Abergavenny Chronicle

OUR LONDON LETTER. —— —— [From Our S-)ecial CorrespondcrJ.] There have been longer &i€gcs than that of Kut-el-Amara. even in the twentieth cen- tury, though the fill of fortress after ress in the present war, in Belgium nrtd Poland, after only a few „ days' attack, makes the story of a resista-nce of 143 da's read like a cha-ptfr- of ancient history. Lady- smith held out for 159 days, while the gi, lant garrison of Mafeking were I'('!i,'Y{'d after 217 days. But there were no i i i c, -eiege guns in those days, and the German and Austrian friends of the Turks were evi- dently unable to lend their Allies any of these weapons for use against Townshend and his band of heroes at Eut. Ladysmith and Mafeking, however, were much better oS than Eut In the way of supplies, and were also much better ntted t<' sustain a siege. The l\Iesopotamian town is really little more than a mud village, and it is splendid testimony to the determination and bravery of General Townshend and his men that they were able to hold out so long. There are circumstances in connection with the march on Bagdad and the whole Mesopo- tamian affair which will have to be investi- gated later on, but there are, at any rate, important items to be placed on the credit aide of the ledger. The British forces in Mesopotamia have kept employed large forces of Turks who would otherwise have been used against us elsewhere—perhaps in an attack on Egypt. There is, as might have been expected, a disposition in some quarters to lay the blame for General Townsheud's capitulation on the shoulders of the Government, but probably we shall have to wait some time before we know enough about the matter to be able to apportion the blame. There is nothing startling in this year's Academy. It is on the whole a pleasant and soothing place of retreat from war worries. The authorities of the Academy have' never looked with kindly eyes upon in- novators and revolutionaries in art, and so nobody visiting Burlington House need be apprehensive of seeing on the walls any Cubist productions or anything of that sort. That, at any rate, is something to be thank- ful for. This year's Academy, it may be said at once, is very much better than that of last year, and is, indeed, more interesting in many respects than for several years past- Favourite exhibitors are well represented. Mr. Sargent, who never sends portraits nowadays, has two ceiling decorations, Mr Charles Sims has a characteristic canvas, Mr. Orpen, Mr. Sharmon, and Mr. Lavery have some nne portraits, and Mr. Clausen's and Mr. Napier Henry's contributions will please their admirers. There are, of course, a good many pictures with a war interest. One of the most notable is "The Return to the Front: Victoria Railway Station, 1916," painted by Mr. Richard Jack. It bids fair to be the most popular picture in the Academy. A few days ago in the late afternoon I happened to be in a village on the Ports- mouth Road not far from London. As a matter of curiosity I counted the number of motor-cars and motor-cycles that passed during a certain space of time, and I fourtd that the average worked out at between four and five a minute. No do:ibt earlier in the day they would have been much more numerous. I wondered how many of the occupants had seen the huge posters issued by the National War Savings Committee. "Do not use a motor-car for pleasure I should not care to say that all the motorists I saw on the Portsmouth Road were on pleasure bent, but I should imagine from their appearance that something like ninc- teen-twentieths of them were. If they had seeTi the poster they had evidently decided that it did not mean anything. The Com- mittee has issued another poster now. It asks the reader a question: "Are you help- ing the Germans?" and proceeds with the information that using a motor-car for plea- sure is one way of helping the Germans. There are other ways-buying extravagant clothes, employing more servants than are needed, waiting coal, electric light, or gas, eating and drinking more than is neces- sary to health and emciency. No doubt many people do heed these appeals, but, so far as motoring is concerned, half an hour on any of the great roads out of London on any nne day will furnish abundant evi- dence that there is a vast number who do not. I have noticed that Londoners are much more keenly interested in the cuckoo than countrymen. Residents in Bethnal Green and Stepney, where there may have been cuckoos a century or two ago, but where there certainly are none now, like to learn from the newspapers that the cuckoo was heard for the nrst time in Bucks or some- where else on April 21. whereas the local residents do not get the least bit excited over the matter. It is said that a Bethnal Green man who heard the cuckoo for tba nrst time lai-;t year was not at all improved, and remarked that he bad a canary at home that could knock spots off the cuckoo Tts a, songster. It will perhaps be news to some of my friends in the country to learn that one may hear the cuckoo in London Ftself. I heard him .shouting- in the woods at Dulwifh on Sunday morning before break- fast-that is, before my breakfast. That particular cuckoo was not more than six tniles from Gearing-cross. There is no mo e interesting theatre in London t'-6a, the Royal Victoria Hall, whirh has been playing its part in the Shake- speare Tercentenary. It may Indeed be said to have played the chief part, for its celebra- cion lasted a fortnight, during which time tiotable performances of many Shakespeare plays have been given by an admirable com- pany. Not that the Victoria Hall manage- ment has waited until the Tercentenary tc. ,Yive performances of Shakespeare. Not a &it of it. There has been a fortnight's festival, but for some years, under the management of Miss Lilian Baylis, the patrons of the Victoria Hall have been enabled to witness excellent performances of Shakespeare's plays at prices ranging from twopence. A shilling entitles you to a seat in the stalls. For the past eight monthe 3hakespeare and grand opera have been given alternately to crowded houses. Al- though more noise may be made in the world by the occasional Shakespeare produc- tions in West-End houses, the Royal Vic- toria Hall is the true successor to the G'obe ind the Bankside Theatres of Shakespear'" I lay. A. E. M. =

MARRIED MEN CALLED UP. Proclamations have been posted calling up Groups 33 to 41 under the Derby scheme. The men are to report themselves as from May 29. The ages of the newly called groups range from twentY-iSeven to thirty- nve. The War Omce has noticed all recruit- ing oSlcers that all enlistments under the group system are to cease forthwith. A telegram received by the chief recruiting oSicer for the Sunderland area read: "Instruct all concerned at once that all enlistments under group system are to cease forthwith. All married men of mili- tary age who have not already attested can <mly now be accepted for immediate service with the Colours."

GOVERNMENT MEASURE ATTACKED ALL ROUND. Introduced bv Mr. Walter Long, the Gov- ernment's Military Service Bill, which was based on the information and the proposals laid before the secret session of Parliament, } was withdrawn three hours later by Mr. Asquith, because it met with no support in any quarter of the House. Mr. Long, in introducing the Bill, said it was introduced solely as a measure of mili- tary necessity. Clauses 1, 2, and 3 dealt T-7ith the extension of service of men enlisted For a limited period and whose time was ex- piring. They now proposed an extension of service till the end of the war. As soon as a man came to be eighteen years of age he would be liable to service. The Army Council took powers under another clause to have a re-examination, if they thought necessary, of men rejected as unfit who had offered themselves for service since August, 1914. The appeal courts were to be given powers to fix definite limits to exemption certifi- cates, and if an appeal tribunal varied a decision, further appeal would be made to it. Clause 5 provided for a modification of the present system of giving two months' grace after the expiration of this certificate. The modification was made with a view to securing that no man would be taken who was essential to national industry, and that no man who was not essential should escape. Clause 6 put upon employers the onus of proving that they did not know an em- ployee w$s a deserter or absentee. Regarding the Territorials, the Army Council took the same powers of transfer as applied to the Regulars. He did not pre- sent the Bill as a specific against all criti- cism, but in the opinion of the Government it was a necessary measure. The measure was attacked by Sir Edward Carson, who said he could not conceive any- thing more unfair and unreasonable. The BiH compelled men who had served their country for the whole term of their enlist- ment and a year more to serve till the end of the war. He would not shirk that if everybody else was treated in the same way. Unless this Bill was turned into a general Bill it would not receive any support from him and those who acted with him. What was the difference between compelling mar- ried men who had already served and com- pelling men who had never done a day's work for their country? The thing was in- tolerable. Regarding the bringing in of boys of eighteen, that was what Lord Kit- chener scouted a month or two ago. Why did they single out these boys for compul- sion when there were unattested married men much better able to bear the burden? Mr. Stephen Walsh, a Labour member, said that if military necessity required com- pulsion they ought to be fair all round. "Let us have the straight thing," he said- "Why temporise any longer? You are simply fooling with the whole business." The Government must present them with a straightforward scheme. After other speakers had expressed hos- tility to the measure, Mr. Asquith an- nounced that in view of the feeling cf the House as shown in the debate the Govern- ment would not press the introduction of the Bill. Sir Henry Craik asked whether this with- drawal meant that nothing could be done till May 27. Mr. Asquith: Oh, no, I did not say that. Sir R. Williams urged the immediate pas- sage of a General Compulsion Bill. Major Astor urged the Government to give them some indication of what they in- tended to do. The present position waa very humiliating. Mr. Asquith said he could not be expected ti give a categorical answ<T without con- sultation with his colleagues.

SUBMARINES IN ATLANTIC. I CREW OF STEAMSHIP LEFT IN I OPEN BOATS. The Press Bureau on Friday made the following announcement:— "The British steamship Industry was sunk by an enemy submarine and the crew left in open boats in the Atlantic 120 miles from nearest land. "The boats with entire crew were picked up by the American liner Finland. "The Industry was proceeding to a United States port, and was unarmed."

I U BOAT SUNK. — ? — I EIGHTEEN OF CREW SURRENDERED AND MADE PRISONERS. The Secretary of the Admiralty has made the following announcement:— "A German submarine was sunk off the East Coast yesterday (Thursday). "One omcer and seventeen men of the crew surrendered and were made prisoners."

OFFICER'S GALLANT ACT. I In a letter to the parents of Second Lieu- tenant Douglas Wood, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, now serving abroad. Colonel J. M. Graham intimates that this young omeer has suffered grievous injury and lost his right hand through an act of heroism. Wood was taking bombing class when one of his men threw a live bomb, hitting the parapet. The bomb fell back into the trench, and Wood promptly seized it In order to throw it away, but the bomb exploded and blew off his hand. Colonel Graham states that by his gallant act the omcer "undoubtedly saved the lives of many of the men." He has reported the facts with a view to their being placed before his Majesty. Wood, who lived in Whalley Range, Manchester, was educated at Leeds and in Belgium. Before receiving his commission in the British Army he had served for seven months in the 3rd Belgian Lancers. His back is severely injured, but he is progressing favourably in hospital abroad.

BRICK FOR A ZEPPELIN. I "Would you throw a brick at a Zeppelin?" the military representative at the Eaaex Appeal Court asked a member of the British Socialist Party, who said that as a Socialist he objected to warfare. "I can't answer a question like that," said the Socialist. "I can only say that I have given up my work because it interferes with my conscience, and I am prepared to suffer." The Socialist explained that he was for- merly engaged in an aeroplane factory, but he gave up the work because the aeroplanes were used for warfare. He added, in reply to further questions, that he would be shot before he would go into munition work and finally he was ordered non-combatant service.

I A MAD BULL I A bull, which had been brought into Portsmouth from the country, broke loose from its attendant, and, becoming infuriated by the motor and other tramc, turned on the man and pinned him against a wall. It then rushed through Commercial-road and Lake- road and charged into a large furnishing establishment, where it smashed plate-cla,e3 windows and furniture to the value of £50. The bull then invaded other shops. Two attempts were made to ehoot the animal, and its leg was broken.. Eventually it fell and was killed.

I AUTHOR AS ABSENTEE. I At Bow-street Police-court, Clarence Henry Norman, described as an author, and stated to be treasurer of the Stop-the-War Committee, was charged on remand with failing to report for service. It was stated that the defendant had conscientious objec- tions, and had written books and pamphlets against the war, which had been seized and which were now the subject of litigation. The magistrate fined him 40s., and ordered him to be handed over to an escort.

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. -0- I WHY DOES A WAGTAIL WAG? Why does a wagtail wag its tail? This ques- tion was once put to the late Dr. Russel Wallace by his daughter. The famous scientist was ready with the answer: "That's quite easy, on Darwinian principles. Many birds wag their tails. Some Eastern ny- catchers-also black and white-wag their long tails up and down when they alight on the ground or on a branch. Now these varied motions, like the motions of many butterflies. caterpillars, and many other' animals, must have a use to the aniinal, and the most com- mon, or rather the most probable, use is either to frighten or distract an enemy. If a. hawk was very hungry and darted down on a wagtail from up in the air, the wsgging tail would be seen most distinctly and be aimed at, and thus the bird would be missed, or at most a feather torn out of its tail. The bird hunts for food in the open, on the edges of ponds and streams. and would be especially easy to capture, hence the wagging tail has been developed to baffle the enemy." The extract is from "Alfred Russel Wallace," by James Marchant. (Cassell.) I THE RED CROSS DOGS. The part taken by the dogs of the Allies in the present war has been splendid (says F. Mather Burton in "Little Folks "). In addi- tion to the faithfulness and devotion of the untrained dogs, the work accomplished by trained animals has been great. The blood- hounds trained by Major Richardson for mili- tary duty, and the Airedales, whom he con- eiders most suitable and intelligent foi Red Cross work, are examples. Every ambulance now has its staff of trained dogs, who by their keen sense of hearing! and scent are such valu- able assistants. It is a well-known fact that dogs can hear from 200 to 400 yards farther than human beings, and considerably more than this distance if the wind be in a favour- able quarter they take advantage of the least puif of air or wind to help them in scenting out their quarry. The way the Red Cross dog discovers the wounded is truly wonderful. He is clad in a uniform consisting in a white coat with capacious pockets containing a Bask of cordial and a roll of bandages-for the wounded can sometimes do much towards giving themselves "first aid." The dogs run on in advance of the ambulance, possibly on a lead but often with- out a collar to impede their entrance through thickets or dimcult places. If the wounded man is too feeble to make use of the "first aid" requisites, the dog's invaluable in- stinct and careful training teach him to remain by the patipnt. often nestling close to him and giving him the benefit of his own animal warmth, meanwhile barking to attract the at- tention of the bearers. There is no end tc the sagacity of this noble creature, which in the present war has more than ever proved his right to be called -the friend of man." WERE THERE REAL DRAGONS? I Writing in the "Quiver on the legends of St. George, the patron saint of England, Mr. A. C. Benson says: These stories of dragons, which seem to be of immense antiquity, and are found among all nations and in all languages, are very curious things. What do they represent? Some people have supposed that their origin is to be found in the fossil bones of extinct morsters, hanging on cliff sides or dug up out of the earth, which set old imaginations working. It has been sometimes suggested that they represent still older real adventures, and that some pre-his- to ;ic creatures, dragons indeed, may have lin- gered on in sequestered places, before becoming totally extinct, and have thus overlapped the origin of humanity. We know very little about the antiquity of the human race, but recent discoveries all tend to show that men have existed on earth for a far longer period than used to be supposed. So that it is perhaps con- ceivable that these tales of iights with dragons may be accounts, handed down from imme- morial times, of real conflicts between primitve man and primitive creatures. Or again, they may perhaps represent exaggerations of ancient travellers' tales, stories of fights with alligators or crocodiles. The stories of dragons, of a reptile kind, with mailed coats and monstrous jaws. are quite distinct from the olo.etories of conflicts with fierce beasts, wolves or bulls; and though they have been freely adorned with additions of wings and nery breath and sting- ing tales, yet it can hardly be supposed that something real does not lie behind them, some- thing which im'crossed itself very deeply and terribly in the minds of ancient folk. I SIR WALTER SCOTT ON MUSTARD. It was the great Sir Walter Scott who, when breakfasting with a guest, said to the latter:— "I don't thmk people realise what a wonderful aid to digestion and what a splendid stimulant mustard really is. I always take it with bread and butter, and I would gladly take it oftener than I can or do, because it is such a line digestive." And yet there are still some good people who tenaciously stick to the fallacy that it isn't the "correct thing" to eat mustard with mutton. Happily the<r number becomes lees as the years roll on. Cblman's mustard is above all things a digestive, No one needs to be told nowadays that with beef it is a pleasant necessity; there are others, however, who still need reminding that it certainly is a useful adjunct and appetizer to cold mutton, while if mixed on the plate with red currant jelly, eaten with hot roast mutton, it is perfectly delightful. PORTRAIT OF THE KAISER. I Here is a pen-picture of the Kaiser, by Baron Beyens, who was Belgian Minister in Berlin before the war: "A monarch mighty in rank and power, effusively cordial to strangers whom he wished to charm and dazzle, but liable to disappoint those who were rash enough to trust in his kindness of heart; always able to give the im- pression of complete frankness, and using this as a means of seduction; really admiring nothing but strength and ready to abuse his own; looking with utter contempt on small States and petty princes; yet never loath to flatter them when occasion demanqpd; a wooer of public opinion, especially that of other countries, but resolved to defy it in order to attain his ambitions of a faith that was sin- cere, if superncial, yet did not prevent him from setting his interests above his most solemn engagements, and ruthlessly tearing up any treaty that had become inconvenient; always careful to play his parts, and clever in staging hia efforts accustomed, unfortunately, to seeing everything bow to his will; such a spoilt child of fortune that he came to the point of thinking himself infallible; one whom Nietzche might have called a superman and the Romans a demigod." The quotation is from Baron Beyens' book, "Germany Before the War." (Nelson.) I KITCHEN REFUSE IN GERMANY. I Mr. Ainsworth Mitchell, in "Knowledge," draws attention to the thoroughness with which the Germans have organised every de- tail in connection with their food problem. So far back as November, 1914, the Prussian Home Secretary directed the attention of the authorities of < the towns in Prussia to the necessity of utilising kitchen refuse. Practi- cal tests showed that when this was rapidly dried in a suitable plant it was disinfected and concentrated, and when used as a feeding stuff for cattle had a food value of 67.3 to 68.3 per cent., as compared with 67.9 per cent. for fodder barley. Since then it has been made obligatory on every householder to &epa. rate material suitable for fodder from paper and other unsuitaMe refuge. A further improvement put forward is that the fat, which is estimated at about twenty grammes per head daUy, should be extracted from the refuse, and that the waste heat from the gas works should be used for working the plant. It is also suggested that this source of heat might be utilised for drying potatoes for food and for treating trade refuse, such as brewer's grains.

At the age or seventy-seven the death has occurred of Charles Spong, who until 1914 was head waterman of Eton College. When he retired an elegy in Latin appeared in the "Eton College Chronicle." Mr. T. M. Colmore, who for seventeen vears prior to 1905 was stipendiary magis- trate at Birmingham, died Tece-ntly. aged seventy-one years. He was a keen sportsman, and in 1866 won the 100 yards amateur championship.

u DRESS OF THE DAY. I A SMART AND USEFUL SKIRT. I When the spring advances into May we all begin to feel that one of the garments we absolutely must have M a new odd skirt, a really smart, well-cut model that can he worn with neat tailored shirts or with simple summer blouses. The fashionable skirts of this present year of 1916 are specially tempting-, for the majority are so simple in shape and so comfortably wide that they make walking a joy. instead of the very mixed pleasure it wag during the long reign of the ultra-tight skirt. The new separate skirts shown ;)ust now are carried out in serge, gabardine, covert coating, cheviot, tweed, and homespun, and of :lll these there is no more useful skirt than the [Refer to X 697.] I model carried out in navy serge. The ex- tremely smart and useful skirt shown in our sketch is made of this most useful fabric, but the design would look equally well made up in any of the other fabrics, or, if liked, in linen, pique, cotton gaberdine, cotton homespun, or drill. This skirt ie short, very graceful in effect, and is cut with plenty of nare. It is plain just across the front, but is gathered a little round the waist at the sides and back. On each side of the front comes a patch pocket of rather a new shape. The outer side of each pocket is finished by a band of the material, which is stitched along either edge. and is ornamented by three buttons. The skirt is iinishcd by a, neat, stitched belt of the material, which has a rounded end and a button on each side of the front. The skirt fastens at the back. I LACE MUCH WORN. I Lace of all kinds is much used this season, more especially upon dresses of an evening orsmart' afternoon type. Though no lace is out of fashion, Venetian point seeme to be <Ae modish lace of the hour, and is very much employed by all the smart dress- makers. In some few cases it is used un- veiled, but in the majority of cases it is veiled with silk net, Georgette crepe, muslin, or tulle. Metal laces are also much in evidence just now, and are made in aluminium, gold, silver, and an alliance of gold and silver thread. I SMART CSILD'S COAT. I The present season has brought home to mothers the truth of the often repeated statement that there is no time of the year when a coat or wrap is a more urgent neces- sity that during an English April and May, when the weather jumps treacherously from one extreme to the other. It is most particu- larly necessary for the younger members of the family, who are more easily susceptible to chil's and colds than are their elders, to be provided with coats which will protect them from the all-too-usual whims and vagaries of blustering winds and sunshiny showers. The mother who likes to see her small treasures look their very best will surely be charmed with the coat sketched, which is very smart and just a little out of J the common. [Refer to X 698.] I It is a most attractive model, which would look well carried out in almost any nice wollen material, such as faced cloth, serge, light woollen cord, and wool and silk poplin. It wraps over just a trifle in front and fastens with three large buttons, which may be as elaborate as one pleases. A small pointed opening is left at the neck, and from this two little cape collars turn back, one over the other. These collars are cut to frill just the tiniest little bit, and are machined round the edges. The cape collar, by the way, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the new spring fashions. A box pleat is laid on each side of the coat, both back and front, and is released a little below the long waist line. A closely stitched band of the material is arranged to come across the front, and a band of similar width with pointed ends is carried round each side of the coat. I TAFFETAS DRESSES. I Taffetas dresses are well to the fore in the display of spring and early summer fashions. Many of the best examples show Georgette crepe combined with the silk. Perhaps the favourite arrangement is an underblouse of the crepe with a more or lesa modined pinafore over-bodice of the silk, and a very full skirt of the crepe with a twenty-incn hem and broad bands of gradu- ated width of the taffetas, the crepe only showing between the bands. Then there are dresses almost entirely made of the taiTetas, and these are usually ornamented by hand- some embroidery and are finished by little vests of tulle, net. organdy, or lace. Some of the very newest gowns show short jackets of plain taffetas, with skirts of checked or plaid taffetas, the coat matching in colour the prevailing colour in the plaid or check. Taffetas is also used for little "separate" coats. In this case the taffetas is nearly always black, is profusely trimmed with beading and embroidery, and is frequently lined with coloured satin or taffetas. Paper patterns cam be supplied, price 6id. When ordering, please quote number, en- cloae remittance, and address to Mias Liale, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

r An airplane belonging to the Allies has I flown over Constantinople and dropped sHps of paper announcing the fall of Trebixond. the death of Marshal \on der Goltz, and the arrival of the Russians at Mars-ciIIes.

I LOSS OF E22 IN THE NORTH SEA. I The Secretary of the Admiralty make: the following announcement: It is announced in the German wireless that II.M. submarine E22 has been sunk in the North Sea, and two of the crew have been saved. Submarmc E 22 is the tenth ves&el of the kind lost durmg the war. The rest are as follows: A E 1, E 3, D 5, E 15, A E 2, E 13. E 7, E 20, and one sunk off the Texel on the 6th or 7th of January last. The E 15 ran ashore in the Dardanelles on April 16 of last year, the onicers and men were cap- tured, and the vessel was subsequently blown up with great gallantry by a party from the Fleet. A E 2 was sunk in the Dar- danelles, and onicers and crew were saved. E 7 was sunk by the enemy in the Darda- nelles, the enemy claiming to have taken three omecrs and twenty-hve me:i prisoners. E 20 was loat in the Sea of Marmora, the enemy claiming to have taken three omcers and six men prisoners. E 13, Lieutenant- Commander Layton, grounded on Saltholm Island on August 19 of last year; when the enemy opened fire on the defenceless omcera and men. Fifteen lives were lost by this outrage.

I MR. HAWKER'S WORLD RECORD. I Mr. H. G. Hawker has beaten the world's aeroplane height record. Flying at Brook- lands in a Sopwith fighting biplane ntted with 110-h.p. Clerget motor, he reached an alti- tude of 7,200 metres, or about 24,000 feet (4t milea), according to the baragraph chart now in the hands of the Royal Aero Club for confirmation. The flight was carried out under the super- vision of an omcial of the club. Mr. Hawker thus beat the British height record made by himself last June, when he rose 18,393 feet, the official world's record of 20,757 feet ac- complished by the late G. Legagneux, and the later omcial French record of 22,171 feet made by E. Audemars, a SwM6 aviator, on September 8, 1915. A German airman, Heinrich Oeler, was stated to have attained a height of 25,000 feet on July 14, 1914, but this flight has not been oSiciaIIy recognised.

NO C.0s. NEED APPLY. I I At the meeting of the Middlesex County Council, a. letter was read from the Com- mittee on Work of National Importance, which is responsible for finding useful em- ployment for conscientious objectors to mili- taryservj()'Jasking to be informed whether the County Council would appoint them to any vacancies that might have to be tilled. tho chairman (Alderman W. Regester) ea.id he thought a reply should be sent. He knew what hig answer would be, but as he wae chairman of the County Appeal Tribu- nal, he would prefer that some other mem- ber of the Council moved in the matter. Councillor H. Heldmann submitted a reso- lution that conscientious objectors ehould not be employed in any capacity under the Council. This was agreed to without further dis- ecssion. 0.

BRAVE BRITISH OFFICERS. I Viscount French, finding himself unable to open the naval and military fete in aid of the Omcers' Families Fund at Brighton, sent instead a- letter containing "t.he re- marks he would have made" with a request that the mayor would read them. After commenting on the cordial relations which have always existed between omcers and men in the Army, Viscount French added: "British soldiers have learned from an experience which now covers centuries that in their omccrs they possess leaders of in- domitable courage, determination, and self. relian&e. A mutual confidence, is established between leader and men which has ensured manv a glorious victory, and has often con- verted imminent defeat and disaster into brilliant success. The omcers who have fallen in this war have splendidly main- tained these glorious traditions."

PRIZE COURT RECORD. I The following table shows the record of the British Prize Court and the number of I ships dealt with by Sir Samuel Evans since the outbreak of war: Nc*. of Vessels. Tonnage. Condemned 84 110,914 Detained 73 85,036 Totals .157 195,950 Totals 157 195,950 Of these, 115, of a tonnage of 141,198, have been requisitioned. Ile total proceeds of sale of ship and car- goes amounts to t6,850,000. After taking account of the proceeds released to claim- ants, and the expenses of sale and of the up- keep of detained and captured vessels, there is a balance in the Prize Fund approxi- mately of X4,850,000.

I SEEING ZEPPELIN KILLS A MAN. An inquest was held by the Essex Coroner on the body of Albert Edward Hitchcock, aged sixty-nine, a labourer, who died sud- denly on Tuesday night, April 25, after the Zeppslin raid. The evidence showed that deceased went to the door of his house on. hearing the firing of the guns and saw a- Zeppelin sailing over- head. Going upstairs he exclaimed: "I am done," and on reaching his bedroom fell to the floor dead. Medical evidence showed that death was due to heart failure, caused by excitement and old-standing valvular disease of the heart. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

I TOO TIMID FOR ARMY. I At an inquest on a Hoxton man who died suddenly, the mother said her son had been in good health until called up for the Army. But he did not like the Army. The Coroner: Why?—I think he was too timid. He did not like being' in company. When he was not out with his young lady he would stay at home making models. Evi- dence was given that the man fell down un- conscious in a saloon bar, and a doctor said that death was due to cerebral congestion, which might have been caused by worrying about the Army. A verdict was given accordingly.

GUNNER S FATAL DIVE. I Diving from a. bathing ladder about eight feet from the water at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, Gunner William Charles Meager, belonging to Linslade, near Leighton Buz- zard, misjudged the depth of the water, which was only about four feet. His head struck against the bottom, and his skull was fractured. At the inquest a verdict of "Acci- dental death was returned.

I PLYMOUTH TRAM FATALITY. A street collision at Plymouth, in which a runaway motor-lorry ran into a tramway- car, causing the latter to travel backwards down a sbecp hill, resulted in the death from a akull fracture of a woman named Eliza- beth Gilly. At the inquest a verdict of "Accidental death was returned.

"TO BLOW UP ST. HELENS." An American citizen, named John Noble, was 8€]jt to gaol, at St. Helens, for six mouths for entering a prohibited area with- out a- passport and making false statements likely to cause diean'ection. He said to a shopkeeper that he was one of the Huns, and was going to blow up St. Helena from an aeroplane. A

A claim for .S10 per 1,COO transactions for War Loan war work was made by the of Sub-Postmasters. Driver Haroid Meadows, of the Northamp- tonshire Battery, was found hanging dead at Peterborough. Instead of accepting the usual Easter offering, the Rev. C. F. Knight, rector of Fnnton-on-Sea, is to devote it to the wounded.