davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
lie could make the breach in the enc

lie could make the breach in the enc
my's line wide enough the day Of
trench fighting on that part of the
western front would be over for the
present, and old fashioned strategy
on Il grand scale might he expected.
In advancing on Paris the Germans
could not avoid n descent on the great
camp of ChalOns on the bank of the
Marine. II one bears in mind that the
western front after leaving the bend
N Ncrdun run> undulating west and
northwest to just II it'll" north of
Rheims. SOisSons and t%omplegne. the
last town seventy miles northeast of
Paris, II will be- realized that once
the Germans crossed the Mouse in
force n great ties of gcneralship on
both sides would he in order and
unavoidable.
II will soon be known whether the
capture Of verdun is a part of the
Crown Princes plan Of campaign.
whether Paris is his objective in Il
grand forward movement. II is sig.
nitlcant that Marshal Won HAEsEiTH,
n Of the ablest veterans OF the
Franco-Prussian war. IL the Crown
Princes adviser now, as was the case
last June and July when u German
offensive was attempted In the Ar
Unnpo aftor ,oonf ,r.,p,n,ty hnI CANA
up from the st. Mihicl salient. The
German official bulletins gave the
French losses at 5000 In the fighting
that followed. but the Crown Prince
was not Their able to drive his oNen-
sive home. More audacicus. magnin-
cent I'm fact, is the present 'dri>c."
The Germans are using every man
they can send into the firing line. and
the Crown Prince seems to be putting
his fate to the touch. Ito win or lose
II all"
Defeat could hardly mean anything
else than certain failure of the cam.
paign in the q from Calais To
the Nosges. Success in crossing the
Mouse would break up the line on
the midwestcrn front. and the final
issue would he in doubt. with the
Germans. whose strategy must al.
ways excite admiration. in the most
advantageous position for II general
advance.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
WHERE cRUSoE DWELT.
The Local Traditions Of the Casta-
ways Island Home.

TO THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir! A
letter to THE Sun by ct" of Moitclair'
n. j., dealing with Crusoe's island has
been copied in one OF our local papers
to-day. May ], as an old West Indian
missionary. who lived In TobaEo for
three years, have tho privilege OF add
ing q few words to what has been al
ready well written? ,
1t Is true that Crusoe AS a result OF
his inquiries from Friday says that TIM
dad il northwest of his island. and that
Trinidad is southwest of Tobago. the re-
puted scene OF Robinson Crusoe's lone
illness and adventure, and that the two
statements conflict. Yet allow me TO
say that throughout the West Indies,
and in Trinidad aud TObago parti"u-
larry, tho latter IL generally accepted
as the island from which DE Foe drew
his descriptions for his immortal WORK.
II is locally called "Robinson Crusoe's
Island and ten miles from Scarbor-
ough, the capital, to the west Ia Robin
son Crusoe's cave The local tradition
IL that IA shipwrecked sailor made MS
hdrne there for a while. Tho cave Is
n Of the sights shown TO TOURISTS
though there are disappointments. Tor
being on the s%eaahore access depends
upon the state, of the tide.
Many times from the veranda OF the
mission house of my station at Mount
st. George, TJbago. I have looked out
over the sea on "A calm day and seen
the traces in the ocean of "the great
draft and reflux Of the mighty Oroo-
ooko' as related by Crusoe, and in the
distance. but to the southwest. the coast
Of Trinidad standing out some twenty
miles away. Crew GILBERT EARLE.
FAIRviLIE. y. B.. Canada. February 26.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
Fifty Visits to GaynOr.

As Il witness before the Thompson
legislative committee on Saturday
MIRABEAU L. Towns seemed to he
torn with conflicting emotions. As
an erstwhile poet Of the courts. min.
Cling sentiment with, fees. he was Il
comic figure In spite Of himself. He
seemed to be anxious to remove from
the committees mind the impression,
for which he held President THEODORE
p. SHoNTs responsible. that he got
some Of IL" for merely introducing
Mr.. SHoNTs TO Mayor GAYNoR; but
Mr.. Towns. vas no less anxious TO
have II understood that he was work
ing for the best interests Of the city
in his visits TO the Mayor to persuade
him that the city ought not to com
pete with the PETERBOROUGH in rapid
transit undertakings.
Fifty trips to GAYSoR at one hum
dred dollars a trip Mr.. Towns thought
altogether too little for his activi-
ties. He sent President ShONTs a
bin for $4,000, but that astute gen
tleman cut II In half. Five thousand
dollars for bringing Mr.. SuoNrs and
the Mayor together for an ambula-
tory discussion at ST. James? Perish
the thought. Mr.. SHoNrs did not
consider MiRABEAU l.. Towns so high
priced a specialist in psychology.
The poet-lawyer was not quite sure
under examination that he really ar.
ranged the meeting at st. James. Nor
was he positive that he had overcome
the opposition of Mayor GAYNoR in
nifty visits and fifty appeals. But II
Mr.. Towns worked for the best In
terests Of the city he admitted that
he also worked for the marlborough.
II" had II painful quarter Of an hour
on the stand. and what seemed to
pain him most was that President
SHONrS as a witness was puzzled to
place linn as n cog in the ma
chin"ry Of negotiation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?
4 Patriotic American ASKS Some
Awkward Questions.

I, ruE EDITOR OF rIE SrS-S.t "
an Nu.cy,..u .t'iI"u | sh"I.d ,h" 20
know iu-, VIVA; WIS been don" to
strengthen our national dcfsnCes during
~" lls' lil.'"eu months, tina -, since
the beginning ~ the great wa.
have seen to t'rr-tiH'3.' ."pOit
which truthfu!ly gives the ftri- "a this
highly important matter. ! hay- seen
nothing IN ur|esulrcrs OF udgt2luc- ii
the way OF % balance sheet OF oar de-
fences wl-u t., war broke out and at
the present moment
\ pretty good WAY 90 judge what the
fJtur" may bring forth : 10 study past
performances !. j. last Iunning on TO
- year since the I.usitaula case pat
this ount!Y Ia Il gray" position. II il
is too much 70 ask what has been done
- strengthen our navy and army sin-e
the invag!ou = belgium, perhaps Il -
not too much To- ask what has been done
sine" the l.uSit1uIl murders plunged rs
into danger OF a break with Germany.
Is our navy IL GOOD as it was when
the %lusitania went down Is our army
as good or are they both worse Has
tn" cnrstruct.uu 90 ships. guns or forti-
fcatlous already authorized been hast
"ucd AZ all because of this tragedy |
am pretty we'll "fed IN on what We are
going 10 do what have We done"
Arthur MooEu.
GREENWICH, Conn, February -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
Protect the Dye Makers a. Esscn-
tial Of Preparedness.

One of the most practical steps
toward preparedness this country can
take is the fostering of factories for
the making of HIN explosives. Ii
has been generally overlooked because
it is closely connected with the dye.
stuff industry, Tor the stimulation of
which by tariff projection against
German competition the .Administra-
tion has shown little sympathy.
There is probably no other industry
Of peace which is So readily convert
bic into an industry of war. The
chemical basis for dyesluifs and mod
ern high explosives j. the same. coal
tar derivatives, chiefly hcnzol, tolu"l
and naphthalcnc. The processes Of
manufacturing dyes carried ouc step
further produce explosives. such rs
plcric acid, trinilrotoluol and nitro
n~aphthalen", This transformation
from Il product of ponc" to II trcmcn.
douS agent of destruction is brought
about by intensive nilrarion, or the
addition of large quantities of nitric
acid and sulphuric acid. both largely
used in the making Of dyes,
with materinis, apparatus and
methods Of manuilctur" m" same.
the changing "f II dye plant into an
establishment for tn" making of high
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
Plays OF the Future.

The American theatre may expect
little from the dramatists of Europe
for some years to come. Conditions
will not be sufficiently settled To in
spirc the European playwrights to tho
treatment of topics which might
usually interest them. and there is no
reason TO believe that the plays on
the subject Of the war sufficiently
important to he interesting tn other
countries than those engaged in the
struggle will be produced before some
years have passed.
Germany seems the only country
whose plnywrights are using the war
as a theme Of continual activity.
Within half a year this city has seen
five such plays. They show the eff
feet of hasty preparation for n public
Interested in the adventures of their
troops In remote regions. Singularly
enough for a country which has seen
so much of the tragedy of the strug-
Slt. lllt~' plt''~ VIZ 'li'l '''lili's
English plays deaiin. with the war
have made no attempt to approach
the g of battle. Either they have
their locale in England with the war
used only Is Il motive or the war
serves as a remote background. Such
actual scenes Of war ms the German
pieces IN the subject reproduce ar"
not attempted. These plays. although
one or two concerned with "SpicS"
have been popular in London. have
not been appreciated in this country.
In France thcr" have been few
plays dealing with the war. Nest 81
the noted dramati>ts are al the front.
Evidently the problem of supplying
To the stage plays concerned with
the overwhelming question has not
Vet interested those dramatistS who
! might be able tn undertake the task.
Indeed. from some important sources
there have been protests against tho
use of the war nj this time as a theme
for dramatic writing.
The few attempts 10 make H." "
the topic by American writer's have
been too Insignificant and too oh.
viously mechanical to inspire any
! respect or even 70 create any degree
| Of interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
Sundry Citizens Pray.

Y" govern lUN.WV.OU citizens is
not easy, but the Congress 10 which
The responsibility is entrusted has
many volunteer assistants: almost.
II Gems from those pages of the
R,cofd in which routine proceedings
are recorded, almost OW.WW.WU of
them. In a single session of the Sem
ate scores of petitions may he re-
ported. and sent on To the committee
graNeyardS. ON one day last week
nino'y-iiN" of these prayers to the
fons ct "rigo Of our laws were thus
disposed of.
"Sundry citizens of one State pray
for national prohibition. "sundry
citizens in another pray against the
threatened District drought. What
moves the drys of Wyoming. for ex-
ample, IN such concern for the cap.
tails morals? Here the petitioners
urge Increase of armaments: there
they plead for defence. These. en-
barge on munitions makes To yearn ;
those. the maintenance of American
citizens rights on the high seas. Some
would have Uncle SAM propose to
mediate: others beg him 10 keep Off.
The teacher and pupils of Big Arm
school, Flathead county. Montana,
urge nm immediate appropriation Of
u round million for prosecution of
The Flathead irrigation project. An
interested organization wants another
for the Improvement Of the great
lakes. Representatives of various
industries beg for tariff protection.
Others ask for regulation of the
prices Of patented articles: for in
definite leave of absence for superan-
nuat"d post office employees for i'm
pr"rcmcnt in III" quality of Con.
gresSional free seeds for the r~cstric.
ton of immigration for pensions to
Confederate veterans and veterans of
th" Indian wars.
Surdry citizens of Vermont petition
for legislation restricting the price
81 phsolrne. Decentralization" of
rural mail routes i n stirring issue.
Vocational training for soldiers Of the
regular army i pleaded for. Federal
censorship of the movies inspires II
fnrorabl" petition, and from various
parts Of tho Union arises the cry
"fruhihit Interstate commerce in the
products of child labor" From Bun
comb" county. y. C., comes Il PRAYER
for laws Ito found the Government
or Christianity"
IL is good for tlr- health Of the
country 10 have the volunteer lagis.
latorS thus active.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
The Crown Princes Strategy.

If the Crown Prince has set him.
self the task of reducing The compli.
Gated works of what is roughly called
the fortress of Ncrdun he is tempting
fate. II i unbelievable. Nerdun NAV
not BE- i~mpregnable. a word that
must lT Spuringly used in view of
the offensive achievements Of The
Germans both on the eastern and
western fronts but The Verdun works
are such II network of Notifications.
such Il NAE of concealed gun en-
placements and covered roads and
subterrunean passage ways. thai,
every approach can be commanded
by artillery. and troops could spring
from the earth ut any point when
they are wanted.
General CAsTELNAu has always be.
iieved thar the Germans IL they tried
70 fight their way into the core Of
Nerdun would dash themselves to
pieces against his works. Nerdun
was strong before the war. The
French. with the lessons Of the cam
paign in Flanders 10 guide them,
have had time and opportunity to
make IN" defences of Verdun stil
stronger.
IF the Germans had not lost 50
many men in such assaults rs that
on Fort Douaumont. the inclination
would he strong to describe the fight
Ing just north Of Nerdun as n feint to
cover "A movement TO break through
rhe French line at the bend Of the
Meuse west of Champneuville. the
capture of which place the Germans
now positively claim. Their official
report Yesterday afternoon stated
that five attempts by the French 10
r.tako Fort Douaumont had been re-
pulsed. II should no said that the
capture OF this fertilization, which
commands n smooth incline extend
ing for n long distance where no
cover can be taken, was an amazing
feat OF arms. The Germans have
done nothing finer since the first shot
was fired in the war.
On Sunday the Germans continued
10 drive the enemy back, according IA
Berlin, taking 5000 prisoners. The
Crown Princes troops carried the
cote dc Talu, Il ridge overlooking
Champneuville and the Mouse. This
movement seems to indicate IN inten.
tion to force the passage of the river.
Success wonld place the Germans In
The rear Of the French line bending
almost due west toward Rheims. and
the French 10 escape assaults from
both the north and south would have
to retire. Six miles north of Champ.
Dcuvllle. whore the western front
curves down 10 the Mouse. the French
g 10 have been unable To hold ll,
Eois d'Iiaumont. The German attack
at this point strengthens the belief
that the Crown Princes design is II
throw his army across the Mcuse. I,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
luctance Of the manufacturers to in
vest capital In a business which they
contend could not Withstand German

vest capital In a business which they
contend could not withstand German
competition after the war. Dyestuffs
are made In Germany on a system Of
such close coordination between the
various branches of the industry. un-
der the fostering care Of the Govern
ment. that costs have been reduced 10
the minimum. Makers Of dycstuffs
in this country contend that without
tariT protection they cannot hope to
compete with the German product.
This lack Of confidence In the fu.
ture Of the industry in the United
States has confined ii 10 n few
plants which connot begin to supply
til" domestic demand. and has ron
scqucntly limited the possible manu-
facture of explosives. Dr. CHARLES
III. HERrY. president of the American
Chemical Society. has said that with
our normal basis of production of
coal tar products It would take six
months TO build factories enough Ia
turn ont an adequate supply Of high
explosives. and several months more
10 train the men TO make them. 1t
is Il specialized and scientific indus
try aud requires n high type Of or
ganization.
As these explosives have proved to
he the main reliance of the CONDUIT
ants In the war. the encouragement
of tneir production here is an essen
tial part of national defence. If high
explosives are eve needed they will
be needed quickly. Provision for
their manufacture would not only
create II great industry. but would he
n step toward preparedness.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
NOBODY'S ASH CAN.
A Farce Tragedy as Told by Dis
tresscd Housewife

IN rur ENRON or Tur SrS-Siy. II
was snme,hiny Ike an ornament thar
oxcroycnnca on ,ho .n,co n, IN, loc, NJ
INV h,ovns,ona frnr, N,rv Ann h.ckI
y,,.n sr., 80 a, ~, "h.,urfuI"
haa s;f,.1 aa,., Ca ,ho Jasnoir ~ ,.o,h.
$50 a"a w.. av1 ,,,cas ard
- 49," 49," - -. ,ron,. Iii
,L ,tt en. ~ naana,an
-, 49,, mhI..
sn,S.i,n g. ,,.. -. 20 ~ 80,
, .,.o,i,,., "a, ~, NTH. ,,hito u.,-
-, -, 81 !, h., &c ,.
,.n al y, ,".a.,YI', 49, ,,.
10y :. ,.",.. I A.. -. -
y, Nv a., a,.1 ,,n't,a..
-tnn, 'u,ii.h,
-. 49,, 20 90.
:. - - -, -,
-" ~ d. H., -,
49,. ~ - a,,'.a1 ,,i L., ;n 80
q" N""' -.
n..u..'' ~ " '',tu.7 49, ~
c'"I,' ~
mp '. JUG ~" '" w" sa.
1t! " 'r'"np vi '"' az" ~ sp'''a ."'
"'''ih'' IN" " ""S ""'"'' " "'
i'''N !H''
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
A FARMER
New FORKS Agriculturlsts Urged to
Take Control Of The State.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: The
coming contest for the G"overnorship VIII
offer an opportunity to the farmers or
the state of New York to put a son OF
the soil, a practical farmer, in the
Governors chair.
The farmers Of this State have less
representation in their Legislative halls
than have the farmers In any Other
state in the l'niou 1t would he a libel
oil their intelligence to assume that there
are not scores OF practical farmers that
would make excellent Governors. The
coming election is not a matter OF po-
Iit0l exigcncy TO the farmers, but a
matter of their actual existence as
farmers.
Other States have their local boards
Of trade that regulate railroad traiiic
to the wants of their people and suS-
gcst remedial legislation. while the
farmers in the state OF New York are n
negligible quantity in the hands of the
powerful railroad lobbies. True. the
state of New York has a department OF
Agriculture that spends three and n half
million dollars a year while the benefit
derived by the farmers from this vast
outlay IL limos imperceptiblc. The
most pressing want of the me OF
New York is a farmer at Ia head OF
the State Government one whose hands
have been calloused by the plough and
whose shoes have been Drowned by
mother earth.
We are bringing from Mexico. Cali
fornia and the far western States ord!-
nary vegetables that can he more sue
cessfully grown in New York than in
any other locality we are importing beef.
mutton and lainb from South America.
Australia and New Zealand that could
be produced on the abandoned farms OF
this state. The railroads prefer long
haulS to short ones, and while the prod
ucts OF other States are coming here in
trainloads. II dominant railroads have
placed an embargo on similar products
of this state. such a. onions, hay u
other commodities.
This state created a Department Of
Foods and Markets. and when the politi-
clans discovered they had AZ honest man
at it's head they saw 10 it that he would
not get a sufIf lent appropriation 80
serve the producers of this State In the
marketing ~ their products. This man
Was compelled to forego his salary OF
$4,000 a year to aid IN keeping his de-
partmcrt in existence.
The State of New York wants a Land
bank system where farmers can borrow
money Oh their farms at a low rate OF
Interest and a long term Of wears and
'iluN ''o''' Ah''' W. repay 'H'' '"'.'
TO these Land banks. interest and CAPT.
tai, thu same as the building and loan
associations row are doing.
Commissioner Dillon of the stat" De-
rartmcut of Foods and Markets.. AL
though handicapped. has saved the farm
ris nearly -. 600. uUo IN the marketing
&c their apples and potatoes. Ne has
brought the producer and consumer
,lo>cr together. 80 The gr"a; benefit NJ
u"tl. wailo tho o,her links IN the chain
~ distribution are amply rewarded for
their vorh.
Now Nork city and en,irnus consume
nearly sl"o, Que. 600 worth az fooistufs
annually and food production - 20 gray"
concern. t. - TuY.
I YORK. February &c
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
The Police Auction.

Human property has adventures
and ,icisSiiudcS no less strangely
varied than thos, of the mon who
make II and mar II, use i, and lose it.
Into tie POSSESSION Of the police
NJ regularly such IN uccumuln-
ton of articles lost or thrown away.
and stolen goods Tor which proved
owners cannot be found, aS would eX-
cite the cnvionS admiration Of tho
most golden of duS,men.
Al Police headquarters. whose >tor
age facilities are now crowded 10 ca
parily, rs steel car men and ware
house men say. some 10000 separate
articles ar" L. he disposed of at
auction. What Il" the people of this
town loSet Clutches, sugar. tools.
prayer rugs. too;hpirk>, Teddy bears.
jewelry. pocket knives. bicycles. baby
carriages, suit eases with and without
contents Of clothing. automobile tires :
everything useful or ornamental has
Il plnc" in tn" list.
Tears and smiles are in q
package Of that mysterious INSECT
lnny, NOR" ana more moving com
rdir> and tragedies than All ON,
authorS'0an invent.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28

10 rrE Epiror or THE SrN-Nr' The
humble of Cd roomlng houses without
fire escapes in thi' city probably runs into
the thousand. When FIRE occurs In these
places IFS no fun FOR tho inmates. The
Are generally nn,is us way Immediately to
the stairs. and II there arc NO friendly
window lodges on which IN climb next door
the only Thing lett 81 10 chance n BRO
die into the street, yhiHh ~ u rulc docs
NOT york VOL.
why cannot thcs" places he made -
haye fro escapes. or ut least ropes at
tached near tho Windows"
There must he soiuo law to that effect,
and II should DO enforced, DxrEIIgnCu
New YonK, February "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-28
THE MILITIA A NUCLEUS.
Expand II Into On Army Of 500, 900
Men, q Veteran Urges.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. /
have read with interest and surprise
the views Of experts who c~riticise the
efficiency OF h militia. or the National
Guard Of the States.
1t was a raw body of men that COM
posed the National Guard in 1898. Since
that time the militia of the several
States has been encouraged by appro-
priations from the Government, and Its
~cncalnpments have been under the super
vision of regular army officers. In my
owrf State and in Massachusetts. and
probably in many other States. the dis
cipline Of Inc State troops has been
vastly improved. and to-day IL will com-
pare favorably with regular troops.
Ex-Secretary Of War Elihu Root says
that IAN efficient army must be built
upon the principle of national control"
That is quite true. but he further says
This can never be attained by develop
ing forty-eight different bodies under
officers appointed by forty-eight different
Governors. and up to the time OF war,
under the direction of forty-eisht differ
ent commanders in chief" From the
standpoint of one who served through the
war of tho Rebellion as an enlisted man
and an officer. the attitude OF E.lihu
Root. cx-Secretary OF War, and hts
statement. although from so great a
Ly,hn poo, ,,us, hno,, Gon.ra, xyoo,
mus, know. md al, other critics ,nv.t
.nnu, ,hn, .ha xa,iouai cr,rI 60 :r,ii,
,,,on ,ha ,oi,,n,na, .,a,o,, ,r,.. ,,,,
,n,,., rmo,.' ,Sn, ,ho n,an -, ,h. I.n,n,
,rnv which ,nu,r, ,na mr. ~ ,hn DE-
bellion to n successful issue. were volun-
teers. the regular army at that time
Tha ,oirn,oar -, 49, t.,;a, -. 80
ali o,,'s,ai -, IL so,arai S.a,S, "a
.ha ,"at,,ar.a, oaroa,, 49,. oa,,.'
sin,oa 81 ,hn c.,,,or 80 S,o,o. H.,
.n.a -. ~. -.
49, in i,s n,.r Co.