THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, OCTOBER" 9, 1914.
3
BIG GERMAN GUNS
KEY TO PROBLEM
Expert Says Belgian Forts
Would Have Served Except
L for Greatest Artillery.
MOTOR TRACTION HELPS
Progress in New Transportation Xot
Foreseen b3 Builders of Defense
System Composed of Inde
pendent Units.
' ROTTERDAM, Sept. 19- (Correspond-'
i ence of the Associated Press.) "In
view of the great results achieved by
the new German guns a description of
the modern fore may be of interest
says the military critic of the Nieuwe
Kotterdamsche Courant. He writes:
"When it becomes necessary to for
tify a terrain, permanently forts are
built at intervals of from three to six
kilometers apart. These forts are com
binations of earthworks and such build
ings and other structures as are needed.
They are surrounded by deep moats
with steep sides, on the far side of
which barbed wire entanglements are
laid out. In modern forts all structural
walls are made of concrete, this apply
ing to the turrets and barracks alike.
The number of guns in a fort depends
on the system of defense, of which the
fort is a unit.
"In case a fort is not supported by
flank works and is, therefore, unit
in itself, the effort is made to place as
' many guns as possible, selecting both
large and small-caliber pieces. In this
manner a fort may be made exceed
ingly strong. Another method is not to
place so many pieces in the fort itself,
but to depend on the support of ar
tillery stationed in case of war on
neighboring points of vantage.
Central Fort Is Easy Target.
"The first system becomes the central
point of the defensive force, which may
operate with the fort as support. Ac
cording to the Belgian General Brial
mont (well-known military engineer)
this method has the advantage of hav
ing all pieces constantly , in readiness
for action and surprises are guarded
against. It has the drawback of be
coming easily the target of a concen
trated fire of the enemy's heavy artil
lery. In case of bombardment the
enemy can make the turrets his goal
or he can make the entire fort his tar
pet which usually becomes the prac
tice. If one fails to hit one thing, one
hits the other. For theoretical reasons
(proved correct by the lessons of this
war) there has long been held a preju
dice against this system of fortifica
tion. "The second method seems decidedly
better. Instead of having a few sep
arate forts of great strength which
the enemy can make the objective of
the operations, one offers him a large
number of small, forts which in the
first place are hard to locate andupon
which a large amount of ammunition
must be expended.
- GermanH Rely on Many Forts.
"The new German fortifications near
Metz and Strasburg are of this latter
type, consisting of small works sur
rounded by the usual obstacles (such as
redoubts, trenches, moats and barbed
wire entanglements). These forts are
grouped and form units, each of which
has its armored batteries (long-range
guns) and also sunken batteries of
high-trajectory mortars. The inter
vening infantry positions are supported
by small-caliber field pieces.
"The speedy reduction of the fort
resses Liege and Namur does not of
necessity demonstrate that forts of the
order first named have entirely lost
their value, but it is certain that the
4 J-centimeter pieces are 'just the thing
lor them.' Against small forts with
permanent 'tusschenlinien' (intervening
military works) the fire from these
guns, while terrible in effect, would
not so quickly accomplish the results
wanted. An additional fa,ctor in this
is that the transportation of these
heavy pieces is a difficult undertak
ing, which is also true of the neces
sary ammunition supply. To move
these along an extended line of small
forts is a heavy task."
Ulant Guns Furnlah Key.
From other sources it has been
learned that fortifications of the type
favored by General Brialmont would
have served their purpose well had
the Germans failed to provide them
selves with the 42-centimeter pieces.
It has been shown at Givet that the
Austrian 35-centimeter mortar bat
teries, though .smaller in caliber and
of lesser force of penetration, suffice
amply to reduce a unit fort in little
time. General Brialmont and the French
military engineers, it is said, made the
mistake of taking it for granted that
the n -centimeter gun of the Germans
and their own armies were the last
word in armament, having accepted
that the steel they were familiar with
could not stand a greater chamber
pressure. That a heavier piece would
give more penetration than they cal
culated in their plans, they are said
to have known, but they accepted that
H would be impossible to transport
fcuch giants.
Explosive Still Is Mystery.
"What sort of explosive the Germans
"use in the 42-centimeter shells is still
a mystery. French officers of forts
bombarded by the Germans maintain
that the charge of the projectile is
melinite, but others have expressed
the opinion that the explosive is some
thing entirely new and that the gases
formed by it have even greater expan
sion th-tin those of nitro-giycerine, the
strongest high explosive known. There
is no doubt that the vapors of the ex
plosive have a violent toxic effect, and
nothing but a strong application of
oxygen will revive those succumbing
to them. ,
It is of interest to learn that the
German 42 and the Austrian 33 are
sighted or trainedShy means of what is
known as the Morris tube, an Ameri-
can invention used in instruction practice-
in the United States Navy. The
tube in question lies along the barrel
and fires a one-pound shell weight
and charge being in exact proportions
to the weight of the projectile and ca
pacity of charge of the main barrel. A
trail of smoke shows the path of the
oue-pound shell and so establishes more
or less accurately what the trajectory
cuure of the lt00-pound projectile will
bo. hen the piere has been "shot in
by means of the tube, the actual charge
Is iired, with what results Iiege,
Namur. Givet. Manonvillers, Longwy
and .Montmedy will attest.
TRENCHES BIG FEATURE
(Ooniirrnfd From First Pajre.) "
Artillery Completely Burled.
buried in the ground completely. Mask
ing of positions seems to be unusually
well done, as may be inferred from the
casual remark of a private that "last
night everybody was busy spading sod
on the far side of the hill, which will
fce used to cover up the brown soil
pfcrown from the trenches."
here is nothing remarkable in all I p i r A
T
this.
that i
seco
lay out the entrenchment so that it will
be suited to the ground over which the
attack must be made. It is in this di
rection that the German officers seem
to have been at their best. This Is not !
only shown by reference to the en
trenchment in letters, but proved also
by the fact that so far none of the
German defensive sectors have been
taken and held by the enemy.
Cover Provided for Retreat.
One system which has proved itself
of great value is that of a trench which
runs in a straight line parallel to the
front of attack and into-which run other
trenches at a sharp angle, making it
possible for the men to retreat foot by
foot if necessary, instead of being ob
liged to break out of the trench in
confusion.
The advantage of this is that the
trenches running into the main line
offer every man a chance to fall back
little by little, keeping up his fire in
the hope of driving the enemy off even
after he has reached the outer trenches.
Two cases are recorded in letters from
the present front in which this actually
occurred. The French had in both in
stances broken through the barbed wire
entanglements and reached the outer
trenches when a withering fire from the
interior tangents killed or wounded the
last of them. Another feature of this
system is that it makes it almost im
possible for the French infantrymen
to -employ his thorough training in
bayonet work, at which the heavier
German is inferior.
Cannon Are Well Masked.
One hears of "U" trenches, but so far
no description of them have been seen
in public print. There is also refer
ence to a "V" trench, but what it is
nobody has yet learned. It seems most
probable, however, that these are only
variations of the system described.
The masking of artillery has b;en
well done on both sides, as countless
letters from both sides attest. It is
known, however, that the Germans do
not make use of the loose rock and soil
taken from the hole in which the piece
is placed, but that, as is remarked in
a recent letter, "the battery buries it
self." This method has the advantage
of providing for natural screening and
cover, and eliminates the fine target the
old artillery epaulement made. Only
the most accurate fire could do much
damage to a. battery so entrenched, be
cause all "short shells woujid strike
against the crest the battery occupied
and all long ones would fall behind it.
The remarkably low losses of the Ger
man artillery are likely due to this
method of "burying the battery."
INTERNED LINER MAY MOVE
Protection of German Vessel at Bar
Harbor Intended.
"WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. The German
liner Kronprinzessin Cecilie probably
will be removed by the government
from Bar Harbor, where she found
refuge from British cruisers at the out
break of the European war to avoid
injury from ice during the approaching
Winter. She will be taken to New
York, as It has been represented that
the vessel can make tiie cruise without
going beyond the territorial waters of
the United. States, thus escaping the
possibility of seizure by British war
vessels.
If this car. be done, the Department
of State probably will advise the court
officer in custody of the vessel, which
is under libel, to make the transfer.
The State Department is-not yet ready
to commit itself, however, to a recogni
tion of the right of the British to seize
the ship under her peculiar status, even
if she is taken outside of the three
mile limit. Law officers of the va
rious departments involved are still
wrestling with the legal question.
BRITON LAUDS AMERICAN'S
Red Cros Workers Credtied With
Great Skill and levotion.
BORDEAUX, Oct. 8. The splendid
service rendered by the American Red
Cross workers will never be forgotten,
according to Baron Murray, of Elibank,
the ex-chief Liberal whip, who has ar
rived here after visiting the Anglo
French lines on the Aisne.
"I had opportunities of seeing what
the Red Cross workers of America are
doing, both from the front and the
highly organized hospitals at Paris and
elsewhere,'" he said. "I cannot speak
too highly of the skill and devotion
shown by the physicians, nurses and
voluntary workers. My admiration and
gratitude are shared by all English
men." MARCONI FAILS IN SUIT
Federal Court Refuses to Consider
Action Against Navy Secretary.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8. The Fieral
District Court ruled today that it had
no jurisdiction in the suit brought
against Secretary of the Navy Daniels
and four naval censors by the Marconi
Wireless Telegraph Company of Amer
ica, to prevent the Government from
keeping closed Hhe wireless stations
at Siasconset. Mass., and Sea Gate, X.
Y. The company's application for an
injunction was dismissed.
Although the application for the
temporary injunction was dismissed,
the suit itself still remains on the
calendar. It is regarded unlikely that
it will be brought to trial in view of
NEW CASUALTY LIST IS UP
British Report Includes lti Officers
and Hundreds of Men.
LONDON. Oct. 8. A casualty list of
British officers issued tonight reports
one officer killed, three died of wounds,
six wounded and two missing.
A list also was issued under dates
of September 15, 16 and 17. This in
cluded 57 non-commissioned officers
and men killed; fiVe died of wounds;
270 wounded and 625 missing. The miss
ing' belong chiefly to the Connaught
Rangers and Koyal Cameronians.
Varsity Freshman Soocety Fleets.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Oct. 8.
(Special.) Triple-A, a non-secret so
ciety for freshmen women, has elected
the following officers: Dorothy Collier,
of Eugene, president; Ruth Fraley. of
Portland, vice-president; Dorothy Dun
bar, of Astoria, secretary; Laura Jerard
of Pendleton, treasurer; Jeanette
Kletzing. of Lugene, Emerald reporter;
Winifred Starbuck, of Eugene, ser
geant-at-arins.
Oregon Men Honored by Church.
NOBLES VI LLE, Ind., Oct. 8. (Spe
cial.) Two Oregon men, Charles O.
Whiteley. of Newberg, and Frank A.
Elliott, of Portland, have been named
on a committee with others throughout
the country to consider an interna
tional conference of men of the Friends
Church of America. S. E. Nicholson, of
It is the location of the trench J i Jfi 1 I I L
is of the greatest importance -3 t" f II ll
nri onlv to this is the ability feJfV jl I UJ w
Indiana, is the chairman.
LAID WASTE
Thousands
of Square Miles in
France Desolate.
Northern
INNOCENT VICTIMS SUFFER
Homeless and Penniless Refugees
Clogging Channel Ports Among
Most Pitiful of Flotsam or
Dreadful War.
CALAIS, France, Oct. 2. Thousands
of square miles of Northeastern
France, comprising the ancient dis
trict of Normandy, have been laid in
waste by the war. The extent of
damage to property and suffering to
the populace is incalculable.
Many non-combatants, old men, wo
men and -children, have been killed in
the fighting or have otherwise met
their death as a direct result of
hostilities. The heaviest damage to
property has come ifrom artillery
duels between the French and Germans.
Scores of cities, towns and villages
have been badly damaged or wiped
out completely. Great farms are now
blackened ruins. Klegant chateaux in
magnificent estates are desolate and
deserted or ace being used as Red
Cross depots.
This devastation is still going on.
Non-combatants are still being
slaughtered. The destruction of vil
lages is a daily event. The ports of
the English Channel coast, notably
Calais, are clogged with refugees.
Families Are Broken lp.
They are homeless and penniless and
they are among the most pitiful
victims of war. Families have been
broken up, uncared-for children wait
for parents they will never see again.
All the way across France from the
Somme River to the Belgian and Ger
man oorders the war is daily adding
to the destruction. By day the sun is
obscured by the smoke which rolls
up from battle and from burning vil
lages: by night the sky is crimson
from the glare of these conflagrations.
r orests nave been burned, railroad
tracks torn up and bridges shattered.
Towns stand deserted and silent, as
though swept by a deadly pestilence.
ine neids aae unfilled and are torn
by shell fire. The roads are furrowed
and contain the carcasses of horses
and cattle. Old trenches mark the
points where the French and English
made a stand on their retreat south
of the Germans' fortified position on
tneir retirement.
Airship It-uid Is Feared.
Wild-eyed refugees bring wilder
stories. They bring reports of de
tachments of Lhlans at points far dis
tant from the main German army.
They come into the city weak from
hunger and with the panic of battle
still in their eyes.
The greatest fears are felt that the
Germans will make an airship raid
over the coast. Hundreds of thousands
of persons spend the night in cellars to
be safe from aerial bombs.
Although the French have been able
to get far to the north and are strong
south of Arras, it is not yet absolute
ly certain that General von Kluck's
German army is in retreat. There have
been reports to that effect, but they
have not been verified officially.
.thousands of French women have
gone to England to stay until the
Germans are expelled from France.
Food is scarce in Northeastern
France, and it is wonderful how the
Germans are able to bring in enough
provisions to feed their enormous
army.
ALAN DALE, CRITIC, QUITS
Connection With New York Ameri
can Severed by Writer.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8. (Special.) Alan
Dale has resigned as dramatic critic of
the American. The resignation was
admitted last nig-ht by that newspaper
and it was said the reason was a disa
greement as to compensation.
Dale has betn a dramatic critic in
New York about -7 -years. He is a
writer both of critical essays for maga
zines and of net Ion. Among his writ
ings are "Jonathan's House," "A Mar
riage Below Zero." "My Footlight Hus
band," "Miss Innocence,; "Kaniiliar
Chats With Queens of the Stage,'
Way" and others.
A windmill recently erected in India has
a series of vanes 40 teet In diameter.
LAST CALL SALE
Close Saturday (Tomorrow IMght).
Soule Bros. Piano Compai (y Kaiicd.
Sale w Golnf? On Author
ized by Court.
Never in the history of piano selling
have so many pianos been sold in so
short a time. Creditors want their.
money, and C. E. Lucore, a factory man,
who has been many years in the whole
sale piano business, is conducting the
sale. A deal was framed up for him
to take over the stock so the creditors
would get their money at the earliest
possible moment.' They are actually
selling pianos for less than the cost
on the floor. The pianos that are now
sold for $97.20 are actually $250 new
instruments. There is not a piano in
the house that is what you would call
a cheap piano. Every one of them
thoroughly reliable. $1S8 buys an $850
player piano. This seems almost im
possible. Of course, they are anxious to
get their money, but, at the same time,
for people who are not able to pay
cash terms are accepted. In fact, al
most any kind of terms can be secured.
Many of the old reliable makes are
also included in this great sale. Chick
ering, K.lmball, Steinway, Knabe. Voee
& Sons, Hobart M. Cable, Hallet &
Davis, LiUdwig, Weber Pianolas, Weber,
Ivers &; Pond, Chase & Baker, Fisher,
Lester, Steck, Behning, Ludwig, Estey;
in fact almost any kind of a piano, al
most any make. You will find not only
the upright pianos, but also the player
pianos and the baby grands, the min
iature grands, the very smallest of all
grand pianos and even the large-size
grands. All of these pianos are solU
at equally low prices, and terms xas
above mentioned. The store is open
every evening until 9 or 10 o'clock. SS8
Morrison street. Adv.
THERE IS ALWAYS A TIME
When Ton Can Boy Any Article Cheap
er Than You Can at Other Timet.
But you must do it now. Sale closes
Saturday (tomorrow) night at 9 o'clock.
Now is certainly the time to buy pi
anos, and 388 Morrison street, where
the store is open evenings, is certainly
headquarters. The prices are unbe
lievable not a so-called cheap piano
in the whole lot. You owe an investi
gation to yourself. Remember the num
ber 388 Morrison street, opposite Olds,
.Wortman & King's Morrison-street en
trance. New pianos, $250 values $97.20.
Player pianos, $850 value $188, or the
$1000 baby grands $437; others for less.
Adv.
rod
Corset Covers of Crepe and Muslin
75c Crepe Corset Covers 59c
Excellent quality pelisse crepe corset cov
ers, edged around neck and armholes with
pretty embroidery. Neatly made and drawn
with pink or blue ribbon. All sizes.
i
50c Muslin Corset Covers 29c
Made of muslin, in round neck style,
trimmed with rows of round thread and
Torchon insertion, and edgsd with Torchon
lace, drawn with pink or blue ribbon. AH
sizes.
Smartest Velvet Hats
Trimmed by Our Own Skilled Milliners
No Two Models Alike
SAILOR HATS
CLOSE-FITTING SHAPES
FLARING EFFECTS
trimmed with ostrich bands, wings, roses, poppies, ostrich stick-ups, French
flowers, gold and silver bouquets, ribbons, tailored bows, ' combination
feather stick-ups.
Hats of finest velvet, in black, and a few of the most popular colors.
Every model represented in this sale is designed in the height of fashion,
some exact copies of expensive millinery.
Models becoming to miss or matron will be found among these most
fashionable hats.
Selling Regularly to $5.00 -
Friday in the Economy Basement Storm
$2.95
M
en
Shirts Again
Very Fine Percales
In Many Handsome
Patterns
Regularly Used in
$1.00 and $1.25 Shirts
69c Each
All new, clean and perfect, shirts that will be snapped up by
men who wear these shirts the year around. The material used in
these shirts is ordinarily only found in shirts to be sold for at least
$1.25. It is one of the- most durable shirtings and is found in
many of the standard $1.50 shirts.
Made with plain bosom and soft French or attached stiff
cuffs.
They are all with light grounds and hairline, single and cluster
stripes in black, blue, helio and brown.
Sizes 1 4 to 1 7.
EVERY MAN WHO NEEDS GOOD QUALITY, ATTRAC
TIVE EVERY-DAY SHIRTS SHOULD TAKE ADVAN
TAGE OF THIS SALE.
MEN'S COTTON 'SOX 10c
Not! a thin, light weight hose, but a good, serviceable hose for every
day wear. Made with split foot, in black, tan, gTay, helio, blue, navy,
purple and cadet. y Sizes IOJj to 1 1 . '
ay iLConomy
A Store Not for Temporary Profits but for
Enduring Satisfaction
A New Service Coat of Boucle
With Flare Bottom '
Selling Regularly at $12.50 .
Economy Sale $8.95.
No better coat made at this price than the smart new model which
we place on sale in the Economy Basement Store. Decidedly new
in every detail of style, introducing the new flare effect, which will
be worn this Winter. An 8-inch shaped belt, sewed down, fits
trimly to the figure, giving a decided tailored effect The sleeves
are set in in deep armholes and finished with wide velvet piped
cuffs, and a large storm collar of plush adds another note of indi
vidual style.
This attractive coat is made on simple lines now so desirable and
trimmed with large black plush buttons.
i Only the best workmanship will be found in these coats of black
wool boucle. Made on well-fitting lines, perfectly tailored and
finished in every detail.
In sizes to fit every figure. .
asement
Dresses
of Fine AH-Wool Serge
' Sale $5.65 ,
Regular Price $7.50
"Wonderful!" you will say when
you see them. Dresses made in the new- .
est style worn this Fall.
Fine all-wool serge is used in these
models, which are made with long Rus
sian tunic bound at the bottom with silk
braid. The waist is made with vest
effect and turn-back cuffs of Roman
stripe brocaded silk, with flaring collar
of fine double pique. Sleeves are set
in, and novelty buttons trim the front
of the waist. A crush girdle of silk mes
saline joins the waist and skirt.
These pretty dresses come in brown,
navy and black.
More attractive and fashionable
models could not be found, and at this
little price they are truly remarkable.
Litmiaifc
Imported Filet Lace Scarfs 49c
Dresser and buffet scarfs of filet lace in different figures
and designs, edged with linen lace. Also linen scarfs, with
insets of filet and set-in medallions, some with linen lace inser
tion. These scarfs come in white or white with ecru and dainty
colored laces. 52 inches long.
Waists
of Lingerie and Voile
Slightly Mussed
Selling Reg. to $1.50
50c
A saving of from 50c to
75 c on every waist.
These waists are taken
from our regular stock, on ac
:ount of being slightly mussed
from handling. Laundering
vi'l make them look like new.
The assortment includes
lingerie and voile waists,
plain and trimmed, in a va
riety of different styles.
Warm Winter Coats for Children
Sizes 2 to Years f
, HALF PRICE
Regular $2.50 to $5.00 Sale $1.25 to $2.50
A sample line of serviceable, attractive coats for children,
only one or two of a kind. They are made in styles suitable for
the little tots, prettly trirnmed. They include a variety of dif
ferent materials, such as serges, black and white or blue and
white checks.
Women's
Flannelette Gowns
. Special 98c
Full in length and width,
made of extra quality fleeced
flannelette. In yoke effect, some
stitched in pink, others trimmed
with blue cuffs and collar.
NO PHONE ORDERS
Sales
Just Received
MORE
New Neckwear
Vestees, Laundered Col
lars, Collar and Cuff Sets
Sale 25c
L aundered Collars,
in such great demand, are
here in a new shape.
Collar and Cuff Sets,
in a novelty shape.
Vestees of fine lawn,
tucked with plain collar.
Double lawn with hem
stitched collar and fronts.
Sheer lawn with dainty tuck
ing and collar of pleated
lawn. Fine tucked lawn with
flaring collar edged with fine
pointed lace.
(fa
Ostrich Bands
Ostrich Stick-Ups
TWO SPECIALS
The demand for simple trimmings
this season has brought forth some
attractive and novel trimmings in
fancy ostrich.
$2.00 Bands $1.23
Ostrich feather bar?ds that make
an entire hat trimming, composed of
a circular ostrich trimming with two
ostrich tips. This is all the trimming
a hat requires.
$1 Ostrich Stick-Up 79c
An attractive new stick-up for
sailors and turbans. Comes in black
and all colors.
1
Boys' Blouses 25c
Sizes 6 to 1 4 years.
Made of black sateen and cham-
bray in stripes. Made with military
collar. Just the blouse for school
wear.
Infants' Hose 10c
( Seconds )
Silk plated stockings with slight
imperfections. In blue, pink, white
and red. Sizes 3 to 5 J2- -
NO MAIL ORDERS