Abergavenny Chronicle

FRESH MEN TO REPLACE WOUNDED AND WAR-WORN. Speaking at a meeting of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers in London on Sunday, Sir Auckland Geddes, Minister of National Service, said that within the last few weeks the whole man-power position had been pro- foundly modified, not only by Russia ceasing to count, but by something which they might think would not have much effect on the man-power question—namely, a blizzard and weeks of very intense frost in the United States. It had profoundly modified the general position, because the blizzard and frost upon the railways throughout the length and breadth of America, already seriously congested with war traffic, had had the effect of strangling that traffic for weeks, and as a result of it the ships of the American eastern ports were unable to be loaded with food and materials, and were unable to bring the full measure of men. It was fortunate that we had stocks of munitions, and therefore we need not fear a shortage, although there might be some delay in maintaining the stocks. With our need of maintaining the armies, it was quite clear that the broad general policy should be that men really fit to serve and who had not yet served, and who had been working in munition factories, should now be brought out. We must not only take men from civil life to maintain tOO forces in the field, but wo must see to it—and this was the express and avowed policy of the Government-that the men who had been wounded more than twice, those whose nerves were being worn out by the strain, those who had been out a long time and wore not such good men for fighting because of the fatigue and nerve strain, were replaced by fresh men. They heard of young fit men claiming to be indispeasablo to a trade. There were other men of the same trade at this moment in the Army who were worn and tired, and they were very often much more highly skilled, and we wanted to get these men back.

GERMAN ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AT MANY POINTS. SIR D. HAIG'S REPORTS. The following- reports from Sir Douglas Haig have been issued by the Press Bureau Saturday, 9.25 a.m. A successful raid was carried out last night by Scottish troops in the neighbour- 'hood of Monchy-le-Preux. We captured a few prisoners. Prisoners were also brought in by our patrols east of Wytschaete. Boo- tile artillery was active during the night in the neighbourhood of the Menin road and south of Houthulst Forest. Saturday, 9.2 p.m. A hostile raid attempted early this morn- ing againstou rp oeitions at Hill 70 wa.; re- pulsed with loss to the enemy. Another raiding party which attacked one of our posts last night north of Poelcapelle was driven off by our rifle 6re before reaching our position. A few prisoners have been brought in by our patrols on different parts of our Front. The enemy's artillery has been active during the day between Gouzeaucourt and the Scarpe Valley, at a number of points between Lens and Arinentieres and north- east and north of Ypres. On the 22nd inst., with the exception of a few fighta in co-operation with the artillery, nü" work in the air was possible owing to bad weather. Sunday, 9.47 a.m. A raid attempted by the enemy last night In the neighbourhood of Brocdseinde was re- pulsed. Hostile artillery Wab active throughout the first half of the night in th^r'aaechendoele sector. On the night of the 22-23rd inst. hostile raids againet Belgian posts in the neigh- bourhood of Merckem were successfully driven off. ENEMY GUNS BUSY. Sunday, 9.22 p.m. As the result of the enemy's unsuccessful raid near Brookseinde, reported this morn- ing, fifteen prisoners, including an officer, "were captured by us. Several others of the hostile raiding party were killed by our fire. Early this morning the enemy attempt-d to raid two of our poets in the neighbour- hood of tho Ypxed-Comines Canal, but was repulsed in each case. We had no casual- ties. Hostile artillery has been active during the day at a number of points along our Front, particularly in the neighbourhood of the Souchez River and the southeast of Armentieres. On the 23rd intst. bad weather again pre- vented much flying being done. A little observation work was carried out by our aeroplanes in co-operation with the artil- lery, and some bombs were dropped in the enemy's forward areas. During the night of the 23rd-24th inst. bombs were dropped by us on three hostile j aerodromes in the valley of the River Lys. All our machines returned. £ NEMY RAIDS REPULSED. Monday, 9.25 a.m. Early this morning a hostile raiding party was repulsed with loss east of Armentieres. The enemy's artillery has shown some activity south-west of Cambrai and in the Messines sector. Monday, 9.10 p.m. Early this morniag a party of the enemy attempted to raid one of our posts in the neighbourhood of St. Quentin, but was driven off by rifle fire .and bombs before reaching our wire. Another hostile Taiding party which attacked one of our posts north of Passchen- daele was also successfully repulsed. A few prisoners have been captured by our troops on the northern portion of our front. The enemy's artillery has shown some 6Ctlvity south-west of Cambrai, in the Searpe Valley, south of Armentieres, and north-east of Ypres. Our artillery engaged and dispersed hostile working parties in the neighbourhood of La Bassee. On the 24th inst., in spite of bad weather, our aeroplanes carried out one or two recon- naissances and observed for the artillery. Bombs were dropped by us on various targets, including hostile billets, transport, and working parties. Two of our machines are missing. After dark our night-flying squadrona dropped over 200 bombs rfn. hostile aero- drome6 near Courtrai and on billets north- east of St. Quentin. All our machines re- turned.

CUT THE ROPE TOO SOON. I At Cardiff Police-court, J. Gould, ship's steward, was sentenced to six months' hard labour for breach of duty by cutting the painter of a boat without orders. P. C. Keale, shipmaster, said the ship was tor- pedoed, and he and several men were on board. Defendant was in a lifeboat, wlicli was not died. Although witness shouted to him not to do so, he cut the painter, and the boat drifted away. Gould denied hearing the captain's order, and said someone in the boat told him to cut the painter, and passed up an axe. The captain admitted that one ooat was pulled under through being ittached to the ship when she went down. å. seaman stated that he heard the captain OTder the defendant not to cut the painter, rhe captain, it was stated, told defendant that twelve lives had been lost through his Action.

EXEMPTING GRADE 3 MEN. I Sir Donald Maclean, at the House of Com- mons Tribunal, said, with regard to men in Grade 3, provided that they were engaged in work of national importance, the Tribunal, by agreement with some of the authorities, intended to grant six months' exemption, and the example might perhaps be followed in other parts of the country. "Where a Tribunal is satisfied," he added, "that the man is of an exceptionally low physical standard in a low category, and is engaged on work of national importance, it is un- necessaril" v disturbing to the man and his employer, and leads to needless official work, to bring a man oonstantly before the Tri- bunal at short intervals." I I

ILLEGAL LEAFLETS. I ILLEGAL Li,,t A. I At Bow-etreet Police-court, Clarence E. Bovingtoa and Paul A. Manning, Amoricau citizens, and Arthur E. Tit ley were sen- tenced to six months, and William Lucas to three months' imprisonment for attempting to cause disaffection among the civil popu- lation. BoyingtQu, and Manning will be re- commended for deportation." The proceedings arose out of the printing r, distribution of a leaflet net bearing the names of the author and :printer.0 Mr. Garrett said ho could not conceive of any document more likely to cause disaffec- tion. Titlev was granted leave to appeal, but bail was refused. ■ o

The King's bounty is to be applied for on behalf of a mother in Dudley, Worcester- shire, named Wright, who has given birth to triplets. All the children have died. Privato James Smith, a Canadian soldier, was fonttd shot in a Folkestone field, with a rifle by his add&.

I BOUGHT TOO MUCH MEAT. Francis Cottier, proprietor of a restaurant at Chester, summoned on Monday for purchasing meat in excess of the quantity permitted during ten separate weeks. Evi- dence was given that the total excess amounted to over 1,9001b. He was fined £50 on the first summons and Iel on each of nine other summonses. —

I GERMAN'S GOLD HOARD. Among between 200 and 300 German re- patriated. prisoners dispatched from Boston on Monday were fifty one-legged men. A civilian prisoner on being searched be- fore leaving was found to have in his pos- session twenty sovereigns concealed in a cardboard box under a stick of shaving soap. The gold was confiscated. ————— —————

I POISONED SWEETS MYTH. I I Sir George Cave informed Mr. Gilbert in the House of Commons on Monday that in no ease had poison been found in sweets dropped from enemy aircraft. Some sweets recently picked up near Southend on exami- nation showed traces of arsenic which might have been due to impurities. They were cer. tainly not dropped from aeroplanes. —————. —————

I JELLICOE OF SCAPA. I Admiral Jellicoe has chosen the title of Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa. Soapa, or Scapa Flow, is the extensive portion of sea south of the Orkneys. —————. —————-

I MUNITION GIRL'S SUICIDE. I Unjustly suspected of dishonesty, a Bath girl aeroplane worker, Mabel Holland, six- teen, threw herself from Grosvenor suspen- sion bridge into the Avon. "I am nearly driven out of my mind with their taunts," she wrote in a letter, to her 1 mother. "The girlö (who worked with her) have driven me to this." A verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity" was returned at the inquest hcl<l on her body.

I KILLED BY TREE ROPE. I William James Webber, the fourteen-year- old son of a Church Knowle (Dorset) farmer, was watching his father topping an elm tree on Saturday, when a rope fastened to the limb which the farmer was sawing and attached to another elm tree suddenly tightened, caught the boy across the body, and threw him violently over a hedge into the road. He fell on his head, and died from a fractured skull.

I ARCHDEACON WESTCQTT DEAD. I Archdeacon Westcott was taken suddenly ill on Saturday, and died at his residence, The Close, Norwich, on Sunday. Dr. West- cott, who was born in 1857, had a distin- guished career at Cambridge, where he was Senior Classic in 1881. Ho became Arch- deacon of Norwich in 1910. «

PROPAGANDA DIRECTORS. I U Bonar Law In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law informed Mr. W. Koch that the appoint- ments made in oonnection with war propa- ganda included: Lord Northcliffe, Director )f Propaganda in Enemy Countries; Mr. Robert Donald, Director of Propaganda in Neutral Countries; Colonel Buchan, Director :>f Intelligence; and Sir William, Jury, Director of Cinematograph Productions. Mr. Donald states that his position will be an honorary one. "< ? — I

TEA CLASSED AS FOOD. I With reference to recent magisterial dcciaions in hoarding prosecutions tt. t, tea is not an article or food, Lord Rhondda now lays it down that it is to be regarded aa such. An announcement to this effect has been made in the Hoime of Commons bv Mr. Clyne?? who stated that tea waa b?eu'ht within the powers of the Food Controller under Defence of the Realm Regulations 2F too. 23.

PROFITEERING IN BEER. I At East Ham Police-court, Montague R. McCailum, off-licence holder, Eab-t Ham, was fir.- d £10 and £ 5 5s. costs for selling beer at prices. Thomas Ashton, licensed r slier, for a similar offence, was fined £ and X5 5s. costs. In both cases it was alleged by the prosecution that the beer had been watered. In two other cases fines of XIO were imposed.

——————-  —————— t 14 FOR MY COUNTRYMEN." I Sir William Robertson has sent the follow- I ing letter to the mover of a resolution car- ried on Tower Hill protesting against his resignation:— Dear Sir,—I am much obliged for your letter of yesterday. The resolution you forward comes at a time when its value in jjreatly appreciated. I have done what I have done in the interests of my country- men, and I trust that nothing will ever persuade me to do otherwise. The resolu- tion puts new heart into me.

14;r. Marian Agatha Vesey, aged eighty- six,, whose clothes caught alight while was reading near the fireside, died from sirock at. Swindon, A discharged soldier, charged at Bristol with sleeping out, told the magistrates that his pension of 14s. a week was about enough to keep him for two days.

I DRESS OF THE DAY. j I A SMART SKIRT. I I think that by now the narrow skirt may be looked upon as an established fact; dress- makers and tailors of all grad es are showing it, and already women are wearing it in the street. But I use the term "narrow" with reservations, for though all the newest and smartest models are narrow in effect, but few of them are actually very narrow at the bottom. Nearly all the best new skirts have pleats introduced somewhere or other, some- times in front, sometimes at the back (fre- quently at both), and sometimes on tht hips. These pleati are pressed as flat as it is possible to press them, and are cunningly taped and caught down in such a way that the effect of narrowness and slimness is per- feet, and yet the wearer has a skirt wide enough to allow of ample freedom of meve- [Refer to X 865 ] j ment, quite an ideal style for the busy woman. Our sketch shows one of the newest of the skirts shown for early spring wear. The model from which the sketch was made was carried out in fine, dark grey suiting, but the design would look equally well worked out in serge—navy, dark grey, or mole; suiting of any other colour; gabardine, cheviot, homespun, or a suitable face cloth. This skirt fastens at the back beneath a narrow box-pleat, on each side of which come two flat, well- pressed pleats. An inverted pleat Is arranged over each hip, and is machined down either side to a depth of about six or eiirht inches below the waist, where the stitching ends in a nicely embroidered arrowhead. Below this point the pleat is released. Two little straps, each caught down at either end by a button, are carried across the pleat a little below the waist. A similar pleat is brought down the front, but is released rather lower than the side-pleats,, and has no crowing straps. A ne st, stitched belt' of the material, which fastens on the left side, finishes the waist of this very smart skirt. NEW STOCKINGS. I Many of the shops are showing for early spring wear heavily ribb-ed stockings in alternate stripes of white and colour, black and white, or two contrasting colours. These are shown in silk, wool, and cotton. Several types of new stockings are shown with heavy side clockings in silk of contrast- ing colour. A PRACTICAL ECONOMY. I Most women own an ancient coat and skirt hidden away in the wardrobe which Niey find too "absolutely out-of-date" to wear. One wants to be comfortably clad, even in war-time, and the "hobble skirt" and costume ooat of seven or eight yeasts ago is quite impossible to-day. Suoch ga;t ments unpicked, cleaned, and pressed, mak* [Refer to X 865.] I capital coats for children. Those "skimpy" betted coats that were worn with the narrow skirts in pre-war days look; hopeless, but with every bit unpicked they have more material in them than you at first imlne. and the nice little coats shown in our illus- trations were made out of such discarded suits. NEW LINGERIE. I The makers of lingerie assure me -Wat feminine fancy is turning, again to the nightgown rather than to the pyjamas, for which there has, been such a tremendous vogue during the last twelve or eighteen months. Pyjamas, of course, are still worn and largely worn, but shops are selling more nightgowns an4 fewej pyjama than for sotpfi tIme. t The newest nightgowns are made on long, flowing lines, a ad have sleeves which are either of three-quarter length or which end a little below the elbow. These are quite wide and loose, as a general thing, and are put in one with the nightgown. The new lingerie is carried out in various materials, among which are crepe de Chine, a new thick make of Georgette crepe, a new washable satin, and a thin new washing silk, all of which are used for what might be called "lingerie de luxe." For ordi- nary underwear, such as is worn by the vast majority of women, more serviceable tmd, dare one say it, dain-tier and more practical fabrics, such as muda«pQla.iii# tarantulle. nainsook, etc., are used. THE. LATEST SLEEVE. I A great many of tho advance models- gowns, coats, costumes, and blouses—shown for early spring wear are made with what is known as the "mandarin sleeve. Thia is a sleeve which is set into the shoulder seam without any fullness, but gradually widens out so that it is very loose indeed above the wrist. The lower part is often slit up for a little distance up tho back of the arm. one edge of the slit being orna- mented by a row of buttons, and the other by a corresponding row of buttonholes. These sleeves very frequently end just above the wrigt--are a long three-quarter sleeve, in fact—and are lined with silk which con- trasts prettily with the colour of the gar- ment. Paper patterns can be supplied, price 61. When, ordering, please quote number, on close remittance, and address to Mias Lisle, S, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

More determination and courage is re- quired in rescuing animals from burning buildings than in the case of human beings, for the reason that the former become panic- stricken, and by stubborn nature hamper the work of the rescuers, so Sir Charles Wal. pole declares. Joseph Jones, stonemason, of the Borough, has been oxecuted at Wandsworth Prison foi the murder of Private Oliver Gilbert Imlay, of the Canadian Forces, at Valentine-place, Blackfriazs-road.

I TEN MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY NEW SCHEME. The rationing scheme for meat, butter and margarine for London and the Home Coun- ties came into force on Monday. The scheme affects 10,000,000 people. In order to buy margarine or butter they must now produce their food card, which entitles them to 4oz. of butter or margarine. Their meat card allows them to spend four coupons per week on meat—three only with the butcher, entitling them to beef, mutton, or pork, to the value altogether of Is. 3d.—or 5d. worth for each coupon. The fourth coupon, which cannot be spent on butcher's meat, is available for any other kind of meat—sausages, poultry, rabbit, game, bacon, tinned or cooked meat—on a weight basis of the estimated equivalent of 5d. worth | of butcher's meat-for instance, lOoz. of rabbit or 8oz. of sausage. But while only three coupons may be used at the butcher's, all four may be used if de- sired for the purchase of any other meat. One satisfactory result of the rationing scheme was seen in the entire absence of queues. Restaurant-keepers found that most of their customers had decided to leave their meat- cards at home in the interests of the family joint. Some restaurants have decided not to supply meat, but to extend the number and variety of egg and vegetarian dishes. Fish is, of course, in great demand. It is announced that the scheme will come into operation for the whole of the country on March 25.

SUGAR FOR JAM. It is officially announced by the Director of Sugar Distribution that so far as the position as to supplies can at present be foreseen, it will be possible to allocate approximately 10,000 tons of sugar during the coming fruit season to enable private fruit growers to con- vert their own fruit into jam. The heavy de- mands for jam for the forces render it essen- tial that factories should maintain their maxi- mum output. Every applicant to whom sugar is allotted will be credited with having lflb. of jam in his possession for every pound of sugar sup- plied to him, and will be expected to forego the purchase of jam for his household to this extent. No private fruit-grower will be allotted for this purpose more than 101b. of sugar in respect of each person receiving rations of other commodities as a member of his household, except upon the undertaking that he will, if required, place at the disposal of the local food committee the jam made with sugar allotted to him beyond that amount, which jam will be paid for at prices not ex- ceeding the controlled wholesale prices. The Ministry of Food are taking step3 to infltal a number of pulping stations in addi- tion to those established last season. so

AN OFFICER'S SUGAR. I Lieutenant Percy Hailey, Army Ordnance Corps, Sidcup, was summoned on Monday at Bromley under the Food Hoarding Order for tho possession of 1761b. of sugar and 43!lb. of tea. The family consisted of himself, his wife, a boy of fifteon, and two servants. The defendant pleaded that he had been endeavouri ng by great economy to save sugar for preserving fruit grown in his own garden. He preserved a quantity last year with sugar he had saved. He made no tpplication for sugar when it was being issued for preserving, and he had not used the family's sugar cards. Consumption had been reduced to £ lb. a week for the whole household. It had taken him from the end of 1915 to collect the sugar. He volunteered for active service at the age of forty-nine. The Bench inflicted a fine of £10, and ordered 401b. of the sugar to be confiscated. They dis- missed the tea summons, but in view of the doubt whether tea is a food they agreed to state a case.

WASTE AN OFFENCE. I An Order of the Food Ministry makes it an offenco to waste any foodstuffs or permit it to be wasted. The definition of waste is given as follows: (a) Whenever the foodstuff, being fit for use in human food, is wilfully or negli- gently damaged or is thrown away; or (b) whenever any person having the control or custody of the foodstuff omits to take any pre- caution which ought reasonably to be taken for its preservation; or (c) whenever a person procures for any purpose a greater quantity of foodstuff than is reasonably required for such purpose and any part of such foodstuff becomes unfit for human food; or (d) when- ever any person having the disposal of the foodstuff unreasonably retains the same un- disposed of until the same becomes UTIfit for human food. Any person authorised in writing by the Food Controller may enter premises where he has reason to believe that foodstuff is b«ing wasted and may take samples. The Order I came into force on Monday. -0

SOLDIERS MEAT CARDS. I The War Office announce that officers and I men when proceedine on leave or duty where a journey of more than six hours is involved will be supplied with journey meat-meal j oitrne y Meat-mea l cards." Each coupon entitles the holder to purchase a meat meal at any railway station, canteen, or shop which is willing to supply. Railway refreshment-rooms may serve meat on meatless days, or meat with breakfast on pro- duction of the card. Half the coupons are for the return journey. Cards will also be issued to officers in receipt of Army pay em- ployed in the Ministry of Munitions or any other Government department, and to officers and men when granted leave of absence on discharge from hospital. -4

FARMERS'CO-OPERATIVE SLAUGHTER- HOUSES. Acting with the approval of the Ministry 01 Food and the Board of Agriculture, which are in heartiest sympathy with the movement, the Agricultural Organisation Society is advo- cating a system of co-operative slaughter- houses, to be run by the farmers collectively in their respective areas. This system, it is confidently believed, will meet in a moat effective manner the objection of the farmers to the sale of their cattle and sheep on the principle of dead weight-a principle which as soon as practicable is to be sulxjtituted for the method of grading now in general use. The grading system, it has been found, often penalised the farmer in respect of ripe cattle a-nd the butcher in respect of other classes of stock. On the other handi without some sufficient safeguard the dead weight method of sale obviously would deprive the farmer of any real check as to the weight re- turned. With slaughter-houses owned or con- trolled by the farmers themselves, as they are in some foreign countries and dominions, the more serious objections to the dead weight method of sale will automatically disappear. A large number of farmers' societies are already moving in this matter, and any farmers interested should communicate at once with the Agricultural Organisation Society, Queen Anne's-chambers, Toothill-etreet, West- minster, S.W. 1. —————- —————-

DEARER OATMEAL I Tho Food Controller has made an Order increasing the maximum retail prioe of oat- meal, rolled oats, flaked oats, and other like products of oats and of oat flour by td. a pound. The price of oat flour in England and Wales is now 5d. a pound. The other commodities mentioned are 4-id. a pound. 4w

Miss Margaret Rodger ntlif died at Pitton- wee m, Fife, aged 101. Kingston Council schools were closed while the teachers prepared ration cards. A woman at Hitchin declared thoy would have to wear gas masks when cooking with some of the lard substitutes. Lord Gainford, formerly Mr. J. A. Poaee, haa been granted precedence aa a Colonel while employed with a Claims Cornmi ion.

  CP.UISE 11 SHIPS SUNK IN 15 MONTHS' CRUSE Berlin announces the return l.oine of the raiding cruiser Wolf after a fifteen-months' cruise in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The vessel took back with her 400 members of crews of sunken vessels. Ac- cording to Berlin she also captured valuable raw materials, such as rubber, brass, zinc, and copper. Our own Admiralty on Monday issued the following announcement bearing on the subject: With reference to the German official report of the return of the auxiliary cruiser Wolf after a cruise of a year and three months, it is presumed that during that period the Wolf sank in the Indian and Pacific Oceans the undermentioned vessels and made their crews prisoners. These vessels have long been posted as missing: Gross tons. Turritella 5,528 Jumna 4,152 Wordsworth 3,509 Dee (s.v.) 1,169 Wairuna 3.947 Winslow (s.v., U.S.A.) 567 Belluga (Aux. s.v., U.S.A.) 508 Encore (s.v., U.S.A.) 651 Matuncra 1,608 Hitachi Maru (Japanese) 6,557 Ieotz Mendi (Spanish) 4.648 The Turritella, which was an unarmed mer- chant vessel, not a cruiser, was captured by the Wolf, in February, 1917, and a German prize crew was placed on board. The Turri- tella was then equipped for mine-laying pur- poses, but a few days later was encountered by one of H.M. ships, whereupon the prize crow sank the Turritella and were them- selves taken prisoners.

I EUPHRATES ADVANCE. I TOWN OCCUPIED 14 MILES FROM RAMADIE. War Office, Monday. Mesopotamia.—On February 20th oui troops on the Euphrates occupied Khan Abu Rayat (fourteen miles west of Ramadie) and patrols advanced to within ten miles of Hit. Turks, of whom thirty were captured, made little resistance to our advance. [Ramadie was encircled by the British on September 28, and a force of 3,500 Turks completely trapped. At daybreak on the following day it surrendered.]

BRITISH APPOINTMENT IN U.S. The Earl of Reading, High Commissioner and Ambassador to the United States, has, with the approval of H.M. Government, made the following appointments:— Sir Hardman Lever, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to be Assistant Commis. sioner in matters relating to finance. Sir Henry Babington Smith to be Assis- tant Commissioner in other matters. The King haa granted Sir Henry Babing- ton Smith the personal rank of Ministez Plenipotentiary. The Foreign Secretary has appointed Sir Richard Crawford, who already holds the personal rank of Minister Plenipotentiary, to be Commercial Commissioner attached to Washington Embassy.

WILL CASE SETTLED. In the Probate Court an action was set- tled concerning the estate—valued at about £5,()()O.-of the lato Mr. John Glendinning, the well-known actor. Counsel announced that the parties had come to terms. The will and first and last codicils would be pro- nounced for, plaintiff to renounce his execu- torship, and each party to pay his own costs. His lordship made an order accord- ingly. ♦

USED TWO REVOLVERS. He went to the bathroom, locking tho door in the face of the nurse, who had fol- lowed him, and shot himself from two re- volvers simultaneously. This evidence was given at a Kensington inquest on J. W. Corrie Frere, fifty-six, a solicitor, who committed suicide in a nursing home. Suicide while of unsound mind was the verdict.

MANUFACTURE OF ARMS. An Army Council Instruction announces the transfer of the entire control in Eng- land, Scotland, and Wales of the manufac- ture of all arms and ammunition from the Army Council to the Minister of Munitions.

LADY WARWICK'S HOME BURNT. Eaeton Lodge, Dunmow, the Essex resi- dence of the Earl and Countess of Warwick, has been partly destroyed by fire. The outoroak was discovered by a maid, who was awakened by a crackling noise. All the household escaped unhurt. The Countess hastily collected a few jewels and valuables from the safe in her bedroom, and retreated by way of an emergency I staircase to the courtyard. 1 The Earl was sleeping in another part of the building. Dunmow and Birhop's Stortford fire brigades were called to the scene. The Tudor portion and the new wing in which the Countess slept have been entirely destroyed, but the greater part of the house —rebuilt seventy years ago after a fire-—is still intact. The Earl and Countess assisted in saving valuable paintings of the Maynard family. The »Qcieut deeds and muniments were in a fireproof room, which is at present buried in fallen masonry. The Earl has been in poor health for some time. Easton Lodge stands in a park of 800 acres, with a surrounding estate of 10,000 acres, and ia the property of Lady War- wick in her own right.

SAVAGE ATTACK ON DETECTIVE. I At Marylebone Police-court, Joseph Jacoby, a Paddington hairdresser, was sen- tenced to nine months' hard labour for at- tempted pocket-picking and for assaulting Detective-sergeant Yandall. The officer was returning homo by the Tube with his wife late at night when he saw thirteen men at the fo- qt, of the escalator at Warwick-avenue Tube Station hustling the passengers. Having detected the prisoner in the act of .placing his hand on a lady's handbag he at- tempted to arrest him, but was viciously attacked by Jacoby and his companions, being rendered unconscious.

A DUTCH PACIFIST. I Described as a peace-at-any-price propa- gandist, Cornelis Boeke was fined £50, or 41 days', at Birmingham Police-court for making a statement prejudicial to the ad- ministration of the Forces. Boeke elected to go to gaol. It was stated that at an open-air meeting Boeke claimed that the Germans were our brothers, and it was infamy for men to kill one another.

I hope that in the immediate future the Volunteers will have nothing to complain of in tho way of equipment.-Lord Derby. By a gas explosion the roof was blown off the lecture hall of the Salvation Army Con- gress buildings, Clapton, and caused damage estimated at £ 2,000. An inquest on the body of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, who died suddenly a.t Ottawa, has been declared unnecessary by Dr. Gib. son, the physician in the case. Mr. Maaphersori st.ates that 1,190,075 re- cruits were accepted during 1916. An Army Council Order has been issued prohibiting all sal-es or deliveri es of any machinery or parts of machinery capable of being used for the manufacture or repair of boots and shoes without a permit from the Director 4 Anny Priority,

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER BY UNOLE RALPH. I POPSY AND WOPST. "Let's go and meet him," said Popsy. "Oh, yes!" said Wopsy, "that will be fun." Of course, their names were not really Popsy and Wopsy (I don't suppose you ever came across anyone who was called Wopsy, did you?), but that was what their Daddy always called them. They set off to moot him this evening all by themselves, without saying a word to Mother; I dou't think she would have let them go if they had told her about it, but they never thought of that. They trotted along the streets, Wopsy keeping tight hold of Poppy's hand. Popsy was quite sure she knew the way that their father came home from work, because she had often gone with Mother to meet him. Presently, however, she did not feel quite eo sure of where she was, and very soon she was quite sure she didn't knew where she waa. So she thought they had better go back; but then it was worse than ever, and poor Popsy began to think that they were lost. All at once Wopsy called out, "There he is!—there's my Daddy and rushed up to him aa fast as she could go, with Popsy running after. Oh, how glad they were to find him, and how very much surprised he I was to see them But they got home safely, and Popsy promised not to go out again without telling Mother. t PUSSY'S DREAM. I dreamed I had as much to eat As any cat could wish; Great skewers with the best cat's-meat, And such a lot of fish! Plump mice there were, and large fat rats. And bowla of milk and cream. I tried to eat, but then I woke, And found it waa a dream I THE LITTLE PRINCESS. The Lord Chancellor took off his glasses and said, "May it please your Majesty "No, it mayn't," said the little Princess. "Hush, dear!" said the Queen. "I was about to say," went on the Lord Chancellor, "that I wished to inform your Majesty "Mother knows all about it," said the little Princess. "She's got the ca-ke ready." "Wait a minute, dear," sajd the Queen. "I was not talking about cakes," said the Lord Chancellor. "But I was," said the little Princess, "be- cause it's my birthday; and you haven't said 'Many happy returns' yet, and will you come and see the presents?" She jumped op and took hold of the Lord Chancellor's hand, and dragged him away, leaving the Queen laughing. But the Lord Chanoellor didn't seem to mind. I THE BRAZEN SERPENT. Do you remember about the people called the Israelites who had to wander in the wilderness? They grew very cross and tired (as indeed they well tni ght), and com- plained to M, who was their leader. So, as a punishment, they were attacked by ser- pents, which came ard bit them, and those who were bitten by the serpmts died. Then the people were very sorry (as moat people are when they are punished for doing wrong), and they went to Moses and said, "We have done wrong, but we are very sorry. Please take away the wrpents!" then Moses had a serpent made cut of braee, and set it up on a pole so that evrryene could see it; and then all those who had been bitten by the real serpents, when they looked at the serpent mado of brass got better and did not die. And after that the people were not troubled by the serpents any more. But that was only one of the many wonderful things that happened to them in their journeying in the wilderness. I THE NEW ANIMAL. "Have you seen the new animall" said Polly. "What is it like?" asked Jenny. "It can't walk properly," said "Polly, "and it has white skm, ancl puts everything into its mouth, and says ?.11t 13 ev(?rythiii- ii,to g o o i I it is please but when it ig cross it makes a dreadful noise!" "Whatever did your mother bring it for?" said Jenny. "I should have thought thero were quite enough animals in the house. I expect this creature, will be wanting to eat Dicky or the guinea-pigs "Oh, no," said Polly, "I don't think it will. Won't you come and look at it?" (C "Are you sure it won't bite? said Jenny. Is it chained up?" "No," said Polly, with a twinkle in her eye, "it's kept quite loose. I'll go with you; it can't hurt you, unless it gets hold of your hair and pulls that, and then it does sometimes hurt." "Very weU," said Jenny. "Come along! Oh, what is its name?" Polly didn't answer. She just threw open the drawing-room door and pushed Jenny in. Jenny gave a little gasp. "Why, Polly," sho said, "it's a baby!" JOHN, CLARENCE, AND POLLY. "I want to go out! I want to go out! I hate stopping indoors!" said John. "Silly boy! It's raining" said Clarence. "Much better stay in 1" said Polly. John did not understand them because, of course, Clarence spoko in dog language, and Polly in parrot language, and John did not know either of those. "What aJle we to do with him?" said Clarence. Then Polly began to whistle a tune, and Clarence jumped up and licked John's face and raced round the room, until John could not help smiling. And the smile became a laugh, and very soon John had forgotten all about hie crossness, and played with Clarence and had a splendid game. WHY THEY LAUGHED. "Ho, ho, ho!" laughed Sambo. "He, be, he!" said Pete. And they both threw back their curly black heade and opened their mouths so that you could almost see every one of their white teeth They were two little negro boys, and they seemed to be very much amused at some- thing. I asked them what they were laugh- ing at. "It was like this," began Sambo. "I—ho, to, ho!" and ho began to laugh again so that he could not go on. "You tell me, Pete," I said, turning to the other little boy. "Why, eir," said Pete. with a broad grin, "Sambo and me, we both of uv,-he, 1Je, he and off he went as bad as Sambo. "Ho ho, ho!" roared Sambo. "He, he, he!" laughed Pete. And they both laughed so much that I had to give it up at last, and so I never knew what it was that made them laugh so much. I think it must have been some- thing very funny. I

THEY PRECEDE THE STORM. I In the Bay of Biscay, frequently during the autumn and winter in calm weather, a heavy sea gets up and rolls in on the coast four-and-twenty hours before the gale which causes it arrives, and of which it is the prelude In this case the wave-action, fenerated on tho other side of the Atlantic by the wind, travels at a much greater rate than that of the body of disturbed air, and thus gives Avarning of the coming etorm. —o

There are a great number of forged Army certificates in existence, so it was stated a the Mansion House Police-court. Poplar Council have arranged with thØ Port of London Authority to take owr teen acres of mudfields at MillwaJl as allot- meats. m