Abergavenny Chronicle

NEW PROFITEERING BILL. 1 POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TR EE I The following are the chief provisions of the new Profiteering Bill in brief:— The Board of Trade shall have power to investigate priced, costs, and profit, and for that purpose to require any person to that pur p ,se to appear before them and furnish stich iufor. mation as they may retliiire; arid to receive and investigate complaints that a profit id being made or has wen made or sought on the .-ale of the article (whether wholesale or retail), which is, in view of all the circum- stances, unreasonable. On auy such complaint, the Board, after hearing the parties, may declare the price which would yield a reasonable profit: and require the seller to repay to the com- plainant any amount paid by the com- plainant in excess of such price; or require the complainant to purchase the article at such price. FIXES OR PRISON. Where they think the circumstances of the case so require, they may take proceed- ings against the seller before a court of summary jurisdiction, and if it is found that the price charged or demanded by the seller is such as to yield him a profit which is, in of all tho circumstances, un- is, in vww of all? t. reasonable, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £OO or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. If any person fails to comply with an order of the Board, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £ 50 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one mouth. ————- ——————— 1

OPEN-AIR MARKETS. Following llford's lead, Barking has in. augurated on open-air market and is doing wonderful business. There are 30 stal!s, and an especially cheap line was in fish-whiting at 3d. per lb. This was equal to fisth. that would fetch Sd. or 9d. in the shops. The vegetable side of Barking Market still needs organisation. One vendor, who was taking down his stall at noon havinc* disposed of his stock, remarked that he could have sold another ton of potatoes if ) he had bad them. Although there is some progress to be I made before Barking reaches the Ilford I standard, it has its own speciality in a stall run by a man who lost the use of one hand in the war. Ee displayed a fine stock of soaps and other cleaning materials, side by side with condensed milk and custard pow- ders.

RAILWAY CLERKS. I The South London branch of the Railway Clerks' Association has passed a resolution expressing regret and dissatisfaction at the protracted nature of the negotiations upon the program of revised conditions of service submitted by "be association to the Railway Executive Committee in January lat, and calling upon the Executive Committee of the Association to convene a special conference immediately to deal with the situation and to take drastic action if necessary. The I branch has a membership of 650.

THREW AWAY £ 50. A peer has recovered a lost £50 note under unusual circumstances. It appears that he left home with it in his pocket, but on re- turning found it gone. He despatched mes- sengers to make inquiries at places visited during the day, but without result. Then he bethought himself of a visit to the House of Lords, and search revealed the note among wastepaper which was tied up for despatch to the dealer.

R33 TO FLY TO INDIA. I It is expected that the airship R33 ill start on her flight from England to India almost immediately. The flight will beYer France and Switzerland to Rome, where 'the' first landing will be made. Cairo will be the next stop as a half-way house.

While sitting en Leckwith Bridge, Gla- morganshire, Sidney Coslett, a discharged soldier, had a sudden attack of malaria, fell into the River Ely, and was drowned. For cutting a mailbag open and stealing a parcel when loading mails, Joseph Inns, dock labourer, was at Clerkenwell sent to prison for two months. Walking acrcs- a /f-'kl at Panifekl, Essex, after dark, Archibald Broyd, 51, fell over a stile, injured his and lay helpless a stile, in j ured all night. He was found in the morning, put died later.

THE NATIONS THANKS. I HONOURS AND GRANTS TO OUR FIGHTINC I LEADERS. The King has approved of high officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force receiving the honours mentioned below, and monetary grants have been recommended of the following amounts:— £ 100,000 each to Sir Douglas Haig and Sir David Beatty. Y,50,000.To Viscounts Jeilicoe and French and Sir 11. Allenby. £ 30,000 to Sir II. Plumer, Sir H. Rawlinson, and Sir Julian Byng. 2.5,0O0 to Sir M. Hankey. £ 10,000 to Admiral Sir C. Madden, Admiral Sir D. Sturdeo, Renr-Admiral Sir R. Keyes, Vice-Admiral de Robeck, Commodore R. Tyr- whitt, Sir II. Wilson, Sir W. Robertson, Sir W. Birdwood, and Air Vice-Marshal Sir H. Trenchard. The Honours conferred are:— Earls.-Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty and Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Halg. Viscount.—Field-Marshal Sir E. Allenby. Barons.—Field-Marshal Sir H. Plumer, General Sir II. Rawlinson, General the Hon. Sir Julian Byng, and General Sir H. Home. Baronets.—Admiral Sir Charles E. Madden, Vice-Admiral Sir Roger; J. B. Keyes, Rear- Admiral Sir John de Robeck, Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, General Sir William Robertson, General Sir W. Birdwood, and Air Vice-Mar. shal Sir H. Trenchard. G.C.B.—Lieut.-Colonel Sir Maurice Hankey (Secretary to the War Cabinet).

CAPE VOYAGE STOPPED. 44 FELIXSTOWE FURY" CRASHES WITH FATAL RESULTS. An unfortunate accident occurred at Felixstowe to the largest lieavier-than-air machine in the world—the Porte fiying-boat Felixstowe Furv, a fi Vt Holb-Royce-engined triplane, which crashed as it set out on its 8,000 miles voyage to the Cape. The triplane, which was. fully equipped, was carrying a crew of seven, and its depar- ture from the aerodrome was watched by a large crowd. A tug in attendance dashed to the rescue, and succeeded iu taking off four of the officers and two mechanics, but the wireless officer, Lieutenant S. E. S. McCleod, was trapped in the machine and his body was afterwards discovered with the headpiece receiver still strapped to his head. Tests of the Felixstc.ve Fury had been made without mishap during the past three months The feature of this machine. apart from its great lifting power, was the fact that it would float.

I EX-W.A.A.C. MURDER. Yet another murder in which theW.A.A.C.. i" indirectly interested. I11 this instance the victim of the tragedy is Rebecca Quinn, aged 25, an ex-member of the W.A.A.G.s, lately residing at New Delaval, Northumberland. Miss Quinn, who was housekeeper for a famitv at Bebside Colliery, two miles away, received a note asking her to go home. She set off with another woman, and on the road met a young man. The three walked along the road together, and when near the pit the man, it is alleged, put his arms round the girl's neck and drew a razor acro-w her throat. She dropped dead at hid feet. The man ran in the direction of Bebside. where he was chased by a cyclist, who in- formed a policeman. LateT the police arrested Ernest Scott, a collier, to whom, it is. stated, the girl had formerly been engageo. Since his arrest Scott has been singing hymns in the cell.

A direct descendant of William Per. ft, Tartaia Penn-Gaskell, has come back to tha L'enn district in Buckinghamshire, and pur- ;-h-is:d hy auction a cottage for £610. In a chaser biplane the airman Geoffrey flew under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris. General Sir William Birdwood was made a freeman of the Goldsmiths' Company. Falling -ckwvnsfcairs while sleep-walking, Lewis Morton, of Dover, fractured his hip, leg, ribs, and ooJlar-bone. Sir Thomas Whittaker has been appointed chairman cf the Select Committee on Land Values. The taking of evidence is deferred until after the recess. Royal St. George's Yacht Club, Kings. town, W" burnt out.

f HEADING FOR I BANKRUPTCY. SERIOUS STATEMENTS BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER THE PREMIER ON HIS POSITION. "The financial situation is one of gravity, and calls for the good will and active as- sistance of every class of the commujnty," said Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, when replying on the dsbate on the second reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill in the House of Commons. If we continue to spend at our present rate it would lead straight to national bankruptcy. It was his duty to tell the House that the Budget position—the balance between expen- diture and revenue—was definitely and seriously less favourable than it was when he made his Budget statement. Both sides of the account were failing to realise his expectations. I I LESS CONFIDENT. I On the receipts side, the decision to con- tinue the control of food meant delay in realising the vast tratii ng stocks of the Ministry of Focd, and 70 millions from that source would not come into the Exchequer this year. While he hoped his estimate from the realisation of war stocks would still be realised this year., he was less confi- dent about it now than at the time of his Budget statement. I A BAD TIME COMING. The minds of the Government were all on the question of economy, and would be con- tinuously on it. His policy in regard to subsidies was to bring them to an end as soon as it could be done. The only means of dealing with the ad- verse exchange were by reducing imports of articles of luxury from abroad and increas- ing our exports. That meant increasing production, and reducing the cost, so that they might get a ready entry into good markets. Unless they succeeded in doing these things quickly, everyone—the richest and the poorest-was going to have a very bad time. I SITUATION ABNORMAL. Mr. Lloyd George said it was perfectly obvious that the state of affairs in Ireland not satisfactory. The report of the Ccal Commission, the question of profiteer- ing, the trade policy of the country, and the agricultural policy were some of the questions that were awaiting decision, and it was quite impossible for any Prime Minister to give close study to these ques- tions and at the name time to sit iu the licuse and take part in the debates from day to day. The present situation was abnormal; it was grave, and he intended to make a pro- nouncement upon it before the end of the Session. Responsibility in the matter of finance rested on the House of Commons. It was the businer>s of the Government to curtail at the earliest possible moment gigantic expenditure.

AIR MINISTRY ACCOUNTS. SCANDALOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS REVEALED. DELIBERATE "HUSH IN(I=UP." It would be interesting to know what the private thoughts of the Chancellor of the Exchequer are on. the amazing report issued by the Select Committee appointed to in- vestigate the accounts of the Air Ministry. Within a few brief hours after the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer had told how the nation was heading to bankruptcy we are placed in the possession of a document which makes the most scandalous revelations of waste and inefficiency it would be possible to imagine. After perusing this amazing report one wonders how much longer the country will be disposed to stand this sort of thing.. SUMMARY OF THE REPORT. I The Committee males these statements:— When cases of negligence or fi fcud have been discovered, action should be taken against offenders, regardless cf whether they are officials of the department or not. They regret very much thr.t. the Lord Ad- vceate should have taken up the position that lie did with regard to the prosecution demanded by Sir John Hunter, Administra- tor of Works and Buildings. In the case of Miss O'SuIlivan (Clothing Controller, W.R.A.F.), it would appear that she demauded an inquiry into alleged irregu- larities as long ago as March last. An inquiry was not commenced until June, and then was not completed, Miss O,S(lllivan refusing to sign the notes of her evidence. I "GIVEN LEAVE." She was removed from the position of Clothirg Controller, was given leave, and informed that she would be demobilised, though this latter intention does not appear to have been carried out. The principal witness before the Com- mittee was Sir John Hunter. His main state- ments were- No man earned the money he got, -and there were 70,000 men iniployed on the building of aerodromes. Fraudulent practices were reported in the case of the Renfrew Aerodrome. There were "dead" men OIl the pay-books, and money was drawn for them. Men were arrested, but the Lord Advocate refused to act because "available evidence was insufifcient," and a prosecution "might reveal what appears to be incfficicncv and < absence of control on the part of the Air I 1 Ministry's representatives on the spot." THE AUTHORITIES' REFUSAL. Questioned as to any cases of fraud in re- lation to the carrying out of contracts, Sir John Hunter said: "I had four men ar- rested, and they have been on bail each for £ 100 for tho past four months, but the Crown authorities declined to jjrooecute, and the men were freed from tire charge on June 7, "I am, however, arranging a civil action against the contractor for, louglilv, £ o0,000, less the money we have in hand belonging to him for commission 011 work done." As to the reasons why the Crown Agent I authorities refused to prosecute, a letter ad- dressed to the Secretary, Air Ministry, from Mr. Millar Craig, Secretary to the Lord Ad- vocate, was put in, which stated:— "The evidence available is insufficient, to afford any strong probability of obtaining a conviction. A prosecution would reveal what appears to be inefficiency and absence of control on the part of the representa- tives of the Ministry on the spot."

SOME DRINK I I An old miner at Gateshead charged with attempted suicide admitted that he drank 24 glasses of rum in an hour.

America has refused Jim Larkin a pass- port to return to Dublin. Over 50 per cent. of the Rhondda miners overstayed holiday leave. Since He armistice 4,680 L.G.O. busm-en have returned to their job. A Durhlm miner was fined 10s. at Gates- head for sleeping underground. Steps are being taken to make Tregaron Bog, Cardiganshire, a commercial concern.

THE LABOUR CRISIS. I RAILWAYMEN RETURN TO DUTY AT NINE ELMS. POLICE POSITION NORMAL The labour position assumed a more nor- mal character at the week-end. As the re- sult of a conference between Mr. Anwell, the locomotive manager at Nine Elms, and the men who had come out on a sympathetic strike, all difficulties were smoothed over and the men agreed to return to work forth. with. Some 400 men resumed duty, and every- thing was reported to be proceeding satis- factorily. A deputation of the strikers on the City and South London Railway was received at Electric Railway House, and requested to be allowed to return to work. After some discussion the company allowed the strikers to be reinstated in their posi- tions. I POLICE POSITION. I Sir Nevil Macready announced: "We are now practically back to normal, and if the situation continues to improve I do not pro- pose to issue any more official reports. "It is of interest to note that I received a report that an ex-inspector who was among the strikers, and induced a number of ether men from his division to come out, went to his divisional headquarters, and, in conse- quence of his strange demeanour, has been conveyed to the local infirmary. He was the only inspector who struck," I AMONG THE BAKERS. I Thebrad strike in London was never particularly alarming, the greatest incon- venience through the dispute being felt in the East End. Representatives of the Bakers' Union met officials of the Ministry of Labour, when a cortference between the London master bakers and the men was arranged. Many City men brought their own bread rations to town. In Nottingham the masters conceded the men's hours and wages demands, the night- baking question being left for national settlement. In Newcastle, where the shortage is very severe, the cafe waitresses have joined the strikers. An agreement has been reached between the co-operati ve societies and their men, and it is hoped, said Sir Robert Home, in the Commons, that the bakeries will im- mediately resume work. In Manchester bread was distributed in Army motor lorries attended by an armed escort wearing trench helmets. STRIKES CRIPPLE TRADE. I It is well, though unpleasant, to note that to the list of overseas contracts which we have lost through the suicidal strike mania., an important order about to be placed by the Do Beers Company for xl,000,000 worth of new machinery for the South African diamond mincs is expected to bo added. The directors of the company would prefer to give this country the benefit of this large business, even at higher prices than those of foreign competitors, states the .Anglo-Afri- can Bureau. A time limit, however, is es- sential for the delivery of the machinery, and in view of the present Labour situation British manufacturers find themselves un- able to agree to this, says the "Daily Graphic." As a result, it is anticipated, the order will have to bo placed iu America. For similar reasons it b almost impos- sible to place contracts in this country for copper wire.

CANTEEN PROFITS. I The profits accumulated by the Army and Navy Canteens during the war were enor- mous, and there is now in hand a sum of between E6,000,000 and £ 7,000,000, vested in the United Services Fund, of the Execu- tive Committee of which General Sir Julian Byng is chairman. Sir Julian explains that the money is to be used for the following objects:— 1. The care and help of ex-service officers and men. 2. The care of wives. widows, and orphans. 3. The social welfare of ex-service men. 4. The help of serving men. They had to get rid of overlapping. The serving man was very important, because over 80,000 men had rejoined. These men spent their money in the canteens during the war; therefore they were to be helped.. They could not undertake to help indi- viduals financially.

NURSE SPY SENT HOME. I It is gratifying to record that we are gradually getting rid of the large number of undesirable aliens who have either been imprisoned or detained here during the war. Among those who have been sent back to their native land is Theodolinda Paster, who was acting as a German Red Cross nurse. When war broke out she joined the Red Cross for Germany, in which capacity ehe did a great deal of good. But her love for- her country led her to abuse the sacred- ness of her position as nurse, and she did things in the East which made her sus- pected as a spy. She fell into English hands, and even- tually reached England, where she was in- terned at Holloway. Eventually British clemency prevailed, and she was returned to her native land.

I DEATH TO SAVE CHILD. A gallant attempt to prevent a road acci- dent was made by Mr. William Henry Scruby, a corn merchant, of Hockerhill Park, Bishops Stortford, who died in hos- pital from a fractured skull sustained in trying to save a child from injury. While motoring with a friend he saw the child in the road, and jumped from the car while it was still running, but he fell on his head, and never regained consciousness.

"TINNED" MAN. I A man whose epine was injured in a motor-car accident so that he could only move about when cased in a steel jacket was given £ 1,000 damages by agreement at Belfast

OUR GREATEST PORT. People who live in the central or western districts of London are seldom conversant with the East-End. In effect, the metropolis s a concrete mass formed as it were, of many separate cities, each welded together, but divided as to purpose. Who, for instance, other tlTSn those who iwell in dockland, realises that London is Dur greatest port? A large proportion of visitors to the capital never see an ocean- going ship. As a matter of fact,- according to the total volume of their shipping, our six leading ports in their order of importance are Lon- don, Liverpool, ITtill, Manchester, South- ampton, and Glasgow. Liverpool and Lon- don are comparatively close together in im- portance, but Hull and the other ports como H long way behind the two leaders.

Professor Roberts, Principal of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, is dead. Miners and ironworkers at Bargoed, Wales, have decided on a "no beer no work policy. Erection -of the new Government offices at Acton, to accommodate 2,000, has begun. By 30 votes to 11 Cumberland County Council refused to construct ^wjh road over Sty Head Pass.

BRITAIN AND BOLSHEVISM. FURTHER REVELATIONS OF THE WORK OF THE "HIDDEN HAND." A SERGEANT'S STORY. Some further interesting information con- cerning the work of the "Hidden Hand" people is given by the "Daily Mirror." Zachariassen's confession is in existence, and could be produced on the demand of Parliament. Hit is not, however, a Bolshe- vist leader, but a mere tool in sympathy with the movement, says the paper in ques- tion. It is probable that he received his instruc- tions directly from the notorious Russian woman Angelica Ballabanoff, who is the chief Bolshevist courier between Berne, Stockholm, Berlin, and Moscow. TOO CLEVER TO COME TO BRITAIN. Ballabanoff is too clever a woman to trust herself on British soil. She works under the direct instructions of Lenin and Trotsky, whose chief international instrument she is. Most of the propaganda that reaches this oountry, as well .as America and Canada, emanates from her through less important messengers. These latter individuals are not so easy to detect. "There is a natural outcry at the ports about passport restrictions," said a Secret Service official. "Take the case of the Norweigial1 youth. He came here representing himself as the accredited correspondent of a paper. That was his method of getting into this country. He had papers which were no doubt for- geries, but which bore out his statement, and as a journalist he was allowed to pass. He had the money secreted about him in one hundred pound notes. UNDESIRABLES AS STOWAWAYS. j "It was only when he had been in Eng- land some time that the authorities learned the real nature of his mission." A few days ago Scotland Yard got infor- mation of eleven undesirables who had reached this country from Holland as stow a ways. The cr*w, who each received C5 from a Jewish organisation in Holland, were acting in collusion. How tho men got ashore is not known. Ten cf them have been traced, however, and deported. Recently Scotland. Yard came into posses- sion of tho programme of the CJydo Workers' Soviet Committee. It was a type- written document, setting forth such aims a3 the disarming of all non-proletarian sol- diers, the seizure of arms by the Workers' and Soldiers' Councils, the arming of the entire labour population as a Red Army, and other methods for securing a Soviet re- gime. ARMS SAID TO BE LxlNDED. I Arms in small quantities from Russia are stated to have been landed at Scottish ports. Another startling story of Bolshevist at- tempts to corrupt British soldiers is told by Sergeant Price, Machine Gun Corps (cavalry), who has just returned to this oountry after being a prisoner 01 War in Russia. He was taken with two fellow-prisoners, who were privates, to the Foreign Office at the Hotel Metropole, in Moscow, and was conducted to a Jew there, named Levine. Asked if any proposals had been made to him to accept his freedom and abandon his officers, he replied that lie had no intention of doing I-evine then siiowod him a pile of propa- ganda leaflets and pamphlets, amongst which he particularly noticed one written by a well-known British journalist. Levine said the authorities were prepared to scud him to their school of propaganda, where he would receive twenty-five roubles a day and his food.

) TO TEST SPIRITUALISM. ) In the reply to a letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle issued from the Magic Circle's headquarters, it is pointed out that tho Committee, which offered to investigate cases, has not issued a challenge to Sir Arthur, and does not propose to issue any cnalienges, but has decided to work inde- pendently of the Psychical Research Society or any similar body. "It prefers to approach each investigation frotn its own point of view," says the reply, "seeking to test each claim submitted in the light of the knowledge which its mem- bers possess of the fraudulent methods by whtch S'lled supernatural manifestations can be produced. If, after such an investi- gation, a case breaks down, the Committee is prepared honestly and fearlessly to say 1>:). Equally, if it meets with evidence of a supernatural element, or with phenomena which cannot be explained on. natural grounds, it is prepared freely to acknow- ledge it. "We recogms.e that there are many who prefer not to be undeceived. On the other hand, we believe that there aM a very great many who, like ourselves, desire to know the truth."

I DOVER LAD'S BRAVERY. A 13-year-old Dover boy, named Arthur Austen, belonging ±0 the Duke of York's Military School, was walking with his aunt along Danes-hill, when a pair-horwd mili- tary wagon came along. Austen managed to push his aunt to the side of the road, and so saved her, but through his action ho was himself knocked down and killed. A verdict of "Accidental death" was re- turned at the inquest.

I CARNEGIE DEAD. Andrew Carnegie, the famous multi-mil- lionaire, who started life with the prover- bial penny and yet during his extraordinary career is said to have given away no less than £ 80,000,000, has died at Lennox, Mass. Among his great monetary gifts may be mentioned :— Libraries £10,000,000 Carnegie Institution, Wash. 5,000,000 Carnegie Corporation, New York 5,000,000 Miscellaneous in U.S.A. 4,000,000 Small colleges in United States 4,000,000 Pension funds 3,000,000 Carnegie Institute, Pittsburg 3,000,000 Peace Foundation 2,000,000 Scottish Universities 2,000,000 Hero funds 2,000,000 Carnegie Steel Co.'s employees. 1,000,000 Dunfermline Endowment 1,000,000

ACCIDENT AT VICTORY PAGEANT. Major-General Sir F. C. Shaw, Irish Com- mander-in-Chief, was slightly injured by a fall from his horse during a victory cele- bration at Belfast.

DEATH OF LEONCAVALLO. Signor Ruggiero Leoncavallo, the com. poser of "I Pagliacei," died at Montecatini, near Pisa, on the 9th inst. He was 61. ] Malines, the war-famous town near Ant- werp, has offered to undertake the restora- tion of the belfry of St. Quentin. Mr. John Allen, who has been honorary adviser to the Food Production Department on matters relating to steam ploughing, will continue to act in that capacity under the Board of Agriculture. As the view of the public is believed to be in favour of continuing summer time, the Home Secretary sees no reason to hold an inquiry. A Somali named Mohamed Husif was shot dead in a Cardiff street. Another Somali, Mohamed Hassan, is alleged to have fired three revolver tihots.

k THE HIDDEN HAND. BOLSHEVIST MONEY SENT TO PROMOTE BRITISH STRIKE PROPAGANDA. I 1. SECRET SERVICE REVELATIONS. Sensational revelations have just come t'1 light showing conclusively that foreign financial assistance has been received by highly-placed Labour leaders in this country in order that strike propaganda may Le more keenly promoted, and disturbances (and their consequent paralysis cf com- merce) assured. It appears that a Bolshevist agent was captured just after he had h:?llded £6.000 over to a well-known publicist connected with the Labour movement. He has been deported. In confirmation of this it is stated that i Scotland Yard has definite information that foreign money has been sent to this country for the financing of agitations with the I object of stirring up strife and the over- throw of the existing system of government. A considerable sum, amounting1 to at least c £ 6,000, was brought over a week or so ago from Hungary, by way of Stockholm, by a Norwegian journalist named Zacliariassen, who, it -is alleged, delivered it to a person v.ho is known as a leader with extreme views. The person in question has denied having received the money. I A FULL CONFESSION. I On the other hand, however, the man who brought the money has made a full confes- sion, and a high authority at Scotland Yard says that there was no doubt at all about the facts. The authorities got to know of it about five minutes after the money had been delivered, and the man who conveyed it was immediately deported back to Nor- way. BELA KUN? I There is reason to believe that the money came originally from Bela Kun. It is said that the money, which was in English bank notes and contained in a sealed packet, was to be used for the purpose of circulating statements commending and advocating the cause of Russian Bolshevists. MARKED MAN. I The person to whom the money was I delivered is known to be in touch with the Bolshevists, and had been in communication with the Bolshevik Foreign Minister in Petrograd, while efforts were known to have been made to establish better communica- tion by direct messages from Budapest, as I the difficulty of sending direct from Moscow to England was so great. THE WILD MEN. Warnings are issued by the authorities as to the damage which is being caused among the British population as the result cf Bolshevik propaganda. It is known that several centres exist for coni rolling the out- put of entirely false reading matter, and t hose responsible arc actively in league with the wild men in Russia. COMMERCIAL MURDER. In Finland Bolshevist propaganda is being carried cm zealously, and not merely by proclamations, which have been smuggled into the country in enormous numbers. Some of those give a table of awards for specific acts. Thus, for every officer delivered to the Bolshevists £ 200 is offered, but for every gun given up the promised award is £8CO. When a Bolshevist agent was recently arrested in Sordavala he confessed that ho had been promised < £ 120 for every bourgeois murdered. Bolshevist propaganda is distributed printed in German, French, English, Ar- menian, Chinese, Hebrew, and Jugo-Slav dialects. Six postal bags with Bolshevist literature from America were recently seized in Alio. THE LIVERPOOL PLOT. Mr. Shortt, the Home Secretary, stated in the House of Commons that he was aware that certain persons in Liverpool were attempting to bring about a complete .-top- page of all work with the suffering involved, and hand over the city to the criminal classes. They were far from irresponsible persons. Fortunately they had failed. The Government were prepared to render every assistance to the city authorities in this matter. Mr. S-extcn asked whether Mr. Shortt was aware that the streets of the city were occu- pied by men performing deliberate acts of wholesale looting without any interference. Mr. Shortt: Interference took place as eoc-n as possible. I am aware that the people at the back of all this got hold of the worst of the criminal clas?a and brought them to their assistance. Major Archer Shee: Do not the majority of law-abiding citizens expect the G¿Hn;- ment to arrest the fomcnters of this agita- tion P Mr. Shortt: I suppose they do not expcct C12!n to arrest anyone who has not broken the letter of the law.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE. I KING GEORGE HONOURS THE PREMIER. ORDER OF MERIT AWARDED I The following letter from the King Has he-en received by Mr. Lloyd. Gfeorge:— Buckingham Palace, August 5, 1919. My dear Prime Minister,—The honours and rewards to the officers of the Navy, ilrmy, and Air Force having now been sub- mitted to Parliament, I feel that my people will share with me the regret that it is not possible to express the nation's grateful recognition of the pre-eminent services ren- dered by the Prime Minister, both in carry- the war to a victorious end and in cecuring an honourable peace. To rectify somewhat this omission, and personally to mark my high appreciation of those services, it gives me great pleasure to confer upon you the Order of Merit. Believe me, yours very sincerely, GEORGE R.I. The Order of Merit, which was created bv King Edward VII. in 1902, is ciie.of the )JO-}t exclusive of British Orders, though it carries with it no special title. It is designed to include British subjects who have won conspicuous distinction in I any department whatever, and is limited in numbers to 24. I TESTIMONIAL PROPOSAL. Mr. Lloyd George's unwillingness to ac- cept a grant from Parliament as a reward for his great work in the war continues to bo discussed in all circles, says the "Daily Express." In the House of Commons many members urge that the Primo Minister should be the recipient of a testimonial subscribed for by all the people of Great Britain and the Empire at large. The "Express" understands that a large number of members of Parliament are ask- iug- the Lord Mayor to open such a fund, and it is expected that he will do OJ with- out delay.

I TRAGEDY IN A THEATRE. In a private* box in the King's Theatre, Greenock, the dead body of Jenny Crcigh- ton, an orchestra stall attendant, was found. The woman was fully dressed, even to her gloves. Near her was David Gilchrist, a demo- bilised soldier, unconscious, with a bullet wound in his head. lIe is now in the iu- firmary Beside the couple were an empty bottle which had contained laudanum, a cup, and a revolver containing an empty cartridge. There was also a note saymg" Good-byc." but whether this was written by the man • orthe woman has not vet been established. The pair, who had been "keeping com- pany," must have been in the theatre a^l I night. I

BOLSHEVIST PLOT INEARTHED. PAMUILETS ADVOCATING DISARMAMENT PROPAGANDA. Scotland Y ard effected a great cou j Scotland Yard effect.ed a grea.t cour during the week-end by unearthing a startling Bolshevist plot in this country. In a house at Acton the police seized a bundle of Bolshevist propaganda pamphlets: which set out how the military might be disarmed. t Tho police are now searching for the secret Bolshevist Press from which this literature is issued.

A TAXi SVt INDLE. Visitors to London and others utili sing taxi-cabs, will read with interest of the latent swindle adopted by certain drivers as revealed in a court case the other day. Richard McHale, a taxicab .driver, of Stuart-road, West Kilburn, was fined 40s. Denman at Marl- bovough-street, for setting his taximeter in mc-tion before he way hired. Mr. H. G. Muskett, who prosecuted, said it has become the practice of taxicab drivers between eleven and twelvo o'clock at night to drive up in the West-End with their taxi- meters lowered and registering considerable sums. Police observation was kept on drivers, and McHale was seen standing with his taximeter runninsf. A man came up and engaged him, and, as he was about to drive away, a. police sergeant stopped the cab and found that the taximeter already registered 4. 8d. I So when you take a taxi in future notice that the man puts the flag down when you get in—and not before

J THE TWO PEMBERTONS; "Thank you, sir. It was a pleasure and a duty." Thus Thomas Pemberton, a City policeman on strike, at the Guildhall, in I reply to the Alderman's thanks for having been the means of arresting two women charged with robbing a oea captain. Another P.C. Pemberton, named Arthur, charged at Liverpool with assaulting a policeman, eaid that he was sorry he had left the force and that he had joined the union.

r SAILS MADE BY HAND. Perfect as modern machinery is there are i still some crafts in which no machine can Tomjjeto with the human ?hand. A notable example is sail-making. The yachtsman must have hand-sewn sails. The quality cf i. suit of canvas is carefully adjusted to meet the strain to which each particular sail is subjected by the wind pressure. The canvas of the Royal Navy is tested oy stretching a piece of cloth and attach- ing heavy weights to shreds of it partially letached in the middle. Canvas is supplied in lengths, or "bolts," each fortv yards .ong and twenty-four inches wide. A ship of 4,000 tons burden spreads about l2,000 square yards of canvas, while a jargo steamer of 7,000 tons requires 3,000 square yards. Crack racing yachts, with their enormous "white wings," carry be- tween 10,000 and 15,000 square yards of pauvas, and the cost of such a suit of sails is frequently over £ 1,000.

St. Pancras contributed over X3,000,000 to the Victory Loan. May Fletcher, 20, was found drowned in Moira Canal, near Ashby de la Zouch, close to the home of a young man with whom &he had been keeping company. Two boys, twins, aged 14, were badly burned at Dover through one of them searching for a gas escape with a light. They are the sons of Barrack W arden William Fraynor, V.C.

I AMMUNITION TRAIN ON FIRE. A few nights ago the quiet countryside- in the neighbourhood of Sturry, near Can- .Lury, was disturbed by a series of explo- sions and coloured lights shooting to the ekies. Apparently, in a train from Richborough laden with explosives two trucks were on fire. The train was brought to a standstill, and the fire brigade summoned from Canter- bury. The trucks blazed furiously, and every few (seconds there was an explosion, causing a pyrotechnic display. The 7.20 express from Charing Cross for Lenl end Dover, and the mail train from Margate to Ashford were waiting long after midnight before they could pass the confla- gration.

LIVED LIKE A LORD. i A sad story of unrequited marital affec- tion was told to the magistrate at Thames Police-court, when a woman said that her husband habitually came home and threw the food in the fire. "He keeps late hours," she added, ""and calls me bad names—and me a mother of ten and married 36 years." The Magistrate: Perhaps he likes restau- rant life? What do you give him? Applicant: Smoked salmon for breakfast, also boiled eggs. For dinner, roast iamb, peas and potatoes. The Magistrate: I don't believe there is anybody but you that has such luxuries at home.

AIRMAN KILLED AT CAMBEALEY., A five-seater aeroplane flying from Hciun»- low crashed in landing at Camberley. The pilot, Mr. H. L. Hastings, was killed, and one passenger was injured. Two ether passengers in the machine escaped unhurt.

A shoal of mackerel suddenly appeared among the bathers at Folkestone. At- tempts to catch the fish by hand were un- sueceasful. Chas. Norwood, an Ilforrl butcher, who was fined .£25 for selling imported mutton chops at la. lOd. instead of 1". 7d., said he thought it was English mutton. Two workmen were killed by a spun-cotton explosion at Bullpoint Arsenal, Pl^nouth.