Evening star., 1945-04-13
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

By THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. How does the War Department
define the word "shrapnel"?-
E. L. H.
A. The War Department says that
shrapnel is an artillery projectile
which contains small lead balls that
are released by a powder charge in
the base set off by a time fuse
Shrapnel has been replaced almost
entirely by high explosive shells
Wounds called shrapnel wounds are
usually due to shell fragments rather
than to shrapnel.
@. How long have the people who
live in the country we call Germany
been known as Germans?-N. S. S
A. In English the word German
does not occur until the 18th GEN.
tury. It's origin is not definitely
known. 1t may possibly have been
the name given by the Gauls to
their neighbors.
@. Can the white race ever be
completely acclimated in the trop-
ics?-F. L. G.
A. The white man can live there
according to a scientist who made a
study of the question for the Smith
sonian Institution, but he needs
intelligence and a rigid discipline
in order to do so successfully. Life
in the tropics will certainly become
more comfortable as we'll as safer
for the white race, says this au-
thority, but acclimatization in its
full and literal sense is and Will
remain impossible.
O. How often is a total eclipse OF
the sun seen at any particular 10
cality?-S. A. B.
A. Elements of Astronomy" by
Edward E. Faith, says that the eclipse
may be observed as total only by
those within the narrow shadow
path. For this reason a total eclipse
of the sun is a very rare phenom-
enon at any particular place on
earth. Young estimated that at
anv one station a total eclipse will
be visible once in 800 years in the
long run.
@. Does lieutenant in the Army
have to pay for his own uniform?-
T. l.. P.
A. Newly commissioned officers in
the Army are given an allowance Tor
uniforms. Thereafter they must
purchase their own.
@. If an officer of the Navy has
r,srmission to drive his own car TO
the port of embarkatlon, is there
any assurance that his wife, II she
accompanies him, will be able to
obtain sufficient gasoline to drive
home?-D. OBJ.
A. There is not. Before under
taking such a trip by private auto
mobile it is wise to investigate the
Gasoline situation at both ends.
O. How many calories are there
in the standard ration of overseas
troops?-H. H. T.
A. The B ration provides approx
mately 5000 calories per man per
day. This is the standard ration
for overseas troops wherever they
have access to the Army kitchens.
O, If a boy of 18 is in his second
year of high school will he be in
Quoted even though he has not I'm
ished his education?-M. c. N.
A. The law provides that any per-
son 18 or 19 years of age who, while
pursuing a course of instruction at
a high school or similar institution
of learning. is ordered to report for
induction into the armed forces dur
ing the last half of one of his aca-
demic years at such school or instl-
tuition shall, upon his request, nave
his induction postponed until the
end of such academic year
@. If a veterans disability pension
is discontinued and later he becomes
completely disabled from the same
cause, will he again be pensloned?
Il. B. @.
A. The Veterans Administration
saws that if a veterans pension is
discontinued because his disability
has become less than 10 per cent
in degree. and later he becomes
completely disabled for the same
cause. his pension would be in
creased in accordance with the de-
gree of disability.
@. On which side of the uniform
is the Armys Distinguished Unit
Badge worn?-E. D. T.
A. It is worn on the right breast
by Army personnel. However, when
awarded to Navy personnel, 1t Is
worn on the left breast together
with other ribbons.
@. On what date was the U. S. S.
Hovey (DMS1D sunk?-T. R.
A. The Navy Department says
that the U. S. S. Hovey was an
nounced as lost in the Philippine
area as the result of enemy action
in Navy Department communlque
No. ST. Of February l, l945.
@. May a man who is serving In
the armed forces of the United
States in the present war accept a
medal or decoration from foreign
governmental. o. F.
A. Congress has authorized Off
GERS and enlisted men of the United
States armed forces, during the
present war and for one year there
after, to accept and wear any dec
grafton, order, medal or emblem
bestowed upon them by the govern
ment of a cobelligerent nation or
of an American republic, and which
is conferred by such government