THE 8EMI.WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRA8KA.
HE SWEEPERS
TIE
British Flotilla Clears Lanes oi
Germany's Cruelest Offen
sive Weapon.
IS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL
Trawlers Scour Ocean In Pairs With
Cables Seeking Explosives Ger
mans Use Submarines to Lay
Mines U. S. Co-Opera,
tlon Needed.
London. Quietly, but with unparal
leled courage, England's mine sweat
ing flotilla In dally dealing her coasts
of Germany's cruelest and mot Insid
ious offensive weapon. Since the early
days of 1915 these mine sweeper have
fished up from the sea thousands of
tons of the highest explosives and
kept the channels clear for a myriad
of ships that the British people might
be amply clothed and fed.
Through special arrangements with
the admiralty the correspondent of the
New York- Sun was granted peniiUMrion
to Inspect this branch of the naval
service. He was the first American to
go forth with the mine sweepers since
the beginning of Germany's unrestrict
ed submarine campaign nnd watch
them rip dth from the bottom of the
sea.
There nre few Englishmen outside
of navnl circles, and possibly n hand
ful of Americans, who realize how In
tensely Germany has concentrated her
efforts on mine laying In the attempt to
wipe out the world's shipping. Ambas
sador Gerard stated the cuse perfectly
when he told u Boston audience re
cently that Germany Intended pushing
her submarine nnd mining campaign
across the Atlnntlc, und then making
Amerlcu pay for it.
U. 8. Co-Operation Needed.
It is ns plain as day to every British
seaman who goes Into the mine field
that Germany's desperate efforts, If
successful here, will open n way to the
Atlantic const of the United States,
and that the United States und Great
Britain through co-operation must stop
the menace on this side or both will
suffer dire consequences.
It will he divulging no nnvnl secrets
to describe some of the technical de
tails of Germany's mlnc-hiylng cam
paign. In the early months of the war
the Huns adapted the submarine to
the purpose of laying mines. They
have rapidly developed their undersea
craft until today they are capable of
carrying as ninny as ISO mines, though
the greater number carry 12 or 15.
These weapons are so. constructed
that they can bo dropped In the ship
ping lanes to n depth of 80 or IK) feet,
where an Ingenious valve arrangement
releases the mine from Its thousand
pound base and allows It to come to
within ten or twelve feet of the sur
fuce, though still anchored by u wire
cable,
250 Pounds of Explosives.
The newest German mines are egg
shaped, about four feet high and three
feet thick", with four horns so placed
thnt contact with them causes an In
stant explosion of 250 pounds of the
highest explosives. The horns nre
made of soft lend, Inclosing a glass
tube closely fitted within the horn so
that n pressure of nine pounds breaks
the glass, releasing u liquid which sets
up nn Instant electric connection with
the detonator.
Experience has tnught the British
mine sweepers that tho high tide cur
rents swing the mines lower In the wit
ter. If tho mine cable Is set for IX)
feet, allowing the mine to swing about
ten feet under the surface, high tide
currents sweep It over until It reds
nbout 22 feet under tho surface.
Therefore mine sweeping Is least dan
gerous tit high tide or slack high tldo.
To cruise over a known mine field dur
ing low tide means almost certain de
struction. None hut men who have witnessed a
mine explosion know Its horrible ef
fects. It wns early In tho morning when
the correspondent went aboard the
llagshlp of a mine-sweeping fleet und
Milled out of a well protected harbor
Into the most dangerous portion of the
North sea, preceded by n seaplane
scout. A thick mist lay over the sou,
making the work doubly dangerous;
even If n mine were floating on the
surface It could not be seen more than '
six cable-lengths nwny.
Travel at Low Speed. I
At n designated point the mine
sweepers were connected up In pairs
by long, heuvy cables, which they kept
at a good depth beneath the surface by I
a clever arrangement of heavy weights I
so constructed as continually to hear
down heavily on the cable. Under tae ,
most trying conditions the mine sweep-,
era kept tho proper distance from e&m
other and proceeded to sweep up the
course, steumlng slowly at not more
than four knots.
Ah the cable tautened under head
way the captain und members of the
crew udjusted their cork lifebelts anx
iously watching for signs of any obsta
cle. Within live minutes the skipper
reported through the tube to tho cnj
taln that he had picked up u mine. It
wns n needloss formality, for the cup
tain had ulnudy noted the signs and
betrayed In every line of his face that
lie know his -wwls curried between
them Ktiddrit i , 'i for himself and for
1
FISH DEATH
BOnOM OF SEA
his men and that uon his ability de
pended all our lives.
His signal for greater speed had
hardly been sent to the opposite trawl
er when a sIkmh from the deck called
out all hand. Two hundred yards off
there idiot to the surface of the water
a vile black nightmare monster. Its
black horns protruding menacingly.
Heavy rifles were panned out to the
marksmen, and the hardest part of the
sweeping game commenced. After a
mine has been swept to the surface It
must be destroyed or sunk.
Rifle Fire Unsuccessful.
The sharp barking of the guns
cracked out through the mist. A little
spray showing the bullet's course close
to the mine and n series of dull clangs
gave evidence of direct hits. Every
man hoped one of the steel bullets
would strike a horn nnd cause an ex
plosion, which would Anally remove
the menace, but luck went against the
gunners. They succeeded only In
Iiierclng the monster's heavy armor
and allowing the water to enter. After
perhaps a score of steel bullets hud
penetrated the mine It filled and sank
beneath the surface, where It remained
for u few minutes and then sank to
It last resting place on the bottom.
The trawlers proceeded on their
course for 20 or 30 minutes, when nn
other tautening of the cable Indicated
the presence of n mine. We were now
In a field where the Germans had sown
death with an extravagant hnnd. We
knew we rode contlnuully hand in hand
with death. The members of the crew
lined the rails with drawn faces, for
they knew by experience that only a
few seconds remained for escape In
case we struck. The nvorage light
vessel sinks within one minute after
being mined.
Again there lenped to the surface a
horned destroyer, and aguln the marks
men's guns spat fire and It sunk from
view a half mile astern. Two com
panion trawlers whistled a warning
that they hnd made a catch, and dimly
through tho mist could be seen another
black, horned object between them.
Giant Sea Geyser.
Only n few shots hnd been Hred
when the air beat upon our ears and
the decks quivered. Then there wns
a mighty blast that almost stunned
nnd blinded us. Between the following
trawlers a great column of water rose
steadily skyward, drawing tho ships
townnl It. It seemed ns If some un
seen hand had shoved a great section
of the North sea and kept It suspend
ed hundreds of feet in the air for tlw
space of perhaps 80 seconds.
The spectnele defies description. Its
terrlhleness holds one breathless, until
the glnnt column of water re
cedes slowly, apparently shoving Itself
REGISTRATION TO
Washington. Officials of the war
department are pleased because many
slntes of the union do not Intend thnt
registration day for the new nrmy
shall be merely a "drudgery day." The
spirit of patriotism seems to have en
tered Into tho arrangements for the
occasion which have been made by
many of tho state officials.
It Is the desire that all the states
shall enter Into the duty of registra
tion with the same spirit already man
ifested In many parts of tho country.
In one state, for Instance, the occa
sion In large part Is to take on the na
ture of a patriotic demonstration, n
sort of national fete -day. In ninny
parts of this state there will be bar
becues and like affairs to druw tho
people, so that those upon whom the
duty of registration devolves will know
that they have the support of their
fellows of all occupations and of all
ages.
HIGHEST-SALARIED WOMAN
Tin re nre many women employed In
Wall Kfnet. but there aren't very mtiny
of them who draw salaries approach
ing thnt Miss Henrietta I II. Hied,
secretary and treasurer of the forty-billion-dollar
Bush Terminal company,
and the highest paid woman in Wall
street. Miss Uled draws n yearly stl
pond of 925.000.
In addition to being an officer of the
company, Miss Itled Is a member of
Hie executive hoard, composed of three
officers, who work out the labor, tmlllc,
financial and other problems that con
front the company.
(ark Into Its clement and icav.ng only
a wide space of worried waters. i
These sights alone should be enough
to throw a fear of mines and their nw
fulnesfl Into the men who dally hunt ;
them, yet at least half those In the cap-
tain's trawlpr had been engaged In this
work for 20 months with little respite,
sailing 10 or 12 hours every day over
water that they knew contained n sud
den and a frightful end.
In the course of the next few
hours our fleet swept up and de
stroyed otlier mines with the same
hardy, unrelenting courage, until their
allotted course wns safe for the pass
age of ships, whose comings and go
ings must not for one hour be delayed
If England Is to fight successfully
against nn enemy who knows no rules
of war, whose fiendish ingenuity knows
no limits.
Captain's Word Home.
The declining sun suw our little fleet
back In harbor. The captain, having
finished writing a detailed report of
the operations, glanced lovingly nt his
wife's picture on the wall of his little
cabin nnd took up his pen to let tier
know he hnd come safely through an
other day of peril.
The following morning the corre
spondent had nn opportunity to ob
serve from the air Just what an Infinite
simal portion of the North seu he had
sailed over on the previous day. In n
powerful seaplane, the body of which
had been constructed In America,
manned by a pilot and observer, wo
rose from the harbor and circled high
above the sea. We gnzed upon a fleet
of tiny craft, scores of them, proceed
ing in pairs.
looking down upon the entire area
patrolled by vessels from one harbor
gave one the Impression that England
was tackling n well-nigh impossible
task to keep her whole gigantic coast
Hue cleared of German Implements of
destruction, yet the organization does
Its work thoroughly.
After n few minutes flying one of
our two motors broke down nnd wo
begun a series of gyrations which al
most cost us our lives
Saved at Eleventh Hour.
We shot downwnrd towurd some
buildings. The pilot regnlned control
Just In the nick of time and cleared n
high factory chimney. We circled
again, then side slipped nnd skimmed
over it row of two-story houses. Then
by n supreme effort of both pilot and
observer they swerved the machine to
ward the harbor. The machine dipped
towurd a pier, slashed off n flagstuff
and landed with a heavy Jolt on the
water.
Such Incidents are not uncommon
for flying men. By Iron nerve nnd per
fect composure they save themselves
dally from sudden death.
Like every other branch of the navul
service, they hope that America's entry
Into the war will be wholehearted,
that her ships of every description,
especially light vessels capable of
sweeping mines, her nlrplanes and her
skilled men will be thrown into the
light ngalnst this greatest of Teuton
menaces.
BE A GALA AFFAIR
A report from another state is thnt
It hopes to clear up Its registration du
ties In such short order thnt It mny
claim to being first In a race prompted
by patriotic duty. If this spirit Is felt
In other of tho country's common
wealths, an Interesting und somewhat
lively contest will take place as to
which can mnke the first completed
report of duty well done.
It Is not to be a difficult thing for
the officials to carry out the govern
ment's Instructions on registration day
and to complete the labor in hand. The
men who must register In accordance
wltji the requirements of tho law will
find registration ensy. Full Instruc
tions will bo Issued and can easily be
secured. There Is nothing hnrd nor
In tho least Involved In the series of
questions which nre to be answered.
Directness of question is tho method
employed, nnd directness of answer
will mnke all things ensy for tho men
of the country and for tho govern
ment which Is to claim their service.
The questions which are to be an
swered involvo comparatively few sub
jects: The name In full; the nge In
yenrs; the home address; the date of
birth; the quality of citizenship, nn
tlve born, naturalized, or the condition
of declaration of intention; the place
of birth, trade, occupation, or otllce;
(Viiployment, and by whom employed;
dependents If any; married or single;
race, former military service nnd
whero It was rendered, and lnstly,
claims of exemption from draft with
i the specific grounds therefor.
Easy to Answer.
These constitute virtually all the
questions which tho man whoso age
Makes him subject to registration will
he called upon to answer. With the
( questions there will be cxplnnntlons
f how they nre to be answered, nnd
suggestions will be made for brevity.
The war .irpartment officials do not
believe that there will be muny dif
ficulties In tho way of completing the
work of registration day properly and
quickly. Several of tho states have
relieved the government entlrMy of
expense connected with the work of
securing complete registration ; In fact
helpfulness seems to be common to the
country. It Is believed by the govern
ment officials that the spirit of field
service will bo In keeping with that
which has marked th activities in all
matters connected wltn the new na
tional nrmy from the beginning.
Cuba Is the greatest consumer of
inTslns among the Spanish-American
countries.
v" " i it i m wsm
PLACE SITTING HEN ON NEST
Cowl Should Be Dusted Thoroughly 1
With Insect Powder Each Week i
Use Clean Material. !
When It is noted that a hen sits on
the nest for two or three nights In
succession, she Is ready to be trans
ferred to n nest, which should be pre
pared for her beforehand. This nest
should be In a box and composed of
struw, hny, or chaff for nesting mate
rial. Dust the hen thoroughly with
Insect powder each week while she Is
sitting. In applying the powder hold
the hen by the feet, head down, work
ing the powder well Into the feathers,
giving special attention to regions
around the vent and under the wings.
The nest should be In some quiet,
out-of-the-wny place on the farm,
where the sitting hen will not be dis
turbed. Move her from the regular
laying nest nt nlghL Put n china egg
or two In the nest where she Is to sit
and place n board over the opening
so that she cannot get off. Towurd
evening of the second day leave some
feed and -water nnd let the hen come
off the nest when hhe Is ready.
Should she return to the nest after
feeding, remove the china egg or eggs
and put under her those that are to
be Incubated. In cool weather it is
best to put not more than ten eggs
under a hen, while later In the spring
one can put twelve to fifteen, accord
ing to the size of the hen. If eggs be
come broken while the hen Is sitting,
replace the nest with new, clean mate
rial and wash the eggs In lukewarm
water so ns to remove nil broken-egg
material from them.
ARRANGEMENT OF TRAP NEST
Device, Cheap in Construction and Ac
curate and Serviceable, Made
From Old Crate.
Owing to the number of inquiries we
hnve received for plnns of n trap nest,
we herewith describe one of the most
practical homemade nests, says Twen
tieth Century Farmer.
This nest Is best made from tho
common lemon or orange crate; It Is
cheap In construction and accurate and
Trap Nest.
serviceable. The trapping device con
sjsts of a door held up by a wire trig
ger. As the bird enters the nest it is
forced to climb over the step nnd
thereby lifting the door allows the trig
ger to drop back, and thus the door im
mediately swings down nnd closes tho
bird In. The button on the outside of
tho nest prevents the bird from escap
ing. LITTLE CHICKS IN BROODERS
Young Birds Should Be at Least Thirty-Six
Hours. Old Before Taken
From Incubator.
Chicks should not ho put In the
brooders until they have been out of
the shell at least SO hours, and 43
hours Is still better. When first Intro
duced to the brooder they should bo
put under the hover nnd made to stay
there by setting boards up close
around It for a few hours that they
mny rest nnd grow warm In their new
quarters. Then they should be let out
a few minutes nnd shown the wny
back again.
During the first day or two they
must not bo allowed to remain out of
the hover long enough to get chilled,
nnd when the attendant Is nwny It Is
best to put boards up close around the
hover (hut not close enough to cut off
the nlr) to make sure that the chicks
do not stray out nnd become chilled In
her nbsence.
NUMBER OF FOWLS IN FLOCK
Under Ordinary Conditions 300 Is Con
sidered About Right for the
Average Farm.
One of tho most Important things
to consider In the poultry business
from tho viewpoint of profit is that of
keeping the proper number of birds In
the farm flock. Under ordlnnry condi
tions, It is held thnt 300 fowls repre
sent the best number.
It should he largo enough to mnko
the producer Independent of the locnl
market and yet not bo so large as to
Interfere with more profitable enter
prises. Three hundred fowls tnke lit
tle more time or equipment thnn 150.
RATS IN THE CHICKEN YARD
Save Time and Fowls by Getting Rid
of Them Before Young Chicks
Hatch Poison Is Best
Get rid of nil rnts before chickens
lintch nnd It will save both time nnd
chickens. Thero Is no excuse nowa
days for having more than nr occa
sional rat around
There are several pastes nnd polson9
which if put out with care nnd Judg
ment will soon entlroly rid ti place o'
those cqsHv pestB.
"Welcome" Signs Scarce Today at Washington
'ASI1INGTON. This Is anything but
hard to get In nlmost anywhere.
tho eye of n needle as it Is for the cnsunl wayfarer to effect nn entrance Into
doors of that building were closed to
the general public. It's "no thoroughfare" for the past two months through
the White House grounds. Lonesome looking cops stand behind the tightly
locked gates gazing out through the bars nt their erstwhile gny company
keepers with n wistful Charlotte Corday sort of nn expression. No pleasant
compnny expected I Just outside the gates the suffrage plcketesses picket
pertinaciously still. Only the carefully credentlaled are ever admitted.
The accomplishing of a social call at the executive mnnslon during
these tense times of precautionary vigilance Is nccompanled by nlmost feudal
formality. We aren't taking any chances In Washington these days.
A Kentucky lndy who had an appointment the other afternoon with one
of the presidential ladles at the White House, not realizing the strict present
day regimen, was taken aback to find the gates barred ngalnst her car.
"But I hnve nn engagement here !" she exclaimed ; "whnt nm I to do?"
"If you are Mrs. Blank," said the blue-coated St. Peter, politely, "you are
expected. Please drive right In." The gates were locked instantly behind
her. A cup of ten nnd a chat of an hour or so ngreeubly imprisoned within
royal grounds followed. Upon her departure the gnte was as gingerly
unlocked again for the visitor's exit, and ns Jenlously and promptly fastened
upon her retreating back. The sensation wns queer.
The occasional outsider who Is able to rend his title clear to admission
to a great governmental department has his steps guarded closely after ho
has entered. No free range is allowed. The visitor Is conducted in nnd
conducted out carefully nnd his intermediate nctlvltles supervised. All de
partmental employees are provided with passes which must be renewed
every month.
Willing to Enroll, but
MEMBER of the house of representatives snld he had 3,000 letters from
men In his district, nil asking for commissions in the army, nnd none of
the writers claiming any military experience, relates Earl Godwin in the Star.
Each of them detailed the fact that he
could run un automobile, or hnd been a
clerk In a grocery store, or had voted
for Wilson, or hnd come from n long
line of Indian fighters, or had rend
considerable nbout the history of the
United States. One of the applicants
wns twenty-one years old nnd desired
to be a major general, which Is ns
high as they come In the nrmy of the
United States. None of the nppllcnnts
desire anything lower than the rank
of lteutennnt. You would think thnt
perhaps one or two might be willing to start In ns first sergennt but no
Three thousand heroes nnd pntrlots rush to nrms in any capacity Involving
them in a regular pay roll and high honors.
Also members of congress get letters from, prize fighters, lnwyers, doctors,
book agents, dunclng masters all offering their services to the country and
meantime the recruiting station at the corner Is yawning. Some Jocund old
gentleman Just rounding out a century of sportively spent life announces to
the press that ho Is willing to enter the ranks nnd offers himself ns the first
recruit. Meantime the public cheers. However, the recruiting station Is
wnitlng. Some day one of these chaps who enlist through the medium of n
press agent will mnke some remark near a recruiting station and find himself
really enrolled. And then be will have done more for his country than nil the
press agents In the world.
The world Is so full of colonels of the governor's brand thnt we are
replete with military decorations and parade properties, and now wo need n
few hundred thousand sllm-walsted chaps that enn do something besides talk,
nbout what their ancestors did at Bunker Hill.
"Soldierettes" Have No Use for the Slacker
THE soldierettes nt the capital hnve been serving seriously, ready to battle
back of the lines if need comes. All slacker proposals of marriage hnve
been turned down hnrd. A khnki skirt will be the mntrlmonlnl shelter of no
vntlon of 24 acres. A field bakery In-,
stalled by the quartermaster's department of the nrmy is tenchlng the girls
economy nnd the salutary preservation of foodstuffs.
Miss Eudorn Clover, a petted child of fortune, Is ruggedly serving as
one of the aids to the commandant; Miss Elizabeth F.lllcott Poe, a close!
relative of the poet Edgar Allan Poe. Miss Katherine Brooks, one of Wnslu
Ington's lending young musicians, u great niece of the wife of President Har
rison, mnkes n nifty nnd efficient first sergennt. Miss Blnnchnrd Scott, chief
of staff of the army, is Inspector of the camp. Miss Natalie Summer Lincoln,
the successful young Washington novelist, Is adjutant. She Is also the new
editor of the D. A. It. magazine.
Classes In nursing nnd knitting, wlg-wagglng nnd bandaging nnd diet
kltchenlng and all the other departments have been full to overflowing.
Strangers Excluded From Government Buildings
ttnOOD morning, have you been 'mugged?'" is n common salutation In
VJ Washington these war days. They're "mugging" them In droves nt the
state, war and nnvy buildings. From 25 to 50 In a row, the ofilcluls aud clerks,
high and low, of all sexes and colors, 1
have lined up before the olllclnl stnto
department photogrcjiiior for the pic
ture that Is Inter printed on nn Identi
fication enrd admitting them to tho
building. Newspaper correspondents
and all other holders of permit pusses
also must face the caiuera. The gov
ernment Is taking no chances. Every
one is regnrded ns n German spy un
til proved otherwise.
It Is nbout ns en to get Into fho
various government buildings, partic
ularly the state, wnr and nnvy, the treasury nnd the White House without
credentials as It is to break out of Jail. Soldiers, policemen and gunrds nre"
co-operating In a system of protection nnd won't even pass cnblnet officers
unloss they dlsplny the coveted pasteboard.
Secretary of State Lansing was halted nt the entrance to the White Houso
grounds the other day. The policeman nt the gate did not know him. Instead,
of letting him througu without question, tho nlllcor accompanied him to tlm
executive offices for Identification. Mr. Lansing compl linen ted the poHeermn
ffld thou hastened to have his own face put on u pass ami:
the open season in Washington. It's
It's us easy for n cnmel to go through
much of the local territory that used
to have the "welcome" sign out. Tour
ists nnd "tourism," ns the French say,
are balked at every point. The public
must needs step gingerly nowndnys.
You must show your marriage cer
tificate nnd your vaccination mark be
fore you are admitted to most of tho
regulation sight-seeing places. John
D. Itockefeller, Jr., and his family
were among the lnst group of visitors
taken through the treasury before the
All Want Commissions
ID WAKE A
ME CFflERAl
coward. Just ns last year, Mrs. George
Barnctt, the benutlful wife of the ma
jor general of the Mnrlne corps, has
been acting as commissary general,
serving the students nbout the sumo
rations the Marine corps men live on
during their camp life. The assembly
hall where notable speakers have been
henrd every day, was a donation from
the widow of Admiral Dewey. It Is
called Dewey hall. This pettlconteO.
Plattsburg is on a government reser.
