New-York tribune., 1900-09-02
WANTED, A PIED PIPER.
BELGIUM IS INVADED BY AN ARMY oIs
HAMSTERS.
HAMSTERS.
From Chambers's Journal.

Without any declaration of war with no sound
OF trumpet or beat of drum, certain inhabitants
OF Germany are quietly invading and occupy
Ing the country of Belgium 1t has long besn
known that France has greedy eyes on this rich
Htue country; but that Germany which Is
usually supposed to coVet primarily Holland
should be silently pouring her hordes over har
Belgian netghbor's frontier is somewhat as
TOMS hlng 1t IS the more remarkable tnasmuch
as the invasion is proceeding almost unnOtic.4I
even by the two countries most concerned and
certainly unnoticed by the great military
Powers of Europe.
The integrity of Belgium is, as is well known
guaranteed by Great Britain: but even she viii
IN this case probably not be able to prevent an
occupation OF territory as unexpected as IN
desirable.
Fortunately for the prospects of Continental
peace the invaders, though in large force and
threatening all the destruction to crop and stare
which must be expected on the arrival Of the
enemy in great numbers, wear no helmet or
plume, carry no cruel rifle or sword and thousfa
they De ciad IN coats Of uniform color leave no
masses of slain behind them Still though they
come IN peace. their presence is none the Iess
precurslVe or danger 10 property if not To life;
and cry Of alarm is beginning TO make itself
heard from the prosperous and highly cult
waited districts into which these unweIcOne in
vadeTs-marmot rats. known in Germany as the
hamster-are advancing day by day
Ihe marmot is a native Of Central Europe,
and usually confines its peregrinatiOns to the
Western boundary. In 1912 similar incursiOn
TOOK place in the Province OF Liege. but the
raiders were successfully routed, and were be-
HeVed 20 nave disappeared entirely from Bel
gum Now news has that the dreaded
rodents have lately crossed the Meuse and az
peared in the Province Of Namur in ranks and
squadrons
The hamster is an animal of the size Of the
large brown Norway rat, and with similar den
Nature has provided 1t with a coat Of neutral
tint, the better to escape detection its fur being
OF grayish-brown on the surface black under
meath, and with white markings under the
throat. It is a pretty little animal with a
short, shaggy tail and white paws, is very
quick in its movements, and easily tanned in
k
able is that it has cheek pouches. one on either
side. with the openings inside the mouth These
extraordinary organs which the rodent can dis
tend at pleasure, alone, Of all the mammals
OF Europe, possessed by the hamster. They
serve very useful and economic purpose too
the transport to his underground lair OF the
really important quantity of cereals which h1
contrtves 70 secure 1t has been calculated tha.
each animal can lodge from one to one and
half ounces in each cheek pouch it is not
therefore, surprising that considerably over two
hundred pounds Of food of various kinds have
been found in the run Of these creatures What
such wholesale depredations would amount TO
| IN year only an unhappy farmer or the
statistical nend' could tell.
The runs are constructed with considerable
ingenuity. and consist Of number OF apart
ments; some being reserved as sleeping quarters.
others as warehouses for provisions. and are
approached by different galleries. 1t is in the
month Of August, at harvest time, that he COM
menCeS, like the prudent ant Of tabled story to
lay UP food for the winter He then works
hard, filling his cheek pouches to bursting point
and traverses the fields with the appearance Of
4
| sacks fields and barns and carries off trium-
phantly all kinds of grain, peas and beans to his
burrOW, where he emptieS his patent travelling
bags by slightly pressing them with his paws;
and he also resorts to this expedent when he
meets an enemy by the way whom circum-
| stances compel him to fight, promptly unload
ing himself Of his cargo, and rushing to the at
tack with all the ardor Of one whose life is spent
in marauding
In his habits it will be seen, the hamster re-
sembles the mole, for s the first faint
chill of winter is felt he retjres to his cosey nest
and, closing it alike to friend and foe proceeds
! to live in luxury on the good things with which
| he so carefully and thoughtfully provided him
self in summer When the cold grows still more
| intense he curls himself comfortably up and
! sleeps until the spring appears.
IN some parts of Germany the peasant inhabi-
! tants protect these animals. Too poor be
particular. they in their turn rob the rodent OF
| the store Of corn, etc. which he has with so
much work and intelligence accumulated for
| his own use. The female hamSter has thres
Iitters Of ten twelve year; and, despite their
| character for gentleness, these animals, when
/ famine stares them in the face Will eat their
| neighbOrs their own brothers without hesi(
tation and with the striCtest impartiality Their
bite is extremely dangerous, and it is said that
when they have seized on any object, even ths
hand Of a human being, only death itself VIII
| force them TO relinquish their hold
A visit from such Self-lnVited robbers iS, no
| doubt, greatly to be deplored; and it is to be
hoped that, as in 1912. the intruders viii be
| turned back to their own country. England has
once more to thank her geographical position
for keeping both human and animal would
| be invaders at bay; and the Channel, which was
ansWerabe for the failure of NapOleOn's plans
| to add England TO his list Of conquered cOun-
tries. will fortunately prove an insuperable bar
ShCT ba far he .arT0a a