Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-12
ally Kite Flying One of Uncle Sans Serious Pastimes
Seizure Of Tripoli Furnishes Food for
Serious Thought.
CANToN on TICMO LIES HANDY
vs. on Italian side of Alps and wen
Worth HavinE-Austria Also
Prepares to Forestnn
Italian Aggression.

speaking portions Of Switzerland with
the Roman kingdom, IS causing, say
these dispatches, much discussion Of the
possibility that the little mountain re-
public may be future object OF the
aggression OF its southern neighbor.
Since the outbreak of the Trlpolltan
war various Swiss papers have pointed
out the significance for Switzerland OF
this unexpected launching Of hostill-
ties and the seizure OF a coveted prov
ince and have concluded from Il the
necessity OF neglecting no steps 60 main
tain at the highest possible efficiency
the defenses and fighting power OF the
country.
TioinO Coveted by Italy.
The part Of Switzerland on which
It is feared d/that ltaly's eye may be
turned is the canton Of Ticino, on the
Italian side OF the Alps. known to thou
sands OF tourists who have Travelled
ever the ST. Gothard railroad or visited
the Italian lakes. rs area Is Loss
square miles and its population nearly
10000 practically all of them Italian
speaking. Like the southern part of the
canton of Valais and the Gngadine re-
Efon of eastern Switzerland, It is
marked upon tho maps and coiored post
cards of the Italian lrredentists (agita-
tors for united Italian cmpire) as
enc of the regions ultimately to be
SOlned to Italy but what has focused
attention particularly on the Ticino is
the vexation manifested I'm certain
italian quarters at the strong Swiss
Qualifications of the st. Gothard pass
which dominate the canton.
series of articles on the Importance
Of these Notifications by an Italian gen.
eral has recently appeared In the Cor
Eiere della Sera of Milan, but italian
criticisms of the Swiss mistrust have
rather increased than diminished the zeal
with which the Notifications are being
pressed.
In a recent article DR.. j. Schollen-
berger, professor of political science at
the University of Zurich, maintains that
Switzerland can expect little support from
France and none from Italy of the neu-
trslity and integrity OF Swiss territory.
A possible combination in the minds of
the Swiss pessmists is an italian occu-
patton of thel Ticino, for which France
would be compensated by the grant of
Geneva, town thoroughly French in
language and sympathies.
Not only Switzerland, but also Austro-
Hungary. Italy's ally, is thinking of the
possibilities of Italian aggression. Since
General Conrad has been at the head of
the Austrian general staff the fortlfica-
ton of the mountain valleys Of the Tyrol
along the Italian frontier has been car
ried on with unceaslng energy until now
every connecting pass and valley be-
Nxryaa he Nxrf. All Il. ,ta-
powerful Notifications.
Now attention has been turned to the
stilfser Joch a well-known Alpine pass,
situated at the junction of the frontiers
of Austria, Italy and Switzerland. over
this fine carriage road leads from Italy
into Austria The pass has hitherto been
considered amply defended by the fact
that the route passes for distance of
about eight miles across a narrow point
of neutral Swiss territory, but since the
construction by Italy of fortified camp
at the foot OF Monte Umbrail and of a
fort upon Monte Opa, both near the
Italian end OF the pass. and the extern
sion Of the Italian railroad to Bormio a
strong agitation has started for defensive
measures on the Austrian side.
Vineyards Produce Richly.
The wine makers of the Rhine and
Moselhe have just gathered their grapes
with unusual demonstrations of salts
faction with the years crop. When the
church bells tolled the beginning of
the grape picking they awakened MEN,
ories of the good old days OF some ten
years or more back, before the vine
yards we're damaged by phyloxera,
worms and other pests; for this year
the hot weather and the long cloudless
days were death to the insects but
caused the vines to bear grapes of a
sweetness almost without parallel.
And the quantity harvested was
somewhat more than a half crop which
is regarded as very good result in
view OF tho continued failures OF recent
years. Owing to these failures grapes
and grape Juice are bringing extraordl-
narllY high prices now The best
grapes are bringing as much as d5 cents
per pound, and grape juice for wine MAX
ing is sold at from 70 cents to 81
a gallon. The best juice at Bingen
brought S2.45 a gallon. These are re-
ported to be the highest prices ever
known.
Gas Made from Peat.
German makers Of gas engines and
working on the problem of gasifyins
peat for use in gas engines. The solu-
tion appears to have been found by ar
establishment in Gorlltz. which uses
the so-called half-water-gas process
which is different from the Mond process
used in England. The Germans call the
product a suction gas. because the en-
Eine pumps It into Itself, instead Of q
being forced into II under pressure Thi,
new method Of generating suction gai
is said to give five and one-half to sil
times the heat and power effect of Mono
gas. The new process has now been II
operation for several months, with tn,
remarkable result that yields as muci
power pound for pound from peat a
can be created out of the best coal Thi
discovery has an enormous meaning fo
Germany. where there are not less thar
100000 acres Of peat lands.