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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1914)
THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. TITANIC STRUGGLE AROUND GHARLERO FEW MISTAKEN IDEAS IN RAISING DUCKS Carefully Dressed High Coiffuro IS TOLO FROM ALLIES' SiOE AND I (Special cablo to "The Chicago Tribune" from a correspondent whoso Information was obtained from Brit ish and French source.) Boulogne. .When tho history of tho tremendous Btrugglo In the neighbor hood of Mons and Charlerol a titanic combat lasting five dayB is written the historian will pen perhaps tho most glorious chapter which has ever been or ever will bo added to tho his tory of Drlttsh and French arms. When In tho course of time wo are able to weigh up all the' features of that stupendous combat, In which wero locked tho vast stern forces of -Prussian military autocracy and tho pick of British and French military strength, the forces of freedom; when wo know tho gain nnd loss tho tragedy and hero ism of it all, there will shine resplen dently forth a stirring story of mar tial glory which will make It matter but little which way the advantage went. Gathers Story From Soldiers. From tho lips of thoso who took part In it, from the wounded out of tho battle of giants, from the refugees who fled from their blurred and black ened homesteads and their villages de voured by fire and shattered by shell, I havo during tho last two days heard enough to bo able to piece together the story of a struggle which dwarfs nil the declsivo battles of the world. It was a fight against the finest co horts of tho kaiser, endeavoring to crush their way through the allies' lines by sheer weight of numbers, aid ed by all the strength of the artillery toat could bo brought into action. Meets the British Wounded. (Here the correspondent takes up his story of a meeting with tho Brit ish wounded.) It was all so quietly said I could not help casting my eyes again over tho trim, khaki-clad figure of the littlo soldier who had come through that ghastly ordeal, come through it to tell mo in a few short hours afterward that he was eager to bo with the forces at the front again. "And," he added, "I shall have to go to England without a cap. A shrapnel bullet knocked mine off In tho darkness." I turned to his companion. "Yes," he said, "that's the story. It waa tho first time the German artillery really got at ub. As a rule, their big gun fire was mighty poor, 1 hough they did go in for quantity. In tho trenches wo used to watch tho German gunners trying to hit conspicuous parts of Mons, and every time they missed o gave them a cheer which they could hear. Work of the Artillery. "They are not shots, either. It was really astounding what they could miss. I think we can beat everybody at marksmanship." "And the British artillery?" I asked. "Why, It was magnificent. If there had only been more of it. But there tho Germans got us. Ab it was, it was perhaps a good deal more than they over expected. "On, one ' occasion I think It was late on Monday wo held a position about 600 or COO yards from tile Ger man lines. Wo could see them quite clearly. They were mostly standing up. Fresh troops, I think they were, being brought up for another attack. "Tho order was given us to fix bay onets. It was evidently to bo a charge the thing wo especially had been waiting for. In the sunlight our bay onets flashed and we waited for or ders. Hall of Bullets Comes. "Tho Germans must have seen our bayonets flashing, for they went down on their faces. If there is ono thing they fear it is a bayonet attack. There developed suddenly a hall of bullets and the order to charge did not come. "We retired a littlo way after that and before night fell advanced to much the same position again. Juat as darkness came wo could see the cround well in front of us simply lit tered with German dead. It cost us a lot, too. "At one time early next day wo got within a couple of hundred yards of their dead. I am suro we must have nearly wiped out those in front of us." Fight Ragea Furiously. Ffam others I have gathered how fu rlously for days tho flght raged against the French forces on the right of tho British. Tho English soldiers speak In highest praise of the coolness un der fire of the French Infantry. In tho end, however, the fierceness of tho successive onslaughts was too much for tho exhausted French troops, against whom the ever-fresh forces of tho enemy wero hurled. It was hero, indeed that tho long encounter was really decided. Gradually weight told weight of regiments and of artillery. With magnificent heroism the men held their positions. If they gave a yard the enemy bought It at tremen dous cost. But they wore ready and prepared to pay It, and pay it they did. The final order to retire came. Slow ly the French positions on the right of tho British were given up through out Tuesday. 700 Hold Back 5,000. London. A British correspondent from Boulogne writes: it has taken the British expedition ary force just four days to shatter the illusion which has been drummed Into every German that the fighting qual ities of British troopB are negligible besldo the mighty race whoso busi ness is war. The uhlan Is at least a wiser man today. Ho has found that breaking a British lino of steel is not such easy work as harassing a countrysldo Bhorn by murder' of its men folk. German cavalry, estimated to num ber 5,000 men, may have overwhelmed a little British forco of 700 which was hourly awaiting relief, but not beforo Its own ranks had been Badly thinned, nor yet without having recourso to tho baso expedient of mounting quick firors in Red Cross wagons. Supporting Force Falls. It was not for tho 700 to reason why. Tho supporting forco never ap peared. They just stood their ground to a man, nnd It seems that only 300 remain. When all was lost thoro en sued no sauvo qui peut. Calmly har assing their pursuers with a murder ous fire, all that was left of them re treated with tho wounded of tho con voy Intact. It Is a simple story, a last stand one, that should thrill every British heart On Wednesday morning British troops had taken up a position slightly in the rear of tho town (censor forbids nnmo of town) upon high ground. On tho extreme right of a semi-circular posi tion wero two high guns of garrison artillery. At first, theso found an excellent range, dealing death by wholesale to tho invaders, who wero some miles away. Then with the steady German advance tho range was lost toward 1 P. m. Position Becomes Critical. The fight had begun at 11:30 a. m. Tho position became critical for tho heroic British defenders. As every vital mlnuto slipped by anxious eyes looked back for the promised help that was ncrer to come. Even at a terrible disadvantage at least ten to one infantry nnd artillery tho artillery was holding Ha own, when hordes of uhlans seemed sudden ly to sweep down through the town. They galloped, with amazing disre gard for themselves, on to tho very muzzles of tfio enemy's field guns. There must have been 3,000 of them hero alone. A survivor tells me (tho correspondent) : ''Tho last I saw was one of our offi cers holding a revolver In either hand, firing away, screened by the guns. Ho alone must havo accounted for a dozen uhlans. They wero falling on all sides of him." Towards 2 p. m. tho 300 gallant sur vivors, tho majority of them wounded, began to fall back. They reached, a safe position by nightfall. Keep Up Continuous Attack. Tho uhlans kept up a continuous at tack, and at midnight two hostile air men began dropping bombs on tho British camp, but fortunately without causing its destruction. Perhaps I may be permitted to give verbatim the following eloquont summing up from a gunner who was shot In both legs: "They won't be so cocksure the next time we glvo them hell." I have been able to gather dotalls of severe engagements In which British troops wero concerned. On Wednes day morning at 6 o'clock detachments 3,000 strong bivouacked after a forced march of 17 miles. Through lack of air scouts (I am asked to emphasize this point) the exact position In the neighborhood of hostile troops In su perior numbers was. misjudged. Leave Wall of Dead. Within an hour with tho uhlans leading the way, tho Germans swarmed down on our fatigued men, approach ing within 60 yards. With the quick flrcrs tho British position, however was strong, and tho Germans wero ro pulsed, leaving a wall of dead. By all accounts the Gorman plan of campaign is being carried out regard less of human life. The German artil lery flro Is spoken of as deadly, but the infantry Is beneath contempt. After repulsing attack after attack and not suffering considerably, the British force was able to select and save a base five miles distant. That tho attacking force was more or less crippled is clear, for they made no ef fort to follow up their oppononts. Lauds Conduct of French. An Amiens dispatch to the Dally Chronicle says: "The French retirement beforo tho German horde advancing from Namur down the valley of tho Meuso was masterly. The Germans won their way at a cost In human life as great as In defeat; yet they won their way. "For Franco that retirement Is as glorious a story as anything in her annalsy "It was nearly a fortnight ago that the Germans began concentrating their heaviest fqrees on Namur, press ing southwards over tho Meuse valley. After the battle of Dlnant tho French army was heavily outnumbered and fell back gradually In order to gain tlmo for ro-enforcoment to come to its support, "Tho French artillery was posted on the heights above the. river and swept tio advancing Germans with a storm of fire. On tho right bank tho French Infantry was intrenched, supported by Hold guns and mitrailleuses. rlho in fantry did deadly work, holding tho po sitions with great tenacity and drop ping back only to occupy new posi tions just as doggedly. "Tho fighting extended for a consid erable dlstanco on both sides of the Meuse, and many side lino engage ments wero fought by tho cavalry. Thero was a memorable encounter near Mezleres which was evacuated last Monday tho French taking uti magnificent positions commanding tho town nnd bridges." 111 " " ' " i . ... ... i .,.,,.. Pure-Bred Indian Runner Ducks, tho and Stand Up Well (By ANNA aALIOIICn.) Wo havo raised ducks for a number of years and find that thoy aro easy to raise when one knows how, but it is safo to say that not more than ono poultry raiser ln overy five thousand thoroughly understands duck raising. Few beginners stay with tho busi ness long enough to learn. Thoy start in by guess, so to speak, and give up in disgust, at tho end of tho first sea son. Some people try to ralso ducklings on whole wheat, cracked corn, etc. Others insist that ducks of all ngea must have a swimming pool. This is all wrong. Begin by providing good shelter for tho ducklings beforo they aro hatched. Tho houses need not bo very expen elve, but thoy must have good roofs and floors. Colony houses aro best because it Is not advisable to keep large numbers together. If ducklings of different sizes are kept in tho same yards, tho smaller ones aro suro to suffer. Never keep more than 35 young ducks in the same house. If the houses nro very small 15 will be enough. But when building the duck houses it Is a good plan to havo them built largo enough to bo used for sheltering the layers in tho winter, If necessary. Ordinary coops, such as thoso used by the averago farmer for a "hen and chickens," havo no placo in tho duck raising business. Such coops can neither bo kept dry or clean. Need less to say they aro not sultablo for any other poultry. In cool,' damp weather they are littlo short of death traps. Have a separate yard for each lot of ducklings. If thoy aro to havo free range after tho first few weoks, the yards need not bo very large. Tho ducklings cannot fly, therefore, it is not necessary to have high fences. Poul- The First Swimming Lesson. try netting will answer for tho old and young. The ducklings cannot got over an 18-lnch fence, but in buying netting it is not advisable to select tho narrow variety, because a fence that will turn the young ducks may not bo high enough to confine the old ones, if needed for that purpose at some fu ture time. As a rule we use tho 24 inch closo mesh netting with a six inch board at the bottom, to keep the little ducklings from trying to get through. , This fonco is high enough to turn tho old birds also. If ono must economize on lumber when building tho bouses, they can bo built low; about seven feet or Just high enough for one to walk through. This of course Is not necessary, If they are small but In that case ono elde should bo open or enclosod in such a way as to allow tho floors to bo cleaned easily. The houses should bo close enough to bo comfortable, but not air-tight. Ducks need plenty of fresh air, espe cially In the hot -weather. Koep the houses clean, dry and well ventilated. Floors should bo dry and well covered with straw or clean litter. Never use sawdust. Tho floor covering should bo changed often. Ducks sit on the floor at night und the bedding soon gets badly soiled. As a rule, 1 clean tho floors overy ochcr day In summer, and if thero is any dampness the floors aro allowed to dry before fresh litter is put on. Wo sometimes scatter lino ashes over the floor to absorb tho molBturo. Always remove tho ashes beforo the bedding Is put on tho floor. If these rules aro followed thero will wFit f 1 Kind That Require but Little Water on Their Legs. bo no roup among your ducklings, pro viding other conditions are right. Nelthor tho Pokin nor tho Indian Iluuner ducks requlro a stream or pond to Bwlm In. A great many peo ple Insists that ducks of all kinds re qulro a swimming pool. Right hero is where they "fall down." In caso thero Is no pond at band, a Bubstltuto Is forthwith provided. An excavation is made In tho ground and then filled with water; and ofton no other wnter la provided. It soon becomes a foul puddle, and tho result can bo Imagined. Of courso the ducklings soon begin dying off, ana continue to do so until few, if any, aro left. Ducks nro naturally very healthy. If properly cared for they will bo freo from disease and will grow very fast They never1 havo lice. However, It is not advisable to keep ducks and other poultry togother. Not oven with geese. In fact two varieties 6f ducks will not thrivo when put to gether. If Pokin and Indian Runnor ducklings aro fed together, tho latter will bo sure to get the worst of it, and it is the same with tho older birds. All varieties of ducks requlro about tho same kind of food, but somo re qulro more than others. Tho Pokin is a market duck, whllo tho Indian Runner is usually raised for egg production. However, thero aro nlways somo "culls" and surplus drakes that ono has to dlsposo of, and theso when fat, bring good prices in tho market Thero aro two ways of distinguish ing ducks from tho drakes, namely, tho voice or "quack" and the feathers in tho tall. Tho voice of tho duck Is loud and coarse, whllo that of tho drake is rather smooth and le3s loud. Drakes have a few curled fcathorB in their tails when matured. Duck eggs hatch in Incubators. Tho eggs have clear shells and are easily tested. We test all of our eggs, no mattor whether placed In lncubatora or under hens. Bo very careful In doing tho work, as it is difficult for a beginner to toll whether an egg Is good or bad. At a certain stage during incubation a perfectly good duck egg presents a very queer appearance to the novice. When held beforo a strong light, tho shell appears to bo half empty. Don't get excited and throw tho egg away. If you do, tho chances aro that you will destroy a duckling. Ordinary chicken hens can bo used for hatching duck eggs. If tho weath er Is cool, It Is best to leave tho hen with tho ducklings for oeveral weoks. Ducklings got along nicely In brood ers, but they should only bo kept thero at night, and at intervals during the day, when young. All brooders should bo placed In a building or under cover, for obvious reasons. Ducklings soon outgrow a brooder. After tho first few weeks they can get along without artificial heat. Keep tho brooders clean and thoroughly ven tilated. Don't overcrowd. Largetaumbera of young fowl are killed by thls over crowding and poor ventilation. Spring and early summer Is tho beat tlmo to hatch ducks. The beginner who tries to raiso ducka In tho winter usually makes a failure of it There Is no'advantago in hatching ducklings in winter except where tho market offers special, inducements in tho way of fancy prices. Use judg ment alwaya. Duck eggs requlro about four weeks to hatch. Whon hatched tho ducklings should be removed from tho nest or Incubator, and put into a brooder or near tho kitchen stove until all are hatched. Glvo no food until at loaBt 24 houro" old. They will eat almost as soon as hatched if food is offered, but It is not advisable to allow them to do so. However, wo always give our duck lings tepid water to drink from tho start Fowls Unfit for Breeders. Don't buy your breeders from chicks that havo been penned in n three-foot spaco until thoy aro nearly mature. Theso may come on fast, and If white or buff develop tho very whlto or pale buff color required by the standard of perfection, but nino times in ten the male birds aro long and narrow in shape "spindling" wo would call it in a plant and not 'fit for breeders. F SEVERAL now high coiffures thero aro a noteworthy numbor In which tho hair Is waved In tho ovon, Marcel wavo, and parted either in tho middlo or to one side. In others tho mass of th6 hair, after being waved, is brought to the top of tho head and piled in a coll directly back of tho forehead. A third stylo bIiowb a part nt each Bido with tho hair at' tho top of tho head drawn back to tho crown, whero it Joins tho bnck hair to form a small Psyche knot. In the coiffuro shown In tho picture, tho hair Is waved all around tho head. Tho front portion is parted off and combed forward to bo out of tho way, while tho back hair is brought to tho top of tho cown and tarrnnged in a short' French twist. When this has been pinned to place with short wlro hairpins it forms a foundation to which tho front hair Is afterward fastened. Tho front hair is parted and combed down on each side, Just above tho tomplo. It Is turned back and combed off tho face from tho temple to the ear. It Is brought up to tho knot with the ends curled Intq n puff. Tho Corset Cover for FIGURE which la deficient in bust development, either from lack of flesh or other causes, must bo helped out by some device. Any number of cor nets, corset waists and bust forms nro on tho market, to supply tho deficien cies of tho too slender woman. For present stylos tho fitted corset cover or flttod waist, with inBldo ruf fles, Is the moat satisfactory garment which tho thin woman can adopt. These waists aro cut to fit a normal figure. Tho waist, therefore, 1b made too large across the bust To fill this extra room ruffles of flno muslin are sewed to the under arm seams nnd arm'B eye. Theso ruffles aro made by Btltching tape or bands of tho fabric to a long piece of cambric muslin, or nainsook to form casings. Tapes are run through theso casings. Tho ruf fle is made as full as tho figuro re quires nnd tho tnpes aro drawn up nnd tied at tho center of tho ruffle. When It becomes necessary to laun der a walBt of this kind tho tapes are untied, and tho fullness of the ruf flo eased along them. Thoy are starched with very thin starch and ironed flat, so that laundering pre serves tho bust form. Waists of this kind are made to fasten olthor In front or back. Those fastening In front aro pro vided with buttons and button holes. An excellent model, which fastens In tho back, does not requtio oither but tons or button IioIcb. The back pieces aro sloped down In a "V" shape and finished with tapes which tie around the vnlst That is, tho back pieces mmm$immf3mxMm puff Is pinned beside tho twist This arrangement gives tho effect? of three puffH across the top of tho, crown whon viewed from th'o fronts Both sides aro arranged in tho samo manner. Tho hair Is drawn loosely1 buck to glvo a Boft appearance about tho faco and to allow tho waves to, retain their position. Any short locks about tho forehead) nro trimmed off In a light, even frlngo and curlod slightly. Thoy aro to boi arranged In short curls ut each sldo of tho part, or combed across tho fore- head, according to- their becoming-. noBs to t,ho woaier. The middle part Is Bultod to very1 youthful faces and thoso past middlo; llfo, but tho woman in hor prima should oxporlmont before adopting it. A Bldo part Is more piquant and lini parts a youthful look. With tho roturn of wlde-brlmmed hats wo aro likely to havo tho return of puffs. Thoy aro always admired and for tho woman who must resort, to false hair they aro tho lightest and most convenient substitute for natural locks. the Thin Woman mmm&MsMM&MxMiim cross and overlap, and the tapes are' tied In front. Tho most convenient way to make u. Bhopoly waist of this kind 1b to buy a ready-made corset cover or brassiere, and supply It with rufflca. This Willi glvo tho woaror a normal figure. Therol Is no oconomy In making a plain un dergarment of this kind at home, be cause the ready-made brassiere Bella! to cheaply. But thoro Is oconomy In placing tho ruffle, for tho simple rea son that the work required doubles tho price of the waist in tho shops. Perhaps tho greatest advantage de rived from a waist such us 1b pictured here is the fact that It may bo worn as a substitute for a corset. JULIA BOTTOMLEY. Colored Handkerchiefs. The snow-white handkerchief 1b, ousted for tho moment; not for every hour of tho day, but for morning wean especially, and then It Is that funcleai In colors havo tho lead. Thoso col ored handkerchiefs are not of violent coloring as thoy wero some time slneo. Instead, thoy nro soft and gentle in tone, somo being quiet ovon to tho. point of dullnoss. Quiet grays and browns, yellows and greens, purple toneB and dull reds all como with thoi morning handkerchief, which may boi of lawn or, moro fanciful still, of the finest nlnon. Thoso of nlnon aro most-' ly In fine stripoH with a narrow border1 of tho main coloring; but tho lawn moucholr Is moro ofton plain In its' quiet coloring with a quarter or hul' Inch hemstitched border of whltu.