The river press., 1914-12-23
WEEK IS LIMIT
IN ARMIES Of
Average Duration on March
and Battlefield Is Only
Seven Days.


the European war, according
to the estimates made by military ex-
perts abroad and high army officers
in Washington in discussing and writ
ing Of the reign Of death and destruc-
ton on the continent. This figure.
varying slightly for the various nation.
alities engaged in the conflict, IL a
striking summing up of the manner
in which living creatures are being
hurled by the hour into the vortex of
the greatest war in history.
So accurately have the averages of
how long q man or horse may live
in the face Of fighting and quick
marching under fire been compiled that
the following table can be given:
Life Of man-French, six days:
English. seven days: Russian. nine
days: German. five days; Belgian. six
days: Servian. eight days.
Life Of horse-French. FIVE days;
English. four days; Russian. five days;
German. three days: Belgian. four
days: Servian. five days.
War Noisy, but Invisible.
A French officer who had been in the
battle east Of Amiens in France as
serted that this is probably the noisiest
war the world has ever known. It is
also the most nearly invisible war.
Many Of the first line troops have
fought in all the battles from Belgium
to the Marne and back to the present
position without actually seeing any
Germans. save dead or wounded. The
men have become SO curious to see
their enemies that lately, when the
trenches are SO close that the French
soldiers can hear the Germans shout
ing orders. the French officers have
had the greatest difficulty in forcing
the men to keep their heads down.
The same officer credits the mitrail-
leuse with being Germany's deadliest
weapon. Speaking of ordinary artil.
lery. he relates how a few days ago q
French infantryman was wading
through the mud back to the trench
and eating pear. A shell burst near
by. piece Of it striking the soldiers
haversack and telling him. he was
Immediately on his feet again swear
ing furiously. Lies cochons (pigs)!
They made me lose my pear"
Paris Uses "Shibboleth."
So many spies have been caught in
France recently. says Paris letter.
that the possession Of papers apparent
ly in good order avails man or wom-
an nothing once an accusation has
been made or suspicion aroused. 1t is
asserted that no German tongue can
ever pronounce certain French words
without betraying itself. 1t is failure
to pass tests Of this kind which con
demns the suspects.
A woman was challenged in q Paris
street. seized and hailed to the police
station. She was we'll dressed and of
the last type which ordinary home stay
ing people would be likely to suspect
Of espionage-apparently prosperous
widow Of about thirty. leading little
boy by the hand. but it was learned
that 1t proved clear case Of espion-
age. She had evaded the war regula
tion Of the local authorities that stran
gers must not remain more than TWEEN.
ty.fOnr hours in any town in this part
Of France without reporting personal
~ to the police by changing her lodg
tngs every day for week
Briton Must Have His Bath.
''Today stood in the lobby Of no.
tel in Havre when the water meter
man approached the proprietress." says
war correspondent.
Madam he said. 1T is strange that
your water meter record is eXtraordi-
narily high this month. You must
have English soldiers here
II pursued the inquiry myself and
found that it was indeed true that
the extra use Of water in the hotel was
caused by English officers bathing so
frequently. The proprietress is threat.
ening to raise the price of her rooms.
Poacher "Keeps His Hand In"
Not long ago couple of French ter
ritOrials bivouacking in the shelter of
clump of trees set about preparing
the evening meal. One, whose ruddy
became communicative and frankly
avowed he was by profession chiefly
pOacher The other lent sympa-
thetic ear to the poacher's musings and
mentally congratulated himself upon
having so resourceful a companion.
Forthwith the poacher produced from
bag hare which he had laid hold
of that morning-"to keep his hand in.' -
he said. AS he skinned the animal and
dressed and prepared it for the fire he
observed that his companion did not
seem to manifest much interest in the
proceedings.
Look here" said he as he sat down
the tasty dish. "Aren't you pleasedY'
''Oh. yes" replied his comrade with
the keenest relish, but he did not dare
to tell his companion that be was q
public prosecutor. Eating poached hare
in company was an obviously unex.
pected experience. In other circum.