Evening star., 1918-07-30
SHRAPNEL
SideEghts on the War
-BY-
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

The phrase, ''for the duration OF the
war" is largely used in all govern
mental contracts and papers Of allied
nations. Just what does it mean? Well,
the British government is not certain
and has appointed a commission to give
n definite ruling.
The most valuable commodity at the
front is matches, says the stars ana
Stripes. There comes time when the
last drop of gasolene or the last inch
of tape is gone from the patent lighters,
and the conservative fellows known to
have matches can be counted on the
fingers Of one hand. These become the
most popular men in the command.
There is a case on record of one regi-
ment which went three weeks on twelve
boxes Of matches. When these were
gone some bold soldier discovered way
of knocking the ball out of a cartridge,
pouring out the powder and igniting 1t.
This lasted until some of the officers
tbegan to wonder where their ammuni-
tion was going.
Then some one found that tent rope,
fignited at one end. would shoulder for
| hours. This worked until the supply
Asergeants found out about it
Finally a set OF watches was ar
ranged, and men were appointed whose
tduty it was to keep light going for a
certain number of hours. Everybody In
the regiment Is smoking without diff
. Guilty now, though there has been only
.aone carefully nourished light for week.
It has been found by munitions work
ers of England that they are healthier
and happier since they forsook the
close-fitting and oftentimes cramping
garments they once wore and adopted
worn by men. 1t is a singular fact
but the output of woman munitions
workers has increased since they donned
bloomers.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg long
has been more afraid of the kaiser s
public utterances than he has the en-
emy. On frequent occasions he has
asked the kaiser to be silent. as the
emperor's speeches did not improve the
military situation
Clemenceau stands at this supreme
hour for France because he understands
the war as France understands it; be-
cause he has lived 1t for twelve years
at least; because he foresaw it, knew
1 how it must come, and strove to pre-
pare France and the friends of France
against 1t; because his faith and vision,
never faltered. Therefore France trusts
him as she has trusted no man since
Napoleon.
Every night men IN advanced front
line positions are served with hot food.
Generally sufficient 'slum" and coffee
are served for two meals, the second
one to be prepared over the little alco-
, hol stoves which are furnished to the
soldiers
It is quite an erroneous idea to sup
pose that the only object Of Archie Is
| to bring down planes, for the chances
of accounting for pane for every
shell fired are very few. chiefly because
no one can decide exactly in what direc-
tion he will turn next. Consequently
allowances are made which will either
turn him away or else make him fly
too high to do any serious work, and
the official figures showing the number
of "birds'' credited to these gunners
give ample proof that work has been
reduced to a fine art.
Private Donahue. the marine who es-
capped from the German captors after
crawling on his hands and knees for
two days and nights, was nearing the
American lines when he heard the word
Halt" But it was an American voice
and Donahue stood up.
rHalt." again came the caIl Of the
sentry.
"oh, hen." said Donahue. -where
Is the brigade headquarters?"
The sentry then let him BY