Audubon Republican. [volume], August 20, 1914, Image 6

About Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
HAWKEYE
STATE
NEWS
Interesting Items of Newsxx
Gathered From all Parts of lowa
Des Moines county will try the new
art of making roads with clay and
sand. There is a much traveled high
way from Keokuk to Fort Madison
through what is known as the Skunk
river bottoms. In dry weather this
road Is almost impassable on account
of the sand and In wet weather It is
equally hard to travel because of
mire. The county board will try the
new fad of covering that highway
with clay so that in time the sand
and the Hay will mix together and
make a permanent roadway.
H. J. Smith of Ackley is the posses
sor of two freaks In the horticultural
line. One is a snow ball bush which
is now blooming for the second time
this season, the first blooms appear
ing at the regular time in the mid
dle of May. There are many blos
soms on the bush. The other exam
ple of unnatural conditions in his
shrubbery is the blossoming of a bush
of bridal wreaths, the ordinary time
for the flowering of which is in early
June.
in order to do away with two
bridges, and make one answer the
purposes by straightening the road.
Marshall and Jasper counties will
build an Intercounty bridge op the
south line of Marshall county. The
bridge will be a flfty-foot span, six
teen feet wide, and will be of concrete
and steel. The estimated cost Is
about $4,000.
William Polite, an old soldier of
Audubon, has the distinction of being
paid the largest sum in back pensions
given any man by Uncle Sam in lowa
In years. Mr. Polite has just received
a draft for 19,084 from the pension .»?-
flee at Des Moines. The amount will
make him comfortable for the remain
der of his life.
Mrs. Ida B. Wise Smith, wife of Mal
colm Smith of Cedar Rapids, candi
date for governor on the prohibition
ticket, is to campaign the state on be
half of her husband’s candidacy. Mrs.
Smith will be accompanied by Cecil
Burlingame of Cedar Rapids, who will
have charge of the music during the
Itinerary.
J. T. Lanigan, editor of the Jones
County Times, and who had been
recommended by United States Mar
shal E. R. Moore of that district for
postmaster at Monticello, received his
commission from the postoffice de
partment and has assumed the duties
of his position.
An auto driven by William Pull and
containing his wife and small child
»nd W, Raye Snider and H. Miller
-CoyVsed-.with- a street, car at Sioux
City. Snider received fatal injuries
from which he died an hour later at
a hospital. Snider graduated from
the state university last June.
Postmasters appointed for lowa of
recent date are: Ainsworth, Washing
ton county, William W. Moore, vice
William T. Trotter; Kenwood Park,
Linn county, Jacob A. Oxley, vice
Hugh Mapier; Oakville, Louisa coun
ty, Fern F. Coffield, vice George R.
Hall.
Mrs. 3. C. McDaniels was instantly
killed and her husband was badly
hurt when their auto ran into a fast
train. The accident happened at a
crossing two miles east of Osceola on
the Bluegrass road
Cities of lowa can not be restrain
ed from adopting ordinances prohibit
ing the operation of theaters on Sun
day, according to a mandate receiv
ed by the lowa supreme court from
the United States supreme court.
Miss Julia Lathrop of Washington,
D. C., director of the children's bu
reau, will give the address Monday
afternoon, Aug. 31, at the Woman's
and Children’s buildings at the lowa
State fair.
H, P, Mathlsen, a laborer employed
at Ringsted, was killed one mile north
at Dolliver by a Northwestern freight
train. He is supposed to have gone
to sleep on the track.
Miss Vaughn, teaching the home
school between Logan and Magnolia,
has developed a colony of silk worms
for the instruction of the pupils in
the school.
W. L. Plummer, a farm band near
Ames, was probably fatally injured’
when he was struck by a Nqirtwesb
ern train. He was taken 1 to a hospital
at Nevada.
Eight children in the Tupper family
held a reunion at Woodbine. The com
bined dtges were 442 years and weight
1,370 pounds. The youngest is 47 and
tUfe oldest 64.
After being in a crippled condition
for more than ten years, Frederick
Techau, aged 79 years, committed
suicide at Muscatine by hanging.
A meeting of the Kossuth County
Editorial association will be held at
Whittemore Friday, August 24.
Word has been received from Dr.
Jennie Christ of Ames, who has besn
touring Europe, that she will return
at once with a party of young girls,
er. E. R. Root, editor of Bee Culture,
and Frank C. Peliett, lowa state bee
inspector, also delivered addresses.
John D. Ross, of near Shenandoah,
has a record. He Mvee five miles
from Shenandoah. For forty years he
has served his township as secretary
of the school board and has never
missed a meeting.
The Des Moines conference of the
Methodist church will be held at At
lantic, Sept. 9.
A squad of convicts from Fort Madi
son penitentiary is at work seven
miles southwest of New London. The
squad is erecting buildings, making
fences, and putting the Mares Hester
farm in shipshape.
An election will be held at Aurelia
Aug. 17, on the question of issuing
17.000 bonds to build an electric light
and power plant, the current to be
brought from Cherokee.
Threshing has been the order of
work with farmers in the vicinity of
Spencer the past weak. The yield
will range from thirty to fifty bushels
an acre The quality Is good.
During the month of July, 1914,
there were 968 industrial accidents in
lowa. For some reason July is not a
heavy accident month, although the
weather is hot and the workers are
under heavy strain. August, howev
er, is a disastrous month, and the ac
cidents will run much higher than in
July, according to the officials.
The board of directors of the Sac
City school district has decided to
open this fall the new department of
manual training, offering instruction
to pupils of the high school and of
the seventh and eighth grades. Dom
estic science and agriculture were in
troduced last year.
The Lake View Commercial club
and city council have taken steps to
Improve Wall Lake immediately. It
has been practically decided to pump
the water of Indian creek through
pipes into the lake and put in a dam,
assuring plenty of water the year
around.
After shooting his wife with a re
volver, inflicting a wound which may
prove fatal. James Kelly, aged forty
three, of Wilton, turned the gun on
himself, dying instantly. A short time
ago Mrs. Kelly brought suit against
her husband for divorce.
William Peetsch, a farmer residing
about two miles northeast of Sioux
City, was drowned in the Little Sioux
river while seining in company with
several other farmers. Peetsch step
ped into a deep hole and was unable
to ewim.
The three occupants of the car that
went into the ditch a mile south of
Dunlap where the county was con
structing a bridge have filed claims
against the county as follows: J. P.
Elbert, $10,000; Lyman Mclntosh, $7,-
500; Scott Mclntosh, $25,000.
A special from Washington says
that of the two million dollars appro
priated by the government for the
state militia, $1,599,362 will be divided
and the remainder will be held for
emergency. Of the amount allowed
lowa is given $39,838.
The test of the first Grinnell made
monoplane proved a big success. W.
C. Robinson, aviator, made two trial
flights before a large number of citi
zens, using a machine which had just
come from the Grinnell Aeroplane
factory.
lowa towns given money for new
postoffice building sites are: Albia,
$5,000; Carroll, $8,000; Cedar Falls,
$10,000; Cherokee, $10,000; Fairfield,
S2OO for additional ground; Marengo,
$3,500; Newton, $10,000; Oelwein, SB,-
000, and Vinton, $9,000.
Dr. J I. Gibson, state veterinarian,
lias been notified that one of the
horses suffering with glanders, which
disappeared from Omaha the day be
fore the veterinarian convention in
that city, has been located in Fremont
county, lowa.
Prospects are bright for the estab
lishment of a public library in Adel.
Efforts have been made several times
to establish a library but with no
success. However, the citizens are
taking an interest in the present
movement.
W. P. Adams, of Fair View fanfl,
near Odebolt, has finished threshing
and marketing 900 acres of barley.
The yield was close to thirty-five
bushels per acre, or about 31,500
bushels.
An ordinance has been passed by
the city council of Des Moines which
prohibits circuses, carnivals or other
outdoor attractions from giving per
formances in Des Moines during state
fair time.
The lowa State League of Postmas
ters of the third and fourth class of
fices will hold their annual meeting
at Ames, la., August 25 and 26. A
good program has been arranged and
a large attendance is expected.
O. L. Weeks, who is held in jail at
Charles City on a charge of forgery,
confessed his guilt. Weeks is charg
ed with attempting to pass a check
for J 16.50 with the forged signature
of C. R. Wallis of Nashua.
About 1,500 members of the Knights
of Pythias and Pythian Sisters will
go to Cedar Rapids from all parts of
lowa, Aug. 25 to 27, to attend the
forty-fifth annual convention of the
grand lodge of lowa.
The new $15,000 Presbyterian
church edifice at Hamburg is nearing
completion and the dedication is plan
ned to take place on Sept. 6. A fine
dedicatory service is being arranged.
Walter D. Olney, aged 55, head of
the boy scouts of lowa, wds married
last week at Des Moines to Maude E
A. Geton, aged 33, of Black Hills, S.
D.
John Robertson has sold two hun
dred and forty acres of farm land
southeast of lowa Falls in Jackson
Qownshlp to Morris Frisbie and Walter
Fuller at S2OO per acre.
The postoffice employes at Denison
are much elated over the prospect of
moving into the new federal building
this week. Denison's new poetoffice
building cost $75,000.
Frank Rose, an aged and respected
old settler, died at his home four
miles south of Riverside after a brief
Illness. Mr. Rose is survived by two
daughters and four sons.
A masked robber walked into a Dav
enport store in the heart of the busi
ness district in broad daylight, thrust
a gun into the face ef the proprietor
and looted the cash drawer of sls.
An entirely new sort of fiend has
blossomed out in the neighborhood of
Griswold. The party entered the pas
ture of A. M. Baughman and cut the
tail off a young Shorthorn bull tor
which its owner had refused $356.
The electric light plant at Grundy
Center was destroyed by fire causing
a loss of about $15,006. The town
will be without a water supply until
new engines can be Installed.
Henry county's old court house, oc
cupied for more than fifty years, was
sold at auction recently for $247.50. It
must be wrecked and moved within
sixty days.
Harry Harmeier, former deputy
game warden under Lincoln, organizer
of the lowa Fish and Game Protective
association and father of the lowa
hunter’s license, has been appointed
Inspector under the federal migiatory
bird law for lowa at a salary of $1,500.
Frlfnds of the Rev. John A. Mar
quis, president of Coe college, are
alarmed as to his safety. He is sup
posed to be close to the seat of hos
tilities in Germany.
Newton won first money in the base
ball tournament held in that city by
defeating Centerville 12 to 1. The
Newton batters hit at will.
“DRYS” WIN BATTLE
1. H. JONES FOUND GUILTY OF
CONTEMPT AFTER DISTRICT
COURT HAD ACQUITTED.
SIOUX CITY WETS LOSE CASE
United States Supreme Court In De
cision Recently Rendered Uphold*
lowa Statute Which Permit* the Re
view of Evidence In Caae*.
Des Moines. —In an order sent to
the lowa supreme court the United
States supreme court upholds the con
stitutionality of the lowa law permit
ting review of contempt proceedings
by means of a writ of certiorari. The
luling is in the case entitled John H.
Jones, citizen of Sioux City, vs.
Judge David Mould, and affirms an
order placing a fine on Jones for viola
tion of an Injunction prohibiting the
sale of intoxicating liquors.
Jones had been enjoined from sell
ing liquors by the Woodbury county
district court. In 1911 he was called
before the court on complaint that he
bad violated the Injunction. The
court held the evidence to be insuffi
cient and dismissed the case. The
temperance faction, not satisfied with
the action, applied for a writ of cer
tiorari to the supreme court.
The supreme court ruled that there
was sufficient evidence and remanded
the case to the district court with in
structions to punish Jones for con
tempt. Jones then appealed to the su
preme court of lowa, and met defeat.
He took the case to the United States
supreme court and has met final de
feat.
In appealing to the lowa supreme
court, Jones held that as he had
been tried by the district court and
been discharged, the supreme court
was without power to place him in
jeopardy the second time, as a viola
tion of the federal constitution.
The court rules that this section ap
plies only to crimes, "and contempt,
though proceedings for the punish
ment of crime, is generally spoken of
as semi-erimlnal, and is not a crime."
The court said that the law, al
though an old one, had apparently
never been assailed before, although
it had been applied in scores of cases.
The section questioned reads:
"No appeal lies from an order to
tunish for contempt, but the proceed
ings may in proper cases be taken to
a higher court for revision by certi
orari.”
The ruling is important to the tem
perance factioq in their fight against
the Illegal sale of liquor, in order that
the Injunction law may be properly
enforced. It determines that if the
lower court errs in its ruling, the
higher court may reverse the proceed
ing and the violator be punished.
The court, in its opinion states that
the proposition as advanced by
Jones, who is backed ■by the "wets,”
is that the statute inflicts punishment
upon one charged with contempt, with
out due process of law. The court
says that the right to proceed with
out an indictment or calling a jury
and to assess punishment upon those
found guilty of contempt of court has
teen an attribute of all courts of rec
ord in every stage of the development
of our system of procedure. Without
it, the exercise of'judicial authority
would often be reduced to the merest
farce, the ruling says.
• • •
Officers Named for Court Martial.
Fourteen officers of the lowa Na
tional guard were appointed, by Adj.
Gen. Guy E. Logan to form the court
martial for the hearing of all cases of
violation of the police rules at Camp
Dodge during the maneuvers this
week. The officers are: Lieut. Col.
Mathew A. Tingley. Lieut. Col. Win
fred H. Bailey. Lieut. Col. Charles W.
Cotton, Lieut. Col. George W. Ball,
Major Elza C. Johnson. Major Smith
W. Brookhart, Major C. M. Stanley,
Major John F. Ready, Capt. Edward
S. Giest, Capt. Charles J. Casey, Capt.
Jesse B. Howell, Capt. Timothhy J.
Mahoney.
• • •
State Makes Big Saving.
The state board of control put
through a deal during the advance in
price of sugar which will save the
state a big sum of money. It took bids
by telegraph and contracted for 480,-
000 pounds of sugar at a rate of $4.88
per hundred.
The board is not advertising for
bids for all state supplies. Owing to
the unnatural advance due to the war
in Europe, it Is a disadvantageous
time for the old contracts to expire.
• • •
lowa July Fire Record.
According to Ole O. Roe, state fire
marshal, the fire record for lowa in
July was good, the losses showing
$68,000 less than the corresponding
month of 1913. During the last month
the total losses amounted to $380,000.
• • •
lowa Public Buildings.
Nine lowa towns have been appro
priated funds by congress for the pur
chase of sites for new postoffice build
ings. Among the appropriations is
one for $75,000 for a site for the new
federal building in Des Moines.
lowa towns given money for new
postoffice building sites are: Albia,
$5,000; Carroll, $8,000; Cedar Falls,
$10,000; Cherokee. $10,000; Fairfield,
S2OO for additional ground; Marengo,
$3,500; Newton, $10,000; Oelwein, SB,-
000, and Vinton, $9,009,
• • •
Warden Sanders' Case.
John Fletcher, assistant attorney
general, has requested that the case
of Warden Sanders be fixed for hear
ing at Fort Madison Aug. 25. San
ders is attempting through habeas
corpus proceedings to have declared
invalid an ordinance of the city of
Fort Madison which prohibits the em
ployment of convicts from the peni
tentiary within the city.
Sanders was making a Chautauqua
address on July 30 when the case was
originally set for hearing and a post
ponement was asked.
THE AUDUBON REPUBLICAN
Anti-Theater Law.
Citiea of lowa can not be restrain
ed from adopting ordinances prohibit
ing the operation of theaters on Bun
day, according to a mandate received
by the lowa supreme court from the
United States supreme court, in the
case of the Majestic Theater company
vs. City of Cedar Rapids. A proce
dendo will be issued to the Linn coun
ty district court authorizing judg
ment in accordance with the ruling.
In this case the Majestic Theater
company. Green's Opera House com
pany and Vic Hugo, vaudeville pro
moter, attempted to enjoin the city
of Cedar Rapids from passing an or
dinance to close the Sunday theaters.
The action was started in 1909.
The supreme court ruled that it has
no power to interfere with a legisla
tive body in enacting legislation and
that it will not pass upon a measure
until it becomes a law. Constitutional
questions were urged against the
Sunday theater ordinance but both of
the high courts refuse to discuss them,
because they say that the time to
take the ordinance up on its merits
is after it has been passed, and not
before.
Practically the only thing gained
so far is a ruling that cities may
adopt measures which seem neces
sary, and that they can not be inter
fered with. if the ordinance
proves' unreasonable and unjust the
courts will not enforce them, the rul
ing says.
see
Capitol Extension Fund.
Payments from the capitol exten
sion fund during the month of July
totaled $34,121, leaving a balance of
cash on hand of $301,173.32.
The executive council has about
reached the limit in making purchas
es with property owners within the
capitol zone, and is now discussing
condemnation proceedings against
certain properties. There are but
twenty properties yet to secure but
those owning them are holding out
for exorbitant prices, it is said.
The council has civil engineers at
work setting stakes about the capitol
zone so that all future changes will
be made with reference to the final
appearance of the ground. This I*
done so that there will be no handling
of dirt twice. The custodian of the
Capitol grounds is now selecting the
thirty houses which the state will
move to Governor’s square, several
blocks east of the capitol. The new
street which the state graded through
Governor's square is to be known as
Dean avenue.
• • •
State Oil Inspectors’ Salaries.
In order that the oil Inspectors of
the state shall not suffer a decrease
in salary, a plan is being considered
by the state officials to redistrict the
state so that each man will collect
sufficient fees to net him SIOO salary
each month.
The state is divided into districts
in such a way'that traveling expenses
for inspectors will be held down to
the minimum. Any change in the dis
tricts would disturb the present
scheme. It will probably cost the
state more in traveling expenses than
formerly.
There are fourteen oil inspectors
in the state. They are permitted to
retain the first SSO in fees collected,
and are allowed 25 per cent of all col
lections over SSO. up to a Hmlt of
SIOO a month. For the chief oil in
spector the maximum is $l5O a month.
see
Workmen's Los* Through Accident*.
Financial losses to workmen In
lowa last year, due to Industrial ac
cidents, was about $166,997.80, accord
ing to the annual report which has
been prepared by A. L. Urick, state
labor commissioner.
Mr. Urick made a special study of
industrial accidents last year in order
to determine what may be expected
by the operation of the workmen's
compensation law, which became ef
fective July 1, 1914. About one-tenth
of the Industrial accidents were re
ported last year. Between July 4
and Dec. 31, 1913, there were 1,186
accidents reported. Of this number,
11 or 9 1-3 per cent were fatal. The
total number of actual working days
losjt by the injured workmen was 6,-
355 and the actual wages lost were
$16,699.77. This was 10 per cent of
the total loss in the state.
• • •
Shipping Diseased Hogs.
Dr. J. I. Gibson, state veterinarian,
is probing reports thait a number of
farmers have shipped cholera infected
hogs to market. The lowa law strict
ly forbids shipping cholera hogs. It
is said that an ample supply of serum
can be secured by the farmers, so that
an infected herd can be treated on the
farm with a reasonable assurance that
90 to 95 per cent of the herd will be
saved.
• • •
lowans Granted Pensions.
lowa pensions granted of recent
date are: William F. Edwards. Cor
rectionville, $6; Caroline M. Heffel
man, Floria, sl2; America Houdishelt,
Mount Ayr, sl2; Florence L. Nelson,
Eldora, sl2; Helen A. Sleigh, Maquo
keta. sl2, and Annie B. Winslow, Des
Moines, sl2.
• • •
Meats Going Higher.
Cattle at $10.40 and hogs at $10.20
are unusually high for this time of
the year. Yet, it is believed the ad
vance has just begun. The supplies
of fat live stock are far below most
erpectatlons, according to trade
scouts who have been over the pro
ducing sections of this country lately.
This last, along with a hungry de
mand from Europe for our supplies,
promises to create a near meat fam
ine in this country. The man who
owns a herd of cattle, a drove of hogs
or a flock of sheep has something
• • •
Patents Granted lowans.
Albert L. Adams, Cedar Rapids,
metal receptacle.
Ernest A. Bohlman. Cedar Rapids,
metalic power belt.
Boston Clay, Muscatine, button
making machine.
Alfred R. Dltsworth, Lone Rock,
root digging and gathering machine.
George W. Halley, Nevada, wheel
guard. >
Carl A. and C. 8. Leopold, Burling
ton, pedestal arid typewriter stand.
William HopAer, Jefferson, collaps
ible life boat. 7/;
ARMIES OF POWERS COMPARED
REAL BATTLE CAPABILITIES
OF THE ARMIES OF EUROPE
"Do you know that the contending
armies in Europe today are battling
upon their peace time footings?" asked
a colonel on the general staff of the
United States army. "And don’t for
get that the nation that gets its fight
ing force up to its full war strength
first will gain a material advantage in
the present turmoil.”
This means that any hasty deduc
tions made upon the basis of fights
won and lost up to date may soon
prove absolutely misleading.
The question then arises: Which of
the struggling armies can reach its
war strength soonest, and, with that
attained, what are Its chances for
maintaining that standing in the gru
eling days to come? The answer is
a matter of administrative efficiency
first, and then follows naturally the
relative merits of the reserve material
upon which the nation can draw as
battle after battle and disease thin
the ranks of those in the field. At
present the Germans are virtually
fighting alone four other nations, but
their initial setbacks are not properly
a true index of what la to come In the
near future.
Some Figures.
As It Is necessary to deal with fig
ures it is Just as well to begin now
as later. These figures, interpreted In
the light of additional Information
have another meaning, one that comes
closer to the facta inspiring the ag
gressive policy assumed by the kai
ser In face of seemingly appalling
odds. According to authoritative in
formation the peace and the war foot
ing of the powers named are as fol
lows:
Peace. War Reserves. Total.
Russia ....771,198 1,673,887 5.400.000 6,497.387
Germany .6«. MS 844,983 6.000.000 5.844.983
France ...635,670 700,740 *.250,000 3,950,740
Austria ..343,363 620.524 3,600.000 3.029,534
Italy Z1t.304 371,406 1,600,000 1,871,495
England ..206.626 223.606 216,000 438,698
Japan ....182.60S 264,300 1.000,000 1,264,300
As between Franco and Germany
apart from the latter’s superior war
footing, the total of the fully trained
reserves in the Fatherland would be
the moot potent factor in a prolonged
struggle and also the Justification for
a vigorous initiative despite early
heavy losses. Both Germany and
France have in the last two years in
creased the period of service from
two to three years. In France this
lengthening of the term with the col
ors aroused a great deal of oppoaition,
not to say discontent
Immediately back of these soldiers
are the first reserves, men who but
recently have finished their full tours
of active service and of course are
familiar with the latest practices. Now
look at the foregoing figures. Ger
many’s peace footing is only 29,895
men stronger than that of France, but
upon the first call to arms this moder
ate superorlty Immediately jumps to
the greater figure of 144403, giving the
kaiser an advantage of nearly 31 per
cent But this is only the beginning
of the difference.
Germany’s total reserve of fully
trained reserves—men trained with
peculiar thoroughness—ls today quite
4,000,000, while the admittedly less ex
actlngly drilled reserves of France
number but 3,150,000 rank and file.
Here, as can plainly be seen, the Fa
therland leads by 1,750,000 —two and a
half times the war footing of France,
while stlD having in reserve as many
as France would have at best
Setting aside the question of the
relative military value of the training
of the German and the French sol
diers, those of France carry a maga
zine rifle of eight mUUmiters caliber
and the German infantrymen repeat-
AIR MACHINES WILL DO
BUT LITTLE KILLING
While he believes war of the air
will be the war of the future, Captain
Bristol, head of the United States navy
aeronautic service, predicted that air
machines will do little actual whole
sale killing in Europe.
They will bo used almost solely for
reconnaissance work, ho said. Their
chief service will be in scouting.
"Bombs.” he said, “are not devel-
era having a caliber of 7.8 millime
ters. Assuming the same propulsive
charge, the German gun will carry fur
ther and travel flatter than the French
weapon, making for better marksman
ship at all ranges.
Again, the French rifle is heavier
than the German, increasing to that
extent the stress upon the man who
has to carry it on long marches. The
soldiers of both nations carry the
same number of cartridges, 120. But
the saving In weight in the German
musket Is offset by other weights he
has to carry. Fully equipped the
French foot soldier has a total bur
den of 54.58 pounds, while the Ger
man Infantryman has to bear 58.75
pounds. As a broad proposition the
average German is a sturdier man
than bis French rival, and this greater
tax is wisely laid upon him.
French Equipment.
In the French army each company
of infantry has the following portable
tools: Eight shovels, four pickaxes
(double headed), three axes, one fold
ing saw and a pair o'f wire nippers.
The German foot soldier on the other
hand does not get off so easily, be
cause each company has to carry 100
small spades, ten pickaxes and five
hatchets. Now what does this mean?
Simply that the kaiser’s infantrymen
are able to entrench themselves quick
er than their French rivals, and for
that reason could hold an advanced po
sition more securely and guard them
selves against attack while there bet
ter than the soldiers of the tricolor.
Now let us see what Russia repre
sents as a foes to Germany on the Fa
therland’s northern border. Unques
tionably the cxar’s army is superior to
the kaiser’s in mere point of num
bers in peace, in war and in the total
available reserves, and so far as per
sonal bravery goes the Russian soldier
la unsurpassed. But battles hre not
won these days by just numbers;
training and handling of the men are
of supreme Importance.
Broadly speaking, it is doubtful if
the Russian forces are any better
trained than they were when they
measured strength with the Japanese
in I*o4-05. The infantry are armed
with magazine rifles of 7. 92 millime
ter caliber, and as marksmen they are
nothing like the equals of the Ger
mans.
How They Compare.
Russia to measurably superior to
Germany in the matter of Infantry,
cavalry and artillery in the form of
field guns, and Germany, in turn, leads
France in the vital feature of artillery.
Artillery has played a prime part in
all great wars, and the popular idea
is that it la upon these guns that the
tide of battle turns. In a treasure this
is so, for the field pieces have to pro
tect or support the infantry; but with
thia done, the decisive outcome of an
action depends upon the conduct and
gallantry of the foot soldier, for he
constitutes the backbone of any mili
tary force.
As a matter of history, the French
have led tn field ordnance ever since
the Franco-Prussian war. The French
were the first to adopt the long recoil
which made it possible to use higher
propulsion charges and to secure bet
ter practice against the.target, and
to them, too, is owed the introduction
of the spade upon the trail by which
the recoil of the carriage could be
checked, thus making it possible for
the gun pointer to bold his position
and to fire deliberately and rapidly. To
the French, also, the world is Indebted
for the higher development of the
shrapnel shell with its withering blast
of leaden bullets.
oped yet to the point where they will
be particularly destructive. Their
chief effectiveness in the big war tn
Europe will be to create consternation
in groups of hidden soldiers. The
death rate from an air bomb among
closely packed forces might be twen
ty men."
That the air machine will lend to
the spectacular element of war was
his belief. He ventured the predlo
tloo that some battles may be waged
between scout aeroplanes or aero
planes and dirigibles.
JAPAN JOINS ALLY
Has Sent Notice to Germany to
Withdraw from China.
REGARDED AS GRAVE MOVE
American Interests In Far East Are
{Considered Safe and Japs Say
They Will Guarantee Pro
tection to China.
Washington, D. C., Aug. 17. —Jap-
an's ultimatum to Germany was re
ceived by American officials as one of
the gravest developments in the war
situation, bringing for the first time
the great military power of the far
east into a range of conflict hereto
fore held within Europe.
The announcement of the ultima
tum, demanding the withdrawal of the
German fleet from the orient and the
evacuation of Kiau-Chau, was fully
confirmed In official and diplomatic
advices received here. The American
government has been informed of
what Jias been done and has received
assurances from Japan that every
American interest will be amply safe
guarded. The Japanese ambassador,
while reticent, is known to be fully
advised as to what has occurred, and
to be in constant cable communica
tion with the authorities at Tokio.
Ambassador Uhlnda conferred with
Secretary Bryan last night and made
the official announcement.
Japan's Basis of Action.
The salient features in this new and
grave issue, as made known through
authoritative sources, are as follows:
Japan's action was taken on the
proposal of Great Britain, and after
full conferences which led to the de
termination that the Anglo-Japanese
treaty of alliance applied to the pres
ent situation; the two allies, Great
Britain and Japan, are therefore co
operating in the action now in pro
gress.
Japan's ultimatum is, in the first
instance, a fulfillment of her part in
the Anglo-Japanese alliance, but it is
designed also—an issue having arisen
—to terminate Germany's control of
Kiau-Chau, which, Japaj} holds, en
dangers the integrity of China and the
peace of the orient. The action of
Japan did not come as an entire sur
prise to the United States govern
ment. It was the climax of a series
of diplomatic moves in which the
United States has been consulted and
nas endeavored to maintain the prln
cip.e of tire integrity of China.
Japan's assurances that she will
maintain the Integrity of China are
regarded by American officials as sat
isfactory.
War News Condensed.
The Germans were reported to be
advancing further into Belgium, the
advance being on a line between Na
mur and Haelen.
Reported that the Japanese fleet
had put to sea, to cooperate with the
British Pacific fleet.
The Austrian Lloyd steamer Baron
Gautsch was blown up by a mine off
the Dalmation coast; 150 killed.
President Wilson made known his
opposition to floating of war loans in
the United States.
An English report w»i that 400,000
Austrian soldiers were repulsed in a
dash on Servian troops.
General Von Emmich, German com
mander at Liege, reported killed, and
General von der Marwitz appointed
his successor.
An official announcement at Paris
was that the Liege forts still were
resisting the German attack.
Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia call
ed upon all Poles to be loyal to Rus
sia.
Saales pase over the Vosges had
been occupied by French troops, ac
cording to a Paris report.
The taking by the French of Thann,
in Alsace, is officially announced and
the wounding of General von Delm
ling, commander of the Fifteenth Ger
man Army corps.
The French war ministry prepare*
the public for a great battle, which
will extend over a line more than
250 miles in length and in which
several millions of men on either side
will be engaged.
This battle line will extend from
Basle to Maestricfyt and the people
are warned that at some points the
Germans may be successful, while, it
is added, at other points the French
will have an advantage. It is also
announced that no definite details of
the battle need be expected for at
least eight days.
Nothing is known of recent opera
tions around the Liege forts.
It is reported that Germany has sent
a note to France and Belgium through
a neutral power, accusing these two
countries of having organized a popu
lar war against Germany and declar
ing that any Belgian or French
private citizen, not Ln uniform, who
interferes with the German troops,
will be shot.
The Washington government has.
announced itself as opposed to the
floating of loans In the United States
for the benefit of any of the belliger
ent powers. The United States also
has notified the powers of Europe that
it will regard as neutral ships char
tered for the sole purpose of bring
ing back Americans and has asked
these powers for a declaration on the
subject.
The United States armored cruiser
Tennessee, with millions of dollars in
gold aboard for the relief of Ameri
cans in Europe, duo to arrive at Fal
mouth Sunday.
Seven steamships sailed from New
York for Europe, the biggest fleet
since the war began. The German
liners, however, will not venture out.
Advices from Trieste, Austria, s|y
the population is Ln a panic. Besides
the rigor of the police, they fear a
bombardment which may be followed
by a landing.
A dispatch from Rome says
Greece has decided to demand ex
planations from Constantinople re
garding the concentration of Turkish
troops on the frontier. Unless the
reply is satisfactory Greece will mo
bilize forthwith.
*