Evening star., 1918-09-08

the weather bureau say that there is
absolutely no truth In such state
msnts. There IN . popular faliacy
that cencussions, explosions and the
liberation Of gases in the European
conflicts 10 having IN effect on the
weather, not only over the battlehslds
themselves, but everywhere on the
globe: but II 10 only . fallAcy, say the
weather specialists, even though 1t
has existed almost since the begin
ming Of historic times. Before gun
powder was used the ancients had an
idea that battles produced rainfall:
which was caused by the clash Of
swords and the sweat Of the fighters.
Later, SO the experts state, the same
theory WAS Transferred to the noise
produced by musketry and artillery;
later still. to dust particles and smoke
from burning powder. upon which the
b6 condensed and to fall a. rain. and
now to the gases freed by explosions
ana liberated in the new chemical
warfare.
These theories are not combatsd
merely by other theories, but by ac-
tuel observations made oncially by
nients. and the net result Of these
careful observations is to refute the
idea Of any effect OF war on weather.
The real cause Of rainfall, 80 say
our experts at the weather bureau.
is the cooling Of the air by the YER
tical rising OF heated air currents.
to take their places. All weather con-
ditions derend ultimately for their
origin on the heating and cooling Of
the atmosphere. All the powder that
could be reasonably expended in any
battle. even by millions Of men en-
Eaged. would not be enough. It is
stated. to produce any apprecfable
change in temperature throughout
any considerable section Of the atmos-
phere over the battle area.
Some have thought that the jarring
erect of conclusions jogg1es to-
gether the moisture particles in the
air. Just as z sharp tap on q window
drops from many small ones by ?
mist or driszle. A sharp downfall OF
rain following mediately after q
heavy crash OF thunder is supposed to
be an example Of the same cause and
eject. This theory was partly back
merly tried in Kansas. Texas and
elsewhere to break droughts by a
bonn mbardment Of the Skies
the weather experts point out that
IN all such cases, even when rain has
followed such bombardments, the
moisture was there and was due to
fall anyhow without mans interven-
ton, and that in the few cases where
rain has fallen 1t has been a mere
coincidence. the rain being due to
natural causes. and the drought was
broken because 1t was time that 1t
would have been broken in the nat
ural course Of events. In short, moist
If 1t were not present all the concus-
sions that could be devised by man
could not make rain.
Actual observations by French,
British and American observers have
failed to establish any relationship
storms from the skies. Careful studies
show that rainfall and battles do not
coincide enough to give the basis for
a theory OF cause and effect. The
great battles In France in the spring
of 1917 failed to interrupt the long
spell OF fair weather that accom-
panied them. Furthermore, an exam
ination recently made of the records
OF local distribution Of rainfall over
England during the first twenty-five
months OF the war resulted in
strengthening the evidence against
the theory.
It has been maintained that recept
severe droughts in the western part of
this country have been due to excess
sive rainfalls over European battle
fields The idea was advanced that
50 much rain has fallen in France
that there was not enough to go
rouno. The weather bureau denies
The enactment by Congress of the
new draft measure couoI.d ,,,;..,
nationwide movement
Highway OF the United States
rI Employment Service
in surveying the man
power of the country,
pointing to the supreme demand of
the hour. man-power to the limit,
drives home the vital character Of the
activities supplementing these calls
upon the country's resources, among
which are those being daily brought
into motion by the highway TRANSPORT
committee Of the Council of National
Defense.
This problem, which is local one
in every state Of the Union. down
even to the smallest political subdi-
vision, is being met by the highways
transport bodies through the efforts.
for instaiice. Of rural motor truck
operator in Colorado, who reports that
he is daily saving through one route
the services Of fifty men on the farms
at the expense Of but three men in the
operation Of his truck.
This spells increased man-power
that food production may be made
certain, just as the operation of a re-
turn loads bureau in Pennsylvania,
that rail congestion be relieved,
means coal for the Navy to bunker
transport service for the Army in the
moving OF munitions OF war for use
by the men in France.
The highways transport committees
In their work are carrying out the
vews recently expressed by the Presi-
dent in emphasizing "the value Of
extending our defense organization
Presidents view characterizes as
"truly aemocratic' this system Of
bringing together the individuals Of
the country into . movement looking
to the fuftherinG Of the dynamic force
which is carrying the nation forward
to victory.
The gravity Of the situation, and
the aid of which the highway trans
port committee is capable in reliev-
ins freight congestion, Is recognized
by the Army. One high Army Official
in q letter to the state highways
transport committees points particu-
lAf1y to the aid being given by such
committees In helping to increase the
nations transportation facilities by
the development Of efleient and ef-
fectfve highways transportation.
That the truly national viewpoint Is
being kept In mind BY these workers
In the cause Of the most efficient tse
possible Of ail highways transport
10 strongly indicated by reports re-
oeived from them By the national
heAdduaft4ra In W&shingt6h. This
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