Evening star., 1939-10-27
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

eric !. HdSk1n, dtrectOr, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Which division of the United States
Army was the first to fight In France?-
L. C. r.
A. At the time of the World War the
1st Division was the first American force
in the trenches and the first in battle
This division entered the line October
q, 1917, in the Luneville sector near
Yancy, each unit being attached to q
corresponding French unit. At sos m.
October %, 1917, Battery c of the 9Th
Field Artillery fired the first American
shot in the War. Sergt. Alex Arch Of
South Bend, Ind, was In command Of
the crew that fired the shot.
@. Where Is the sun dial which Is in
scribed with the words 1T is later than
you think"?-E NJ H.
A. There are said to be several bearing
that inscription. One of the most famous
is at Abries in the village of Vallee de
Queyras in the Dauphine Alps.
@. How many airplanes are there in the
United States?-M. L. w.
A. There are 10902 commercial and
private certificated aircraft in the United
States and 1,0l2 uncertificated aircraft,
E. B.
A. Ro is an artificial language. intended
to be international. 1t was devised by
the Rev. Edward p Foster of Marietta,
Ohio, about 1906. This language rejects
all existing words and roots and is based
on the analysis and classification of ideas.
@. How long does 1t take to build q
battleship?-C. F..
A. 1t takes approximately four years
to build United States battleship.
@. Is Mainbocher, the dress designer,
Frenchman?-C. H. G.
A. He is an American citizen who went
abroad to become an artist later making
phenomenal success as designer Of
women's apparel. Since the war he has
established headquarters in New York
City.
@. Who were the Four Horsemen Of
Notre Dame?-A. L.
A. The following football players were
so called: Henry Stuhldreher. quarter
back; Don Miller, right halfback; Jim
Crowley, left halfback; Elmer Layden.
fullback.
@. What is carpet knight?-C. H M.
A. This was originally the name given
to one knighted by the king on tho
carpet before the throne and not on the
field of battle Later it was applied in
a contemptuous sense to soldier who
shirks active service.
@. Was Poland ever ruled by the Ger.
man states?-R. S. H.
A. Poland, an ancient kingdom whose
history dates from 966. was great
| power from the 14th to the 17th century.
1t was apportioned in three partitions
1772, 1898 and 1795-among Prussia, Rus
sia and Austria.
@. What foods contain the most iron?
e. T. H.
! A. Tests recently completed at the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
show that molasses heads the list OF
iron containing foods with about 81
| parts of usable iron per 100000 parts by
weight of molasses. Beef liver is Sec
ond with Sc parts per 100000, and oat.
meal third with 46.
@. Is the island on which the Statue
| of Liberty stands called Bedloe or Bed
| loes Island?-H. P. S.
A. Both forms have been used here.
tofore, but the United States Board Of
Geographic Names has decided that the
site shall be known as and spelled Bed
| loes Island.
@. How will Admiral Byrd carry bis
| food supplies on the Antarctic expedi-
tion?-J. G. H.
A. They will be carried on the North
Star. motorship belonging to the De-
partment of the Interior. The craft has
| 10000 cubic feet of refrigeration space
and facilities for 300 tons of meats.
~. WlldJ Is lllc Capacity VI Tie 1OFe
| ernment-owned helium plant at ANA
rillo, Tex.?-C. P. S.
! A. The plant has a capacity of a..
| 100000 cubic feet of helium year.
@. Who invented the friction match?
p. E.
A. The first true friction match ap-
parently was invented bv John Walker
of Stockton On Tees, Durham, England.
1927. 1t was composed of chlorate Of
potash, sulphate Of antimony, with
enough of powdered gum to render it
adhesive when mixed with water and
applied to the end of the match, which
had previously been dipped in brim-
stone. The match was scratched on
sandpaper. Later inventions were from
1929 to 1880 by G. F. Watts, Samuel
Jones and Richard Bell & Co. In 1896,
DR.. Alonzo D. Phillips of Springfield.
Mass, was granted the first United
States patent on friction matches.
@. What author referred to the Rocky
Mountains as the ramparts of freedom
and Niagara Falls as the anthem Of free
men?-E. w. c.
A. The quotation from Wendell Phil
lips Is as follows: "The Carpathian
Mountains may shelter tyrants, the
slopes Of Germany may bear up a race
e.