Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-14
SHRAPNEL
Sidelights on the War
-BY-
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

The German soldier Of today is
1ikened unto clock. The more he is
wound up the better he can run.
Lord French, who is governing the
affairs of Ireland, has just adopted a
novel method of breaking up omlnous
gatherings of people. He knows the
superstitious Irishman. so Wnen ne
gets word of a meeting of those an
tagonistic to the present government.
he dispatches few airplanes to soar
over the city involved, these machines
dropping few flaming torches'
which, incidentally. do no damage.
The Irish in some sections DO not
have much use for the airplane ana
when they see these torches and the
great winged creatures above they
rapidly seek their homes.
In speaking of the correspondent at
the front one British officer re-
marked:
"If the public at home is to continue
to play its part in the war it must
know what the army is doing. and
as for the army in the field, the sol
dier will fight all the better for see
ing credit publicly given to him 1or
his heroism and endurance.
ut is my experience, and, l make
bold to say, the experience of every
front like to read about their dofngs
not from any love of praise, but pc
cause it shows them they are doing
their duty by their country, a thought
may I say?-which, at times. one
has to keep very steadfastly in MIND
when one is at the front"
Some war airplanes have asbestos
screens fitted between the engine and
the pilot. These are designed to give
the pilot more time to reach the
ground in case his macnlne snouio
catch fire while in fight.
Civilian peoples behind the fighting
lines take grave chances. These stoi-
cal French peasants who have SUI
fered much ever are placing them
selves in danger for the satisfaction
Of whim.
Old men and women wander up ana
down behind the line seeking infor-
nation of their friends whom they
have not seen for nearly four years
mothers ask about their children
haunt the high roads in the hope OF
meeting some one who has come from
the district of their violated home
stead They hang around some of the
railroad stations, they try to get let
tiers through into the invaded dis.
Cls
despairingly. Their mental anguish
is greater than that of those whose
friends have been killed.
Always when one young British
Junior naval officer meets another II
the youngsters when they were born
invariably are discarded in the navy
1t is "Georging" to every one of his
own rank. Though many times young
officers have protested that their
name was not George and have asked
the reason why it Is always George
reasons usually are not forthcoming
It's just an old habit. and the British
naval man will not violate tradition
The selection Of a non-commission-
ed officer Is important. frequently a
selection by a company commander con de
scribing how men are picked from
the ranks one high officer said:
Like horses, men have theil
points A good officer keeps his
eyes open for those points The ser
geant majors verdict is heard. but
all, the responsibility for the selec.
ton rests on the shoulders of the
company commander. What are the
points that an officer makes for tc
guide him in his choice?
Personally. confess to a fond.
hess for square jaw. a keen eye
and an alert step. These are outward
symbols only, I grant you. But out
ward details are often an excellent
indication of the true colors of g
man.
Soon you grow unconsciously te
sum up each man you meet and give
him definite value. You become-in
spite Of yourself firm believer. in
reading character from the face. And
the point is that you have plenty OF
opportunity for correcting your first
Impressions! After a little practice
you find that your valuation of mer
has grown to be strangely exact
science.
eat the front 1t is absolutely neces.
sary for an officer to be able to sum
up all his N c. O.s within an hour OF
two after taking over a company OF
platoon. It is a matter frequently OF
life and death. And while a newly
Joined officer is summing up his N
c. O.s he may be certain that the
c. o. and adjutant are just as busy
summing up him!