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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton New Era, 1915-01-14, Page 3 (2)Thursday, Januar- ''th, 1015. i 9 +r, THE CLINTON NEW RRA. ----.mom PAGE THREE Helig land. Was , ten i t e as ase F r Sry.C..email , ttack The Kaiser Clearly Meant to Use it When Opportune Time Ar- rived to Strike at gngland-- Lavished Millions on ItockyIslet When in 1890 Lord Salisbury ex- changed with Germany that solid 130 acres of rock shown as Heligoland for some very mytllical benefits in Zanzi- bar, he little imagined the part it was destined to play in Germany's dream of naval power. Yet at the time it was thought that British diplomacy had scored, 'because Bismarck was frankly furious at the exchange. Yet the possession of that tiny island was vital to the dream already exer- cising the Kaiser's mind. When the present Emperor came to the throne in 1888 the German navy consisted of some twelve armored vessels of over 4,000 tons, a' small, number of other cruisers, and a tor- Dedo flotila; for ton years preceding his accession Germany had laid down no battleships. But the Kaiser was a believer in sea power, and deter- mined to build up a great fleet, and one of the very first acts of his reign was to remove the navy from military control and to place it under an ad- miral, Obviously; however, if the navy were to he confined to the Baltic it could never attain to anyoffensive strength, because the three exits—the Great and Little Belts and the Sound—could be Net as effectively closed to it as tife Dardanelles were closed to the Russian Black Sea fleet. In Commanding Position In 1853 Prussia had acquired from Oldenburg what is now the port 00 Wilhelmshaven, and in 1866 she ob- tainee Ieiel. The old Emperor William had taken in hand a North Sea -Baltic. comae but with none of those vast dreams of world -power thatinspired his successor. The possibilities of the Gorman North Sea were great, but i•verity-eight miles away, covering_ the mouths of the Elbe, the Weser, and aieothe Jando, stood Heligoland, and that was in the possession of Great Britain: Anciently a religious centre of the Frisian race, it came into 1Britain's possession in 1807, and was, at the time the Kaiser cast longing eyes upon it, quite undefended either from the erosion of the sea, which was con- siderable, or the attack of an enemy. Britain maintained a. coastguard sta- tion there, which was occupied by a c officer ofti er asomendif-dozen men half-dozen who did police and other duties as necessity arose. But so long as it re- mained a British,: possession it could be turned into a standing menace to German shipping. It has a total area of about 130 acres, and consists of a steep, rocky plateau, roughly 180 feet. above sea level, with a strip of send at its southeast foot. -In shape it may be described as an isosceles triangle, and from its north -western- most point, where Hengst stands out Bee a lonely sentinel 165 feet talll. down both sides of the triangle to its south-east base it, juts straleht out, from the sea grim and forbidding. Its possibility of fortification was great. Made It a Fortress From the moment it came into 'her possession Germany commenced to. fortify it and protect it against the erosion of the sea, and at the same. time to develcp her North Sea coast. Tire North Sea -Baltic Canal had al. ready been taken vigorously in hand, though the German people could hardly be said, to have risen to the ambitions of their Kaiser. But in 1898 he succeeded in getting from the Reiclrstagethe first of the Navy Acts, and as a result the outlay on the Ger- man navy for the year 1899 rose to $32,500,000; the outlay during the first year of his reign' was only $12,000,000!: The Boer War and the incident of the Bundesrath were eagerly seized, and as a result the Navy Act of 1900 was passed. This frankly and brutally elated in its, Explanatory Note what ,German intentions and ambitions were: "Under the existing circum- stances, in order to protect Germany's sea teede and colonies there is only one means, namely, Germany must have,a fleet of sect' strength that even for the mightiest naval power a war with, her would involve such risks as to, jeopardizes its own supremacy." There was no possibility of mistaking 60K8 challenge. Not All Defensive nen commenced that feverish ae- eavrty that was to convert tirewhole. of the German North Sea coast into a stepping -off place for a German in- vasion of flngland, So 'Heligoland sprang, into a prominence it could never have attained but for these - TWO HEROES RECOMMENDED FOR THE VICTORIA CROSS • No more heroic exploit has been chronicled in the annals of warfare than that of "L" Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery of which these two men were members. Through an order to retire not reaching them, they were left to face ten German field guns and two Maxims. Until all but three were killed or wounded they stuck to their guns and silenced; the German fire. On th e left is Gunner Derbyshire, and on the right Delver Osborne. They, with one comrade, came through the fight unscathed: naval ambitions. Two submarine cables connect it, one with Cuxhaven, the other with Wilhelmshaven, .a powerful wireless station was erected, while forts sprang into existence from one end to the other. In 1908 it was decided to devote a further sum of $15,175,000 on the "bet- terment" of the island, $7,500,000 ,for the construction of a new harbo" for torpedo craft, $7,500,000 for bringing the fortifications up to date, and $175,000 for a new artillery depot and barracks. It was from this torpedo harbor that Germany intended or hoped to launch her torpedo attack against Britain,. while the fortifica- tions of the island were to be so for- midable as to Make it impossible for any fleet to attack in return. Since 1908 much -noneyhas been lavished on Heligoland, ;and though the exact nature of 'the fortifications has been ;sept a profound secret, it is known that they mount gr -at number of the latest pattern 11 -inch gums in very heavily ,armored cupolas, together with numerous batteries' of light outer torpedo guns. - • Huge Germans Guns A wounded German sodier gave some interesting informaticn respect- ing the famous 17 -inch howitzers used by the Germans. There are, he says, only two of these in each battery, and they move only on rails which are laid down by the soldiers. Each howitzer fires one, shot every ten minutes; the artillerymen, . all of whom are skilled engineers, station themselves at a dis- tance and discharge the gun by elec- tricity. Each shot costs 86,250. Lord Curzon said the Kaiser's name, would go down to history as "William the Bloodstained" and "William' the Assassin." ONE LIFE FOR MANY Sailor on Mine Sweeper Sacrificed Himself to Save His Shipmates During a gale that swept the North Sea, one of the trawlers engaged in minesweeping was seen to be in difficulties. One of the seamen. James Paton, was astride the gaff at the moment when a great wave caught the vessel, sweeping everything off the deck and carrying away the main- mast. After this there was only one chance for those on board, and that was, of course, to cut everything clear. But James Paton was clinging, entangled, to the broken spar, and his mates saw that if they cut the tangle away poor Paton must go with -it. They hesitated. But not so James Paton. Seeing that the sacrifice of one might save many, he gave the signal himself, saying: "Chop away, mates!" and "Good-bye, Lads!" And thus ;perished another humble hero on the roll ,of British fame. Dodging: the Doctor Men burning with zeal to serve their country in her hour of need some- times resort to amusing and ingenious ways,, of hiding from the hard -worked medical officer .their physical defects. A mars failed to enter Kitchener's army owing to the fact that he was a fraction of an inch under the re- quired ' height. He went straight home to bed, and stayed there for a week, knowing that this would' lengthen him a little. He then rushed back, before he had had time to shrink, and passed with flying colors! 111114.1=6 -le tog+ort Ooinlao ... COMMANDEERED Neutrality is Defined by International Code 1 The main principleof the doctrine of neutrality is. that; while • other nations' are at war, those which aro at peace are able, without molesta- tion, to pursue .their ' ordinary busi- ness. ' Neutral countries, however, must show absolute impartiality in their dealings with the combatants, while the latter must scrupulously respect the neutral position of coun. tries at peace. Germany's great crime is that she, in defiance of all international law, ignored the neutral- ity of. Belgium, because that country stood in the way of swift invasion of France. A neutral State is not permitted to give armed .assistance to either bel- ligerent, even though such aid may nave been promised before the war. Neither must she lend money to either side, guarantee a loan, or allow the passage of belligerent troops through her territory. The reason why thousands of British Naval Brigade and Belgian troops are in- terned in Holland is because a neutral State is bound to intern and disarm any troops which attempt to traverse her country. Should a neutral ;;tate not observe this law and assist any belligerent force which may, be driven into her country, the enemy is en- titled to treat such a deviation as a just pause for war. On ,the other hand a belligerent is not permitted to carry on hostilities in neutral territory, nor use neutral harbors for the purpose of fitting out expeditions against his enemy. The ships of neutral nations are en- titled to, go about their business in the usual way, provided they are not carrying contraband of war; but they are liable to be searched by belliger- ent ships. Belligerent ships may not be fitted out in neutral waters, but if they are driven by force of circum- stances into a neutral harbor they may be supplied with sufficient coal to en- able them to proceed on their voyage. They must, .however, leave a neutral port .within twenty-four hours, or be "interned" for the rest of the war— that is to say, the neutral authorities must see that the ship is dismantled until the end of the war. The term contraband applies to articles which may be regarded as likely to help belligerents to prolong th3 war, and the transportation of such articles by neutral ships is pro. hibited by international law. The list of articles' includes arms of all kinds, explosives, military clothing and equipment, boats and in certain cir- cumstances foodstuffs, bullion, field apparatus, horse equipment, and all kinds of nautical instruments. Wire Entanglements in Modern Warfare The demands of modern warfare are novel and varied, and at times. the exigencies, of the situation im- pose a supreme tax upon ingenuity.. It was the South African • war which. broughthome to military minds for the first time the enormous impor- tance of barbed wire entanglements. The Boers protected their defences in an elaborate manner with wires. running borlxontally and diagonally, and, in order to complete their work, held tightly in place by being strained upon posts. When infantry or cavalry attempted to rush a position so pro- tected, the men and horses caught in the wicked network, floundered and fell. In the case of cavalry the barbs stung lacerated andg the maddened animals to a state bordering on frenzy. They kicked so frantically that the whole mass of mounted men were flung into contusion, rendering it an easy matter for the defenders to pick off their assailants by rifle fire. The advance of infantry was possible only after the wires had been cut away, for which it was necessary to equip the men with "nippers." Even thea, owing to she delay which arose in clearing away the obstruction, con- siderable havoc was wrought in, the ranks of the assailants. The German hosts were first brought into contact with the barbed wire method of defence in their at- tack of Liege. The dense masses of advancing infantry became trapped in this fearful net, and machine,gzins, commanding the entangled position, mowed down the attackers like 'hay. It is reported that the formidable character of the Liege entanglements was enhanced by converting them into a huge electrocuting net. Another useful purpose which wire has fulfilled is in connection with the protection of entrenched infantry from shell: fire. The German infantry suffered especially in this connection owing to the :deadliness, of the Preach artillery. ` This has been due to the accuracy of the deadly timing of the fuse and the bursting efficiency of the, explosive charge. Several ingenious artifices, were contrived to mitigate the effebt of flying fragments of burst- ing shells. Among these was the dis- tribution of coils of wire in, the vicinity of the trenches. These coils appear to act somewhat as a buffer, the spray- ing effect pray-ing,effect of the shrapnel being ap preckebly deadened. r ull of Years and Patriotism S. V. Dvoynikov, the Czar's oldest soldier, born in 1811, recently walked a distance of 120 miles with the avowed' intention of enlisting as a volunteer, though he was not accepted. He lives in the village where he was born, and has in his time taken part in many campaigns, having negun his military career under the Emperor Nicholas I. Por his valor in the Polish war he was raised tothe rank of sub- lieutenant AUSTR!A HAD CVANC[ OF TO'P[DO MONOPOLY RUSSIAN 'MILITARY BANDS One feature of the Russian army which from time to time has been brought to the attention of the world is the unusual size and number' of bands in the military forces of the Czar. The Russian soldier bas more martial music than any other soldier In the world. There is no regiment in the Russian service without its own band, and at posts where not a regiment, but only a battalion,;' is quartered, that batta- lion has its band. And these Russian military bands are big and impressive musical organizations. Within each is a brass band and an orchestra of string and wood instruments, with, of course, the necessary touch of brass and sheepskin. Tho result is that, while these military bands play pri- marily military music, they also adapt themselves to the performance of such music as we hear at a sym- phony concert. The average Russian army band, or orchestra, has from forty o fifty musicians, and the orchestras of cer- tain guard regiments contain sixty. There are more .than 1,000 R,.ssian regiments, and there are inthe army about 50,000 bandsmen. Then in the naval and military schools and in the navy there are bands, and if to these are added the twenty to forty musical pupils of a rrgimenta] orchestral school and the musical companies of battleships ar.d various cadet schools, the number of military musicians to the armed, service of Russia mounts to the surprising total of, approximately, 100,000 men. 1 1 / r l Jr,11l4• Mf m'- pp "Well, how long is this war going to last, William?" "Oh! it won't be long' now—my son Garge 'listed last week." —London Ideas WOMEN WARRIORS Even in Recent Times They Have Fought Well as 'Men The present war has already pro- duced the inevitable crop of stories, more or less true, of patriotic dam- sels who, fired with military en- thusiasm, have disguised themselves as men, shouldered a rifle, and fought in the trenches. One of these hero- ines, who did a very gallant deed in rescuing a soldier,was discovered among the Russian forces, and, though probably she' will not be allowed to take any further part in the campaign, she will go down In Russian history as a minor star—a follower of Joan' of Arc and some of the Spanish hero- ines. of ero- ines-of the: Peninsular War, ' There has been scarcely a war in history, however, in which members of the fair sex have not played a part. in the fighting line.' During the Bal. kan War women of all classes in Ser. via, Montenegro, and Bulgaria, who can handle a rifle' as well as they cal a saucepan,,fouglrt forthelr respective countries. A notable case was that of Miss Sophie Yoyanovitch, a young Servian girl, who obtained permission from King Peter to fight like an or- dinary soldier, and, dressed in mili- tary uniform, accounted for several Turks. A Belgrade schoolgirl, 'Milena Man ditch, was also found among'the volun- teer forces raised by the Servian Com- mittee for Nlational Defence. She was only seventeen years of age, and went' from the high eahool at Belgrade to take her place in the righting line, wearing an ordinary soldier's uniform;., Another extraordinary case of a wo- man in a recent war hiding her sex and fighting as a soldier was that of Xenia Kritskaya, a Russian girl, on whom the Czar conferred high mili- tary honors for the part which sire took in the Russo-Japanese Har. No onesuspected her of being a woman, and this brave "soldier" gained re- nown by saving three wounded com- rades, dressing their wounds, and then re-entering the firing line, until she herself was wounded. Another Russian woman, Har:etena Korotkiewitch, donned man's attire, and fought in many battles during the Russo-Japanese War, in order to be near her husband. One day, while riding to the trenches with despatches,. a large shell struck and destroyed certain earthworks. Harietena was seen to stagger as the shell exploded, and she was picked up dead. It was only after her death that her sex was discovered. The Brititsh army has had its wo- men soldiers, and two of them are buried in the cemetery ,of Chelsea Hospital. One of these dames— Hannah Snell, a truculent -looking per- son, whose portrait is preserved in the Great Hall of the hospital, served in the siege of Pondicherry, and was badly wounded, her sex being . die - covered when she was removed to hospital. Christina Davis was the other fe- male soldier buried in this .cemetery. She ie described as a "fatt, jolly wo- man." When she acknowledged her sex she.resnmed some of its privileges, for she married, in succession, three husbands, the third being a Chelsea pensioner; The most famous Englishwoman "soldier,' however,` was "Dr. James. Barry," who joined the Medical Corps' in 1813; and served at Waterloo and in the Crimea.' In: 1858, after many promotions, she became Inspector - General, and it was not until many years later that the fact that she was a woman was discovered, Failed to Grasp the Importance of the New Weapon and Other Governments Got Possession sof the Secret. Destructive as the torpedo has prov- e': in this war, it might have been; still, more deadly as far as the allies are concerned if Austria bad taken advantage 00 the opportunity offered her in. 1870, and had become the sole owner of the modern torpedo. The inventor of the locomotive torpedo was Captain Luppis, an Austrian, and naturally it was to his >Government that he first turned. While the Luppis embraced most of the features of the modern torpedo, it had one defect in the opinion of the Austrian critics. It did not steer itself, but was giuded to its mark by means of a couple of lines which were 'held in the boat. This defect Luppis found himself un- able to correct, but he took his inven- tion to Richard Whitehead, who was then the manager of an engine fac- tory in Flume, and it was not long before Whitehead had produced the locomotive torpedo that steers itself independently of any base. Luppis then returned to his Government but still it did not seize the opportunity. Instead it invited representatives of several other European Governments to witless a demonstration of the new torpedo, Great Britain sent an expert, and the result was that Britain acquired the rights to manufacture the White- head torpedo in England, paying $60,- 000 60;000 to the inventor. Other Govern- ments' secured national rights, and so it was that instead of the torpedo being a secret monopoly of one Gov- ernment it is posseased by them all. Like a Big Cigar A torpedo Is a cigar -shaped metal cylinder, from le to 19 feet long, and r' weighing half a ton. It he divided into six compartments. At the nose of the torpedo is the "war head" filled with gun -cotton or some other power- ful explosive, and this is discharged when It strikes the side of a ship. Behind the war head is the air chamber containing the motive power fo; the engines of the instrument. This chamber contains air at a pres- sure of 2,250 pounds to the square inch. Behind the air chamber comes what Is still called the "secret," since at first its workings were kept 8eoret; and were only divulged when it was found that every expert knew about them. The secret chamber is really the brains of the torpedo, The "secret" operates the a balance of the torpedo, and keeps it at the depth under water at which it is adjusted to run. This is accomplished by a hydro-statio valve, consisting primarily of a move- able disc fitting into the orifice of the chamber and made watertight by a rubber joint. Inside this disc is abashed to a spiral spring, which is adjusted to equal the water pressure at various depths. At a sot depth the valve remains at equilibrium. If below the depth the valve is forced in, and if above out. Gyroscope is Used Beneath the "secret" lies the engine - room, equipped with three cylinder 56 - pound compressed, air engines, which drive' a single shaft to the after pro- pellor. A bevelgear from the after shaft works a shaft to a forward pro- peller, geared in the opposite direct tion to the rear screw, thus keeping an accurate balance. Still further behind is the buoyancy chamber, which contains a gyroscope. which exercises a directive force' upon the torpedo. The mechanism of the gyroscope is set' in the desired diree. tion, and as soon as the torpedo is launched it will act011the rudder and swing it around in the desired direo• tion. The buoyancy chamber also makes the torpedo,fioat on the enrfaee after it has reached its mark, or If dor some reason It tabs to explode, This, of course, 1s useful only' when practising, for which purposethe war heads are removed, and a collapsible head filled with calcium phosphide used. Instead of expoding when et strikes its mark the action of the water causes, the chemical to burst into flames after it rises to the surface, thus marking lie position and making its recovery certain. This is a necee. story provision, for some torpedoes cost $5,000 apiee. They have a speed of 20 miles; an hour, and it is said that some of them are capable of do. ins execution from a base of two miles away from the object aimed at - Looking For Cancer Cure a Promising results with the cure �:• causer have been obtained by using dead cultures of a species of fungus, groan in malignant tumors of certain animals. ge (7) Se }