Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-04-19

A memorandum made public BY the
war department concerning the use Of
armed guards about industrial plants
contains the following:
1.-THE soldier in training who has Of
fered his life for the defense of coun-
try should not sacrifice his effective
ness by performing police duty in the
protection of property back of the
lines. This is the duty of the citizen
at home. s.aa
'The theater for operations for
armed soldiers is the battlefield of
Europe. Each civilian should aid his
country by acting as guard for the
detection and prevention Of intrigue,
deceit, and all the familiar stealthy op-
erations Of the enemy, in our midst.
Each soldier unnecessarily detailed as
a guard in this country aids and abets
the enemy in Europe.
"Often a guard may be needed for
the safety Of factory. When it is.
it should be supplied by the owner of
the factory, by the municipality, or by
the state. @@
''These measures apply not only to
manufacturing plants, but are equally
applicable to shipyards, grain eleva
tors, and stores, Of supplies"
The necessity for thorough and con-
tinuous training of troops in gas de-
Tense is shown by statement proved
by captured German documents:
The Germans at certain position
on the western front knew the British
were planning to deliver gas at
tack on a German division equipped
with masks, but poorly trained in their
use. In spite of the fact that they
had several days to drill before condi-
tons were suitable for the British at
tack, when it was finally made hum
dreds Of German casualties resulted.
Many kinds of gases are used in
modern warfare. Some merely affect
the eyes temporarily, and are more
lnconvenient than serious. Other gases
are terrible in their effect unless prop
er protection is available. They are
employed in clouds, or in shells,
bombs, and hand grenades.
It is the work of the field training
section of the gas defense service to
bring home to the American soldier
the Importance Of his gas mask, to
thoroughly drill him in its use and
to inspire confidence In it's efficiency.
According to an announcement BY
the war trade board special license
has been issued covering shipments
made by persons in the United States
to, and for the personal use Of, individ.
uals serving in the United States army
or navy or the American Red Cross
abroad. ~
This license does not permit ship.
ments by persons In this country to
American prisoners Of war, but has
been issued to facilitate small personal
shipments to soldiers and sailors and
Red Cross workers by doing away
with the necessity Of securing an indi-'
vidual export license In each case.
Shipments by mail under this license
must be made in accordance with the
regulations Of the post ONCE depart
ment. II 1t becomes necessary later
to limit this license to certain speci.
fed commodities notice will be given
through the press.
The United States rifle, model Of
1917, commonly called the modified
Enfield, has now been tested In the
service Of the army Sufficient time
to warrant the assertion that it more
than justifies the claims made for 1t.
according to q statement authorized
, by the secretary of war. - 9
The new rifle takes 30caliber car
fridge, which has the advantage over
the British Enfield Of being rimless.
1t has been found that unless rim car
tridges are fed through the magazine
uniformly with the rim Of the top
cartridge ahead Of the rim Of the one
Immediately below, jams are likely to
occur. .-. E....
The model of 1917 has an overall
length Of 1873 inches; a total weight
including oiler and thong case and
bayonet of ten pounds and five ounces,
The breech mechanism Is Of the bolt
type.
In the new school opened at Roches-
ter, N. T., to train photographers for
the Signal corps, the primary train.
ing will cover four weeks along high
~ specialized developments brought
out in the war. At its close the sue
cessful graduates will be sent on for
q months advanced training, after
which they will be organized into units
and sent overseas. s
Men with the highest grades will be
given still further training for commits
sions as Photographic Intelligence Of
flcers, first at a school and then In &C
tual flights at the flying fields.