Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-05
SHRAPNEL
Sidelights on the War
-BY-
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Only a comparatively small amount
is damaged by the action of salt
water. AS a consequence British cot
ton manufacturers believe that tens
of thousands of bales sunk in ships
around the British isles will be re-
covered for use.
The problem of what will we do
after the war;" is much discussed
among the thousands of young Off
GERS in the Army. 1t is frankly ad-
mitted that the war has made over
many men and that there are thou
sands who occupied minor clerical po-
sitions before the outbreak of the war
who never will be content to return
to positions where they constantly are
receiving orders instead of giving
them. They usually declare that they
never again wish to subject them
selves to the Whims or dictation of
others. In discussing the situation one
of them said:
ct should prefer to make a career of
the Army, but so would thousands of
other temporary officers, and it won't
be possible for the War Department to
keep us all Many of US, as a result of
our Army experience, would be able
to take positions as works managers
or as supervisors of large STATS of
men, but I doubt very much if there
will ba enough jobs of that kind to
go round.
mo, I'm hanged if I know what am
going to do afterwards. know it will
sour and sicken many an officer if.
after having given the best years of
his life to his countryside years when
for himself-he has eventually to go
back to his old subordinate position
and the clerks stool. The
thought of it is almost enough to
make one hope that in the meantime
a boche shell will send one to that
other afterwards!
Deutschland in its original mean
ing is. 'Heathen land
The war has resulted in advancing
the cause of truth. In the olden days
the soldier that confessed fear was
considered a coward. Today the situa-
ton has changed. 1t is a common oc-
currence for soldiers to admit that
when they went "over the top" they
were frightened. 1t is declared that
the numerous writer's and poets VINO
have served with the belligerent
armies and who have sought to accu-
rately record their sensations are re-
sponsible for the changed conditions.
Though airplane battles are tremend-
ously exciting for all those participating
in them, it is not always in actual CON
flict that the nerves and wits Of fliers
are tested to the utmost. Many adven-
lures may be met in tanner pursuits.
Every now and then comes the roar OF
gun from below, followed by flashes
of blue and red, harsh, angry EXPLOSIONS
right and left, front and rear; the dis
appearance in flames sometimes of what
till then had been a welcome compan-
ion on the wing, the drone of some
hardy adventurer strenuously endeavor-
ing to climb into the night; and now
and then the awful spectacle Of a ma
chine emerging safely from smoke
cloud only to go smash into another
travelling in different direction.
An awful smash. a hideous explosion,
smoke, human cries, flames and then,
with volcanic intensity, the sudden
plunging into the abyss not only Of what
a few moments previously were two
magnif1cently equipped bomb-throwers,
but four human souls. brave, proud
youthful and adventurous.