Evening star., 1940-09-18
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. HdSktn,

n ICuucI CuH yeL LftS uUSUeT 10 anu
question OF fact by tOriting The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director, WASHINGTON,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for replu.
Q. Can you tell me Of some occasions
In the past when weather has affected
the outcome of battles?-G. r.
A. Gales defeated the Spanish Armada
In 1888 and saved England from threat
ened invasion. 1t is popularly said that
the two great generals, January and
February, defeated Napoleon's army in
Russia.
@. What is the origin Of the saving.
"As Maine goes, so the Union goes"?-
T. P
A. The expression originated with the
Wings after the presidential election Of
l04O. 1t refers to the supposed accuracy
of the September election in Maine as
political barometer for the Nation.
@. From what musical composition is
The theme Of the currently popular an
an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room?
B. a.
A. 1t is based on Mozart's Sonata in
c.
Q. Is the pay for National Guard off,
GERS the same as in the Regular Army
when on active duty?-W. S. J.
A. National Guard officers, while on
active duty, receive the same pay as that
received by officers of the same rank in
the Regular Army.
Q. How did the word scapegoat acquire
Its present-day meaning?-R L.
A. In the ancient Hebrew rites on the
Day Of Atcnement, the sins of the peo-
pie were symboically placed by the high
priest upon goat, which was then
allowed to escape to the wilderness.
Hence, scapegoat is now one who bears
the blame Of others.
@. Does enlistment in the Roval Air
Force mean loss of American citizen
ship?-O. w. D.
A. An American citizen does not lose
his citizenship by enlistment in a foreign
military organization unless he takes an
oath Of allegiance to the foreign power.
Q. What is the proper time to present
a wedding gift?-D. r. S.
A. A wedding gift should be sent i'm
mediately upon receipt of a wedding in
vltation. If there is some DELAY. il il
permissible to send the gift after the
wedding.
Q. Please tell me whether a torpedo
travels under water, and at what depth
-F.T.
A. Submarines fire torpedoes at peri
scope depth, which is from IS feet to
so feet, depending on the size of the
vessel and the length of the periscope.
Q. Which States reach farthest south
and farthest north?-V. G.
A. The sOuthernmost point In the
United States is Cape Sable. Fla. The
point farthest north is Penasse, MINI.
@. Which bird makes the longest
flght?-O. G. T.
A The Arctic tern is the worlds great
est traveller. 1t breeds in Arctic Canada
and Greenland, and winters in the Ant
arctlc, so that its winter and summer
homes are 1000 miles apart at the ex-
tremes. Furthermore. it flies circuitouslv,
by way of Western Europe and Africa,
or Eastern South America, and covers al
least $4,000 miles each year. For an
individual bird, the longest fight known
was accomplished by a tern which few
from the coast of Labrador to the coast
OF Southeastern Africa in three months.
@. Please give the origin of sausage
]. H B.
A. Sausage is one Of the oldest forms
OF processed food. 1t was popular with
the ancient Chinese and with the Greeks.
being mentioned in book 90 of Homer's
Odyssey. The word salami was probably
derived from Salamis. a Greek city de-
stroyed about 449 BIC.
Q. How many foreign missions has
the United States at the present time?
&C. K. S.
A. There are now 20 American embas-
sizes, 80 legations, SO consulates general
and 180 conSulates, according to the cur
rent issue of the Foreign Service List OF
the Department Of State During the past
year the United States has closed its
Legation at Prague. Czecho-S -Slovakia. and
has established diplomatic relations for
the first time with Saudi Arabia and
Australia. The Embassy in Warsaw.
Poland. is listed as temporarily stationed
in France
@. Where is the mightiest waterfall in
the world?-E. T H
A. 1t is Victoria Falls in Rhodesia,
British Africa. The roar of the falls Is
like continuous thunder and the vapor
from the falling water rises in a column
that can be seen for miles. The native
African name for the falls Is Thunder
Ing Smoke. The height is over twice
that of Niagara Falls.
Q. What is the German word used
In reference to synthetic products?
F. NJ. c.