Evening star., 1918-08-13
SHRAPNEL
Sidelights on the War
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

A bulletin issued by the general
HEADQUARTERS in France read some
| thing like this:
A. t"Enlisted men of the American ex-
peditionary forces who, upon COM
pletion of thirty years service. make
application for retirement. will not
be retired in Tronce."
| Tho Stars and Stripes, that thrilling
soldier paper published for the Amer
ican fighters in France, was led to
opine:
-1hirty years. The thirty years war
come all over again. sixty gold
stripes, starting on our trusty lefts
and going all the way around the back
OF our hecks!
| But there's one grand. great con-
ISOLATION. After thirty years they will
give US q free trip home"
Flying is simple" said an American
instructor. ANY one who can run
jitney can run an airplane.
I.ation carts oftentimes are destroy
ed when they attempt to reach 'front.'
ilinc positions in order that the dough-
boys may get hot food. In one case
when a ration cart was wrecked by a
| shell six marines who were isolated
by enemy fire liS ed on the contents
for a week.
Silver is scarce in Ireland. Postage
stamps are sometimes given in
change.
At nineteen Premier Clemenoeau was
q rebel shouting Long live the repub-
Iic"
wherever the kaiser goes 4 reporter
accompanies him to reveal the heroic
bearing and eloquent words of his i'm
perial majesty. The kaiser is fond of
this pap"
In discussing why German aviation
reports always are favorable Maj.
Bishop, the renowned British hter.
1 says:
Technically. the Germans seldom
| fighting is practically always over
/ their territory and every one of their
Imachines driven down can be account
ed for. even If it is totally destroyed.
Many Of our losses are due wholly to
the fact that we have to carry on"
over German territory. Any slight &C.
cident OF injury that compels de-
scent in HunIand naturally means tho
1 total loss of the British machine. But
such loss does not involve a Ger
A man victory in combat; 1t is merely a
misfortune for US. If the machine
the lines 1t might have been repaired
in half an hour"
The sniper is an important factor
when nghting settles down to the
trench variety. Here's a picture Of
the man who "picks 'em of one at a
time:
Night draws near, and he begins to
think Of writing out his daily report,
for all these things have to be sub
mitted for the perusal of the powers
that be.
A He is rather disappointed. He has
no definite enemy casualties to report
today, and he gazes pensively at the
4 low, struggling parapet in front of
him. Suddenly he stiffens. A round.
dark object is cautiously raising itself
above the sandbagS He reaches out
a swift hand for his rife and squints
through the telescopic sights.
Yes! It is the soft gray cap Of the
German soldier. Lovingly his finger
in perfect stiffness. Higher and high
er the unconscious man raises himself
until his chin is in full view of that
grim, silent watcher. Then crack! and
the swift disappearance Of the head
and the subsequent blowing Of the
enemy casualty horns denote that the
bullet is not wasted.
Devoutly and piously the sniper
gives thanks to the God Of war az he
returns, his work for the day done, to
his damp sleeping hole to snatch a
few hours sleep ere another dawn
bids him resume his vigil
Picture frames. tea trays, corner
lcupboards and tables are among the
articles turned out by blinded SOL
diers who have been taught wood
work.