Evening star., 1940-07-24
Hoskin's Answers
10 Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Haskfn.

10 Neo0erS. questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.
A reader cdn get the anstces to any
question OF fact by ,urtting The Foe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director. Washtngto1,
D. c. Please t,sclose stamp for reply.
Q. What part Of our feet is in Europe
now?-E. VS..
A. Squadron 40-T, consisting Of one
light cruiser and two destroyers, is now
In European waters.
Q. What is the shortest distance In Q
straight line from New York City to Ja-
pan?-J. M.
A. The shortest distance between New
York and Japan In Q straight line Is
5.274 nautical miles. In obtaining this
figure the distance between New York
and northeasternmost point on the Island
Of Hokushu (1okkaido) was used.
Q. Who won the Atlantic Novel Prize
contest?-H. K. w.
A. The 1910 award was presented TO
Mrs. Antonina Riasanovsky Of Eugene,
Greg, for her novel called "The Family"
Q. Can a nearsighted person who has
good glasses obtain q pilots ucense?-
v. w.
A. An applicant for a pilots license
must have visual acuity Of 20:50 in each
eye. If his vision Is poorer than 20:50
and can be brought up to 2o:30 with
glasses the applicant may be qualified for
license If he wears glasses while pilot
ing plane.
@. Was there Vice President Of the
United States named jeremiah Jones
Colbaith?-S. T. G.
A. Henry Wilson, Vice President from
1873-1875, was originally named Colbaith.
At the age Of 81 he had his named
changed by legislative action.
Q. What is the lowest star in the
Southern Cross?-R. s.
A. OF the four stars that outline the
Alpha Crucis Is the star that is farthest
. south.
Q. Please give the weight Of the thres
British vessels which took part In battle
with the Graf Spee.-M. S.
A. The displacement tonnage Of the
battleships is as follows: Achilles, 7,o30
tons; Ajax, 6,985 tons; Exeter 1890 tons.
@. Is Teresa Neumann, the stigmata
girl, still living in Germany?-J. T.s.
A. Newspapers reported her death on
September 8, 1889, few days after war
was declared.
@. Is 1t permissible for the wife Of
veteran to sign his pension check?-
w. A. B.
A. The Veterans Administration says
that no one except the veteran himself
has the right to sign his pension check.
If the veteran has guardian, the check
Is made out to the veteran in tho
guardians name.
Q. How many gallons Of gasoline are
used annually in automobiles? Daily?-
A. B. r.
A. The total amount Of gasoline used
by motor vehicles in the United States in
1889 was 20, 1877 ,000, ,000' gallons. In . a.
hour period approximately Sc 100000 gal-
Ions are used for motor vehicles.
q. Why is the word axis used in REFER
ence to Germany and those powers allied
with her?-W. T. B.
A. The term axis used In q political
sense means an agreement among or be-
tween nations around which, as around
an axis their activities are co-ordinated,
hence, the Rome-Berlin axis.
@. Who said "One with God is always
majority?"-R. w. D.
A. The expression is credited to Speaker
Thomas B. Reed IN the biography by w.
A. Robinson.
Q. How old is San Juan Capistrano
Mission?-M. A. M.
A. San Juan Capistrano Mission in
California was established in 1776 It IS
considered one Of the most elaborately
decorated and artistically constructed Of
California missions and Is noted for its
fine arched cloisters.
@. Please give some information about
the inventor of the French telephone
L. r.
A. The Chesapeake & Potomac Tele.
phone CO. says that Robert G. Brown.
who was chief engineer Of the Gold &
Stock Telegraph Co. in 1878, in that
year developed the hand set He was
prevented from making use Of 1t in the
United States, but In 1862 went to
Paris where he eventually developed
what is called the French set. He died
In 1926.
@: Is it true that the section Of Wash.
ington, D. c., in which George Washing
ton University is located was once called
Hamburg?-R. p.
"a. Jacob Funk, a German emigrant,
bought tract of approximately 100 acres
In that portion Of Frederick County, Md,
out of which Montgomery County was
later carved. These holdings were within
the present city Of Washington and in
cluded the section in which George
Washington University is now situated.
In 1768 Funk laid the tract out into 2S7
building lots and incorporated . town
which he called HAMBURG