The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-02-02
Detection KEYNOTE Central P00geY Cabu0n
Wedtherin
France Rigorous
And Unpleasant

Columbus, o., Feb. 2.-what about
the climate in France? What about
the probable effect Of weather upon
the health, comfort and military Op-
erations Of the American soldiers i'm
France? Is there much difference in
the climate and weather there from
that in the United States?
These questions pour into prac-
ticalIy all the weather bureaus Of the
United States daily and have become,
apparently, Of such general interest
that the Chic section, climatolOgical
| service Of the weather bureau, u. 5.
department of agriculture, has pro-
cured information from Washington
that is expected to answer most OF
the queries that people Of Ohio are
making since Ohio soldiers reached
the western front.
Winter weather in France is rath-
er rigorous and unpleasant" SAYS
statement issued by the local
weather bureau. This is due to
persistence OF comparatively low
temperatures, much cloudiness and
frequent rain and snow.
The winds blow mostly from the
west and southwest and are fire.
quently damp and chilly. Winter
nights are long and days correspond
ingly short.
In the extreme northern portion Of
France near the present battle lines,
sunset in December was a little be-
for o'clock in the afternoon and
sunrise about o'clock in the morn
ing, making the nights about Is
hours long"
The rapid warming up when spring
comes is not so noticeable as in the
United States, the weather bureau
says. The average temperature in
March is only 2 to degrees warmer
are moderately cool and not unpleas-
ant, the length Of the day increases
much more rapidly than in the uni
ted States and there is a correspond
ingly large increase in the amount
of sunshine. Rainfall is comparative
ly light but 1t occurs frequently.
Summers are more pleasant than
those in the United States. Day
temperature are moderate and the
nights cool. Heat is not excessive
and heated periods are OF short dura-
ton usually. Fall brings lots of
rain, both in intensity and frequency.
This usually Is the season Of maxi
mum rainfall.
The geogra phical position Of
France and Belgium, 1t appears from
inquiries to the department, are not
very well known to most people.
They lie about as far north as the
section between Boston and New
Foundland. Marseille, the most
southerly important city Of France, is
farther north than Boston, while
Paris is nearly 500 miles farther
north than Chicago. Brussels is more
than 80 miles farther north than
Winnipeg. Canada.
1t would be expected, the weather
bureau says, that in view Of the 10
cation SO far north as compared with
Ohio, that France would be colder
than Ohio, but it's climate Is affect
cd by the Atlantic ocean, from which
prevailing winds come. these not be-
ing broken by mountain barriers in
reaching the interior. Since large
bodies Of water heat slowly and cool
slowly, a more steady temperature
results. The warmth from the At
lantic ocean, which keeps France and
Belgium from being very cold, Is
from the Atlantic drift. originating
I'm the so-called gulf stream, which
transports warm water from the Gulf
of Mexico. Normal westerly winds
carry the warmth to adjacent land.
1T is Of interest to note the
weather bureau says, that while
Brest, on the western coast Of
France, has about the same latitude
as Devils Lake, n. D., the average
January temperature at Brest under
these conditions is A degrees, while
at Devils Lake IL is about zero.
Brest's lowest temperature seldom is
as cold as zero, while Devils Lake
has been as cold as go degrees below
zero. On the other hand. owing TO
less rapid cooling Of the ocean water,
the July average temperature at
Brest is 81 degrees, while at Devils
Lake it is 6S degrees"
Rainfall in New Orleans Is three
times as heavy as in Paris, but it is
considerably more frequent in Paris.
The average annual rainfall Of Chi
cago is one and one-half times as
large as in France and Belgium; at
New York more than twice as large.