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^ " If ^ ISSUM ggattjywicwr.^ Ij. M. <?KIST"S SONS, Publisher*. > 3 ^amilg Jleurspaper: ^or the promotion of the political, JSapial, ^grieultural and (fommcrrial Jfnteresls of the Jeoplg. J TER"i^!^wv *?ilANCE ESTABLISHED 18M ~ ^"6rK, S.~C. ~FR] DAjy7f)l:CEMBER (>. 19la NO. us RELIGION OF MARSHAL FOCH General Is Called the Gray Nan ol Christ HIS GUIDANCE IS FKOM ON HIGH Wonderfully Interesting Story of the Spiritual and Personal Side of the Great Leader of the Allied, Forces? Had Absolutely No Doubt of Final T riumph. The n-lixh'ii of William Hoiu-iizoll* in has !> ? one of the active topics of the whole war. It has boon only in his very latest utterances that the former Herman monarch has not coupled 'Jolt with himself us an ojual ami ahettor, or perhaps a servant, One pielure of the kaiser Sent out hy the watchful itoswell, Karl Hosm r. show* e?l William in the act of communion, and we are distinctly told that in that ItclKian church with a waiting audidience of Herman officers the worshiper never bent the knee. There is a stroiiK contrast between him and the IlKurc the I<os Angeles Times draws of his coii'iueror, (leneral Ferdinand Ion Ii "the <ii'ity .Man of t"hrist." "This has ho n Christ's war," says The Times, "'"hrist on one side, and all that stood opposite to Christ on the other side. And the OeiteRilissimo. in supreme i omniaimI ol all the armies that fought on the side of Christ, is a Christ's man." last readers *hink this a "strange statement for a secular newspaper to make," The Times brings forward the remainder that it is the business of a newspaper to get at facts," and "if the tacts are ol a supernal nature, it is still the business of the newspaper to gel at tliein and to record tllelll." When this was written the lull span ot iteiieral Koch's achievements had not heeli covered, hul the end was then clearly in sight- We read: "The deeper wi question as 10 mw Koch is. tin* clearer is tin.- if.sv.cr thut in every .nt of )ns life ami in every thought of his brain he is Christ's man. "If you were to ask him, "Are you 'hrist's man'." In* would answer, "Yes." "It seems to he heyond all shadow ot doubt that when the hour came in which all Christ stood for was to either stand or fall, Christ raised up a man to lead the hosts that battled for him. "When the hour came in which truth and right, charity, brotherly love. Justice. ami liberty wero either to triumph or to be blotted out of the world. Christ came again upon the road to Damascus. "Whoever does not realize this and nee It clearly as a fact, he does hut blunder stupidly. "There will he u crowding company of critics when the war is ended and they will he filled with the ego of their own conclusions. They will attempt to explain the genius of FOch with maps and diagrams. But, while they are doing so. if you will look for Koch in some <iuiet church. It is there that he will be found humbly giving God the glory, and absolutely declining to auriuuic 11 iu iiium... "Can that kind of a man win a war'.' Can a man who is a practical soldier I** also a practical Christian'.' And is Koch that kind of a man? Eut us sec." The secret of where Koch used to K<> for "strength and magical power to bring home the marvelous victories" was surprised by a California boy. It was not published by any organ of France, to show the world how "religious" its leader wus: "A California boy, serving as a soldier in the American Expeditionary forces In France, lias recently written a letter to Ins parents hi San Iternurdino in which he gives, as well as any one else could give, the answer to the question we ask. "This American boy? Evans by name - tells of meeting tienerul Koch at close range In France. "Evans had gone into an old church to have a look at it. and as he stood there with hured head satisfying his respectful curiosity, u gray man with the eagles of a general on the collar of his shabby uniform also entered the church, i >nly one orderly accompanied the quiet, gray man. No glittering staff of officers, no entourage of gold-laced aides, were with him: nobody but Just an orderly. "Evans paid small attention at tlrst to the gray man. but was curious to see him kneel in the church, praying. The minutes passed until full threequarters of an hour had gone by before the gray man arose from his knees. flten Evans followed him down the street and was surprised to see soldiers salute this man in great excitement, and women ami children stopping in their tracks with awe-struck faces as he passed. "It was Koch. And now Evans, of San Bernardino, counts the experience as the greatest in his life. During that three-quarters of an hour that the generalissimo of all the Allied armies was on his knees in humble supplication in that quiet church. 10.000 guns were roaring at his word on a hundred hills that rocked with death. "Millions of armed men crouched in trenches or rushed across blooddrenched terraces at his command, generals, artillery, cavalry, engineers, tanks, fought and wrought across the map of Europe absolutely as he commanded them to do. and In no other manner, as he went Into that little church to pray. "Nor was it aii unusual thing for General Foch to do. There Is no day that he does not do the same thing If there be u church that he can reach. He never fails to spend an hour on his knees every morning that he wakes from sleep; and every night it is the same. "Moreover, it is not a new thing with him. He has done It his whole long life. young Evans could have followed the general on to headquarters, where reports were waiting him and news of victory- upon victory* was piled high before him. he would doubtless have seen a great gladness on the general's face, but he would have seen no look of surprise there. "Men who do that which Foch does have n? doubts. When Premier Clemenceau. the old Tiger of France, ?? ? stood on the battle-front with anxious I heart. uii* look at the faro of Koch I stilled all his fours. He returned to I'atis with tin vision of sure ami corta.n victor}'. ? "The great agnostic statesman doubt 1. hut tin- ?iray Man of t'hrist did not doubt. "Tin.- fac ts, then, in th? case arc- that p when th<- frc-edom of th?- world hutiK in th<- balance the- world turned to Koch as the- one- great g< nius who c-ould h save it against the Hun. and that Koch, who is perhaps the greatest soldier the world has produced, is first of all. a christian. * * * "Young Hearts of San Bernardino, just an ev.-ry-day American boy from under tin- shadow of old San lorgonio. -I.- nt nearly an hour with Korn in an n nIil French church. an<l not even one- ? < bayonet was there to keep them apart. "Th. v represented tIt* two cri'Ut si democracies of tin- world. but there in it that old church they represented. joint- ti ly. a far greater thing?the democracy <( of t'hrist." i|< ? t: FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. la General Pershing Makes a Notable Thanksgiving Address. H Tin- fnatiiri' of Thanksgiving day at J( general headquarters in France was an (J| address by 'Jen<-ral John J. PershinK. t( commander-in-chief of the American z, forces. In his a<l<lr< ss. tjen. PershinK gave Co<l credit for the triumph of u American arms and remembered the dead and wounded as well as the wid- ^ ows and orphans and bereaved mothers. The text of his splendid address is as follows: "Fellow Soldiers: \? ver in the history of our country have we. as a peo- ' pie. cometogether withstich full hearts as on t bis greatest of all Thanksgiving days. The moment throbs with ?mo- c< tion. seeking to tind full exprsslon. He- 'I presentini; the ilrst ideals ofourcoun- si tryiuen and cherishing th<* spirit of our 01 forefathers who tirst e< lebrated this fes- Cl t i\ ; I ol' Thanksgiving, we are proud to ha vi- repaid t he debt to ^rat it tide to the t? land of I.a I 'ayette and have h>nt Olir aid ri in saving ci\ ili/ation from destruction. ' < "The unscrupulous invader has lieen hi driven from the devastated scenes of f'? his unholy conquest. Tile title of eon- ol ni.i %.lii,li .liirinir the dark days of mid-summer? threatened to overwhelm d? the Allied fortes has been turned into ei glorious victory. Am tin- sounds of bat- cl tlo die away ami the hcatcn foe bur- t> ri? s from tin- tleld it is fitting tliat the tcj com i tiering armies should pause to give pi thanks to the (Sod of btittles wlio Itas K guided our cause aright. in Hard-Won Gift. tl "Victory was our goal. It is a hard- fe won gift of tlie soldier to his country, j Onlv the soldier Knows the cost of a i gift we now present to the nation. As w soldiers inspired by every spiritual w sentiment, we have each silently pray- ? ed that the success of righteousness t.( should be ours. Today with thank- w fulness we humbly acknowledge that Qi His strength has given us the victory. U1 We are thankful that the privilege pi have been given to us to serve in such a a cause. "In this hour of thanksgiving our euternal gratitude goes out to those heroes who loved liberty better than life, who sleep yonder where they fell. 1" to the maimed whose honorable sears vv test if.\ stronger than words to their splendid valor, and to the brave fellows whose strong, relentless blows 1,1 finally crushed the enemy's power. ta All Are Remembered. aj "Nor in our prayers shall we forget the widow who freely gave the hits- '' ( ami. more precious-than her life, nor di those who. in hidden heroism, have imfiovcrished themselves to enrich the cause, nor our comrades who in more 1 obscure posts hem and sit home have rurnisncu incir ion u> in?- wiun-ia ?> >. tlx* front. ti "To many fame has come. N't-w names ha vp inseribed on I ho roll Sl of tIn* immortals. To all has come a now outlook on lifo. a oloaror perspec- y< tlve regarding its.ol'ligations. a more w exalted conception of duty and honor . and deeper sense of responsibility to the nation and to tho New Vision. 'May wo give thanks that unselfish w service has Riven us this now vision; that wo aro a hit* to rotuYn to our flresiih* ami our country with higher aims and a tlrmvr i?urj>oso alike ennobling tl' to ourselves and to those who have | hold long vigil and have prayed for us j that wo might worthily represent them. "This spirit that has won the victory is to become a jH*rmanent and indis- ni pensable mainstay of peace and happl- w noss. It is not a matter of individual choice, but of obligation, that we should ol proudly carry it back, with us. If the glory of our military service has boon <i< a spontaneous offering of loyalty, it is too priceless to bo cast aside by indulgence and too sacred not to becher- w Ishod always. ol "Our nation awaits the return of its 0? soldiers, believing in the stability of character that has come from self-discipline and self-sacrifice. Con- tf tldint of the now power that tho stern T school of war and discipline has yj brought to each of us. American mothers await with loving hearts their gal- r?1 lant sons. Croat cause, indeed, have we to thank Cod for trials successfully met and victory won. Still more did we thank Him for the golden future with its wealth of opportunity and its dl hope of a permanent universal peace." tf . . to Big Work in Columbia Discontinued, fc ?Construction of the north Columbia ft cantonment was discontinued last a| Monday by the Hardaway Construction tn company on orders from the war de- tl ivirtment. The 2,500 or more work- P< men. when they reported for duty Wednesday morning, were detailed at w stacking the surplus lumber, about If 7.000,000 feet of which Is unused. It w will take about two weeks to finish the bi task, say the contractors. Approximately 111,000,000 was tf appropriated for the construction of st the cantonment, which was to have W been constructed for the accotnmodation of four brigades. Approxi- w mately one-half of the cantonment has o1 been finished and about 50 barracks H and warehouses are semi-constructed, t1 The plan for a network of highways ti in the camp zone will be discontinued 111 because of the abandonment of the work- It likewise means the annulment u of the contract with the city for a large d< extension of the municipal water service. A double line of L'4-inch mains a! were to have been laid in the near future to supply the camp, and to meet t( the demand, a settling basin of 10.000 w gallons daily capacity is being con- a structed by the city. Likewise, six P' wooden type filters of 7.500.000 gallons capacity were to have been added shortly to the city's water equipment. S , 9 . h Flying in a two-passenger biplane on a Monday. Lieutenant Lester Sweeley b made the flight from Honesdale, Pa.. n to Brinley Field. Long Island, 130 t) miles, in 67 minutes. This la said to be a record for the distance. REOERICK WILLIAM TALKS rown Prince Denies Responsibility for the War AYS HE IS READY TO GO TO WORK las Not Signed Any Papers of Abdication?Says the War Was Lost In 1914 By Blundering of Those In ^ Charge?Says Verdun Was a Great . M istake. Oosterland, Holland, Dec- 3, (By the i ssociated Press.)?"I have not reounii-d anything and I have not ?i?rn- < I any document whatever." Frederick William Hohenzollern, who [ill claims the title of crown prince i Cirmany. thus answered the I on of the Associated Press in the >urse of a lengthy conversation tony. which took place in the small cot- i itfe ol' the village pastor on tin- is- i inil of Wierilinen, where he is intern- 1 I. I "However." he continued, "should ' ie 11.unan government decide to form i-eonlilie similar to tile I'nitcti Staler t r France. I shall ! perfectly content I > retnro to Hcrtnnuy jus a simple citi 11 i'cail.v to ?lo anything to jussist my ?unt ry. I should even he happy to ork jus a laborer in a factory. "At present everything appears tiaos in (ierniany, hut I hope things ill right themselves." Turning Point in War. Asked what in .his opinion, was the irning point of the war, he said: "I whs convinced early in Odder l!il I. that we had lost the war. 1 insidered our position hopeless after ie hattle of the Maine, which we loiild not have lost if the chiefs of ir general staff had not suffered a ise of nerves. "I tried to persuade the general staff > seek peace then, even at a great sjictiee going so far as to give tip Alsaceorraine. Hut I was told to mind my iisiness and confine my activities to immanding my armies. I have proof r this. "What finally brought about the wnfall of tin- Herman military pow\" he declared, "was revolution inuded by four years of hunger among ie civilians and the troops in the rear igether with the overwhelming suriorit.v in numbers attained by the ntente powers since America's entry ito the war. which had undertninded ?? confidence or tne uorrnan ngniuig iifps. Odds Too Great. '.Many soldiers, whom I loved and it ti whom I lived continuously, and ho. if 1 may say so, loved me, fought ith the utmost courage to the end. ,-en when the odds were impossible to ithstand," the refugee prince went i. "They had no rent, and aom?tkn?s i entire division numbered only 600 fles. These were opj>osod by fresh Hied troops, among whom were meriean divisions containing 27,000 ,en apiece." Describing how he left the front, rederlck William declared: "I was 1th my armies after the kaiser left ermany. 1 asked the lierlin governeiit whether they desired me to rein my command. They replied neglively, and I could not continue to ad armies under orders of the sellers' and workers' council. "Therefore, I came to Holland, withit hindrance. No shooting or bonibig occurred and 1 quit the army with ie greatest regret after having parcipated in the trench life with the ddiers for so long. "I have not been In Germany for a . nr.. and from the beginning of the nr I have taken only three or four irtnight leaves." How War Started. Speaking of the beginning of the ar Frederick William assorted: "Contrary to all statements hitherto ' inde abroad. I never desired war. and lought the moment quite Inopportune, was never consulted, and the report Dout the crown council being held in ( erlin to decide on tlie war 1 deny on ly oalh. 1 was enjoying a stay at a atcring place when mobilization was ^ dered. "My father also, 1 am sure, did not sire war. If Germany had sought io opportunity for making war she ould have ehosen the period either P the Boer war or the Itusso-Japanie war. "From the beginning I was certain tat England would enter the conflict, his view was not shared by Prince enr.v and the other members of my unity. Failure in Verdun. "People have credited me with war ke intentions. But I was only a sol!er with a desire to see the army kept toroughly efficient and I worked hard > tiring this about. People blamed me r the failure at Verdun. But I reised to attack there with the troops 1 my disposal. On the third occasion ly attack was successful for the first irco days, but I was not properly supjrted. "I thought that the Verdun attack as a mistake. We should have aticked to the eastward of Verdun, here there could have been great protbilitv of success." The ex-crown prince was rather bit r regarding the work of the general aff. which he asserted was responsile for numerous mistakes including te attack in March 1918. which he as ordered to make contrary to his tvn view, and was compelled to obey, e declared that Ludendorff was the lainspring of Germany's war-like aevities. while Von Hindenburg was a tere figurehead. , Ludendorff and his staff continually - - - - t ' nderestimatca me enem> n ..v eclared and never believed that j merica's contribution of soldiers was * great as it actually proved t be. Frederick William declares himself ( > be an admirer of President Wilson, ho he felt assured would bring about , peace of justice for the German eople. Pershing Begged Foch to Let Him f end Aid.?"I've two divisions down ( ere that have not enough supporting rtlllerv, that haven't any airplanes, ut, by God, they can die to the last j tan, and are ready to. Let me send i lem in." < This was the appeal General Per- J i I shing made to Marshal Foch in those tryi?S days Just before July 15, when the French were retiring in four columns before the Germans, according to the statement of Howard Heinz, the Pennsylvania state food administrator, in an address at the banquet of the Pennsylvania Hotel Men's association, In Philadelphia, last Wednesday night. Marshal Foch consented and the Americans went in at Belleau Wood. How they fought is history. "The first regiment went up, " said Mr. Heinz, "and was knocked down; 1 he second regiment went up and was knocked down. The third went up and. regiment went up and stayed there. "The (lermuns were turned and driven back from Belleau Wood." WILSON'S FOURTEEN POINTS. Roosevelt Says That There is Nothing to Them. Asserting that the Ignited States had not done nearly as much as the Brit sh navy and the British. French and Italian armies to bring about the downall of Germany Theodore Roosevelt leclared in a statement in New York, Puesday night that it is "our business o stand by our Allies at the peace conference." He declared it "sheer nonsense" t?> ?ay the .American army was lighting for I'resident Wilson's famous "fourleen |?oints." He made the assertion hut "there was not one American toldier in u thousand who ever heard >f them." "The British empire imperatively teeds the greatest navy, in the world, tnd this we should instantly concede," ?iid the colonel. "Our need for a rreat navy comes next to hers and we should have the second navy in the vorhl. Similarly France needs great>r military strength than we do, but >ve should have all our young men rained to arms, on the general lines )f the Swiss system. Freedom of Sea?. " 'The freedom of the seas' is a phrase hat may mean anything or nothing. If it is to be interpreted its Germany nterprets it, it is throughly mischlev>us. "The British must of course keep he colonies they have conquered. "As for this nation, it must keep its ibsolute economic independence and aiso or level its economic barriers as ts interests demand, for we have to ook after the welfare of our own workngmen. We must insist on the preservation of the Monroe doctrine. We nust keep the right to close the Banana canal to our enemies in war time ind we must not undertake to inter'ere in European, Asiatic or African natters with which we ought to have troperly no concern." Blames Division on Wilson. Declaring that President Wilson has tot given the slightest explanation of vhat his views are or why he la going [Broad?* fhe " co1<Jn?t' assefted," "ne' la timself responsible for any division imong the American people as regards he peace conference at this time. "He has never permitted the Amerian people to pass on his peace proKisals nor has he ever mode those protosals clear and straightforward. As or the 14 points, so far as the Ameri;an pople have expressed any oplnon upon them, It was on November ?. wncn tney rojectcu mem, m- tuninucd, adding that "the American Limy was fighting to smash Germany," ind "American people wanted Gernany smashed. "The Allies have never accepted the I points." lie continued. "The United States has never accepted them. Germany and Austria enthusiastically ac epted them. Here certain individlals. Including President Wilson, Mr. iearst, Mr. Vierlck, und as I unicrstand it. a number of pro-Gernans and pacifists and International locialists. have accepted them, but leither the American people nor the Vmerlcan congress has accepted hem." RECURRENCE OF THE FLU. May be that the Epidemic Will Come Back in 1919. Plans for combating ajiother influmza epidemic, expected to sweep the ountry In 1919, will be considered by lenlth authorities from all parts of the I'nited States, Canada and South \merica nt the forty-sixth annual contention of the American public health association, which opens in Chicago Liecember 9. Members of the association say that ill the influenza epidemics since 1729 lave been recurrent from two to three ears after the initial outbreak. For his reason leading authorities feel convinced that the visitation of 1918 will >e repeated In 1919, and probably in [920. Also, it Ip pointed out, that In trevious epidemics the second and third mtbrcaks have been more virulent and ittended by a higher mortality than he Initial manifestations. It was early In the year of 1918, according to Dr. \V. A. Evans, former Health commissioner of Chicago that he now so-called Spanish influenza nade its appearance In Spain. Now ^pain Is having Its second outbreak, tccording to Doctor Evans, moreviruent in form and attended by an alirming death rate. During the three-day meeting the nethods used in combating the 1918 epidemic in the United States will be horoughly considered and plans outined for meeting any future emerronrv Amnnir those who will pres >nt papers and take part in the discusdor. are Major W. H. Welch, of the lational medical corps: Dr. E. C. Roseiow of the Mayo foundation; Dr. Herman Briggs. commissioner of the New t'ork state department of health, and Or. A. J. McLaughlin, assistant surreon general of the United States pubic health service. Besides consideration of Influenza, nanv subjects of general interest peraining to public health during the reconstruction period will be taken up. There will be discussions regarding proper precautions in the care ofchllIren to reduce mortality rates, rural sanitation, the effect of fashions on tealth and the use of narcotics in warimes. The central industrial committee of Belgium, after an investigation, estlnates Belgium's damage through lerman military occupation and seizins of machinery and raw material at >.000,560.000 francs (*1,200,112.000). PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS. kale** Statement of Purposes at Peace Conference and Endoraos Woman Suffrage. * Congress in joint session last Monday heard President Wilson formally Mate his purpose to attend the peace conference, and give his views on the Part the government should play In 'dealing with the war problems. Democrats of the house received the announcement with cheers in which ( some senators Joined; the Republicans were silent almost throughout the address except when the president referred to the valor and efficiency of , .America's soldiers and mentioned the 1 parses of Pershing and Sims. Threat- j tned interruntions bv members who i 'disapprove of the trip and of the presi- i dent's failure to include a senator ; amonge the peace delegates, however, i did not materialize. i . During the first hour of the new | session. Senator Cummins of Iowa. Re- 1 publican, introduced a resolution to I send a committee of eight senators to i Paris to keep the senate advised of ; the progress of the peace conference and in the house Representative Rod- i enbury of Illinois, Republican, had of- I lered a resolution proposing that the Mcc president take over the executive < functions upon the departure of Mr. 1 Wilson from the country. Senator i ?herman of Illinois, Republican, an- ; hounced later that he would submit u j Resolution similar to that of Mr. Ro- ! denbury, except that it would declare I the office of the president vacant. President Pays Tribute. 1 The president's annual address was read before a crowd that filled floors c and galleries. He reviewed at length ' the country's accomplishments in tho ' war, paying tribute to the urmed forces 1 and loyal workers at home. Among other things he disclosed that he thinks t the problem of readjustment is taking i care of itself without government aid. 1 "It is surprising," he said, "how fast s the progress of return to a peace foot- < ing has moved in the three weeks since t the fighting stopped. It promises to outrun any inquiry inai inay ne instituted and any aid that may be offered. It will not be easy to direct it any better than it will direct itself. The American business man is of quick initiative." Of the railroad question, Mr. Wilson said he had no solution to offer. He said he was ready to return the lines to private control whenever a satisfactory arrangement was offered to prevent a return to the old systems under private management without modification and asked congress to study the subject. Recommendations included a renewed appeal for woman suffrage In recognition of woman's work in the war; a request for early and favorable action on the unratified Colombian treaty and a suggestion that authority ^bould bejjiven the war trade board or frhdHt 'ffliw OOUHTme "Cffntro! for a time over exports. "Know All That I w." The president concluded with the announcement of his forthcoming trip overseas. He said since the associated government had accepted principles enunciated by him as the basis for peace, and reasonably desired his personal counsel in their interpretation, he regarded It as his paramount duty to go. Through cables and wireless, he added, he would keep In close touch with all that goes on on this side "and you will know all that I do." He appealed for the encouragement and added strength of united support from congress i neru was nu uuuaiu 111 emicr nuuor on the president's trip to France. The 1 only reference to it In the house was ? made by Representatice Mann of Illinois. Republican leader, after the president had delivered his annual address at the joint session In the house chamber. "I am not objecting to the president going abroad," said the Republican leader, "but I think wise gentlemen on the majority side of the house ought to be able to inform congress what course Is to be pursued when matters come before us. Is there any way by which we may make into law anything put through congress before the president returns?" There was no reply to the question, and after the unimportant bill then under discussion was passed. Representative Kitchen of North Carolina. Democratic leaders, moved adjournment until Tuesday. After the president spoke, the senate was in session only a short while. At the opening of the session, however. Senator Sherman of Illinois, asked that a newspaper article regarding plans for the personal comfort of President Wilson and his party on the trip abroad be read. Senator Phelan of California, objected, but on a viva voce vote the senate ordered the article read. MAIL BY AIRPLANE. No Longer an Experiment, But Entirely Practicable. The time when all your important letters will be delivered by airplane. writes a Washington correspondent. Is almost here. You will be able to write to any city in the United States and fret a reply within 36 hours by airmail. Before another year passes the transcontinental airmail service will probably be as common as the transcontinental train service is now. Perhaps within the same period you will he able to write to London and Ket a reply three days later by transAtlantic airmail. Present Service 100 Per Cent Success. Startling as these predictions may seem, they-are not extravagant considering what the postofflce department has already done with the airmail. "The present airmail service is 100 rwr CPnf pnrrpss. Its further exten sion, accomplishing a saving In time I and a great benefit in emergency business operations is assured." > So said Postmaster General Burleson, with the September performance 1 figures of the New York-Philadelphia- ? Washington service before him, when I I asked him what the postplane sendee i may be expected to do. I Burleson does not. as a rule, make prophecies. His predictions are based ] on accomplishments. i "We have established a'dependable daily sendee between Washington, < Philadelphia and New York, which is < proving its value." he continued. 'Through its efficiency the airmail service has proved the feasibility of further extension." The New York-Washington service was started May 15. I?il8. Trom that date until August 12 the planes were operated by army pilots. Since then the postofttce deiiartment has tyovidcd its own planes and operators. Flight* Now Are Not Experimental. 'September is the first full month of our own airmail operation." explained Burleson. "The i>er cent of performance was 100: that is. the mail went each day each way. rain, shine, or storm, without a miss or failure. There were 25 flying days. Our pilots flow a total of 11.351 miles. The round I rip consists of four legs, each valued ( at 25 per cent if completed by aero- ; plane and not by train before the close of the day. The 'performance' column ihows 100 per cent every day. The pilots carried 15,199 3-4 pounds of mail, and not once did the mail have to he carried by train. There were only three forced landings out of a total of 100 flights. I "There was nothing experimental Xbout the Waahington-Vew York line. ( Its efficiency and permanence was assured beforehand. Minor difficulties | were overcome within the first two or j three weeks. After the first two weeks the record of efficiency improved steadily until now it has reached 100 |wr cent?a higher mark than can tea- | sonably be expected of any service. , However long in ops-ration. "How about future extensions , through the country?" I asked. ' fn future extensions when war con- ( litlons admit of this." be answered. , 'there will be nothing experimental. , The airmail pilot is solving the prob- , cm of flying in all sorts of weather. "Before the establishment of the | lirmail service it was regarded as iin- , practicable to make flights during se- j rere storms. But our pilots have | shown in their daily service that mail ?an be carried through the air in the , eeth of a storm. , Storms Fail to Stop Airmail. ( "On three or four occasions the air-, nail pilots have encountered severe ( hunder and lightning, wind, hail and , aln, without being stopped in their j light. nii.imnii.il in ii storm has ret failed. "The worst day was September IX. ' vhen the planes left Washington and <ew York in the midst of rainktorms. t was raining so hard the machines , lad to he started in the hangars, and \viator Shank, in his 'take off' at A'ashington found his landing gear linking in the 'mud up to the hubs in Jarts of the field. Notwithstanding his. he made the trip from Washingon to New York In three hours and Ive minutes, with storm all the way. ' "The value of the sendee to the ' jublic has been shown repeatedly. Pajers have been sent to New York, t^ite^thif Ihanefl back ttm i?11 *4y j ?going by post plane and coming Ixnck >ver night by regular mall, saving at east 24 hours. While the actual flyng time in transit may be reduced by rom two to three hours, the fact of a 'ommunication being sent from Washington to New York, or vice versa, and caching its destination before the. lose of business hours, ndmltting of ' i reply by evening mall of the same lay, may save at least a day In time, 1 The rate is 18 cents for the first ounce md fi cents for each additional ounce, ind aeroplane mall automatically lie- 1 omes special delivery from the mo- 1 nent it is posted until it is in the lands of the addressee," The department's next projected oute for airmail Is between New York ind Chicago, by way of Cleveland. The first pathflndlng trips were mado >ver tills route September 5, 6 and yv. ( The permanent service will be esjub- 1 lshed Just as soon us the c<iulp?y-nt is ' ivailable. This may be at any time low. Other routes arc projected from 1 IVashlngton to Chicago; from New fork to New England; from Chicago ' o St. LoUls to Kansas City; from Chi- ' ;ago to St. Paul and Minneapolis; and 1 c, i,.,,,! Tom hansBM V.IIJ mm rn. ?U. ... .... Pacific coast. At least 12 new aerial 1 outes can be established within the 1 text year if equipment Is available, ' ind the demands from the territory ' itTected strong enough. The depart- 3 nent has Inid out a total of 200 airmail ' outes for future operation. UNCONSCIOUS HUMOR. I Extracts from Letters with Reference i to War Risk Insurance. i I am discharged from the army for i goiter which I was sent home on. I I received $61 and I am certainly i trovoked tonight. 1 In service with the United States 1 Vrmory. 3 I received my Insurance polish and lave since moved my postofflce. s I am his wife and only air. < You naked for allotment number. I 1 lave four boys and two girls. < Please correct my name as I would 1 tot and could not go under a consum- < rd name. t Extracts from the letter from a boy o his mother: "I am writing In the \ 1. M. C. A. with the piano playing In \ ny uniform." < Please return my marriage certifl- t ate: baby hasn't eaten in three days. 1 Now Mr. Wilson I need help bad; i iee if the president can't help me; I teed him to see after me. t Dear Mr. Wilson: I have already < vritten to Mr. Headquarters and re- J reived no reply and if I don't get one l loon. I am going 10 wruc m u *am himself. Sir: You have changed my little loy into a girl. Will it make any dif'erence ? I am writing to ask you why I have lot received my elopement. His money was kept from him for j he elopement which I never received. | My son is in Company 158th In- j fancy. | Please tell me is he living or dead | ind if so what is his address. i Some letters from Boldlers wives to Exemption boards: Sir: I have re- < reived your letter. I am his grand- | father and grandmother. He was born < uid brought up in this house In answer < to your letter. I Sir: If I don't receive my husband's pay I shall be compelled to lead an 1m- i mortal life, ; Sir: In accordance with Instructions i m pink paper I have given birth to a ] laughter on April it, 1918. LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS Wbat York Boys Overseas Tell Ibe Homefolks MANY AND IMPRESSIVE EXPERIENCES Member* of the Thirtieth Tell of Some Heavy Fighting?Carl Foster Has Been In the Hospital Twic??Saye Plexico Has Seen So Much of Death That It No Longer Surprises Him. (Sidney W. Sherer of Sharon, now somewhere in France, to (5. W. Whitesides of Sharon, under date of November 9). I have your letter of October 9, 1 _?, A ...itU iLlAAmihi WIIH.II i IV..W n.w. Also 1 am receiving The Kmiuirer. which you are sending me. It makes me feel good to read the county news. After I get through with the paper I pass it on to another York county boy from Clover. I have had lots of strange and different experiences since 1 left the States; but I will have to wait until 1 get back before I can tell you of some of the things that are most interesting to me. I have been on the Ypres front in Belgium and although we did what was required of us we were wonderfully fortunate, as only one man in our company was wounded. They have most splendid roads in this country, all level and macadam. There are no frame buildings?everything being of brick and stone, on ac;ount of the weather, I suppose; but maybe on account of the scarcity of timber. All the vehicles are two-wheeled affairs. and it is more common to see them drawn by dogs than By other animals. How would you like to make a buggy horse out of your dog? My, but these French girls are pretty; but what is the good of having women around you when you can't talk :o them? * I hope you all will have a fine ""hristmas and I wish I could be with mother and brothers. Anyhow, tell iteola and Victor hello for me. (From Private Carl W. Foster, Com* any H, 118th Infantry, Thirtieth Division, dated at Rending. Kngtand, to ills cousin. Miss Lillian Foster, of Hickory (Jrove, and dated November Ird). I am still in the hospital here, where I have been since September 26, when [ was gassed at the big battle of St. juentin, that you have no doubt read ibout in the papers. "This is my second stay in the hospital, the first time on account of a voutul in the right hand; but that vound did not amount to much Iy/ :omparison with the gassing. For nine o where I can see all right and my . oiee seems to be coming bacK slowly. [ am up and about all righjf however. "Of course you have t/en reading ibout the splendid work/that the Thirieth has been doing aythe front- They lave suffered fearfully and I have lost nost of my friends/ My captain was tilled Just a fewy/lays after I got my lose of gas. H/was such a fine man, oo. I thought ever so much of him; )ut good men do not seem to have any nore chan/e 'over here' than men who ire not st/good. Even though we have differed' terribly, Lillian, don't lose light M the fact that the Thirtieth has nade the Germans suffer, too. "The first fighting we did was 011 the k'pres front in Belgium, and from here we went to St. Quentin. If I ould write for a week I would not be ible to tell you half of what I have to ell. "Lillian, this is sure a fine hospital I un in. and the pretty nurses here, Gee! k'ou have heard the song. I don't want ;o get well for I am in love with the iurse,' have you not? Well, I am feeing about that way. "If I should attempt to tell you all he things I could tell you, I would be vrlting for a week, and would leave he job unfinished; but I am not feeing so well, and will close by asking iou to give my love to all and write nore often." (Private Allen Saye Plexico, of the 118th Infantry, Thirtieth Division, to lis sister, Mrs. S. D. Good of Blairsillle, from France, under date of November 2). "Your letter giving an account 01 me tilling of Mr. Penninger, has just been received. I was very sorry indeed to tear of the unfortunate tragedy and i feel the deepest sympathy for poor Mrs- Penninger. "But sister, things like that do not iffect me as they once did. I have become too much accustomed to it. IVhere I used to be stirred over the leath of one individual, now my outook is over thousands and thousands it mothers who have lost their dear )0>8. "It you could see what I am seeing, vhich God forbid, I fear that you too, vould soon become callous to the sight it dead men. I have seen hundreds ind hundreds of them. It made me feel kind of curious at first; but not so tny more. I do not mind it so much. During my last turn in the trenches, ;he man next to me was shot down lead. It made me feel a little shaky lust as he fell; but that did not last ong. as the bullets whistling about my '' ntnA lAAlrlnor fnr mn era VO m P icau aim ivvmua *v?* ?*v ? lomething else to think about. I am (lad to aay that I waa able to stand ny ground and that I have come safey through thus far. I have not been In the trenches since Tuly, but as to what Is going to happen lext I do not know. We are in a place right now that Is not as safe as some places I have been in. We are not being troubled by bullets, it is true; but Dig shells are bursting around us in a way that keeps us interested. "I would like to tell you some of my ?xperlencea in the trenches; but as there is no way of judging what the sensor would let by and what he would srase, you see it is hardly worth while to try. "I am not hankering for a return to the trenches, and I do not mind telling rou so; but still you will understand that if I am ordered to go back there, 1 shall not complain, "While I have not told you before or anyone else. I will tell you now that 1 hail what 1 thought was a close sha\e in the trenches. 1 got poisoned so hudly that it scented 1 would die They got me hack to the tirst aid station and tixed me up all right, so you need not worry about that. "l*p to this time I have not had an opportunity to get to Paris. 1 want to go to the great city though, and 1 am going at the tirst opportunity, which I think will come to me before a great while. "There are some of the prettiest girls here thaf I have seen since I left the States?here in Belgium. But 1 can't talk either French or Flemish and I find it very unsatisfactory trying to talk to girls by signs." Note.?Among the letters submitted to The Knuuirer are a number that seem to be only of personal family interest. and such are hardly suitable for publication. A SAVING OF BILLIONS. End of the War Cuts Down Expenses T remendously. < CSSaiU'll VI w.ll nil! I fun III .? ? duct ion of government expenses foi the tiscal year 1920, starting next July 1. to $7,444.4 15.S2S from the $24,599.ooo.000 appropriated for the current tlscnl year, according to tentative estimates submitted to congress Tuesday by Secretary MeAdoo. transmitting the reports of the various departments. The principal reduction was for the military establishment which estimates its needs at $1,922,000,000 in 1020, as ? compared with $12,274.ooo.ooo appro- / priated for this year. Itefore the sign- / ing of the armistice with tlerinany it / had been figured that the army alone / would need more than $lt?.ooo.ooo,ooo / for 1920. / The navy's estimates for 1920 are / $2,595,000,000, as compared with $1.-/ 591,000.ooo appropriated for the v\\\/ rent year, an increase of a billion <Mt lars despite the closing of the Jvai There is nothing to show wiyf the navy would hate needed had Imc war continued. / These estimates may tie pored down considerably later whey the actual needs of the governiuenyan closing out war contracts becoiihf clearer. It is pointed out also, that actual experiments have seldoiiir ireached advanced estimates. / Airplane>Work to Go On. Including $5^4,227,000 est limited for fortifications? the total contemplated outlay onXhe army amounts to $2,497.O00.WH'. A striking figure 111 the army ejmmates is the $ 144,942."00 for air syfvice production. The appropriations last year under this head were / $540,000,000. It is evident that in re- / ifuoing war estimates the war depart- / ment is not proposing to lose all that / has been gained in aircraft dcveU>*~ I. -> ?...QH K..? nlnnn *A r?oil- ^ a fairly large scale. The largest single reduction from the appropriations for this year for the army is in pay, travel and general expenses, the now estimate for next year being $227,678,000, as against $2,367,000,000 appropriated for this year. Similarly large reduction is made in quartermaster's estimates for supplies, clothing, quarters, including cuntoiiinents anil similar expenses, the new figure being $911,789,000, us compared to $5,451,000,uoO appropriated for this year. All Navy Items Increased. Virtually all estimates for various navy purposes show substantial increases over appropriations for i tiecurrent year. The pay item goes up to $579,046,000 from $227,372,OOu; expenditures on ships already authorized goes to $232,985,000 from $59,397,000 this year and an additional $200,000,000 is asked as the tirst increment on the new three-year programme whieh has been proposed. Subsistence and supplies Is given as $202,343,000, compared with $75,520,000 this year and ammunition needs are estimated at $125,000,000, as compared to $82.519. 000 this year. For new postoftices, custom houses and other Federal buildings only $1,567,000 is asked, but this is in addition to existing appropriations for these purposes not spent during the war. The request for rivers and harbors amounts to $19,870,000, barely enough to continue -xisting projects. The shipping board put its requirements at $5i9,452,000, about one-third of the $1,505,000,000 already appropriated. The appropriations . asked for the postal service amounts to $358,000,000, although it is covered by expected income iron1 posiai revenue. GENERAL NEWS NOTES. Items of Interest Gathered From All Around thj World. Edmond Itostand, a famous author and poet of France, died in Paris on Monday of pneumonia. It is reported at The Hague that tinkaiser and the crown prince have <juarrelcd, the latter laying the blame for the revolution on the kaiser and having pressed the kaiser's abdication in order that he might be able to act a.s his son's regent. A Berlin correspondent of the New York Times, tells a story of Polish soldiers going on a wild rampage at Lentburg last week. More than a thousand Jews were killed, scores of Jewish women and girls were outraged, stores and shops plundered by officers and men and many buildings being burned. The German government is starting an investigation into the German crimes in Belgium, says a London dispatch. the deportation of Belgian workmen, the theft of Belgian machinery and the murders of Edith Cavell and Captain Fryatt. Among those ? held responsible, according to an Amsterdam dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph company, are General von Sau berzwelg, the former military governor of Brussels; General Baron Kurt von Manteuffel, military commander at Louvain, and Baron von der Lancken, civil governor of Brussels at the time of Miss Cavell's execution. Reuter's limited, says a London dispatch, has received from a Greek source figures showing that in the spring of 1914 the Turks deported | 700,000 Greeks, of whom 500,000 are now refugees in Greece. Since the war began to the end of 1917, the Turks deported 1,240,000 Greeks and Armenians. Over 900,000 Armenians and 700,000 Greeks have been massacred and 200,000 mobilized Greeks have been put to death or have died of their j sufferings. A great number of women and children have been forcibly converted to Islamism. Others have be?* killed or have committed sulcj^fGreek property taken by the T***valued at three billion fraMMf