HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Dungannon News, 1915-04-15, Page 6ENEMY'S MASTER SPY ARRESTEDPRICS OF FARM PRODUCTSLUTEI
German. Espionage in Britain Revealed by Appre-
hension of New York Woollen Merchant
'A despatch from London says :
The -Approaching trial of Anton
Kuepferle, a Geisman-Ameri ;an, on
a charge of high treason, promises
to prove sensational. The arrest
occurred some weeks ago on the
eve of Kuepferle's intended depar-
ture for the Continent, but the. £act
of his arrest and the ,various hear-
ings before a police magistrate
have been kept secret on account
of the extreme importance to the
State of the matters involved and
the endeavor to deal adequately
with the wide ramifications of Ger-
man espionage in Britain which
Kuepferle's apprehension disclosed.
It is no exaggeration to say that
the authorities consider Kuep-
ferle's arrest th.e most important of
its kind since the outbreak of the
war, enabling the authorities to lay
bare a most elaborate system of
obtaining most valuable informa-
tion of military and naval plans
And transmitting .them to the
enemy. The worst feature of the
case is that it reveals beyond the
shadow of a doubt that the most
dangerous headquarters for des-
patching spies to England are lo-
cated in the United States.
The revelations by" S�tegler, who
was sent to jail in New York for
his connection with the crooked
passports, have an important carol -
le ry in the present case. Kuep-
ferlt, who is engaged in the wool-
len business in New York, Landed
at . Liverpool, and almost immedi-
ately travelled to Ireland, yet with-
in five days he had accumulated
sufficient information that he con-
sidered his mission ended and at-
tempted to leave England for Hol-
land, where he intended -to deliver
his information to responsible
chiefs of the German intelligence
department.
It happened, unfortunately for
him, that the 'night he selected to
leave Folkestone the Flushing
steamship service was temporarily
suspended owing to the activities
of German submarines, and hence
he fell an easy captive in London.
When Kuepfe•rle was arrested ex-
tremely vital information was found
in his possession. He was equip-
ped with all the paraphernalia
which modern spydom regards as
essential, such as representatives,
invisible ink, codes, addresses, in-
structions, thereby laying before
the authorities the most complete
plan of German espionage which
England has yet discovered.
ITALY WILE NOT ATTEMPT TO SLAY
ENTER THE WAR SULTAN OF EGYPT
Has Reached An Agreement with
Austria, According to Paris
Advices.
A despatch from Paris says : Pri-
vate advices have been received
here to the effect that Italy and
Austria have reached an agreement
which will satisfy the aspirations
of the Italian people for an enlarge-
ment of the national boundaries
and preclude all possibility of arm-
ed intervention by Italy on the side
of the allies.
While despatches from Vienna
recently said that Emperor Fran-
cis Joseph was absolutely opposed
to the cession of any territory as
the price of continued neutrality on
the part of Italy, the advices which
have come to hand state that the
Dual Monarchy has consented to
l-ho_--s_esaion of ..the Trentino. It is
added that the necessary docu-
ments have been drawn up and
signed.
This news bears out the reports
from Geneva recently that the
Trentino, geographically and his-
torically a part of the Italian pen-
insula, was to be handed over to
Italy, but is to be occupied by
Italian troops only at the end of
the great war. Austria has inter-
posed this stipulation so as to be
certain that Italy will maintain her
neutrality no matter what future
events may change the present
situation.
It has long been recognized here
that however much the Italian peo-
ple might desire to go to war on
the side of the allies, the basic point
in the official attitude of Italy is
the declaration of Premier Salan-
dra that Italy would remain neu-
tral "until her interests were
threatened." It has been no
secret that Italy would be willing
to give a binding promise to the
central empires to keep out of the
conflict in return for satisfactory -
territorial concessions, and assur-
ances that her aspirations in the
Adriatic would not be menaced in
case of a Teutonic victory.
Reporters Pay Fines
For Dangerous News
A despatch from London says :
Charles Dyson, .a local reporter,
was fined $25 at Portland Police
Court for supplying news to the
press calculated to be of use to
Germany, and Edward Newman,
editor of the Southern Times, was
fined $50 for publishing a report of.
a similar nature.
Shot Fired at Potentate as Ile Left
the Palace Went Wide of
• the Mark.
A despatch from London says :
An attempt was made on Friday to
assassinate the Sultan of Egypt,
Hussein Kemal, according to a
Reuter despatch from Cairo. As
the Sultan was leaving Aladin Pal-
ace a native fired a shot at him.
This went wide, and the native was
immediately seized. The Sultan
paid his intended visit to various
officials, and a crowd assembled
around the palace and 'gave him an
ovation when he returned. His
assailant in a statement described
himself as a native Egyptian, 25
years of age, and a merchant hail-
ing from Mansurah. He was per-
fectly composed.
4
WANTED.
A Tropical Rain of Sheets.
We have had, since the war be-
gan, a liberal education in the
matter of giving. So many de-
mands have been made on public
generosity that we hardly feel sur-
prised at any demand, however
great. Notwithstanding, we were,
many of us, rendered almost
breathless, when we saw the list
of "needs" for the equipment of
the University Base Hospital.
"Where," we asked, "is the mo-
ney to come from to purchase
these?"
Then a brilliant idea occurred to
one of the workers. It was this -
"Why not have a sheet shower, not
only for Toronto, but for the Pro-
vince ?"
Ours is a provincial university.
Why should not we give the women
of Ontario an opportunity to help
with these furnishings?
Opportunity is all that is need-
ed, for there are thousands of
mothers, wives, and sisters of past
and present University students
who will be only too glad to help.
Hundreds, perhaps, will not have
time to send to buy sheets. They
will then go to their own . well -
stocked linen -presses, and taking
some treasures, laid away in view
of illness of their own nearest and
dearest, will dedicate them to the
nearest and dearest of others, in
fair France.
The size most required is 60" x
108", and they may be sent to the
Red Cross Society, 77 King Street
East, Toronto, marked Base Hos-
pital, No. 4, immediately.
• JEAN McPHEDRAN.
WOULD BE CERTAIN DESTRUCTION
CQmmanJer of German Cruiser Quits Bluffing and
Interns the Prinz Eitel
A desp•a•tch from Washington
rays : Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Peters announced that
the German cruiser Eitel Friedrich
would intern at Newport News,
Virginia. The ship will remain in
the custody of. the United States
the end of the war in which
Germany- is now engaged.
The period fixed by the Govern-
mcnt Neutrality Board within
which the, Eitel Friedrieh should
leave the territorial waters of the
United States unless she was to be
interned •expired Wednesday night.
Secretary Peters received a report
from Collector of Customs Hamil-
ton at Norfolk transmitting a. com-
munication from (:'apt. Thieres-
chen, of the German ship, stating
his intention to intern.
The German captain disclosed for
the first tine that he had expected
assistance ►,kom the other warships
of his goveriiment•in order to make
it possible for hint to dash for the
open sea with some hope of suc-
cess. In his communication he gave
no details as to the basis of his ex-
pectation that assistance would be
rendered him, but it was inferred
that he expected German warships
to divert the British and French
cruisers from their patrol outside
the Virginia Capes so as to permit
the Eitel -to :steam away to safety.
Secretary Peters announced that
the Navy Department would take
charge of the internment of the
German warship. On being taken
to the navy yard the breech blocks
f her guns will be removed and
connecting rod of her engines de-
tached.
REPORTS FROM THE LEADING TRADE
CENTRES OF AMERICA.
Breadstufis.
Toronto, April 13. -Flour -Manitoba first
patents quoted at $7.70, in jute bags; sec-
ond patents, $7.20; strong bakers', $7. On-
tario wheat flour, 90 per cent. patents,
quoted at $5.85 to $5.90, seaboard; and at
$5.90, Toronto freight.
Wheat -Manitoba No. 1 Northern quot-
ed at $1.60; No. 2 at $1.58 1-2, and No. 3
at $1.56 1-2. Ontario wheat, No. 2 nominal
at $1.40 to $1.42, at outside points.
Oats -Ontario quoted at 60c, outside, and
a;, 62 to 63c on track, Toronto. Western
Oanada, No. 2, quoted at 69c, and No. 3 at
66 1-2e.
Barley -Good malting grades, 80 to 83e,
outside.
Rye -$1.15 to $1.17, outside.
Peas -No. 2 quoted at $1.85 to 51.90, out-
side.
Cori -No. 3 new American quoted at
81c, all rail, Toronto freight.
Buckwheat -Nd. 2 quoted at 82 to 83c,
outside.
Bran and shorts --Bran is quoted at $26
to $27 a ton, and shorts at $28 to $29.
Rolled oats -Car lots, per bag of 90 lbs.,
$3.40.
. Country Produce.
Butter -The market is firm with offer-
ings insufficient to go around. Choice
dairy, 27 to 28c; inferior, 21 to 23e; cream-
ery prints, 36 to 36 1-2c; do., solids, 33 to
34e.
Eggs -Receipts are large and price un-
clohts.aged at 20 to 21e per dozen, in case
n
Beane-The market is steady at $3.25 to
pich-
$3.30ed. for prime, and $3.25 to $3.40 for hand
Poultry -Chickens, dressed, 16 to 17e;
ducks, dressed, 13 to 15c; fowl, 11 to 13e;
turkeys, dressed, 20 to 21c. -
Cheese -Th- market continues firm at
13 3-4e for large, and at 19 to 19 1.4c for
twine.
Potatoes -Ontario, 55 to 60e •per bag out
of store and 45 to 50c in car lots. New
Brunswick,, car lots, 55 to 60e per bag.
Baled Hay and Straw.
Straw is quoted at $8 to 5.50 a ton in
car lots, on track here.
Hay -No. 1 new hay ie quoted at $17
to $18; No. 2 at $15.50 to $16; and No. 3 at
$12.50 to $13.50.
Business in Montreal.
Montreal, April 13. -Corn -American No.
2 yellow, 82 to 82 1-2c. Oats -Canadian
western, No. 3, 671-2c; extra No. 1 feed,
67 1-2c; No. 2 local white, 661-2c; No. 3 lo-
cal white, 65 1-2c; No. 4 local white, 64 1-4c.
Barley -Manitoba. feed, 80e; malting, 90
to 92c. Buckwheat -No. 2, 92e. Flour --
Manitoba Spring wheat patents, firsts.
$7.80; seconds, $7.30; strong baker,', $7.10;
Winter patents, choice, $7.80; straight
rollers, $7.30 to $7.40; do., bags, $3.45 to
$3.55. Rolled oats-Bbls., $6.75 to $7; bags,
90 lbs., $3.25 to $3.35. Bran, $26. Shorts,
$28. Middlings, $33 to 534. Moullie, $35
to $38. Hay -No. 2, per ton, car lots, $18
to $19. Cheese-Fineet westerne, 17 1-4 to
17 1-2c; finest eastern,, 16 3-4 to 17e. But-
ter -Choicest creamery, 32 1-2 to 33e; eec-
onde 31 1-2 to 32c. Eggs -Fresh, 21 1-2 to
23c. Potatoes -Per bag, car lots, 42 1-2 to
45c. Dressed hogs -Abattoir killed, $12.75
to $13.25; country, 59.50 to $11.75. Pork -
Heavy Canada short meas, bble., 35 to 45
pieces., $28; Canada short-cut back, bbl,.,
45 to 55 pieces, $27.50. Lard -Compound,
tiercee, 375 lbs., 9 1-2c; wood pails, 20 lbe.
net, 10^; pure. tierces, 375 lbs., 11 1-2, pure,
wood pails, 20 lbs. net, 12c.
United States.
Minneapolis. April 13. -Wheat -No. 1
hard, $1.55 3-8; No. 1 Northern, $1.48 7-8 to
$1.52 7-8; No. 2 Northern, $1.43 7-8 to
$1..49 7-8; May, $1.46 3-4 to 51.46 7-8. Corn -
No. 3 yellow, 68 1-2 to 68 3-4c. Oats -No. 3
white, 541-4 to 54 1-2c. Flour and bran
unchanged.
Duluth, April 13. -Linseed, $1.91; May,
$1.92. Wheat -No. 1 hard, $1.53 5-8; No.
1 Northern, $1.52 5-8; No. 2 Northern,
$1.47 5-8 to $1.45 5-8; May, $1.50 5-8.
Live Stock Market.
Toronto. April 13. -Butchers' cattle,
choice, $7.50 to $7.75; do., good, $6.75 to
$7.25; do., medium, $5.75 to $6.25; do., com-
mon, $4.75 to $5.25; butchers' bulls, choice.
$6 to $6.75; do., good bulls, $6.25 to $6.30;
do., rough bulls, $4.50 to $4.75; butchers'
cows, choice, $5.50 to $6.75; do., f.o.b.,
$8.25; do., medium, $5.75 to $6; do., com-
mon, $4.50 to $4.75; feeders, good, $6 to
$6.80; do., rough bulls, $5.25 to $6; stock-
ers, 700 to 1,000 lbs., $6 to $6.65; canners
and cutters, $3.75 to $4.30; milkers, choice,
each, $60 to $80; do., common and medium,
each, $35 to $45; springers, $50 to $75;
light ewes, $6.50 to $8; do., heavy, $5 to
$6.50; do., bucks, $3.75 to $4.25 lambe, $5
to $12; calves, $6.50 to $10.50; hogs, fed
and watered, $8.75; do., off cars, $9.15 to
$9.25; do., f.o.b., $8.40.
Montreal, April 13. -There were no choice
steers on the market, but a few odd sales
of good steers were made at $7.50 to $7.75,
and the lower grades from' that down to
$5 to $5.50, while cows brought from $4.75
to $6.75, and bulls from $5.50 to $6.50 per
cwt. The demand for calves was fairly
good and sales were made at prices rang-
ing from $2.50 to $10 each, as to size and
quality. and a few Spring lambs sold at
52.50 to $5 each. Yearling lambs were
scarce and firm at $8.50 to $9 per cwt., and
ewe sheep at $5.75 to $6. The tone of the
market for hoge is very firm. Suppliee
were small but ample to fill all immediate
requiremente. and sales of selected lots
were made, at $9.30 to $9.60 per cwt.,
weighed off cars.
French Women Eager
To Drive Ambulances
A despatch from Paris says: The
French women's automobile club
has commenced the recruiting of
women motorists, aviators and bal-
loonists to form a brigade of ambu-
Iance,s for the French army. Ap-
plications are coming in at the rate
of 100 per day. The organization
aims to find enough capable women
conductors to replace all the men at
present driving ambulances who
are capable of rendering better ser-
vices at the front.
ORDERED OUT OINORWAY.
Three Pirate Craft Discovered by
31ilitary- Airmen.
A despatch from. Christ.i.a.nia,
Norway. . says : Military aviators
while cruising over the cliffs, which
line the Norwegian coast nera Der -
gen Bay on Thursday discovered
three German submarines which
had taken refuge there. They
were ordered to depart immediate-
ly or else be interned. They left.
r
Name German Streets
After U -29's Captain
A despatch from London says: A
Christiania despatch says that
many German cities have given
streets the name of Weddingen
after the commander of the sub-
marine t-29, which the Germaris
now admit has been sunk. Obitu-
ary notices in several new spapse s
refer to hint as a meteor that has
disappeared.
Has Been On Personal Staff of Both
Ititcheuer and Roberts.
The name of Lieut. -General Sir
Henry Seymour Rawlinson, Bart..
C.B., C'.V.O., has figured in the de-
spatches relating to the fighting of
the Canadians a+ the front. Gen-
eral Alderson is in command of our
boys, but Lieut. -Gen. Rawlinson is
in charge of the division to which
the Canadians are attached.
His first service was in Burma,
with the 60th Rifles, where two
years were spent in a tedious cam-
paign against dacoit bands. Lord
Roberts next made him one of his
aides, a fact which undoubtedly had
much to do with his subsequent suc-
cess. Regarding this post he attend-
ed the Staff College from which he
eventually passed out extremely
creditably. By this time he was
quite the scientific soldier, and,
what is more, exceedingly ambiti-
cats and capable. Thus it was that,
in 1898, he became D.A.A.G. to
Lord Kitchener, and was present in
that capacity at the- battles of At-
bara and Khartoum. K. of K. en-
dorsed Lord Roberts' opinion of
his brains by mentioning him twice
in despatches and in taking this
comparatively youngofficer very
much into his confidence, indeed,
treating him as one of his right-
hand men.
Defender of Ladysmith.
By this time he was no longer a
rifleman, having exchanged from
the 60th into the Coldstream
Guards, and on war breaking out in
South Africa, Sic George White,
who was very much one of "Bobs' "
men and an admirer of "Bobs' "
discoveries, asked to have hint on
his staff in Natal. The consequence
of this request was that,- as A.A.
G., Rawlinson was with Sir George
during .the defence ..of Ladysmith. -
Though nowadays the siege of that
place seems almost a small episode,
yet it must not be forgotten that
the defending - force suffered tre-
mendous privations and showed the
utmost skill and gallantry- in de-
fending Ladysmith until its relief.
Rawlinson did so well with Sir
George that he next went to head-
quarters in South Africa, serving
under both of his former chiefs,
"Bobs" and "Lord K." He also
found time to command a mobile
column, get mentioned three times
in despatches, and get both the
Lt. -Gen. Sir henry S. Rawlinson.
King's and Queen's medals with
eight clasps. By this time he had
convinced everyone that he had
brains, so his appointment as com-
mandant of the Staff College was
considered eminently suitable, and
so it proved. After this he got
command of a brigade at Alder-
shot, and later of :a division on
Salisbury Plain . He is essentially
a soldier, of the modern school of
thought, and believes that brains
are better than beauty, initiation
more useful than pipeclay. Most
men with the money he has would
have retired long ago. Only the
love of his work and a desire to
distinguish himself kept him in the
army. He is only fifty years of age.
Essentially a Sportsman.
He is essentially- a sportsman :
even at Sandhurst he kept polo
ponies, rather to the envy of a good
many people who could not afford
to do likewise, and where there is
hunting , polo, cricket, or racquets
there "Rawley" is to be found. He
can laugh very heartily and tell all
sorts of stories exceedingly well.
He also confesses to a predilection
for drawing, and there are few
men in the service. even including
the "mad, married, or methodist"
sappers, who can make a field map
quicker or better than he can. He
has found time to get married and
become a father. He also found
time to succeed his father as second
berunet.
General French has told us much
that he has done in France, and
all fust he has told us is to "Haw-
ley's" credit. Amongst other
things we learn that upon One occa-
sion he was brave enough to take
r
the responsibi:ty "of questioning Sir
John's orders and refusing to sac-
rifice his men on what he recog-
nized to be a hopeless enterprise,
aIle, Sir John French in his des-
patches agreed, when the circum-
stances came to light that Sir Henry
had been correct in his judgment.
In doing this he undoubtedly did a
far more gallant act than in refus-
ing responsibility by scrupulously
obeying is -1st -suctions and throwing
ALLOW ME TO PRESENT
MY BEST FRIEND
ROYAL
YEAST
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rES
IN BUYING
YEAST CAKES
BE CAREFUL SPECIFY TO E.W. GI LLETT CO. LTD. ttultirr
ROYALTORONTO.
YEAST WiHMiPBG. MONTREAL. 11"tih,��G ON
CAKES
DECLINE SUBSTITUTES.
TROOPS FOR DARDANELLES
French Expeditionary Force Is Ready to Proceed
Without Delay to Any Point Necessary
A despatch from Paris says :
French troops from Africa are
ready to assist the allied fleets and
British expeditionary forces against
Turkey. The following official
statement was issued by the War
Office : "The expeditionary corps of
the Orient, which was placed un-
der command of General A. G. L.
d'Amade and concentrated at Bi-
zerta (a fortified seaport of Tunis,
Africa) to perfect its organization,
has effected the voyage of the Le-
vant under the best of conditions.
away his men's lives. He has
brains, he has energy, and the
power to command ; with this com-
bination there is little doubt but
that the men under him have full
confidence in him and will follow
him to the end. He is a product
of Eton, and' Eton may well be
proud of him.
Clergyman Working
In a Shell Factory
A despatch from Glasgow says:
A call for recruits here to assist in
the manufacture of shells brought
forth a clergyman, who was
promptly accepted. He is the Rev.
Stuart Robertson, of Pollokshield
Church, a tall, athletic figure, who
now serves from 6 o'clock in the
morning until 5 at night in a large
engineering shop. His day's work
over, the Rev. Robertson attends
to his pastoral duties as his even-
ing's recreation.
Germany to Settle
For the Wm. P. Frye
A despatch from Washington
says: The German Government
has replied to the claim of the State
Department for compensation for
the sinking by the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich of the American ship
William P. Frye, assuming liability
not only for destruction of the ves-
sel, but of the cargo, under the
Treaty of 1828. Germany requires,
however, that the case shall be
taken before a prize court for the
establishment of facts concerning
ownership of ship and cargo. To
this the State Department will as-
sent.
812,000 Prisoners
Claimed by Germany
A despatch from Amsterdam
says: Word received here from Ber-
lin says that on April 1, 812,800
prisoners of war were being held in
Germany ---10,175 officers and 802,-
633 men. The despateh gives the
prisoners by nationality as fol -
ICONS :-
Officers
French 3,868
Russian 5,140
Belgian 647
British 520
CONDEMNS GERMAN HATRED.
Men
238,496
504,210
39,620
20,307
Thinks Cool Calculating English
May Be Blessing to Mankind.
A despatch from London says : A
protest- against German self-esteem
and against the prevailing spirit of
hatred for England is made by
Stimmen Der Zeit, the organ of the
German Jesuits, which asserts that
each nation has a special mission to
perform in the world. The wish is
expressed that the rich talents and
gifts of the cool, calculating Eng-
lish may become a blessing to man-
kind, and that for France there
may arise her old and precious
civilization.
Goeben Still Faster
Than Russian Ships
A despatch from Petrograd says :
The vident reason why Admiral
Z.ouchon divided the Turkish fleet
into squadrons in the recent raid
in the Black Sea was anxiety as to
the nature of the movements of
Russian merchantmen. Although
the Gceben has a large concrete
patch in her ,side, and is slower by
five or six knots than formerly,
she was still able to outdistance
,.-lything brought against her Sat-
urday except the torpedo h•
It has been ready since March 15
to aid the allied fleets and British
expeditionary corps. In waiting
it was deemed advisable not to pro-
long the stay of the troops aboard
the transports, and, for this rea-
son, the hospitality of Egypt was
aceepted. The French forces have
been debarked at Alexandria, and
are installed at Ra•mleh, where
they are resting and perfecting
their organization and cohesion.
They are ready to proceed without
delay to any point necessary."
WOLVES ON BATTLE FIELD.
The Terrible Experience of a Rus-
sian Officer.
The presence of wolves has added
a new terror to the battle fields of
East Prussia and Poland. A recent
despatch from Petrograd gives the
harrowing experience of a Russian
officer, as he related it in a Riga
newspaper. He was severely
wounded, and when he came to
himself he was apparently the only
living soul left on the field. Pull-
ing himself together and leaning on
his sword, he staggered as best he
could•to the shelter of the adjacent
woods.
"Just as I reached the edge of the
woods," he says, "I halted in ter-
ror. In the distance I heard. the
howling of a wolf. It sounded un-
utterably melancholy in the still
autumn night. Another wolf an-
swered in the same dismal note.
The howling drew nearer. Present-
ly it was all round me, and grow-
ing louder and more exultant every
moment.
"I am no coward. I am a sports-
man, and have killed many wolves,
but what I heard that night I can
never forget. The howling kept
coming closer and closer. I saw
clearly there was no chance of sav-
ing myself when the circle had fin-
ally closed upon me. I went run-
ning -how I managed it I do not
know -towards some bushes a hun-
dred yards away. I reached them
and dropped to the ground. I re-
solved to fight as long as I could.
I had my loaded revolver and my
sword.
"The wolves came nearer and
nearer, and their howling filled the
night. Now they were at the bor-
der of the woods. In the darkness
I could see dim shadows moving
slowly between the trees. As they
came out of the woods from differ-
ent directions, they drew together
into one great pack, and stood thus
for some minutes. Then another.
wolf howled from somewhere out on
the battle field, and all at once the
pack began to move.
"Without haste, in a deliberate
trot, they passed the clump of
bushes where I was sitting with
drawn revolver. Not one turned
toward me. I watched each one as
he went by, expecting that he
would spring at me. I do not know
how many there were, but they
were very many, all trotting so
quietly to the field where the dead
were lying.
"I fell into unconsciousness soon
after. At sunrise I was picked up,
still unconscious, by a Cossack pa-
trol."
$5,500,000 is Voted
For Galician Relief
A despatch from Petrograd says:
The Russian Government has ap-
propriated $5,500,000 for the relief
of war •sufferers in Galicia. The
money will be largely used to pur-
chase wheat and horses for the
farming -population.
American Observers
Have Left Germany
A despatch from Geneva t ay,s :
The five American army officers
who were attached to' the German
military forces as observers until
recalled by cable, arrived .at Berne
on their way home.
•
A teacher had told a class of juv-
enile pupils that Milton, the poet,
was blind. The next day she ask-
ed if anv of them could remember
what Milton's great affliction was.
"ss'm, replied one little fellow,
a
''
u_ was a poet."
-
FRIENDI.ZSXU_NS.
A Writer Declares Ile Is a Much
Maligned Animal.
Now and then the story is told
of a 1ittle'country girl who finds a
family of interesting black and
white "kittens" in the woods and
carries tlhem home with much joy,
only to be met by a horrified par-
ent who loses no time in explain-
ing the unpleasant peculiarities of
skunks. As the child grows up,
this first lesson ma? be enforced by
the sight of anext-door neighbor
burying his Sunday clothes in a se-
cluded corner of the garden. The
disrepute of Mephitis mephitic& is
so firmly established that it is diffi-
cult to find anyone who has a good
word to say about him. An ac-
count, however, in Outdoor World
and Recreation, by Mr. Ernest H.
Baynes, who scraped more than a
casual ,acquaintance with a whole
family of skunks, gives a somewhat
different character to wkat he de-
clares is a much maligned animal.
By offering an occasional feast of
meat, he made friends with a pair
of skunks that lived in a burrow
near a stone wall. One morning in
early May he walked round to call;
and just inside the entrance found
a squirming mass of black and
white young skunks, all tugging
away at their mother, who lay on
her side that they might have a bet-
ter opportunity.
"Her head wan away from me,"
says Mr. Baynes, "and hidden in
the darkness of the burrow, but her
tail was turned toward me, and as
I approached she raised it slowly
over her back. This movement had
great significance for -nae, since I
was well within range. For ob-
vious reasons I was anxious to
avoid any misunderstanding at
this moment, so I sat down and
waited very quietly. Then I talked
to her, knowing that she would re-
cognize the sound of my voice.
" `Hello, old lady !' I said in a
tow tone. `Steady, now ! steady !'
And a.t the same time I stroked her
fur ever so gently with my fingers.
Very slowly the expressive tail was
lowered, and as I continued to
stroke her fur more and more
briskly, she stretched herself in
comfort, and even leaned toward
me a little as a cat might have
done. I worked my hand gently
forward until I felt one of the
plump little babies. Without a
suggestion of hurry I drew him
from the hole, rose quietly to my
feet, and once clear of the mouth
of the burrow, dashed off home like
an Indian to photograph and make
notes of my prize. Within an hour
I had put him back into the den
again.
"I 'continued to visit these queer
neighbors for weeks, and
fitia Iy in June I -took three of the
babies from their mother and pro-
ceeded to rear them by hand, feed-
ing them at first with a glass medi-
cine dropper. The next step was
to teach them to eat from a saucer,
and this they soon learned to do,
although in the beginning they
were very messy about it, for they
would put their paws into the dish
and slop the contents about. As
they grew larger, I used to take
them out into the fields with me and
watch them • catch crickets and
grasshoppers. Their usual 'method
was to capture their prey by put-
ting their paws on it, and then to
killit by rolling it on the ground
with their feet. •
"Ofterf they picked up wild cher-
ries under the trees and gathered
blackberries and raspberries by
pulling down the branches with
their paws. They were extremely.
good-natured little fellows, and ne-
ver attempted to bite me, although
they were somewhat obstinate at
times, running off with all their
might when I wanted to take them
home, or stamping at me petulant-
ly, like spoiled children, when I
went to pick them up.
"I kept these skunks for two
years, and they seemed happy - in
their semi -captivity ; but I knew
that they would be happier if they
had entire freedom, so I liberated
them in a wilderness paradise,
where for all I know they are still
leading happy -and useful --lives."
A German Sir Philip Sidney.
Here is a touching war story that
is printed in the London Nursing
Mirror. It was told in a West
Country hospital by one of many
wounded British soldiers who lay
there.
- The British had taken a German
trench with the bayonet. Two Bri-
tish soldiers, badly wounded. lay
beside a dying German in the
trench.
"What wouldn't I give for a
drink !" called out one Tommy to
the other. The Germanunderstood
the word "drink," for it is much
like the word in his own language.
The soldier who lived to tell the
tale, said, "He kep' sayin', "ere,'
and pointin' to his side. We thought
he wanted liftin' up, and couldn't
rest easy; so, .after a bit, I man-
aged to lift myself up and give him
a pull, and then I found he was
lyin' on his water bottle. It was
fall of win's aiid Water, an`d' I''put
it to his lips.
"Pore chap ! He was nigh ozone
for, but he sez, 'No, not me, I
die you drink :' He died, too, he
did, and later some of tis lesried
him proper."
trying men are so busy �.� .ng , �o
reform everything in :general that
they haven't` time to reform- t1 e
selves.