British War Museum Official Digs
Up Some Interesting
Information.
NEARLY ALL WEAR AMULETS
Ore Officer Carrying Charm Refuses to
Reveal Its Nature for Fear of
Bad Luck—Another Carries
Piece of Coal.
London.—Certain interesting super
stitions prevalent among British colo
nial troops at the front are described by
Kdword Lovett, an oflicial oi the Im
perial War museum at London, in tlie
Morning Post, lie says:
"Many of tlie superstitions held by
British soldiers are also held by our
troops from overseas and by men of
the allied forces. One day I happened
to meet an Australian soldier who wore
the figure 5 on the collar of his tunic.
This 5 is known on the continent as
the Pentad, and in Belgium the Fifth
regiment is considered to be the lucky
regiment. The logic of the Pentad is
as follows: Figure 1 stands for God,
absolutely alone. Figure 2 is the mind
of God in operation as shown by the
works of nature. Figure 3 represents
man as the highest work of God. Tak
ing, therefore, figure 1 as being unique,
the figures 2 and 3, that is, God's work
In the hands of man, equal 5, and this
ft Is said to represent everything. In
this country we do not fully appreciate
the meaning of the figure 5.
Lucky Australian Five.
“To come back to our Australian sol
dier. He told me that lie knew nothing
of the Pentad, and he was rather in
clined to sneer at luck in general. But
he told me that his company, which
was the Fifth, was very lucky, and day
after day the men had many narrow
escapes from death or wounds. The
company, in fact, had lost only 15 men
out of 180, while the Second company
bad lost a much larger proportion. Ho
also told me that the No. 13 was con
sidered by them a lucky number, and
most of the men in the Fifth company,
curiously enough, had 13 in their regi
mental numbers, ids own number be
ing 51327.
“On one occasion, after lecturing to
some men from New Zealand and Aus
tralia, I was entertained for the night
and put up In an officer's lint. Before
turning in I chatted over the subject
of folklore and soldiers’ mascots with
four officers. One of the officers told
me that lie carried a charm, and I *uid
1 would like to know what it was. It
turned out to be simply a Swastika,
which was apparently new to him, and
he was glad to hear more about it.
Tlie second officer took from his pocket
a small cross of grotesque form, which,
lie informed me, was ids mascot. The
third officer laughingly added, “Well, I
need not show /you Mime, because it is
only si ploos* <rf eoal, wrapped in si little
hag whieli T brought over from Aus
tralia."■ The fourth (and this to my
astonishment, being the “highest pos
sible’’) ssiid, “I .also have a mascot, but
1 regret to say that.l don’t intend to
show it to you. I won’t even tell you
what it is, because it would spoil my
hick.” Nothing I could say would in
duce him to siller his decision. IIis was
the most superstitious case of all.
“The commonest charms among the
soldiers of France and 1'elgium are
made of aluminum and copper frag
ments of German shells. It is consid
ered that if you wear a piece of an
enemy's projectile it inoculates you
against future danger from such
sources. In Italy the men wore the
kinds of charms and amulets which
have been common in that country for
many generations—even centuries, I
may say. They consist chiefly of phal
lic emblems, and may be seen by thou
sands in the streets tmd markets of
Naples especially.
What the Germans Wear.
“I have a number of examples of
German charms, some of which were
taken from German prisoners, while
others were collected by myself in Ger
many about 12 years ago. They are
of a character you might expect from
stteli a people, and consist largely of
pigs, many of which. 1 regret to say.
are grossly vulgar a id offensive. An
other German charm is a small mode! of
a fungus, which is of natural blood-red
color. This is really a phallic emblem.
A third kind is a teetotum, the mean
ing of which is ‘chance.’ On the other
hand, in the German navy, or what re
mains of it, they have rather a pretty
charm. It consists of a small, cheap
medal, bearing the figure of Christ,
stilling the tempest, with the motto
‘Safety in storms.’ I gathered from
several of my friends that the charms
in common use by the Germans were
generally small objects, such as 1 have
mentioned, which had been presented
to the wearers by their mothers or sis
ters, tint In few cases had the charm
any definite logical meaning.
4'_
Economic Ruin and Epidemics
Have Fallen to Their Lot
in Balkans.
BULGARIAN OUTLOOK BETTER
Investigator Urges Shipments of Food
and Clothing to Roumania—Fund
of $35,000,000 Being Sought
in United States.
New York,—Reports of the condi
tion of Jews in the Balkan countries,
as made to the American Jewish Re
lief committee by its investigators
abroad show that economic ruin, epi
demics of typhus, tuberculosis, and
other diseases have fallen to the lot of
Balkan Jews to an extent equal to that
.suffered by their co-religionists in
other war-torn countries, but that po
litical and religious repressive meas
ures have been lacking.
The first detailed account of the sit
uation in Serbia in many months is
from Dr. Isaac Alcalay, chief rabbi of
| Serbia, with headquarters in Bel
giade. He said Belgrade was still
without regular communication with
tlie provinces, because the railroads
and bridges destroyed by <bc Austrians
have not been restored.
"During tin- war.” he wrote, “Jews
it. Belgrade suffered proportionately
more than the rest of the population.
Most of their habitations were exposed
to gunfire throughout the 1.r> months
that tlie city was under bombardment.
Almost all homes are destroyed. The
Jewish population of the city, formerly
8,000, now numbers no more than 4,500.
Tlie number is being increased daily
by returning refugees. Many men are
still with the colors.
“Economically, the Serbian Jews
have suffered terribly. Because of
the uncertain political situation, all
regular commerce is impossible, and it
if difficult for Jewish Citizens to im
prove their condition.
Have Suffered Terribly.
“Such a situation is unfortunate, for
the war has brought us new duties.
Tlie Jews of old Serbia took n very
active part in the Balkan wars and
in the world war. Tlie years of fight
ing have deprived more than 400 fam
ilies of their bread winners. These
j people have to he helped.
In Bulgaria, according to a report
| from Miss Hetty Goldman of this city,
tlie condition of the Jews is sotnc
v,bat better than in Serbia. Poverty
is not so widespread, nor are health
conditions so bad.
“Bulgarian Jews are aide to meet
tin needs of ttieir own poor, but they
have recently been confronted with
a new responsibility. Roumanian Jews
are seeking refuge in Bulgaria, and
their Bulgarian co-religionists are at n
loss to know what to do with them.
There is no work, even for skilled ar
tisans.
"A soup kitchen is being run for
these people of Sophia, blit many are
desperate. An allotment from our
American Jewish relief fund must be
made to care for them."
In Ronmunin there is need of cloth
ing and staple foods. It was Miss
Goldman who made the investigation
in this country also.
Clothing Greatest Need.
“Tlio people needed clothing above
everything else." her report reads.
“Almost everybody is shabby, and a
large percentage of the poor are prnc
tlcall.v without clothing. 1 went Into
many homes where the inmates had on
mere rags or were huddled in torn
biankets of sacking.
“The second greatest need is for
staple foods, such as dry beans, peas,
rice, vegetables, fats and the like.
Such supplies as are to be bad are sold
at exorbitant prices.
"I was painfully Impressed hv the
number of sick in Roumania. In Bu
charest. out of it Jewish population of
45.000 there was an average of eight
funerals a day last winter. A large
percentage of typhus eases in Bucha
rest and Jassy have been among Jews.”
Machinery for the effective distribu
tion of relief in the Balkan countries
is in operation. More than Si’OO.000
worth of supplies, including several
tons of kosher meat, was sent from
New York hate in July to Cnnstarixa,
Roumania. The American Jewish re
lief committee, under the chairman
ship of Louis Marshall, plans to con
tinue regular shipments of this kind j
to the Balkans and to Boland, Galicia, 1
Czecho slovakia, and the other coun
tries.
For this purpose a fund of $35,000,*
00»i is being sought in the United
States this year.
PATROLS READY FOR NEW MEXICAN OUTBREAKS
Three-inch Held pieces jrolnu to tlicir station on the border along the Hio
Grande. The military authorities are taking all necessary precautions to be
ready for any new outbreak on the Mexican border.
ST. THOMAS PICKS UP
American Port Regains Former
Marine Standing.
Improvements Slow During the War,
but Ships Are Now Calling
Regularly.
Rt. Thomas. Virgin Islands,—This
American port Is beginning to regain
pome of its former maritime Impor
tance. Owing to the war, improve
ments in this direction have been slow
since the Virgin islands were pur
chased from Denmark, but now, after
considerable agitation by business men
i<f St. Thomas, American steamers are
l>eginning to call here. This is the
result of representations which have
been made to Washington in behalf of
the inhabitants of the islands.
The islanders feel that American
•steamship owners, and especially the
.•hipping hoard at Washington, have
heretofore overlooked the facilities of
the harbor of St. Thomas for provid
ing coal, fuel oil. and other stores.
While few American steamers have
been calling at St. Thomas for suje
plies, many have called at the neigh
boring British islands, where facilities
sire not considered ns good as here.
The price of coal is cheaper at St.
Thomas than at the British islands.
To tiring tills matter before the ship
ping board and to obtain all the help
possible from the American people and
congress, a meeting of the inhabitants
of the Virgin island was held here.
Resolutions were adopted calling the
attention of the shipping hoard to the
| facilities of the port, such as a pier
j 3,000 feet long with thirty-one feet of
, water alongside a-nd nil up-to-date ap
! pliances for the quick dispatch of Vos
s' Is wanting coal, water, fuel oil and
other stores.
The resolution was carried to Wash
ington by Darwin O. Curry, collector
or customs, who laid It before the ship- !
ping board. Mr. Curry has since re- !
turned and reports that that board,
members of congress, and American ■
business men have promised to do all
they can for the island.
Another oil depot Is being erected
! here to meet increased demands. The
; people of St. Thomas hollow it pos
sesses far better facilities than most
; other West India Islands, and are de- !
1 termlned to make known its availabili
ty ns a port ot call fur supply in-'
steamers. ' ” ;
Marine Good Walker.
Richmond. Va.—Ralph Walter Slater
ambled over from bis home at Mount
| Tell. W. Va., to Charleston, a distance
| of 20 miles, to Join the marine eorps.
Having successfully passed the exami
nation lie strolled over home—another
I 20 miles, to tell his folks good-l»v
; Completing his farewell he made his
i way ever ttie West Virginia mountains
hack to the recruiting office In all
I Slater walked 7S miles to become u
I marine.
• He who is happy U forgetful.
] ,u.;- . ,-u Of the r:i-■_at Caldwell. .1.. scone <>f tl»c national rifle matches. Koynl palace at Budapoj.
v.ltich wits seized l.y the lh>u uamnn troops, a—Bear Admiral Thomas Washington, the new chief of the bureau f
navigation.
“AIRING DAY” ON THE U. S. S. OKLAHOMA
At first glance this might seem to represent n < amouftaged warship entering the “danger lone” during war
times, but it is really n photograph, snapped from the fight ng top of the 1. S. S. Oklahoma, showing the 'gobs” lined
up for "bedding drill," while adorning the rail ran be seen the bu»i<Uug of the sailors exposed to the fresh elr.
PHILIPPINE SCOUTS' RIFLE TEAM
. -.
• >-scvA'■ <£' Weiifrn Newipuper Union
•• .-.V. i,*V.«A . .
’Ih:: is I lie team «*:' picl-.nl n::i i,!;stin,n fnun (lie Philippine Sonus brought
from Hie islands to take part In the optional r dc nisin lies at < 'uldwell, N. .i.
AUTO TIRES SALVAGED IN FRANCE
One o' ilie first photographs received In the United States showing n pile
of luitinnohile and autotruck tires salvaged froiu»Ujc A. B. K. Much of this
: material. discarded us unfit for further service, lies gone Into the hands of the
; liquidation commission lor sale.
OLDEST MARINE IN SERVICE 1
Sergt. M. J, ohcr has re-enlisted in
j tin1 l nited Slates marine corps for the
eighth time- signifying over .‘?1 years
of active* service, a record which en
titles him to the distinction of being
tin* oldest marine in tin* service. He
litis been on duty in every port in the
world, and was lor a time stationed in
ihe Philippines and Chinn. Sergeant
oher is now stationed in Washington
n the otiiee of Secretary of Navy Dan
iels.
False Kicks.
Postmaster General Burleson said
at a Washington reception:
“Some of the complaints and at
tacks that tin* post ofliee hears re
minds me irresistibly of the chap
who went trout fishing.
"This chap returned empty-handed
front bis trip, and his wife said to hint
in some surprise:
“ ‘Didn’t you catch any trout nt all,
(leorgeV’
‘“Oh, yes,’ said he. ‘I caught 25
fine, large trout, but they were stolen
from me on the train.’
“ ‘Well, never mind, George,' said his
wife. ‘You’ve brought home a hrund
new llsli story, anyhow.’ ’’
Strategy.
Subeditor—Nothing doing In the
news line today.
j Editor—All right. Put a pair of
trousers on the ofliee eat. photograph
him, ami we’ll run a special on the
i oldest living man lu the town.