The farmer and mechanic., 1915-09-14

MT DreXel said the French artil-
lery was more than match for any
tnlhs the enemy possessed. The
french 15" gun has proved itself
the greatest artillery arm in the
worlds history, and has been one Of
the important factors in the Allies
successes.
Add TO this the craftsmanship of
the french gunners. and you have an
answer for the success of the French
2rtlllery, said Mr.. Drexel The
Frenchmen have developed such ac-
curacy in their fire that they can
drop their shells 10 yards in ad-
vance Of their own trenches without
INJURY TO their own men
The trenches are in rows 10 wards
or so apart. Picture rows and rows
of trenches. Back of them are plant
ed the batteries. The battling forces
advance under a curtain of artillery
fire. The French guns drop the shells
over the heads of their own men. thus
providing screen; but through and
over all boom the powerful high ex-
plOsiveS used on both sides ShrapneI
is used only in forming these pro
tecting walls. 1t is with the high ex-
plOSiveS that the real carnage Of war
is accomplished.
The Big BerthaS' employed by
the Germans have proved their worth
in battering dcwn massive fortifica-
tiOns, but the French rs guns have
done probably more to hold the
Kaiser's men in check than any 9TH
er agency. The deadly gases employ
| ed are the most horrible development
OF the new warfare. Imagine, if you
can. dense, heavy volume of vapor
slowly enveloping you. 1t is suffo-
eating, nauseous, overwhelming You
| have no chance to fight for your life
| Most of the men die a slow, agoniz-
ing death. They live maybe "a OF
As hours, and then succumb from
asphyxiation."
British Prove Their Valor
Mr.. Drexel paid a handsome tri-
butte to the valor of the English
troops. At Ypres, he said, they
gained undying fame. Their stub
born resistance there was the pivo
for the repulse of the Germans il
their swing through Belgium an(
| France toward Paris. In that cam
paign, beginning with the battles o
the Aisne and the Marine, and reach
ing th>ir climax in the conflict a
Ypres, the British troops bore tn
brunt of the fighting.
They lost heavily, but they Tough
bravely and saved the day for tn
Allies" said Mr.. Drexel. And the:
are even more strongly entrenche'
today. Around Calais is barrie
| lllCll, " lily lllIC, tIlc NSIHldIl
: never can penetrate. | do know hoy
many British troops are at that point
but / do know the boys of EnSlan
are standing strong at Calais IT doe
| not seem possible that Germany vii
r be able to get across the channel, a
least from Calais. England has be
r tween 100000 and 100000 men i
/ the field, and there are many NOR
to come.
"a QCti nf ino m
\ munition has been solved. Last win
f ter it was a serious matter for
t time. Now there are nearly 200 plant
. turning out ammunition in England
n and the Allies are we'll provided i
!. | this respect. The Industrial situa
ton has settled down. For time et
S forts were made to put the plant
V out Of commission by strikes, but tn
Il line of endeavor proved futile. Tn
e has been attributed to German syn
d pathizers in England. There al
IS many naturaliZed Germans in En-:
: land. 1t would seem that simils
: conditions prevail here. Presidel
t Wilson has a hard job. He does n
e want to embroil the country.
is 1T is pretty hard to stand fC
l. such things as the sinking Of II
v Lusitania. man may not be hun
d ing q fight and may never desire
q fight, but there are times when
le seems that a man must fight.
L Zcppclins Not Feared.
at London has not suffered mut
Z from dirigible raids, according to NJ
Drexel. There have been a few aeri
er bomba rdments, but they have accor
IF plished little ard virtually ha
s. ceased.
s. London is immune from serio
10 attack" he said. The city has be-
v extensively fortified against the Ze
le pelins.
Of How the Germans do love the
Zeppelins. But they are shown
W be pretty much of a failure. IN
10 are used to advantage in scouting
re the North Sea, but as to attacks
TT England, they are not worth mu(
ct The coast towns have all been for
I'd fed with a view to taking care
IS. the Zeppelins, with the result tn
a their activities have been cut sho
xe MANY Zeppelins have been broug
ad down by the English guns.