The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1919-08-29


meant defeat for the entente.
Germany broke its pledge when 1t
used gas against the British forces
at Ypres In April, 1915. The view
which congress has taken of the mat
ter apparently is that when Il country
has broken pledge there is no In
surance that 1t will not do the same
thing again. and therefore legislation
has been passed and approved which
will continue the chemical warfare
service for defensive purposes for an
other year aud this means almost I'M
questionablE that 1t Will be made u
separate unit of the regular army
when organization OF the regulars
shall be completed next winter.
Nature of Gas Warfare.
There seems 10 be some misunder-
standing throughout the United
States about the nature of gas war
fare Gas IL not as deadly weapon
as other approved weapons of war
! but If an enem.. Is unprepared 10
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 and which
IS using ii is certain to win its vic
tory unless preparation can be made
quickly.
British, French and American au-
thorities say that with the develop
mcnt of gas warfare to It's present
condition it will be impossible TO pre-
pare quickly against an attack of the
enemy who is fully equipped with the
modern offensive gas appliances. The
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
gus as ii is today the army which
has it can defeat out of hand any
other army which may confront it. no
matter what its size-at least so runs
the opinion Of military experts in
Washington.
Congress. il seems, came to the con
clusion before it sanctioned the con
tinuation of the chemical warfare
service that II any line of chemical
industry Is probed 1t will be found
that II has wa. application as well
az peace application.
The action of congress makes II
clear that ii believes that the chem
zeal warfare service will 20 hand in
hand with the efforts to develop a
nitrate supply fer this country. to de-
, velop the dyestuff and acetylene in
duStrieS against hurtful foreign com
petition.
Bird Protection Shows Results.
Washington officials connected with
the biological survey OF the depart
ment of agriculture OF which +. w.
Nelson IS the chief, are faithfully at
work these days in carrying out the
provisions of the treaty With Canada
which gives the United States power
to protect migratory birds. DIR. f. X.
Fisher and Or. 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. Strong
support from genuine sportsmen has
como for that provision of the law
which prevents spring shooting and
Which gives the migratory birds Seeur-
ity during the season of mating and
nesting. The whole country now is In
sympathy apparently with the laws
which protect the song and insectivor-
Gus birds Of the land.
French scientist has stated that
| esix- he aft hp RI iGa 90 If
bird life from this planet of ours man
would have to prepare to follow In the
trail Of disappearance. The French
mans findings have been borne out by
other scientists declaring that insect
life would increase so rapidly if its nat
ural enemies, the birds, were all killed
the green things on the earth would be
dead in short order and that therefore
ne cattle could live, and man being de.
prived of both vegetables and animal
food would go the way of annihlation
: by starvation.
| Washington Swarms With Birds.
All of which in n way IS apropoS OF
: the extraordinary abundance of song
? bird life in the capital of the United
|
: 1919. No shooting is allowed in the
e District of Columbia al any time of the
e year. The result is that birds LITERAL,
: walk over the feet of people who sit ii
I any one of the parks with which this
2 city abounds.
D OF course domestic pigeons are no
wild birds. hut they are not ordinarily
: as tame as chickens. In parts Of
4 Washington the domestic pigeons viii
g light on the heads of persons sitting
! in the parks in the expectation Of be
!. ing fed They are seldom disappoint
I ed
r What is true Of the domestic pigeor
I is almost true of the blackbird, known
: generally as the purple grackle. These
2 glossy fellows will eat from the hand
= Robins do not care for bread crumbs
l and therefore they do not besiege tn,
4 park visitors as do the other birds. bu
!. they pAy no attention to paSsersby ant
? will pull worms from the sod uncon
eerned while within less than hand,
reach OF humankind.
What is true of the city il to a con
? Siderable extent true of the suburbs il
: the District of Columbia. This sum
| mer | have seen the homes of lively,
2 pairs of house wrens under the shadow
: of one suburban residence. Wood
Il ,i1I-, !, f,,.-