavarian and Silesian. One incident on the Arras front

tographs, however, we had pretty well located the position of this one, and started out on the raid with high hopes of success. . “We flew almost due east from the airdrome. At the end of the 50 minutes we could just make out the outline of sheds. This was good, but we let out a parachute flare to light up the ground, and make sure we were over the target This promptly dispelled all doubts, for the Hun searchlights opened up at once, and a hail of machine gun bullets leaped up from the ground. Anti-aircraft guns had been firing for some time, but the shells were bursting well above us, and giving no trouble. “The parachute flare proved a real friend, because both searchlights and machine guns concentrated upon it giving us just sufficient time to dive swiftly, release our bombs, switch on the engine and start climbing. “When we turned to observe results,]

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. INS.

DR. BALTASAR BRUM

The visit to the United States of Dr. Baltasar Brum, minister of foreign affairs 'of Uruguay, has tremendous importance in the affairs of -the allies. Doctor Brum Is largely responsible for the change of sentiment in Uruguay from being pro-German to being neutral, then openly pro-ally. Doctor Brum Is a strong advocate of free democracy and his Influence In the Latin American countries Is a powerful factor in ftivor of the allies.

terminated in a whole Bavarian division being disarmed and transported to Bavaria, where it was placed in a prison camp, and the mutiny of one oi the Silesian regiments resulted in nea • ly 100 of its men being executed. Desertions Are Heavy. A huge number of desertions are occurring, the correspondent says, and it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 deserters in Berlin alone. Large numbers are scattered throughout the country and the authorities are having the greatest difficulty in trailing deserters owing to the connivance of the working classes. Nevertheless hundreds have been arrested and generally these have been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. A great number of Imprisoned deserters, broken by solitary confinement, have been released and sent back to the ranks. "'Disobedience and defiance of officers is common at the front, according to the correspondent’s information, and a similar spirit is shown in the munition factories, where the workers deliberately are slowing up, with the result that the output has been seriously decreased. Heavy Cannonading Heard. “It was reported from various places on the Danish and Norgeglan coasts three weeks ago that heavy cannonading was heard from the North sea,” says a dispatch from Christiania to the Times. “A few days later, the bodies of German marines were washed up, most of them on the coast of Jutland, but no fighting was reported on either the British or German side.

So there was much speculation about these floating corpses, which" bore life belts with the figures and initials of two different German torpedo boats. An explanation is now given by the Aftenpost’s correspondent at Copenhagen, who says a report was received yesterday from across the German frontier of a recent mutiny. German navy crews refused to go aboard the U-boats to which they belong, and seizing four torpedo boats set a course for Norway. ' They were overtaken by a German warship and a regular fight ensued, with the result that at least two. tor pedo boats-were sunk and the crews drowned or killed.

The finest variety of asbestos is known as aminthus, and the most beautiful specimens of this come from Tan ahtaise, In Savoy.

we witnessed the finest fireworks dis play I ever saw. Ammunition was cracking off at record speed, dense clouds of Smoke were rising and high-ly-colored flames were leaping a hundred feet and mor x e from' the ground. “We watched this pleasing exhibition for some minutes, until the cougt of an ‘Archie’ burst near by to remind us that we - were still over Hunland. and so turned and steered for home. “The whole job occupied 58 minutes but it must have cost Germany hundreds of man-power hours in munitions works.”

New Cure for Cooties.

New York.—“ We’ve got a newfangled disinfectant for ‘cooties’ which is flpe/Lwrites Private Fred G. Motten to his mother here. “It is a sort of wash that you put on at night Then you sleep like a log and dream that you are home. “They issue it to us every night for a soother. And as it sure keeps the ‘kaisers’ off. one, you need have no worry about me. Cooties were oar

,greatest source of worry.”

TALES FROM BIG CITIES

His Classification Pointed Though Not Polite NEW YORK.—-There Is a little case down on Houston street that is patronized by the canaille, the curious and the small sprinkling of the Broadwaj opulents. The wine is red, yellow, purple and white, and flows from various

spigots within the diner’s reach. One may become corned between the soup and the entree and the check Is the same. A long-haired Bohemian leads the orchestra and Is. repaid for his plaintive notes by the showers of small change from the diners. At about ten in the evening sentiment reaches the high tide. It is the hour of illusions. Flushed by the wine, the motley crowd turns selfishness into courage

and the parasite becomes heroic. There are squalls and sunshine, tears and ribald laughter. And then at .12 when the lights go out the false joy U stripped of its mask and crumbles into black despair. In the center of the case is a small polished spot where dancing is per mitted. It is always so crowded that all the dancers can do is mill about like the crowds at the gallery entrance of the Metropolitan when Caruso sings oi Chalif dances. An electric apparatus throws various colored rays on the dancers. The other night a spark from the-machine fell into folds of chiffon worn by one oi the dancers. There was a flash of flame and a scream. Pandemonium reigned and then on the fringe of the crowd someone charged into the thick of it. He grabbed the frightened girl away from hysterical men and women and skillfully extinguished the fire. The crowd fell back. The rescuer was a clean-limbed young American sailor who had dropped Into the place with a group of rubberneck tourists The fiddlers struck up the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the young man, abashed, rushed from the place, not even stopping to get his hat. Outside he said to a policeman: “I don’t want to be found here among a bunch of nuts.’’ Boy Soldier of Fortune Laughs at War’s Mishaps Bi OSTON.— A real soldier of fortune is Fred W. Thomas, a youth not yet in I his twenties, now in a Red Cross hospital, where he was taken following the torpedoing of a ship on which he sailed recently. This adventuroue

home and enlisted in the British transport service. But this proved too tame for him, so he enlisted in a bombing squad of the Sherwood Foresters, from which he was honorably discharged upon Secretary Lansing’s plea. He succeeded In enlisting again and was assigned to a British mine sweeper. It was blown up, the youngster receiving a skull fracture. He returned to America, incapacitated for further service, but persuaded a Passaic surgeon to operate and relieve the injury.' The operation proved so successful that Thomas almost immediately enlisted on the Hattie Gage, a coastwise freighter, which was sunk by a German submarine the day after she put to sea. Then he returned home, bid his mother good-by and re-enlisted in the Brit* Ish army in New York. He was sent to a training school at Quebec. He Was on his way to Europe when the ship was torpedoed, again landing him Jn the hospital. Careers of Precocious Bandits Nipped in the Bud CHICAGO. —Baby banditry in Chicago ain’t what it used to be, Watson. Ask George Kirkwood and Kaleman Patakey, two eighteen-year-old highwaymen who are held at the Fillmore street police station. George and Kaleman told of their exploits and their prelimi- '

nary conferences. “Huh, what’s the use of workin’ for twelve bucks a week when we can go out with a couple of gats and make a hundred iron men an hour?” queried Patakey of George. George opined there was logic in it. They got the gats, also masks and flashlights. Under the Chicago and Northwestern track subway at Kinzie street and Kedzie avenue they started their career. The first victim reacted prop-

erly. He registered fear and gave up his cash, but it was only 23 cents. “Keep your paltry cash,” safd Bandit Patakey, majestically. “It will never be said of us that we take the money of the poor.” They decided they were on the wrong stamping ground. They went over toward Garfield park. It was then two o’clock in the morning. “Here you, where you going? Come here,” demanded Patrolman Edward Reindeau. Out came one of Patakey’s trusty gats. He now had both of them. “Back up, you big ‘bull,’ ’”he roared, “or I’ll drill you.” The copper failed to retreat He knocked the gat out of the bandit’s hand and knocked the bandit down. George beat it He Ws caught by Detective Sergeants Curtin and Roche, attracted by the sound of shooting as Jhe policeman fired over George’s head. Comedy now came close to tragedy. Bandit Patakey drew his other revolver, surprising Patrolman Reindeau, and had jammed it into the patrolman’s side when the policeman succeeded in turning his hand and wresting it from him. Sailor to Get Wooden Leg That Has Traveled Far SAN FRANCISCO. —How a wooden leg lost by its owner traveled almost around the world and was finally restored was told in the barge office by Patrick H. Quinn, United States shipping commissioner. According to Mr. Quinn, Daniel Egan, an able seaman.

signed up for a voyage to foreign waters. Things went well with Egan until he struck up an acquaintance with a man named Stupy. Stupy singled out Egan from among the crew and they were shore companions when the vessel reached San Pedro. Stupy and Egan imbibed freely there. When Egan got his bearing he discovered that his leg was gone and so was Stupy. That was seven months ago. The Westboro went to France. England, South America, Panama and other ports without Egan. To each port Egan sent a letter, beseeching the captain of the vessel to send back his leg. Egan wrote the commissioner all about Ms escapade with Stupy and Mr. Quinn became interested. He tried in many ways to locate the missing leg. - T S. Trice, who is employed in the United States sMpping Office, also took a hand in the game. When he entered the office the other day he espied a long bundle, directed to J. H. Stupy, SS. Westboro. The name was familiar to Trice. He looked up his files and found that Stupy was the man who had been with Egan when the two had started out to drink San Pedro dry many months ago. The commissioner sent the limb to where Egan 18 waiting patient!’- / v - '

youngster has set to work the machinery of the state departments of two countries by his efforts to fight. Secretary Lansing had him released from the English army, upon his mother’s plea of his extreme youth, but Thomas ran away as soon as he reached home. He sailed on a munition ship from this port to Italy and made his way again into England, where he enlisted in the engineers immediately he learned the United States had_. entered the war. In 1916 Thomas ran away from

four years ago wMle crossing a railroad track in Oakland, CaL, had his leg cut off. Egan couldn’t get work as a sailor and for three years he scrubbed, washed and cleaned out saloons, saving every penny until he had accumulated enough money to buy a new leg. The good ship Westboro was looking for men and Dan, with a quick step, walked to the pier, where the ship was moored, and straightway

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Good Tuma. Patience —In older Japanese theaters the scene was changed by revolving the whole stage on a turntable, bringing into view the scene the stagehands had been working on during the playing of the previous act Patrice —And in case of an encore the whole stage, had to be turned again, I suppose? “Oh, yes; then, as now, one good •turn’ deserved another.” Cold Comfort “Why did she break off the engagement?” “It was this way. When he was leaving for France she said, ‘lf you are wounded, Henry, promise me that you won’t fall In love with your nurse.*” _/‘And of course he swore he would resist the most beauteous maiden who ever graced a hospital?” “No. He merely said he would do his best” Not Impressed. “I was out motoring with Scrlbson, the poet, the other day and we passed a farmhouse that had fallen Into ruins. It was such a sad travesty of a home that Scrlbson was on the verge of tears at beholding it.” “WeUt Weill” said the man who has no sentiment in his soul. “Did Scrlbson own the place?”

Paternal Modesty. “Are you advising your son in regard to his future?" “No,” replied the up-to-date father. “My boy is so confident that' he’s going to be a Napoleon of finance some day I don’t feel that a man in my position who has merely .accumulated a few hundred thousands could offer any advice worth taking.” FATHER’S DILEMMA.

“I see your girl has a beau.” “Yes, and I don’t know just how to handle the mutt. Shall Ibe friendly with him and lose my dignity, or should I hold myself aloof and be considered an old grouch?” The Joy Rider. He burns up gasoline with glee, His time and purse bestowing, And no spot ever seems to be The place where he was going. An Oft-Told Tale. “What’s going on here?” “Some of Dubwaite’s facetious friends are hold a little celebration.” “A birthday party?” “In a way. They are commemorating the anniversary of Dubwaite’s favorite anecdote.” One Way. “So this is Sagebrush? I don’t see how a man makes a living in such * desolate place.” “Well, there’s politics everywhere, my friend?’ The Better Way. “Some men take life hard, like Atla* with the wdrld on his shoulders.”

“Well?” “Others remind me of the debonair performer who stands on a globe and trundles it in any direction he likes.” Caught the Wrong Fish. Mrs. Wood by-Young—You wouldn’t suppose that I had a son at Mgh school* would you?”< Mr. Blunt—-No, indeed. I had an Idea that all your children must be through college by this time. Too Serious. In a case of assault by a husband on his wife, the injured woman was reluctant to prosecute. “Til lave him to God, yer honor,” shei said. - .. “Oh, dear, no,” said the judge. “It* far too serious a matter for that." No Need to Listen. “I suppose it is a great deprivation to your deaf friend not to be able to go to the theater.” “Oh, she can go to moving picture* and grand opera." ,