The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-08-13
INVADING LOCUST
army DESTROYED
It Is Bombarded With Cannon
Loaded With Sand and
With Rockets

/ Press This country has recently com
plGted the destruction of an invasion Of
Ioeusts. II was the first appearance Of
he insect here since 1873, and was 30
| extensive thaT Il called forth the re.
.'Ources of tn government to check 10.
The popula' ION was for time thrown
into a panic md even women and chill
Pdren turned out to fight the insects.
some of the methods used in exter.
minating the pests were not unlike
those employed in destroying human
beings on tho European battlefelds,
and gave to the fighting a semblance
| real warfare. 80 .-..a..erss
The invading army was bombarded
with cannon loaded TiGh sand, and
with rockets, sprayed with asphyxiat-
ing gases and blown up with gunpow-
der. The torch was also used and there
was likewise let loose to attack the in
seets an army of coco -baciIi, which has
Detn discovered TO be a mortal enemy
of the locust. ~. 5000
Li-e-se Helps Destruction
DIseHse among the Iocusts them.
selves, however, did most to destroy
.slieIn as mas sOmetIInos been the case in
human HIn.es. .-. ..,
4 Ine lOruSSs came over the border
.soIn ne-gnDOring central American re-
lpuOli,s. Ihe P,ess OF the latter had
been reporting Ihe devastating effects
~ ", ust P,dgae iVr yea, which
were so alarming that the Costa kican
government mace preparations for an
Lavas.On OF its Iesltory. Dishearten-
ing reports reached here not only from
Guatemala and Honduras, but also from
salvador ad Nicaragua where through
'nCgiect or for other reasons no Efforts
ito eradicate the plague were made
either by the governments or by pri-
vHTe agricultural interests. The damage
the insects wrought On crops in those
countries advanced cereal prices to
4ueh an extent that their governments
were forced to import large shipments
of gain which were sold mt moderate
prices. a".s ata.r. .aA .-n ts
This, together, with the increase in
the rate of exchange caused by the
European war, caused dealers in this
country to ship large quantities OF
grain to these markets. This resulted
in considerable increase in the load
market price and all grains underwent
what might be termed'a boom.
In view OF the excellent prospects Tor
me safe or the next crop all farmers
TINS country ,notNiihstandhng the
hreatenings Plegue were attraeted 70
ne planting o. cereals and large tracts
Il land were prepared ANA enitivatea
jwarIis Easily Repulsed
As warning of the impending peril.
small swarm Of Iocusts invaded Costa
lean territory by the province Of Qua
lacaste, but owing TO the prompt action
IN the part Of the government VITA
and-loaded cannon and rockets, the
warm was easily repulsed and turned
ack into Nicaraquan territory.
After this two or three months elaps-
d in which the government had time
make thorough preparations ana
dept speeial measures A certain
uantity OF eoeo-baeih was imported by
ne MINISTRY u Puphe WORKS wnlcn was
uItlVated AZ tne national laboratory
M held IN readiness. Almost al signs
L the danger seemed 70 nave disap-'
'ea'eap when ABOUT the middle OF may
ne horue aiter hhotnei ihNaaed Sosth
acahy terfltory ON the Nlearaguhh
border; r,L, -. 49,,
NO lofusts had visited TINS country
Tor thirty.seyen years and therefore the
panic amongst tbe lnhapitants was IN
preGeaented. Inc daily newspapers
Punhshed columns ana columns OF re-
PORES on the advance OF the plague;
the government sent experts WIN tnor.
ough equipment 70 nght the INVASION
ana congress enacted speelai Jaw py
which every enLzen was forced TO pay
speclal ana dIect TAX ior covering
ne, expenses OF eNIermlnathg ~
Inc s"aflns were numerous Ano o.
uge proportions HEyerypody, without
Xseptlon' hetlen In one way OF another
destroy the insect rrNate sugseriI,
ions were raised ana IN many towns
nVadea lhe women ana ehllaren turned
lGt Win roekets lamps ann other nm
'pements 70 ala IN hs ahhihilatlon.
Worm Deadly to Locust
Although blasts of sand from cannon,
trains of glInp0wder, asphyxiating gases
md rockets were ali used with more or