El Paso Herald from El Paso, Texas • Page 6

EL PASO HERALD EDITORIAL and MAGAZINE PAGE Friday, 1oy. 23, 1917. AN "IMPREGN A.BLE"LINE BROKEN; 'THE HAND HE DOES NOT SEE THIS BIG VICTORY IS A TONIC (BY H. S. By Hal Ccffman HE mashing triumph for British arms on the long Now, in aiming at impregnability, every factor has to I front from St.

Quentin to the Scarpe river comes as a tonic. It is a bracing renef from the series or temporary reverses which the allies have suffered recently. One innst hasten to say these reverses did not even momentarily shake oar confidence in the ultimate victory of onr arms, bot they were depressing in their very nature, a strain and a tax npon the iortitnue of ourselves and our allies. More reverses will come from the hand of an enemy losing but still strong, unable to win and striking out with the fury of a madman because of his imprisonment. In ie meantime this deeply driven wedge in the Hindenburg cheers us and revives our spirits.

It came as much a surprise to us as it evidently did to Germany. By "ns" is meant just now the great mass of civilians of the entente countries who are naturally no aio mrd of military plans and have no idea what to expect except in a general way. For months the British and French have been taking little bites of the German west front line, a nibble here and a little more there. Especially the British have teen forging steadily but very slowly ahead in the Flanders area on and in the vicinity of the Fasschendaele ndge. The British won every time.

The Germans lost receive consideration. The German masters of military science who built this "impregnable" line did not consider the human factor. They never do. It is Germany's one fatal military blunder, always recurring. What happened when the British Third army came storming over? Why, the Germans were panic stricken.

They were taken utterly by surprise. They had expected an infantry attack to the north where British guns had been pounding in that crescendo of fire which culminates in drumfire and precedes the infantry barrage. They were almost stunned when, out of the still darkness before dawn there dashed at them 32 miles of flaming tanks and dauntless British fighters. They signaled frantically for their artillery fire. The artillery also was taken by surprise and the fire was weak, spasmodic and ineffective.

The great wave rolled over the Germans. Thousands were killed where they were, thousands more threw up their hands in surrender and the rest ran for life, spreading panic and confusion for miles back through the rear lines. They hardly made a fight anywhere. Wonderfully strong positions which might cave oeen tougn pounaing ior even taken by their continual losses; especially so by the ter ic pounding given them by the British artillery. the Germans' treat howitzers, were abandoned almost every one ana men morale mat sector was greauy MiHn i imnrmahl WllilvukA i' i only so long as the men who man it fight.

Tfate throws strong liffht on wavering German However, all these bites were small. There was noth- mora. Had the Canadian and English troops held those jg, to indicate a great lunge was contemplated. In fact, wonaerfal fortifications, a German army of the sire of the other years by this time infantry operations would prac- Thira ann attempting what the Third army attempted, ncally have ceased, leaving nothing but artillery bombard-1 have dashed into a sianghter pea and lucky those ments amounting to little more than target practice just wjj0 0 ou ajjTe such operations as the little American force down south Give the Bxitisli as much as four days to reorganise I near the German barker is conducting now. But we had positions turn them around to face the other way, been told that this winter the allies proposed no letup of sneak and Germany can consider that particular strip I juantry aggression.

They had proved that by the actions lo6t tmTm Moreover, unless the Germans are able to re-around Ypres recently when worse winter conditions could teke it the whole Hindenburg line must be not have been encountered. We could expect, then, a series abaDaoned. Once a line is completely pierced and the enemy uiiiuics ai we uciuiii uac ivuj, dul ao sict throujh in anv one place, the whole line must tail ffentive thrust. Again, this blow surprised us as it surprised the enemy because it was delivered with no artillery preparation. That had come to be looked upon as essential.

It was thought try the civilian, perhaps also by most military men, that ihe concrete positions of the enemy had to be bombarded, the trenches and barbed wire wrecked and the enemy troops torced to seek what refuge they could find in deep dugouts before an infantry advance could be attempted. And it was 'hought, too, that the infantry could only advance under cover of a barrage fire, the barrage being lifted when the enemy trenches were reached and transformed into counter -ttery fire in order to keep down the enemy guns. Not so. By means of a very large operation we have it proved to us that the element of surprise attack may still ce utilized in trench warfare. The whole Third army went over the top like a roaring avalanche and without a single shell fired by way of preparation, and that avalanche of ghting men fell upon the enemy and demolished Win, neaping up his dead in his trenches and capturing some housands of him.

Here a paragraph must be given to the tanks. There as not a bit of artillery preparation in this surprise attack; hut a vast line of tanks went over No Han's land in ad-ance of the infantry. If ever the tank demonstrated its ef-: ectiveness in warfare, it was on this great occasion. The inks went through everything possible and over the rest. They smashed barb wire and earthen obstructions, rolled -nd out of trenches and all the time poured out frcm toeir steel bodies torrents of fire into the enemy.

They went on and on and on and the infantry pressed behind to mop I 1 a what was lett of the Germans. If you feel inclined to compare this battle unfavorably the even more spectacular drive cf the Teutons into taly, Temcmber this was the all powerful Hindenburg line or, as the Germans called it, the Siegfried line. It was the cry last word in modern defences. It was wide and deep, back or be rolled up bv the enemy, and that, for Germany, would be a disaster of the first magnitude. It has been remarked by some of the war correspondent that the drive into Italy was partly camouflage to conceal the continual reverses on the west front.

But this reverse which Germany has suffered is one which cannot be concealed. Spring fever is bad enough, but winter fever, in a climate like this, is worse. Just to stay indoors on these warm, bright days is hard work. Even a bandit sometimes tries to delude himself with tie thought that he is heading a. revolution for his country's salvation.

If apples are going to waste at Roswell with no takers at 15 cents a bushel, although they are Si-75 to for a 40 pound box here, there is need for the service of a food administrator somewhere between here and Roswell. Having been uplifted by a Billy Sunday revival, New York fell from grace by electing another Tammany crowd. Watch How thelncome Tax Affects YOU (Written for The El Paso Herald.) man or woman has an income of 13120, and it unmarried must pay the govern ment a 2 per cent tax on $2120. or i $42.40. He or she is exempt up to $1000.

The married man or woman I with an exemption of $2000 must pay 1 a 2 per cent tax on $1120. or i If the man makes $40 a "iH his each may put In a $1000 I exemption claim, but the tax will be I the same as if the husband we re I earning the entire $60. you (all In the J60 class, some time between now and March 1 next you must pay a visit to the collector of internal revenue. There yon will be given a blank on which to yonr return and also your exemptions. In addition to the exemptions cited, you may exempt any interest paid during the year 1917 on personal in- I Oebtedness.

This means that if man owns p.operty on whicii he carries a mortgage, he may deduct in amount paid in interest, for taxes an for water rent. Also that if he h-n borrowed from a bank he may claim exemption for Interest paid on tt loan. If he owns rented property he ma-figure In repairs, and if he has contributed to certain charities he ma exempt such en amount up to 10 jk cent of his Income. Furthe- the married man allowed $200 exemption for each child If he has six there will be no feJen income tax for him. The cannot be said to encourage race suicide.

Be sure to state your gross Income correctly. Tou may have a salary and a $10 sideline. Federal agent are paid to know these thingi. an yon may be fairly certain that an misstatement will be speedily discovered when the collector checks 1. yonr return.

(The SSS-a-neelc man Trill be considered tomorrow.) I Use Red Cross Christmas Seals as if Substitute for String on Parcels Tlr ROBERT KRAKAUEH. nituinm.nmfnrDtTiiiinnfin muni in min nwi im si nnnma iirannutitt-i-ii I The Little One-Star Flag By Damon Runyon I used to hear the family In the house across the way A fat har ani4 4 tnniW mnA ft eKtld jrc-iin, And, Oh, the noise they used to make; Germany take Russia and put the whole German army in neighborhood awake-there to try to keep the peace. i sometimes used to think they'd drive me wild! 0 1 I glanced across the way the other day: Let the Pacific coast talk all pleases of whale steak, seemed too quiet ovei there, by far. and other frightfnlness. There are mighty iew whales in And hanging ia the wiadow ae h4rae acr9C tie way I used to see them waiting In the house across the way the Rio Grande.

Is a little flag which bears a single star! In view of the Russian attitude, perhaps Mr. Wilson now rw v.i Pa regrets having saidanythmg about peace without victory, I Ap, ir njlBnts that was before we entered the war. I i nl st in though that Oh, it swings there to the glory I ui IMC wiiuna auu uia. Vihucu, tu ui Bnt star there in its beauty "-LeeJcd aci cencreted, braced and reinforced in every con-j ton because there are so many people there who know i Tejs 0j str0ncer Love and Duty rcivaoie lasnion. it was i last wora iuy excel- tmngs wmcn aien t.

11 were a newspaper man run- Than mtk one-star flag ocross the way. VU Ik IWftUU ouu il- kOJCCU L. uui uiuvi nwHi bsvajr e.una una wis tregnable. Bat ue Bndsii tore through it like a cyclone. people jest like inat.

Little Interviews emand For Mexican Labor Here Never So Great Miss Winkler Favors Consolidation of Scliools tpHH demand for Mexican labor I in and about 1 Paso has never been so heavy as at ---'nt." Faid K. L. MitcbelL ue to the passage of the Burnett a. with the literacy test and head x. Mexican labor has become very iree, and it is probable that from to 10,009 Mexican laborers could used on railroad work at the pres-u time if available.

The provisions t.i law do not apply to agrtcnl-nl lalor, however, and the latter so scarce. Prom 1 1.90 and shtr is beinp offered for Mexican 'or. in other lines the labor mar-t here is well balanced. While the js not specially great, the surplnsago of labor is not large I layine in a stock sufficient for many either. In the east the demand for "sweet teeth, or else they are setting labor has never been so heavy, doe to enough to supply some store there.

Why not conserve th" home guard by an occasional autoless Sunday? Lafe Bud's aunt made an assignment t'day, savin spent all fer love. C-ooTrLcnl Newspaper Seme work on war munitions." "Daily forecasts from the United States weather bureau can be ou tlined by persons livlnK in any of the small cities and towns about El Paso and In New Mexico by merely calling 'information' and asking for the weather report," said R. M. Shaver, weather observer at El Paso. "Every mornlnzr forecasts for the succeeding night and day are phoned.

to "lone distance at tne ki raso telephone building, usually by 10 oclock, and the operator in turn furnishes them to the centrals of the smaller towns and cities. While farmers and many others interested have daily reports by mail from the bureau, the telephone method furnishes a quick way to learn the weather forecast for tho.e who do not wish to wait for the trail report. In addition it serves those who do not have the mail "The suggestion of the Taxpayers association in its recent pamphlet that a saving would be effected through the consolidation of certain city and county offices doing similar work seems a good one," said county school superintendent Miss Myra Winkler. would wore more ior tne smooth development and the in- creased efficiency of both county and city schools than the consolidation or tne two oepartments unaer one superintendent- Of course there could be assistants. Under a combined city-county system there would he no cases of hardship like those existing at present, where county children have to nay tuition to at tend the city high school, whereas the I laws of the state guarantee them a free education." "It is an amusing sight to see Mex-.

icans trying to smuggle sugar across tne Border," said 11. r. iletvenney. "The soldiers stop the men and women and look Into their bundles. 1 saw one woman stopped who had two small packages of sugar and some which was ostensibly salt.

The soldier was 'wary and tasted the white grains. Sure enough. It was sugar He took it away from her. There is an order wh'ch prevents any person taking more than two pounds of such concentrated sweetness out of the but the soldiers say that the Fame people cross and recross into Juarez every day laden with the little bundles. They seem to be either "A gain we hear the call to shop early, and I wonder how many of us have heeded at all or will do so." said Sara McCann.

"The tired shop people and delivery boys ought to be considered, besides the postotfice people. It seems hardly fair that our holiday should be a time of horror and overwork for them. It is an easy way to apply our reverence for the Christ-child in our consideration for these His children." "Our trouble with shortage of feed for cattle is usually in the early spring." said G. A. Howard, "if we get through then without much loss we don't as a general thing look for It so much during the other parts of the year.

The drouth losses reported In New Mexico, Colorado and some parts of Texas are unusual, and the shortage of cars complicates the situation. Much of it, I believe, could be prevented If we could get the cars." The mother, and a little gill, sa sweet. And, Oh, the way they used to shout; And, Oh, the way they'd hurry out When they saw Daddy coining up the street How I miss the noise they made there at tkey played; It seems too quiet over there by far Oh, they're watching from the window sf the hwic across the way By the tittle flag that hears a single star! THERE'S a Wonder Flag in the plaza, Flying from a dizzy height. Like a gorgeous patch of heaves That was ripped from starry sight. But no star there in its beauty-Tells of stronger Love and Duty Than the little one-star flag across the wayl ic; price of string has been go ing steadily up and the latest word is that it will go higher.

In view of the fact that string may be substituted the government has not thought best to stop the rising price of 3trlng. Many substitutes for string have found a place in the home and in the market but perhaps the most practical substitute has bea the sticker. Although the sticker (glued paper strips which only need to be wetted to stick bundles and packages together), is rapidly sub- omy given the public but also ju---that much is done for the good of th. Red Cross which receives the mone that comes from the sale of the sci: Christmas Good Cheer. Here is a place where Ihe mercha-it can make Christmas good cheer both ways; the seal-? carry good Christmas cheer, and th money given the Red Cross for tho seals carries good Cnristmas chee to many a homesick soldier as weli a to many a civilian who helped the Red Cross.

The good people of El Paso caT help the Red Cross alonjr and at th same time not be out anything substituting Christmas Red Cros stitatlng string in stores and markets I Seals for string on all packages and well as mailing bouses. These stickers have not et found a great foothold in the home. Seal Iletter 'iJlln String. Merc ants in the east are using now the Red Cross Christmas Seal to help hold their packages and bundles together. First, for economic purposes as these seals save string by acting as a substitu'e for string.

(The practice of using fancy Christmas string or tape has rlso been discontinued as a war measure). Second, for practical purposes as the seals have been made on thick tough paper this year for that very purpose and hold like a bull dog. and in fact they have been called by merchants the "Bull Dog Seals." Third, as a matter of good business because the adorning of their packages and bundles with the beautiful Red Cross Christmas Seals bring good cheer to the customers and emanates Christmas greetings from the firm to the general public and bnilds up business. Fourth, by substituting Red Cross Christmas Seals for string i there Is not only an example of econ- bnndles which change hands between now and Christmas. It is no good taste to wrap Christmas presents elaborately wit htinre ribbon and tape.

tile war th'' will be dispensed with by all patrot citizens. The simp-e Red Crof Christmas Seal carrying its messag of good will adorns a Christmas package as no other thln could with d'? nity, patriotism and simplicity tha-breathe good taste anc loyalty to j. noble cause. 31ot Noble of Canem Regardless of belief in war or peace in one religion or another, in one form of government or another all right-minded merchants snd customers ar-agreed that the work of the Red CrosT for our boys is the noblest work of man and best bespeaks man's partic-ipancy In the Divine, fan we not merchant and customer alike the Red Cross Christmas Sesl fo-strmg and not only set a good example of war time economy but ri" "our bit" for humanity along wit those who are. fighting in tha trenches? FACTS ABOUT OUR NAVY Retrospect.

Ily LIBCTBXAXT FITX HtCII GltERV. C. S. S. ISMARCK once said, "God takes 1S care of drunken men, fools and the United States." "We can concede that Bismarck was a clever man.

Also we may bank pretty heavily on our generosity towards Belgium, our magnanimity towards the whole world, and upon other substantial virtues to give us a good standing with Providence. Bnt we can never be entirely sure. hlch exposes ns to the terrible- danger of being sure at all. The greatest naval lnck In the history of mankind was ours in the war with Spain. Even Noah had foresight.

In '98 we plnnged Into decis ive engagement with a European power which had 137 vessels on her naval list to 87 on onr own. Tet In days we wrested from her an empire and prestige extending over two hemispheres. The Spanish army register of 1898 set her military forces at 492,017. Our standing army, including hospital corps and cooks. West Point cadets and their professor, came to the ridiculous figure of 2S.183 men.

So far as Uncle Sam knew, the Srianish generals and admirals were all that flag officers with whiskers should be. The generals certainly were NOT. And the admirals or admiral, for poor Cervera bore the brunt of our ounlshment were nun- pets In the clutches of sueh govern- That Rookie from the 13th Squad By P. L. Crosby: Uncle Walt's Denatured Poem.

ETTERS to THE I A-f TTT7T A I (AH communications most txir the alc-CKtore of tbe writer, but the same will bv vltcheM If rtMaritetL November Winds TO ItC-IlLUK A CUX. Editor El Paso Herald: Following is answer requested by Mr. Frank Champ for recipe for re-blueing the steel parts of a gun. A variety of colors on iron and steel can be produced by means of a mixture of lead acetate and sodium thio-sulphate. The following proportion may be used, with the results enumerated below, the colors altering with the time of immersion.

Lead acetate, 50 grains; sodium thiosul-phate, 50 grains, water five fluid ounces. The solution must be used hot. One, light brown color; two, darker brown color; three, purple and blue mixed; four, purple and blue, paler tone; five, uniform light blue color; six. steel gray; seven, black color, after half an hour's immersion. In order to produce a un'rorm color all over the article must be completely immersed, so as to be equally heated.

Another way is to dissolve in four parts of water two parts crystal laed chloride of iron, two parts chloride of antimony and one part gallic acid, and apply the solution with a sponge or cloth to the article and dry It In air. Repeat this any number of times, according to the depth of color required. Wash with water and dry and finally ruub the article over with boiled linseed OIL The metal thus receives a brown tint and resists moisture. The chloride of antimony should be as little acid as possible. G.

Leuseh. FINED $25 OtI CHARGE OF SELLING ROTTEN PEACHES On a charge of selling peaches NOVEMBER winds are sad and bleak, November winds are cold; they make onr knees and shoulders creak, when we are waxing old. I hate the wind's forbidding tone, I hate tie long cold rain; I wish the year could zU be Jose, the month that's safe and sane. When winter's tempests blow I liagh, end scminer hits the spot; November, thoagh, is half and half it's neither hot 2 or cold. A mas can't tell six hours ahead what weather be may meet; perhaps the sen will paint things read, there may be snow and sleet- Tbe I minster dock is striking nine, and I lie down to doze; the night is mild, the which witnesses testified were frozen ileepings fine, so I kick off the clothes.

1 kick them otf at frightful cost; there mac ana rotten in the center. a north wind bold; my whiskers gleam with ice and tort, I've etntht wsa'Sdifs Ewl2 fined beastly cold. Asthmatic breaths I sow must draw, like other careless boobs; in the police court Thursday after-lie surgeon comes with knife and saw, to carve my bronchial tubes. The doctor: noon. v.

j. Mlffleton. who was re-comes with dope and pills, and plasters for my chest; the druggist comes, with on is own- Tco-leg-long bills, until I cannot rest I hate the bleak November day, I hate the! -irpear at ram and sleet; i wish the year could be ail iaay, the month thats sood as1 tooa inspector p. c. kt.

i rratifiec; that the pwhes Ccpyrieht, by George Mattrew Adams, WALT JIASON i cents 'a, 1 mJ' 3 riad Le Co. JA? ir i 3 IS THAT f-rUM iiflrfp I i PUT THE I TrTTfe 7UAST PIECE IN) ment graft that there wasn't even coal and shell to rtarget practice. Cervera's fleet had never maneuvered 5 together before it steamed west un- der war orders. If I repeat: We didn't Know an wis. is We just decided to fight, and we fought.

And when tbe time came 10 cheer and jubilate we pinned medals on ourselves for tbe grand triumph we thought we had achieved. We swelled so big that the earth was but a clod beneath our buoyant feet. A state of mind like this was more perilous than meningitis, twice as contagious, and three times as fatal. (It's all been worked out by algebra.) Neither I nor any other historian wishes to belittle the work of our men who fought so bravely. So far as they knew they faced tremendous odds.

They faced them unflinchingly. Sampson's cruising speed was that of his slowest ship, four knots, yet he blockaded, dared, met and overcame fast cruisers and destroyers. That the speedy enemy were sick and discouraged, and short of ammunition does not detract from Schley's fame nor shadow Dewey's courage. The point is that these facts since known serve to warn us that only the purest bull luck won the war. We were not prepared.

And worse, when war had opened full blast we failed even then to realise how serious the struggle might become. Up to July 1898, the day of Cevera's naval suicide, we counted the enemv as he counted himself: strong. Tet the country as a whole slumbered on. i Not one American in 1900 grasned the nwfn disaster we faced were we de feated. Spanish defeat cannot be laid to fate, in uii'miMmi, tier RireiiKl was latent.

Cervera complained bit terly before he trailed for CnM. We knew he had only a hank of junk with which to go Into batl Bnt whi flnatTv and effectually nut th blink on all Spain's hopes was her enronic inertness, her supine Inaetlv-tv- and s'o'h. ber paln bonefaeaded well-what's-the-useness. Lok It un. bro'ner.

The Smnards at Manila didn't even get np anchor. It may be brave to enter a man brute's hos. ut vow Kirnly h-ve to call it luck if you lick him when he dosnt even t-'-- the trouble to get nn out of his cbair. So look it un. And meditate not long, thoncrh: we need Ton.

Copyright, 1917, by George Matthews Ad ams. Short Snatches From Everywhere We expect sooa to hear a few medals being pinned on the crown prince in honor of Mackensen's driv-Into Italy. Detroit Free Press. Just what the colonel will start next in New York is uncertain, bi.r. he's sure to start it.

Anaconda Standard. A J100 bill autographed by Harrr Lander sold for Has the wa -to make a dollar go farther beii found at last" Baltimore American Tbe forcible feelir.B business look'? mighty strange these days, when it almost necessary to use force to keu some people from Indianapolis News. La Follette. whom the sinking American ships and the slaughter if innocents left cold. Is tearfully in.Iig-nant over the spanking of Bigelow.

Chicago News. Hogwallow Locals By DrXK BOTT5. CARKIKUS DAY. the last Saturday in the month. Herald carriers will present bills for November subscriptions.

Subscribers will please have the amonnt they owe ready for the bovs. as all Herald boys are going to school and Saturday Is the only day of the week they have to do their collecting. Orer 7.9M.0M women In the United States hare slrned food pledge cards. tMi MR.KAB1B81E, VS MAWUAG.E A qAME? NeS-TVE CMC GjAME IH WHtCH BO'TH FIAMBS UAtM TrE ATt THE IPSERS! 3vctl CRICKETT HICKS is learning tc ride a bicycle. He took his fin: lessen Tuesday morning.

Is trying to turn a bend in the road succeeded in running into the tin peddler's wagon and now feels like a real chauffeur. Miss Goadela Heastep ceeld of married long ago if she had wanted to. The Bother club met in regular session Friday at the postoffke with all members present and thoroughly dissatisfied. Among ether things the matter of a window light for the postoffice was discussed, but as the govercmen1 is having so much extra expense at present it was the sense of the meeting that they worry along until the wind shifts. EL PASO HERALD DEDICATED TO TUB SERVICE OP THE PEOPLE, THAT NO GOOD CAtSE SHALL LACK A CHAMPION.

AND THAT EVIL SHALL NOT THRIVE UNOPPOSED. II. D. Sinter, editor and controlling owner, has directed The Herald for 10 yeari J. C.

Wllmnrlh Manager and G. A. Jlnrtln It. New Editor, MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS, AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER AXD AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Is entitled to the ut for republication of a' news olipatches endued to It or not otherwise credited tma paper and a AN INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER The El Paso Herald was estai lirbed in March.

1SS1. The El Paso Herald includes also, by atsorpto ard succession. The Daily News. The Telegraph. The Telegram.

Tlie Graphic The Sun. Tbe Advertiser. The Ittdeiu ident. Tie lo-irnal. The Republican.

The Bulletin. TERMS or SUBSCRIPTION Daily Herald, per month, ifc, per year. JT .11 1 Li issues wm do mailed ior sz.o eek-End edition onlyper year SI. 50 TllIKTr -SEVENTH per yea- 1EAK t.P Fl BI.ICATION MrliKlv. ard complete news report by Associated Prcsi Leased Wire and Srci'.

i ejas, Mex. orresponoV rts coverlnc Vrizor i Nc "Vas-h nc a in Dl J' i. i.