The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 27, May 13, 1897 by Various
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Various >> The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 27, May 13, 1897
Many people have criticised General Gomez for not gathering his forces
together to fight one big battle which shall decide the war.
The General has written a letter explaining his reasons for fighting the
war in the way he is doing.
He says that the Spanish force is so much larger and better armed than his
own, that he could not hope to win a pitched battle.
It is his opinion that the only way to fight the Spaniards with success is
constantly to worry them with small bodies of men, and waste the Spanish
money in keeping up the army until finally they cannot continue the war
any longer.
He feels sure of success in the end.
* * * * *
General Miles, of the United States army, has made a trip to Sandy Hook,
to look at a new method of defence that has just been designed for our
coast-line.
This consists of a concrete wall twenty feet thick, against which is a
huge embankment of sand.
This invention is intended to protect our forts from the terrible shot
fired by the modern guns. As we told you the other day, these guns fire
heavy shot which will pierce through such strong walls that the old
methods of defence are of little use.
Under these circumstances, in considering the kind of coast defence we
would make, it became necessary to find something that would resist these
powerful guns.
It was thought that an embankment of sand, placed in front of the walls of
the fort, would lessen the force of the shot, and render it almost
harmless before it could reach the wall, so a small fort was built as an
experiment.
The result proved to be exactly what the designer had supposed it would
be.
Three guns of different power were tried on the bank, and fired at short
range.
It was found that the sand-bank was an ideal defence.
The heavy shots ploughed into the bank, and, meeting the great resistance
of the sand, were turned out of their course, and forced upward to the top
of the sand-pile, without having reached the concrete wall at all.
The test was considered very satisfactory, especially as such
fortifications can be very easily made all along the coast, and at a very
small expense.
* * * * *
Permission has been granted by the President for General Miles, the
commanding general of our army, to go to Greece and study the war there,
and on his way back to visit all the other European nations and observe
their armies. He will make a report to the War Department on his return.
He expected to sail on May 6th.
* * * * *
There has been a change in the Ministers who govern Greece. The angry
people demanded the change after the retreat from Larissa.
M. Delyannis resigned his position as Prime Minister, and M. Ralli, the
leader of the Opposition, was chosen in his place.
M. Ralli declared that he was able to save his country, and that he would
do so. His brave words encouraged the despondent Athenians, and he became
the hero of the hour.
He stated that all the trouble had arisen because the army needed thorough
reorganizing, and that as soon as he had taken the oath of office, he
would go to the army, strive to give the soldiers fresh courage, and make
the changes that he considered necessary.
M. Ralli has long been a very important man in Greek politics. His party
has been opposed to that of the King, and he has never hesitated to speak
his mind when he thought things were not being properly conducted by the
King's party.
Seven years ago he called attention to the condition of the army, which he
said needed many changes if it were to be useful in time of war.
His words passed unheeded at that time. Now that he is in power, it is to
be hoped that his work of reorganizing will not come too late to do any
good.
M. Delyannis, the former Premier, was not willing to resign his position
when the King asked him to do so, but when he found that the people were
in such a state of excitement that a change was necessary, he gave up his
charge.
He has behaved very nobly since then.
It was feared that he might be unfriendly to M. Ralli, and do all he could
to hamper the new government, but, instead, he sent word to the new Prime
Minister that though they belong to different political parties, they are
one in their desire to help their beloved country, and that he will
therefore do everything in his power to assist.
[Illustration: KING GEORGE OF GREECE.]
The new Ministry came into office on Thursday, April 29th, and on Sunday,
May 2d, two of the members were at Pharsala, reviewing the troops, and
finding out just what the needs of the army were.
While these events were going on in Athens, many things were happening at
the seat of war.
After the Turks had secured Larissa, they advanced upon the town of Volo,
a seaport on the Gulf of Volo (see THE GREAT ROUND WORLD war map).
This city the Turks captured without much resistance, the soldiers giving
up their arms.
The loss of Volo was another great blow to Greece, because it was the port
to which all the troops, war material, and food for the Thessalian army
were sent.
The military roads in Greece are very few, and as the waterways are so
many and so good, most of the transporting is done by water. Now that they
can no longer use the port of Volo, the Greeks will find it much more
difficult to feed and care for their army.
While the Greeks were still bemoaning their losses, news was brought of
their army's great victory at Velestino.
This town lies at the junction of a railroad which connects Larissa, Volo,
and Pharsala. It is marked on your map.
Here the Greeks made a stand, and, after a fight which lasted for two
days, were victorious.
This success has put fresh heart into the nation; especially as the fall
of Larissa and the news that the army in Epirus had fallen back on Arta,
and given up the hope of taking Janina when it was almost in its grasp,
had sadly disheartened the Greeks.
M. Ralli has decided not to listen to any suggestions about making terms
with Turkey and bringing the war to a close. Instead, he has called on all
Greeks capable of bearing arms to join the army and fight for their
country.
This policy does not quite please the Powers.
Turkey is becoming a little too strong for them. They fear that if she
once takes her place as a powerful and warlike nation, she will no longer
allow Europe to tell her what to do.
For several days after the first disaster to the Greek army, the Powers
expected that Greece would apply to them for help, so they declared that
they would certainly give her no assistance unless she withdrew her army
from Crete.
Greece, however, did not ask for help.
The Powers then turned their attention to Turkey. But Turkey had tasted
the sweets of victory, and bluntly replied that she did not want any
interference.
Finally, the only way for the Powers to get their fingers in the pie
seemed for them to call a conference to look after the interests of both
parties.
This plan was suggested by England, but Emperor William of Germany upset
it very quickly by declaring that Greece must withdraw her troops from
Crete before any steps are taken, and this Greece will not do.
The general opinion is that all hope for Greece is now over. It is thought
that she cannot possibly beat Turkey, and that in the end the Powers will
be obliged to interfere to prevent the Turks from overrunning and
destroying Greece.
The Greeks themselves do not seem to consider their cause hopeless, and
are preparing to continue the struggle.
The army in Thessaly is now under the command of General Smolenski, from
whom much is expected, for he is a fine soldier.
The army in Epirus is once more advancing on Janina.
The fleet has so far done little, and people are much disappointed in
consequence.
The Admiral in charge has also been changed, and it is to be hoped that
the new commanders of both army and navy may do good service for their
country.
GENIE H. ROSENFELD
Invention and Discovery.
Every boy who is fond of carpentering will be delighted with the little
invention illustrated below.
All boys who are not thoroughly expert joiners know the great difficulties
that lie in the way of making partitions neat and workmanlike in
appearance.
With this little invention it will be possible to give a neatness and a
firmness to corners that few amateurs have been able to attain.
[Illustration]
This patent is a small metal clasp which is laid over the joint and
pressed firmly on every side of it.
It is easily applied, and should be used by all carpenters.
* * * * *
This attachment for bicycles seems to be a very useful and sensible one.
It is intended for use on newspaper routes, and is made with a wire
attachment over the front wheel in which the papers can be carried.
Newspaper dealers have to arrange the delivery of the daily papers into
routes, much in the same way that the postmen do the letters they carry,
and a great many boys are employed to carry these papers about.
It takes a long time to walk over the route, and it would save the
newspaper dealers a great deal of time if they could find a better means
of delivering their papers, than the employment of so many small boys.
[Illustration]
With the newspaper rack for bicycles the dealer himself will be able to do
more than half the work, and save himself money, as well as the anxiety
lest his boys are not doing their work properly.
G.H.R.
Letters From Our Young Friends.
DEAR EDITOR:
I am glad that the Spaniards have other wars to attend to, so
that they will let Cuba alone, and so that Cuba can have a
government of its own and have the island of Cuba. I hope that
if the Spaniards do not stop fighting Cuba that troops of the
United States will go and fight the Spaniards out in a hurry.
My sister takes your GREAT ROUND WORLD, and I have been reading
it, and enjoy it very much.
I wish that you would tell us how the flying machine is getting
along. Yours truly,
EDITH S.
ONEONTA, N.Y., April 17th, 1897.
MY DEAR EDITH:
Up to the time of answering your very welcome letter we have no fresh news
of the flying machine. As soon as we hear anything that we are sure is
true we will tell you. EDITOR
DEAR EDITOR:
I wish you would get a pattern of the kite. My teacher reads
your paper, and I am very interested in the newspaper. We have
it in school. I was seven years old on Sunday. Please put this
letter in the newspaper. It is the first one I have ever
written. Yours truly,
HOWELL G.
BALTIMORE, MD.
DEAR HOWELL:
We are very proud to think that the first letter you have ever written has
been to us. Please write again--often. If you will look in the last number
of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD you will see an answer to Sydney G. about the
kite. We told him just where to find the pattern for it. EDITOR.
DEAR EDITOR:
I want to ask you about the great monster, and did they take him
to Washington? I am eight years old. Please put my letter in the
paper. Good-by. MURRAY W.S.
BALTIMORE, MD., March 23d, 1897.
Mr. Merrill, the Acting Curator of the Smithsonian Institution, has been
kind enough to send us the following letter about the monster that was
washed ashore on the coast of Florida.
Our young readers should get _The American Naturalist,_ and read the
article. EDITOR.
EDITOR OF THE GREAT ROUND WORLD:
In reply to your letter of April 4th, I regret to say that the
nature of the animal which was washed ashore on the coast of
Florida is still undetermined. Some authorities are inclined to
regard the remains as a portion of the head of a whale. On pages
304-307 of the April number of _The American Naturalist_ is a
very full discussion of the subject by Professor A.E. Verrill,
of Yale College. This may be of interest to you.
Yours respectfully,
GEORGE E. MERRILL,
Acting Executive Curator.
WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1897.
* * * * *
=MONOGRAMS
MONOGRAMS=
Who is Collecting Monograms?
* * * * *
We have been asked by so many of our boys and girls for monograms, that we
have had collections made of some of the prettiest, and can now send them
to any address, postage paid, upon receipt of the price.
The safest ways to remit are by registered letter or postal note.
* * * * *
NEW SERIES
Set A, 50 printed in one color 75 cents
" B, 25 " " gold, silver, and bronze 75 "
" C, 25 embossed in gold, silver, and colors $1.00
Complete set, including all three sets 2.25
Address,
WILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISON
3 and 5 West 18th Street, New York City
* * * * *
That Rust
ON YOUR WHEEL CAN BE
TAKEN OFF IN TWO MINUTES
WITH A RAG AND
SOME
Great Round
World Polisher
PRICE
25 CENTS
FOR SALE BY ALL DEALERS
* * * * *
EXAMINATIONS
Have you thought of the Relief Maps for examination work?
Are you following from day to day the war in the East?
Klemm's Relief Practice Maps
especially adapted to examination work, as they are perfectly free
from all political details. Any examination work may be done on them.
For following the Eastern Question use Klemm's Roman Empire, and
record each day's events. Small flags attached to pins, and
moved on a map as the armies move, keep the details before you
in a most helpful way, especially when you use the Relief Maps.
SAMPLE SET, RELIEF MAPS (15), $1.00
SAMPLE ROMAN EMPIRE, - 10 CENTS
WILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISON, - - 5 West 18th Street, N.Y.
* * * * *
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Show the paper to your friends, and you will soon find one hundred people
who will be glad to subscribe. Send the subscriptions in to us as fast as
received, and when the one hundredth, reaches us you can go to ANY dealer
YOU choose, buy ANY wheel YOU choose, and we will pay the bill.
Six-months' subscriptions will be counted as one-half, three-months' as
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Great Round World
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