The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-08-30

W
which if later not met. would nave
meant defeat for the entente.
Germany broke its pledge when IL
used gas AGAINST the British lorceS
at Ypres in April, 1919. Inc we"
which congress has taken OF the mat
ter apparently is that when country
has broken q pledge there is no IN
Surance that il will not do the same
thing again, and therefore legislation
has been passed and approved when
will continue the chemical warfare
service for defensive purposes Tor an
other year, and this means almost uh-
that it will be maue
separate unit of the regular army
when organization of the regulars
shall be completed next winter.
Nature of Gas Warfare.
There seems to be some misunder-
standing throughout the unlteu
States about the nature OF gas war
fare. Gas is not as deadly u weapon
as other approved weapons OF war;
but If an enemJ Is unprepared TO
meet gas attacks he will be put out OF
the conflict until preparation can be
made. and in the intervening time the
country which has gas, ana which
is using 1t Is certain TO win its VIC
tory unless preparation can be made
quickly.
British, French and American au-
thorities say that with the develop
ment of gas warfare to its present
condition ii will be impossible TO pre-
pare quickly against an attack OF the
enemy who Is fully equipped with the
modern offensive gas appliances. Inc
reason the British were able to pre-
pare in 1915 Is that the first gases
used were not as effective as those
which later were manufactured. With
gas as ii Is today the army which
has it can defeat out Of hand any
other army which may confront 1t, no
matter what its siZe-at least so runs
the opinion Of military experts In
Washington.
Congress, II seems, came TO the con-
clusion before ii sanctioned the con-
tinuation of the chemical warfare
service that II any line Of chemical
Industry is probed it will be found
that it has war application as well
as a peace application.
The action of congress makes II
clear that 1t believes that the chem
ical warfare service will go hand In
! hand with the efforts TO develop q
nitrate supply for this country. to de
! velop the dyestuff and acetylene In
dustries against hurtful foreign com
petition.
Bird Protection Shows Results.
Washington officials connected will
the biological survey Of the depart
ment of agriculture, Of which +. W
Nelson Is the chief, are faithfully a
work these days in carrying out thu
provisions of the treaty with Canadi
which gives the United States pOwe
to protect migratory birds. DIR. E. h
Fisher and DR.. F. S. Palmer with 9th
er officials are doing commanding
work.
The effect of the prosecution Of of
tenders against the laws regulating
shooting is already evident. Stron
support from genuine sportsmen ha
come for that provision Of the la,
which prevents spring shooting an
which gives the migratory birds secur
ity during the season of mating an
nesting. The whole country now is 4
sympathy apparently with the law
which protect the song and insectivoI
Gus birds Of the land.
A French scientist has stated tina
six months after the disappearance G
bird life from this planet of ours ma
would have to prepare TO follow in tn
trail of disappearance. The Frencl
mans findings have been borne out b
other scientists declaring that inset
life would increase so rapidly if its ma
ural enemies, the birds. were alfkille,
the green things on the earth would /
: dead in short order and that therefor
no cattle could live. and man being d.
prived of both vegetables. and amin;
food. would go the way of annihilatiC
r by starvation.
I Washington Swarms With Birds.
All Of which in way is apropos
: the extraordinary abundance of son
e bird life In the capital of the Unite
: States in this late summer season
= 1910. No shooting is allowed in Il
e District of Columbia at any time of Il
e year. The result is that birds literal
9 walk over the feet Of people who sit
n any one of the parks with which til
e city abounds.
n OF course domestic pigeons are n
wild birds. but they are not Ordinari
: as tame as chickens. In parts
n Washington the domestic pigeons W
e light on the heads Of persons sittil
n In the parks in the expectation Of /
5. ing fed. They are seldom disappOir
It ed.
II What Is true of the domestic pige
n Is almost true of the blackbird, know
IS generally as the purple grackle. The
10 glossy fellows will eat from the har
l. Robins do not care for bread crum
d and therefore they do not besiege t
a park visitors as do the other birds, b
s. they pay no attention to passersby q
lie will pull worms from the sod uncC
cerned while within less than ham
reach of humankind.
II What is true of the city IL to CT
H. ,rte
Of the District of Columbia. This su