©BY GENERAL?'
ARED WHITE’
w kNu. r.w... ^
INSTALLMENT SIX
THE STORY SO FAR: In an effort
to substantiate rumors that 200,000 for
eign troops were In Mexico preparatory
(or an attack upon the United States, In
telligence Officer Bennlng wvnt to Mex
ico City. Here he Joined the staff of the
unsuspecting Van Hassek, leader of the
foreign forces, and gained the confi
dence of two other officers. Flncke and
Bravot. He was Joined in Mexico City
by Lneette Ducos, a French spy who
posed as his sweetheart. When he dis
covered that the foreign troops were
ready for an Invasion of the U. S., Ben
nlng returned to Washington to report
to Colonel Flagwill, chief of military In
telligence. Flagwill stated that forces
were reported massing in the Mediter
ranean and the Far East. That night Fort
Houston, IVxas, was heavily bombed.
Now continue with the story.
CHAPTER VII
In the War Department at Wash
ington the evening had passed on
ki feverish staff preparation for fu
ture trouble, but with small belief
that fce first thunderbolt of Van
Hassek's attack would fall before
midnight. Even Flagwill, gifted
Chief of Military Intelligence, had
muffed the ball, interpreting the eve
ning rumors from Fort Sam Houston
as symptoms of a slowly brewing
mischief that might not fester into
violence for days or weeks.
On getting clear of the staff ses
sions in General Hague’s office
shortly after eight o’clock, Flagwill
put his shoulder to the wheel of
what now had become a major re
sponsibility of his own section. He
assembled his sub-chiefs and an
nounced his decision.
"Gentlemen, the President has au
thorized a spy roundup with the
gloves off. I needn’t tell you that in
past months we haven’t even
scratched the surface. You all
know your leads, now get into ac
tion. With gloves off, and nobody
to be spared who looks to us like a
foreign agent. Any questions?”
In grave silence the small group of
officers rose. They knew that not
even an order of battle had greater
significance nor more vital impor
tance. A secret army of termites,
entrenched by years of organized
stealth in arsenals and factories,
was more dangerous than a dozen
attacking divisions. By means of an
organization that reached into every
agency of investigation and law en
forcement throughout the United
States, our G-2 would launch attack
on organized espionage at once.
"Very well, gentlemen, that’s all,”
Flagwill said when he read from
their faces that his section chiefs
had no questions to ask. He added,
swinging his level eyes to Benning,
"You will wait. Captain, for special
instructions.”
Benning stood in front of the Flag
will desk until the swinging doors
closed behind the others. The colo
nel spoke at once.
"In your report on Van Hassek’s
headquarters at Mexico City, Ben
ning, you mentioned that Colonel
Bravot left on some mysterious mis
sion, ostensibly to Europe. I think
you said your Austrian friend also
disappeared the last day you were
In Mexico.”
“Yes, sir,” Benning affirmed.
“You’d better have a look-see
among the hot spots in Washington.
It's entirely possible you’ll see some
one you know. A break of that kind
might lead us anywhere.”
Benning took a taxicab to the
Army and Navy Club where he ef
fected some slight changes of ap
pearance.
At the Shoreham his gaze was
making a first round of the tables
skirting the dance floor when it cen
tered with a start upon a familiar
face. The man, dressed in dinner
clothes, sat alone, his eyes gleaming
with some inner excitement as he
puffed at a cigar. Benning moved
up for a closer view and found
prompt verification. Undoubtedly
here was the Austrian captain,
Fincke, of the Van Hassek staff.
Benning walked casually up to the
Fincke table and sat down beside
the Van Hassek spy.
“Hello, Fincke,” he said.
Fincke started, his right hand
Jerked toward his pocket, then he
relaxed with a nervous laugh as he
recognized his unexpected visitor
from the Palacio Nacional.
“My, Bromlitz, but you startled
me!” he gasped. "I didn’t know
you were within a thousand miles of
Washington.”
Benning said in a matter-of-fact
way: “Flew up yesterday, Fincke.
Hoped I might be lucky enough to
run into you tonight. How are things
here?”
Fincke leaned across the table and
lowered his voice. His eyes gleamed
with excitement.
“Did Colonel Bravot send you to
work with us tonight?” he whispered.
Banning pretended annoyance and
warned, “Not quite so free with
names, Fincke.” He added with a
bantering smile, “I thought the colo
nel promised that you were to go
back to your artillery when the show
started?”
“Himmel, but there’s bigger game
here than a battery of field artil
lery!” Fincke retorted with a snap
of his fingers. "Already I am a ma
jor, Bromlitz. If I succeed tonight
it will be because of my knowledge
of ballistics, my training in the ar
tillery, and there’ll be another pro
motion for me.”
"Then what?” Benning mocked.
“Then, in a week or so, the big
cruise. There’ll be real history,
Bromlitz, when we cut this little old
country right in half, and it will
make me a full colonel! Are you in
on that one, Bromlitz?”
“I’m not saying anything,” Ben
ning answered, with a quizzical smile
that suggested full understanding of
the Austrian’s cryptic words.
Benning’s eyes had been wander
ing about the room and he thought
there was something vaguely famil
iar in the thin man with the shiny
bald head who sat nearby.
“You knew, of course,” Benning
said casually to Fincke, "that the
old hawk, Colonel Boggio, is here in
Washington?”
Fincke shook a waggish finger and
accused, “I thought you warned me
we mustn’t be so free in mention
ing names.”
“Correct, but please note that I
lowered my voice. Of course, if
we’re going to be so technical as
all that, Fincke, perhaps we’d bet
ter identify ourselves to each other
officially. Go ahead.”
“It’s the best cover-up I’ve ever
heard,” Fincke replied with enthusi
asm. “You can say anything you
want so long as you mention just
those two things. That’s vastly bet
ter than having a regular formula
for identification which the enemy
might pick up on you.”
“Fine enough, but let’s hear you
identify yourself, Fincke."
“Once I knew a man named Pa
lacio Quatres who owned a fine pair
of silver sabers,” the Austrian con
fided.
Benning quickly searched through
Fincke’s remark and decided that
the key words, by which Van Has
sek agents identified themselves to
one another must be “palacio qua
tres” and "silver sabers.”
He said: “How do you like this
one, Fincke? There’s an old shop
known as the Palacio Quatres that
has for sale some interesting an
tiques in the form of silver sabers."
"Just as good as mine, maybe
better,” Fincke approved.
Boggio had finished his dance.
Benning observed that the Italian
was getting ready to leave the Shore
ham. He made a hurried estimate.
The instant arrest of these two men
would only net the secret service
two more spies who would spill noth
ing. Only by holding them under
close observation could the ramifica
tions of their mischief in Washing
“That means we are at war.”
ton be traced down. He decided that
Boggio was bigger game and got to
his feet.
“Where’ll I find you later,
Fincke?” he demanded.
Fincke stared at his watch and its
dial seemed to bring a nervous quiv
er to his fingers. His eyes lighted
up again in that strange excitement
of his.
“I'll be about for only a week or
so, Bromlitz,” he answered. “If
this place closes, we can find each
other at meal-times at one of the
good places on Connecticut Avenue.
But after tonight—we must be very
careful.”
Benning’s cab swung sharply and
without warning to the curb as it
turned into Pennsylvania Avenue.
Vaguely Penning had noted that the
driver had his radio tuned in on a
dance program. As the car jolted to a
stop, the cabman put his radio on
full blast and turned to Benning with
gaping eyes.
“Did you hear that, mister?” he
gasped.
An excited broadcaster, striving
for control of his voice, was talking
loudly.
“The report is just confirmed—
San Antonio attacked from the air
hundreds reported killed by explo
sive bombs—New Orleans is being
bombed at this minute—Galveston
is being bombed—air attack on Unit
ed States without warning—"
Again the driver turned a face dis
torted by a frenzy of excitement.
“My God, mister!” he shouted. “Is
that the real thing?”
Benning said in a firm, calm voice,
“Please drive me quickly to the Mu
nitions Building. That means we’re
at war.”
Until those first bombs crashed on
Fort Sam Houston there had been
no reports given to the public of the
NEXT WEEK
A*ioUt*\ Aiuonbitu} 9*utcUlm+*U
day’s alarming rumors along the Rio
Grande.
Benning leaned tensely forward as
if to add his tension to the speed
of the cab. The radio screeched on.
From time to time the announcer
asked that no more telephone calls
be attempted. Information would be
given to all over the air as fast as re
ceived.
Then—
"An enemy air force of undeter
mined strength is reported flying
north, its objective may be Wash
ington or New York. All persons
are cautioned not to gather in
crowds. Please remain calm and
stay where you are. It may be that
nothing will happen—”
His cab swung to the curb at the
Munitions Building, Benning hurried
inside. The corridors rang with the
chatter of typewriters. Army offi
cers of various rank were glued over
desks or assembled in section con
ference groups as they slaved over
the staggering details of the job
ahead of them.
Colonel Flagwill was in his office
alone. Benning found his chief lolled
back in a chair with heels laid ab
surdly on top of his desk. He was
puffing composedly at a cigarette,
his face relaxed.
"Hello, Benning,” Flagwill said la
conically. "How you feeling?"
Benning said, “Well, sir, I heard
the news and thought I ought to
report in case you need me for any
thing.”
The colonel stretched himself.
"You know, Benning, I saw it had
to come, and I feel better now we’ve
got it on our hands. All we need is
the President’s word to start gen
eral mobilization of the Army and
National Guard. As soon as the
Chief gets back from the White
House we’ll be in motion.” Flagwill
indulged a sardonic smile. “Not
that our mobilization will do any
immediate good to save the country
a lot of headaches. But it’ll be a
start.”
"What’s the news about bombers
headed this direction?”
"Our air staff is divided on wheth
er Van Hassek has any bombers
that can make Washington and back
to Mexico without refueling. But—
my own idea—they could have an
emergency landing-place somewhere
along the way, couldn’t they? It’d
work this once, anyhow.”
“Then there may be a real air
threat, sir?”
“I urged General Hague to get the
President to leave the White House
and go over to Chevy Chase for the
night,” Flagwill averred. “At least
to set up in less vulnerable quar
ters in Washington. There’s no use
pretending a fool’s paradise in this
country any longer, Benning. Any
thing can happen now.”
A major from the chief of air
service banged into the room, his
face ashen, though he spoke col
lectedly.
“We’ve picked up what appears
to be confirmation, Colonel," the ma
jor reported. "As near as can be
made out a squadron of seven bomb
ers, with an undetermined force of
smaller ships, passed over North
Carolina a short time ago. Speed
estimated at two hundred miles per
hour. Our best time calculations
suggest that they could cross the
Potomac in approximately two
hours, if this is their objective.”
"Very good. Major, keep me in
formed," Flagwill answered, with
out change of posture or position.
He stretched himself again and
casually lighted another cigarette.
Then he swung his feet to the floor
and pulled himself up to his desk.
"I’ve found a couple of good spy
leads, sir,” Benning interposed
"Would you care to hear my re
port?”
"Not right now,” Flagwill said de
cisively. 'Tve just had a few min
utes' relaxation—now for the tough
est decision I ever tackled. I’ve
got to have my estimate of this
whole tangled situation ready for
General Hague by midnight.
“Now you get out among your
spies—or you might take a look-see
at what our anti-aircraft does for
itself. But report to me here at
midnight. I may want you to sit
in at the chief’s conference.”
Benning took a taxicab and drove
to a point near the Washington Mon
ument where .50 caliber Brownings
were setting up to look after attack
on smaller ships that might venture
within machine-gun range if the as
sault on Washington materialized.
The gun batteries and searchlights
had been thrust across the Potomac
into Virginia to catch raiding bomb
ers before they reached the bomb
release line from which they would
lay their eggs of destruction as they
approached Washington. The search
lights were echeloned, a full comple
ment of fifteen lights, five thousand
yards beyond the city. The techni
cal sections with their sound loca
tors, effective up to eleven thousand
yards, and their intricate systems
and instruments for raking the skies,
were perfecting their plans of such
defense as a single regiment, at
peace strength and short two gun
batteries, would be able to give the
nation’s capital.
(TO BE CONTINUED*
Designers Use Chinese Styles
In Spring Jackets, Capes, Hats
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
SPRING 1941 promises a program
of exciting new fashions. In
answer to the challenge flung to
American designers to carry on the
style traditions of the world, there
has been projected into the field of
costume design a to-do and to-dare
spirit that makes for refreshingly
new ideas in clothes this season. Be
cause of the encouragement given
to originality and play of imagina
tion there is that “something dif
ferent” about current styling which
fashion-minded women welcome and
covet.
One of the most vital movements
is the change taking place In the sil
houette, especially in regard to
suits. The new formula calls for
longer jackets, straighter skirts and
modified shoulders, and in these
points is sounded the death knell for
the carried-over suit you had hoped
would be good this season.
As to shoulders, they certainly are
under lively discussion. So impor
tant has the shoulder theme become
that one is almost justified in coin
ing a slogan declaring that a dress,
suit or coat this season is only as
chic as its shoulderline. Instead of
exaggerated padding as heretofore
the tendency in the newer versions
is toward gently sloping and subtly
rounded lines of grace.
There are breathtaking innova
tions, too, that are adding zest to the
mode, not the least of which is the
Chinese influence that is seen in col
ors, in millinery (coolie hats are the
latest), and in jackets and capes.
Success for the new Chinese
movement was mentioned at “Fash
ion Futures,” that brilliant event at
which authoritative style forecasts
were dramatically presented in a
spring prevue. Beauty and suavity
of lines and simplicity in Chinese
technique were pointed out in sev
eral fetching evening wraps and
daytime suits. Two of the latter are
pictured in the illustration here
with.
The jacket to the left credits
green as a leading color for spring.
The Chinese influence is apparent in
its neat, trim lines and the gentle,
natural shoulder slope. An all
round pleated black skirt completes
this twosome. That the fashion
group sponsors green is again evi
denced in the jacket to the right,
which also is Chinese-inspired. Note
the styling in the black skirt.
And now for a most breathtaking
thrill—capes! Watch capes go on
parade this season along the high
ways and byways of fashion. There
will be more capes than you can
count, and doubtless you will be
wearing a cape yourself for design
ers are turning them out in endless
types, and in every length from
short to long.
Much attention will be given to
cape linings. A demure monotone
cape is lined the South American
way in purples, Peruvian pinks,
blues, reds and yellows nicely as
sembled. The cape costume cen
tered in the group pictured with its
matching turban is typically a new
vogue. It’s smart in any color but
particularly so in oatmeal tweed
with dashes of brown or gay tan
gerine.
IReleased by Western Newspaper Union.)
Easy to Make
Take a tip from smart dressmak
ers and use polka dot drama when
you make accessories for your spring
costumes. Sewing is really fun with
modern sewing machine equipment
and almost every locality has a sew
ing center where you can learn to
make these smart accessories in an
afternoon. For this turban and bag
you will need three-quarters of a
yard of 36-inch polka dot cotton
pique, or print silk, if you prefer.
An additional half-yard of 39-inch
rayon taffeta for the bag lining and
a half yard of buckram for bag re
inforcement. By attaching the hem
stitcher gadget to your machine you
can finish off all edges to look pro
fessional.
Flowery Prints
Very attractive for young girls are
the new two-piece dresses that top
a skirt of gay flowery print. Go as
far as you like in way of a vivid
print—the more gypsy-like the bet
ter. Either the full peasant type
skirt or the all-around pleated are
up-to-date in style.
Prints Accompany
Plain Materials
There is sort of a gypsy charm
and fascination about the new
dresses, be they cotton, silk, linen
or rayon. The skirt has just enough
fullness, introduced in subtle ways,
to give it the casual look. For the
blouse top, the material is in mono
tone. Quite smart is the black or
navy jersey top.
For evening, lovely gowns are
made of printed silk done in re
splendent colors. A fitted bodice
may surmount a skirt of billowy
white mousseline on which is ap
pliqued at strategic points flower
clusters cut from the same print
that fashions the waist.
Coats Take On
Dressmaker Touch
Dressy coats show much dress
maker detail. Wool weaves used
are light weight and yield beauti
fully to fabric and surface treat
ments. Allover braiding on the
blouse top, done in self-color, en
hances many a pastel coat. The
new oatmeal shades, beige and
brown, violet (very smart this sea
son) pastel blue and muted pink are
fashioned in this way. Tucking is
another fabric treatment, likewise
quilting which sometimes is done in
an allover pattern in sprawling leaf
and tendril design.
Handsome Plaids
Come Into Picture
Coats, dresses, capes, jacket suits
are being made of handsome plaids.
Made up in the new coolie jackets,
plaids top a monotone colored skirt.
Capes of plaid bring drama into
the spring style parade. These capes
are long, and the style touch is
achieved in epaulet effects formed
of fringe.
Causes of Sty
And Means of
Preventing It
By DR. JAMES VV. BARTON
(Released by Western Newspaper Union.)
o A STY is really a small
boil and begins as a
hard swelling which forms a
hard lump and causes a
swelling of the
whole lid and
sometimes a
bloodshot ap
pearance of the
surface of the
TODAY’S
HEALTH
COLUMM
eyeball.
In most cases it is due to
organisms which cause an in
fection in the little oil glands.
The opening of the oil gland
gets plugged up, the oil be
comes thick and a yellow pus
forms.
When a sty occurs the first thought
naturally is to get rid of this disflg
Dr. Barton
uring boil or lump.
The usual treatment
is the application of
hot cloths to bring
the little lump to
a head and then
squeezing out that
yellow cheesy mat
ter. In children the
mother may give a
dose of castor oil as
part of the treat
ment, which should
do more good than
harm.
What Is needed is a "building up"
treatment that will strengthen the
body so that the youngster will take
a greater interest in school and play.
The old fashioned but effective cod
liver oil, plenty of fresh air and at
tention to regularity of bowel move
ment will usually prevent the for
mation of more stys.
In many cases the child's blood is
thin and iron tonics and eating of
meat—especially liver—is advisable.
Causes of Sty.
Our eye specialists tell us that
some stys are due to eye strain and
other eye defects, but agree that in
the majority of cases the youngster
and the adult also, is below par
physically and needs a thorough ex
amination by the family physician
and dentist.
When there is a succession of stys,
one following after another, it may
be due to one infecting a nearby
surface of the eyelid, but it is more
likely to be "strong evidence” that
the patient requires a tonic.
A sty may sometimes be prevent
ed from reaching full development
by hot applications, squeezing out
the contents, and then using hot
applications again.
* • •
Nervousness Affects
All Body Processes
OSLER, the greatest physician of
modern times, had three ideals:
One, to do the day’s work well and
not worry about tomorrow. Second,
to act the Golden Rule. Third, to cul
tivate a measure of calmness.
Most of us try to live up to the
first and second ideals, but many,
if not most, of us fail in the third;
we do not try to acquire that needed
calmness of spirit.
In speaking of the various symp
toms affecting the body processes
due to lack of calmness or nerve
control. Dr. Walter C. Alvarez.
Mayo clinic, in the Journal of the
American Medical Association says,
“Often as I listen to the stories of
these patients, it seems to me that
their symptoms can most easily be
explained as due to instability of the
involuntary part of the nervous sys
tem which causes it to play dis
concerting tricks on the heart, blood
vessels, digestive tract, kidneys and
skin. The patient will suffer with
one or more of such symptoms as
dizziness, faintness, trembling, chil
liness, flashes of heat, flushing of
the skin, sweating, waves of goose
flesh, palpitation, rapid or irregular
heart beat, air hunger, quivering of
abdomen, intestinal cramping, diar
rhoea, urticaria (hives), bloating,
frequent urination, perhaps a block
ing of thp nose, and fear of impend
ing disaster.”
That tiredness, mental and physi
cal, affects certain parts of the brain
and deprives us of some of our calm
ness and so causes the above symp
toms is the belief of many research
workers; also that disease or injury
can likewise affect this part of the
brain.
The thought then is that if you
find yourself easily upset, easily dis
couraged with symptoms pointing to
trouble in various organs, you should
undergo an examination by your
physician and dentist. If no infec
tion is found, try to acquire and
cultivate calmness.
• • •
QUESTION BOX
Q.—What causes my eyes to be
swollen in the mornings?
A.—Might be due to some food eat
en the night before. This could elso
occur if you are sensitive to feathers.
Q.—Would injections be inclined to
give immunity from colds? Are vita
min A tablets more effective than
the injections?
A.—Reports on the effectiveness of
injections against colds vary. Some
physicians report success as high
as 60 per cent. Others claim only
10 per cent.
Farm
Topics
BULL HANDLING
IS DANGEROUS
‘Quiet" Animals Suddenly
Become Vicious.
By DR. GEORGE E. TAYLOR
(Extension Dairyman at New Jersey Col
lege of Agriculture, Rutgers University)
Every day is a “lucky day” for
the dairyman who is careless about
handling dairy bulls—he's lucky to
be alive!
It is often the "quiet" bull that
suddenly turns on his caretaker.
And dairy bulls which are closely
confined are likely to get playful
when they are handled, and just as
soon as a playful bull discovers his
own strength, he becomes vicious.
But there are numerous ways to in
sure reasonable safety.
The bull stall should be construct
ed of durable material that will with
stand heavy blows. Cement or ex
tra heavy metal tubing is satisfac
tory. The fence surrounding the
outside exercise paddock should also
be built of extra heavy material.
Discarded boiler flues that are set
in cement posts are often used. As
long as bulls are properly confined
they have less chance of injuring
human beings. From the standpoint
of safety, it is a definite mistake to
allow a bull to run with the dairy
herd. The use of safety breeding
pens further reduces the necessary
handling to a minimum.
A strong bull staff which is at
tached to a heavy metal ring in the
bull’s nose should always be used
when handling becomes necessary.
A bull should be trained to a staff
before one year of age. It is also
wise to remove the horns at about
one year of age or when the bull
shows the first signs of becoming
ugly. Removing the horns will often
tame down a young bull for an in
definite period.
From a management standpoint,
it is advisable to provide a pasture
exercise paddock of several acres.
On larger farms where several bulls
are needed, they can be turned to
gether in pasture. Thus they will
get ample exercise and will not
store up a lot of energy that must
find an outlet sooner or later.
It is, however, a good practice
to handle bulls occasionally in order
to keep them accustomed to it. This
should be done without taking any
undue risk. Bulls that are never
tied or handled in any way actually
get afraid of a caretaker in time
and may be most unruly. Always
remember that any animal is usual
ly able to sense when the care
taker is shy and timid. Train a bull
so he will always understand that
you mean business and that you are
not afraid. A bold front plus safety
precautions will avoid unnecessary
injury.
Poor Year for Wheat
Causes Premium Deficit
Crop insurance last year offset
heavy losses by wheat growers, par
ticularly in four of the largest pro
ducing states where near-record
abandonments occurred, according
to Leroy K. Smith, manager of the
Federal Crop Insurance corpora
tion.
Unusually large abandonments in
Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, and Ok
lahoma, Mr. Smith said, accounted
for the greatest part of about 22,
000,000 bushels in indemnities paid
farmers throughout the country un
der the 1940 crop insurance pro
gram. The growers paid premiums
for their protection with almost 15,
900,000 bushels of wheat, but the
corporation paid out about 7,000,000
bushels more than it took in.
Mr. Smith emphasized that ex
cessive acreage abandonments such
as occurred this year will not take
place every year, and that when
the wheat belt experiences a year
of average yields, premium collec
tions can be expected to exceed in
demnity payments.
Agricultural News
The New York-New England area
produces 16.6 per cent of the nation
al apple crop and has 16.9 per cent
of the population.
+ • •
The fish planting program of the
forest service placed 288,000,000 fish
in the streams and lakes of 34 states
and Alaska during 1939, according to
the U. S. department of agriculture.
• • •
Field seeds shipped in interstate
commerce must be labeled correct
ly as to variety. Reports from the
South of the seizure of mislabeled
seed oats indicate active efforts to
enforce the law.
• • •
Cornell university reports prog
ress in the search for a muskmelon
resistant to fusarium wilt. One va
riety developed succeeds on soil
where ordinary varieties are killed
by the wilt.
• • •
The 1940 U. S. acreage of soy
beans reached the record figure of
5,011,000 acres but a decline in yield
to 16.3 on the average per acre
kept the total production of 81,541,*
000 bushels at 7 per cent below the
1939 crop.