Abergavenny Chronicle

ANOTHER MOTR ROBBERY. I 13IG HAUL OF CLOTH FROlI TAILOR'S I SUOP. Robbera, equipped with a motor-car, have again keen busy iu London. and have suc- ceeded in stealing cloth valued at Xi,loo from the premises of Messrs. Lovegrove, tailors, of Cork-street, W. The attention of a con-table was attracted by the sounds of a motor-car eing- driven away at breakneck speed. He found that the door of Messrs. Lovegrove's premises had been forced, and the shop inside almost I emptied of its contents.

< SECO'-N'D-IIAND WINDOWS I SECOND-HAND WINDOWS. I One of the novel trades of London is that of a dealer in second-hand plate-glass. Nearly, all of this glass is bought bv the dealer from insurance, companies. The large plates of this kind are insured when put in a window, and when any of them are broken, the owner of the injured glass usually pre- fers that the insurance company should re- place the broken plate rather than he should be paid its price. The dealer in the second- hand glass contrives to utilise what remains of the unbroken part of the glass, cutting it into panes of smaller size, and disposin°g oi them afterwards.

PREPARE I' I A 10-year-old railway booking clerk, Daniel Lazarus, was iiiijd k5 by the Not- tingham magistrates for circulating a seditious pamphlet ending with the worda: "Prepare for the revolution."

Several women Sinn. Feiners who were fined at Monlygall for illegal flag selling were lodged in Limerick gaol for refusiug to pay. Lkinelly Corporation have decided to ration water for hade purposes, owing to tho scarcity. All the local tinplate work,, are closed in consequence of the water famine. Rear-Admiral Dougas L. Dent hoisted his [ flag in the cruiser Boaavcnture at Ports- louth as commander of the submarine cie !'ot in succession to Rear-Admiral S. Hall. Miss Hilda Bui'cham, of Norwich, was found unconscious with a bicycle beside her at the bottom of a steep hill near Dover waterworks. Several serious accidents havo I deviously occurred on the hill.

I EAST END RAID. I GAMBLING DEN RUN BY REVOLUTIONARIES. I ALIENS OF THE WORST TYPE. A raid was made at an East End gam- bling den. when a large quantity of revolu- tionary literature was seized. At Old. street Police Court, Samuel Loafer, Harry Fletcher, Marks Goidstein, and Joseph Cohen appeared on remand on charges of managing and assisting in the management of a house in Great Garden-street. Goldstein, who is doeaf and dumb, was dis- charged, as it was not considered he could bava been of much use in such a place. The other men were said to be alien revolution- aries of the worst type. SuperintendEnt Mackay stated tat Cohen took an active part in the management of a revolutionary club connected with the In- dustrial Workers of the World, and witness seized a Large quantity of literature, all written with the idea of disturbing the workers here. Fletoher was fined £30, or six weeks' im- prisonment, Loafer was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and Cohen was fined X200, or two months' imprisonment. The three men were recommended for deportation.

BEAUTY UNADORNED. REV. F. B. MEYER TALKS OF FEMI- NINE ATTRACTIVENESS. Dr F. B Meyer has delivered himself of some remarkable statements in a speech at Tonbridge. Emphasising the need for the absence of starchiness among Christian workers, he said the Church was losing its hold on the criminal classes because of the propensity for Sunday clothes. Ho severely criticised the over and under- dressed woman, and referred to modern fashions which "produced guys." Women, he said, seemed to think that men were only attracted by the amount of flesh they saw. A woman had been seen in the street in her bath dress.

FATAL GOSSIP. STORY OF A WOMAN'S SUICIDE. | At a Sheffield inquest a verdict of "Suicide during a fit of depression waa returned in the case of Caroline Scott, otherwise Paisley, 37, who died from the effects of poisoning. The husband stated that when he married her she said she was a widow. Her sister came from Liverpool and told him n'a v.ife'a first husband was aiive, and his wife drank a quantity of poison. The coroner expressed the belief that the troublo had arisen through gossip. There was no direct evidence that the woman knew her first husband was alive.

BOY'S FATAL LEAP. JUMPED OUT OF WINDOW TO AVOID A THRASHING. A sensational story is that of an eleven- year-old boy living at Plymouth, whc threw himself out of a window thirty feet high into the courtyard in order, it is alleged, to escape a threatened thrashing from his father, because it wa-s reported that he hnd stolen a shilling. The father told the police that he haè only thrashed the boy once before, and or that occasion with a penny cane. The boy's skull was smashed, and he died almost immediately.

LIFE'S LITTLE SURPRISES. HANDY "NEST EGGS FOR PROMI- NENT MEN. The will of the late Mr.. Andrew Carnegie has been published in New York, showing that the Steel King has left annuities of 10,000dols. (= £ 2,000) to Mr. Lloyd George, to Mr. W. Taft, ex-President of the United States, and X £ ,000 a year "to John Morley," whilst he also left = £ 1,000 a year for Mr. John Burns. The estate of Mr. Carnegie, who in his lifetime gave away more than Æ70,000,000, is estimated, savs Reuter, at between £ 5,000,000 and = £ 6",000,000.

TWINS DROWNED. TRAGIC DISCOVERY BY A FATHER. Some dayri ago the wife of Mr. P. W. Wood. a furniture remover, of Romford, gave birth to Mg"irl triplets. One died, and one night later the father saw the other two sleeping in their cot. He was awakened by his wife about half-past five in the morning, and she toM him that she had "given the children a bath." She asked him. to go downstairs and fetch them. He went and discovered them dead in a bath of water. Mrs. Wood is seriously ill. I

DRIVING TO DEATH. I Driving in a trap to Wykham Mill Farm, Mrs. Philip Bradshaw, from Banbury, was thrown out and died an hour later in Ban- bury Infirmary. Mrs. Bradshaw, who wa,s a widow, was at the time accompanied by her daughter, Miss Ruby Bradshaw, who recently played the role of the Lady on the White Horse at Banbury's peace celebrations.

TILBURY TO NEW YORK. I A new passenger service from Tilbury to I New York will be inaugurated next month, which will obviate tbe, tedioua journey to Liverpool. The first vessel to sail will be the Cunard liner Caronia. Incidentally, she will be the largest ship that has ever sailed from Lon- don.

MONITOR BLOWN UP. I A Reuter message from Archangel 6tates that the monitor' Glowworm was destroyed. at Beresnik. She was tied up to an ammu- nition barge which blew up. It was esti- mated that twenty were killed and forty are missing.

Scooter-makers are among those Whose ■wages are to be regulated by the applica- tion of the Trade Boards Acts to tho peram- bulator ami invalid carriage trade. His house having been sold and notice to cl Ili iver., the Rev, K. W. Athins, vicar cf Snibstcm, Leicestershire, has called a, meet- ing cf parishioners to ask their advice. R.N.V.R. officers who passed through tho Crystal Palace Depot and wih to attend a dinner at the Connaught Rooms on October 27, should write to Lieut.-Commander A. Cooper Dawson, 188, Strand.

I STAYS UP! I CORSET PRICES STILL RISING. Women will be sad with the news that corset" will cost still more next spring, owing to the fact that the workers are to receive an advance in wages. Tho minimum rate which the Trade Board for the industry proposes to fix for women employed on piecc work is 9 £ d. an hour. The present minimum is 7d., fixed in March. With corset steels from the U.S. also cost- ing more owing to the rate of exchange, next, year's corset will probably be about Is. dearer to tho wearer. Already the cheap qualities are three times the pre-war price, and this fresh advance will very nearly quadruple the 1914 selling figure.

AFTER TEN YEARS. LOVER TELL&. GIRL SHE IS "TOO QUIET FOR HIM." After 10 years' courtship, Miss Emily Gib- son, 30, of Cullingworth-street, Dewabury, was told that she was too quiet for him," and in consequence, at Leeds, was awarded £ 7& damages for breach of promise by John Hirst, 30, of Knowles-hill, Dewsbury. It was stated that, Hirst, who had since married someone else .and admitted the breach of promise, wanted Miss Gibson to marry him and live with his mother, but she preferred to wait until they could have a home of their own.

£1,000 FOR MOSLEM BRIDE. A Moslem wedding took place at the Mosque, Woking, when Miss Baneejael Bekry, daughter of an Egyptian, was mar- ried to Capt. Gilbert Davidson, of Toronto. In performing the ceremony the Imam of the Mosque explained that the Moslem goo- pel placed women on an equal footing with men in their religious and social status. He concluded by declaring the parties man and wife on condition that a dower of £ 1,000 be paid by Capt. Davidson, according to the law of Islam.

DOCKYARD TRAGEDY. I At Rosyth Naval Base three men havo lost their lives while inspecting stores in. the lower part of H.M.S. Tiger. William Mather, John Bournam, and James Bunke were overcome by poisonous fumes while descending one of the ladders, and although they were quickly brought out, all efforts at artificial respiration proved unsuccessful.

I NEWS OF THE WORLD. I DEFEAT OF THE BOLSHEVISTS-BAVARIAN SOCIALISTS' I RAID-ETN. A IN ERUPTION. I NEW PREMIER OF SOUTH AFRICA. The following brief summary of the more important happenings in our Dominions overseas, on the Continent, and elsowhere, will, no doubt, be greatly appreciated by I those of our readers who take an active in. terest in the affairs of the world. I ARCHANGEL VICTORY. I SHARP FIGHTING WITH THE BOL- SHEVISTS. A further Bolshevik defeat is reported by General Ironside, who states that Russian troops, supported by two companies of Royal Fusiliers, including many Austra- lians, attacked the Bolshevika on the Arch- aiigel-Valogda Railway south of Obozer- skaya. The attack was completely successful, and all objectives were gained. All the enemy's gun positions and Empr-"i village and station fell into our hands. After the capture of Emptsa, the Bol- sheviks counter-attacked with several ar- moured trains, regaining the village. A further attack by the Royal Fssiliers recaptured the village, which is now in our hands. Aircraft co-operated in our attack, drop- ping bombs on barracks and armoured trains I FIGHT FOR POST OFFICE. I SOCIALISTS ACTIVE AT LUDWIGS- HAFEN. I A dramatic report is to hand from Bavaria, where, it is stated, a midnight at- tempt at revolution has been made by In- dependent Socialists at Ludwigshafen, a to iv-i on the Rhine, opposite Mannheim. The attempt, it appears, met with failure. Supporters of Herr Haase, throwing hand- grenades, tried to seize the post offlcj, but wjr^ repulsed by the postal Miicvals, who lost two killed. Posters were placarded in th-i town proclaiming a Palatinate Ren .blic, and there the affair seems to D..V-e ended. GENERAL SMUTS SUCCEEDS BOTHA AS AFRICAN PREMIER. Reports state that General Smuts has ac- cepted Lord Buxton's invitation to form a new Cabinet. It is understood that the new Cabinet will not include all the members of the Botha. Ministry. It is interesting to recall that General Smuta, who is 49 years of age, has had a remarkable career. He fought against the British in the Boer War, and becaioe the late General Botha'a first lieutenant when the S.A. Union was established. He com- manded the British forces in East Africa in 1916, and in 1917 came to London to repre- sent Stfmtli Africa at the sittings of the Imperial War Cabinet, resigning last December. General Smuts was largely responsible for the Air Force Bill in November, 1917. PRINCE AT OTTAWA. The Prince of Wales has a stupendous re- ception wherever he goes in Canada. He walked unpretentiously from the Government House and attended Divine ser- vice at St. Bartholomew's Church, wheee the Duke of Devonshire read the lessons, on Sunday last. Dr. Eoper, Bishop of Ottawa, preached a simple sermon. Then there were queues of people waiting to handshake with the Prince. OUT OF EVIL.' According to the Paris "Journal," Ger- inany has at last paid the indemnity of X40,000 demanded by the French Govern- ment for the murder of Sergeant Mannheim, who was stabbed to death in a Berlin street a few weeks ago. The money is to be handed to the International Red Cross. MOUNT ETNA ACTIVE. A Ca-tania telegram says: "Slight per.- sistent earthquake shocks are being experi- enced, accompanied by volcanic activity in Mount Etna." FlUhtE I Mr. Lloyd George and Signor Tittcni, at their meeting at Deauville, discussed a pro- posal for the solirtion of the Fiume problem. according to which Fiume will become an Italian town, while the hinterlend will Lu administered by the League of Nations.

I — DEARER BREAD. SEQUEL TO THE NEW AWARD MADE TO BAKERS. MEN TO HAVE MORE PAY. The baker strikes, the Arbitration Board awards an increase in wages-and so, the public pays Mr. A- W. Last, secretary of the Master Backers Association, announces that bread is to be dearer. No definite details of the proposed increase are available, but an official announcement will be made shortly. It is understood that the question was dis- cussed at a conference at the Ministry of Food, when the policy to be adopted was under consideration. PITY THE POOR PUBLIC. I During the negotiations which led to a settlement of the recent bakers' strike it was laid down by the employers that arbi- tration must be on the lines that any award given should not take effect until the Minis- try of Food had revised the price of bread 'or flour Under the recent award of a court of arbi- tration an advance of wagee was given of 5a. for a forty-eight hours week, to take effect from August 19.

PINNED AGAINST WALL. I TERRIBLE FATALITY IN OMNIBUS I SMASH. One person was killed and seven injured in a motor-omnibus smash which occurred at Dalston-lane, near Dalston Junction Station. The driver turned towards the pavement to avoid running down a cyclist, whese machine had skidded on the tram lines. Ths motor-omnibus jumped the kerb and crashed with terrific force intfc the wall of factory premises. A man who was walking on the pavement was caught in the wheels of the motor-omnibus and pinned against thA wall. When extricated he was found to have sustained terrible injuries to the lower part of his tody. He diod a few minutes after admission to the Germnri "Hospital. Four persons sustained serious injuries, and were also removed to the hospital, where they were detained for treatment. Three other persons were slightly injured, and were attended by a local doctor.

RAID ON POST-OFFICE. I I ARMED MEN BECOME ALARMED AND I FLEE. At Bath, two' men attempted to raid the Charles-street sub-post office, only a few yards from the main tramway route. There were no customers in the office when the men walked in and closed the front door. "What are you doing? Open that door," said the postmistress. But one of the men held a revolver and said, mcnacingly, "You keep quiet." The postmistress screamed and dashed into the back room. As she did so she heard the other man urging his companion to shoot her. Her cries, attracted a char- woman, who ran for help, but by that time the intruders, evidently alarmed, had fled without attempting to take money or anything else.

MUTINY SEQUEL. On the arrival of the oil tank steamship Mariska at Portland five of the crew wer? brought ashore in irons. Later they were charged in court with mutiny.

EppiW Forest Conservators will Tecon- sider t ?? notices to terminate the tenancies of the forest plotholders in December. First battle squadron visits Scarborough from September 22 to 29. Rapid progress is now being mode with the completion of the Government fuel re- search station at East Greenwich. South Wales mining shares are booming after the slump. In Indian frontirr fightiii<g 40 raiders were killed and 12 captured, British casual- ties being three killed and 17 wounded. Owing to obsolete addresses many of the 400 Army commis-ions sent out daily are re- turned "gone away" or "not known."

iwiii m mum i iiii ii mi ç I AERIAL LINERS. I PROPOSED PASSENGER SERVICE TO AMERICA FROM QUEEXSTOWN. Startling new.-? conies from Ireland, where at a meeting of the Quecllstowll Council a letter was read from the Great Northern Aerial Syndicate, of Liverpool, stating that it had been practically decided to establish an aerial base near Queeiistown, at which passengers from the United States would be landed from airships carrying 150 persons, in addition to the crew. l A service of smaller airships to carry 50 persons would take the passengers to Dublin, Liverpool, Mnnchestor, York, Hull, Norway, and Denmark. The council promised to help the project by every means in it--) power.

MOTOR THIEVES' AUDACITY. An exceptionally audacious motor-car theft is reported from South London. Two men drove up in a hooded motor-car to the garage of Dr. Cyril Michael, 3, Crystal Palace Park-road, Sydenham, and, forcing the door, attempted to drive off with the doctor's two-seater car. The motor refused to start, and the thieves, not to be outdone, produced a tow-rope from their own car, and making it fast to the doctor's, drove off. They were seen a few minutes later tow- ing the car along College-road in the direc- tion of Loudon, but then all trace of them was lost.

"A DISGRACE TO THE NATION." Rose Doney, a young married woman, of Barkingside, was summoned at Stratford for sending letters to a prisoner of war at Chigwell Camp. Her husband was a soldier in Germany, "and she had caused to be de- livered to a prisoner of war several affec- tionate letters from her.-elf. Information of the matter had been given by the defendant's brother, a soldier on leave. The Bench said the woman wa, a disgrace to the nation, and lined her £5.

WINTER'S GRAVE OUTLOOK. LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST ACT IN NEW FAIR PRICE LEGISLATION. MILK AT i/= A QUART. The group of central committees which will act under the chairmanship of Mr. C. A. McCurdy, M.P., in the administration of the Profiteering Act by the Board of Trade is now practically complete. Steps have been taken to form special investigation committees to inquire into the present abnormal cost of production of such standard commodities as clothes, boots, household utensils, furniture, building materials, and house fittings, and to report on reasonable average price*. During the course of an interview Mr. McCurdy said that the work of the Com- mittee would be threefold. "First of all we •snail—independently of any complaints that may reach us—at once institute a searching inquiry into the present cost of the staple commodities in common use," baid this c 'i ir,.ncxll '?les -I n common u se, 6aid this EXPERT COMMITTEES. "We have already taken steps to secure the services of expert representatives of the employers and Labour to assist iu forming these small expert committee.s, which will inquire into the cost of such commodities as boots, clothes, underwear, household utert- siis and household necessaries, not for the purpose of fixing prices, or instituting pro- secutions, but for ascertaining the facts and letting the public know them. "1 have also taken steps to reconstitute the Committee on Trusts and Trade Com- bines. "It will have full powers under the pro- visions of the Profiteering Act. "The third function of the Central. Com- mittee is that of investigating complaints- and, if necessary, instituting prosecutions —by traders or trading associations of alleged profiteering in connection with the wholesale business of the country." Speaking before the Consumers' Council, Mr. McCurdy, M.P., who i" Parliümenbrv Secretary cf the Ministry of Food, said that jor 40 years the production of milk has not Jrept pace' with the growth of the popula- tion. Before the war we had fewer cows to the hundred acres than any other country in Europe except France Dear milk, he observed, means increased infant mortality, and th-iro is nothing that can take its place. 0 In the coming v/mter .teps must be taken, Mr. McCurdy continued, to see that the in- creased price of milk did not moan the mas- sacre cf the innocents. HELP THE FARMER. "The remed y," he added, "is not to fix I lower prices than are neces-ary to give the farmer a profit. We cannot ailord to starve the farmer. A fair price to the farmer is essential to any chance of increasing or even maintaining our present milk supply. We I must be prepared for a retail price of Is a quart for milk throughout the country uext winter. But in this matter the local authorities have conferred on them by an Order of the Ministry of Food made last year. which should not 'be overlooked. "Subject to such conditions as may be laid down by the Food Controller, any local authority may arrange for the supply of milk for children under five years of age, and in necessitous cases such milk may be sold at less than cost prico, or may bo sup- plied free." CARE OF THE BABIES. Mr. McCurdy truthfully added: "We have to make good the wastage of human life that took plaoo during the war Our habv cfop for the year 1914 to 1919 is in Sauger. We must savo it." After hearing Mr. McCurdy's statement, tho Consumers' Council passed a resolution urging upon the Government "the absolute necessity of taking steps forthwith to keep the price down to sue! a level as will enable the children of the poorer classes to get sufficient supplies." Fresh fish at 2d.. a pound was to be seen last week-end at Shepherd's Bush Green, and very soon a crowd was snapping up this surprising bargain. The shop was one just opened by a new company that has been formed to give the London housekeeper opportunities of buying cheap fish. The company has a most extensive pro- gramme before it. Not only "wet" fish shops but frying shops and fish restaurants will be opened under 11, management. But that is not all. The company will also pro- vide stalls in the street markets, all sup- plied direct from Billingsgate Market by two motor-lorries. CURB OX "MAXIMUM PRICE." The Ministry of Food has been blamed on the ground that but for the "Government price" an articlo of food or clothing could have been sold cheaper. From September 3, under an order mado by the Food Con- troller, shopkeepers will not be permitted to mark their good-. "Governjnent price," "Controlled price," or to use any similar expression, unt?s the word "maximum is inserted immediately before the word "prKe" in each c<Me. or unless the notice or statement ii ,ome way states clearly that the price referred to is the highest that may be charged. A WISE STEP. I Thus order will do away with placards which suggeat that the Government is authorising the price charged, e.g., when very inferior a pplea are sold at the full maximum of 9d. per ITS. A general licence had been issued under the Live Stock (Sale) Order providing for an increase in the prices paid to the farmer of 4s. per cwt. in the maximum live weight prices of first, second and third grade cattle during September, and an increase to Is. 3d. per lb. in the maximum dead-weight price of Class A cattle. The wholesale and re- tail prices of meat are unchanged.

THUS SETTLED. I A cu-ious old marriage custom, called iocally "the settling," still survives in cer- tain parts of Ireland and in some Scottish districts. After L ne mrnage has been pub- liclv announced the friends of the couple meet at the house of the bride's parents to fix a suitable day Ilor the marriage. A bottle of whisky is opened, and as each guest drinks to their happiness he names a date. When everyone lias chosen a time an average is struck and "settling" is complete. eithe;. the bride nor bridegroom ever thinks of protesting against the date so curiously chosen.

If sufficient ;1nl:11in-+'; LS are re- ceived thv/eJa -ouuMchlgrrait t^ CC; oiiii- il will open all four d, Lhe mut:icip.[ markets this '?' this weelc-e«d. Sale, of Mplm Govt-rn?-?t propert,y as shown by the Iate.t <.?ci.l S?ures, have realised X 16:2,509, iMfi- While David Thompson. a- Breconshire farmer, was trying to hall himself the rope broke O-nd he died of shock. Manv acres of valuable timber have been destroyed in the forest fires that continue to break cut III many parts of France. Owing to the cool shortage, Amiens' elec- tric current is suspended. and many works, as well as tramways, will have to close down. Kenton Hall, a fine okl Suffolk moated mansion, the residence o: ^r. H. Capon, has been compte?Iy de4fo:"C! by fire. Only the bare walls remain. 1)v ire.y

HOLIDAY-MAKER'S THRILL. HOLE CUT IN PIER TO SAVE CONSTABLE. Much excitement was caused at Brighton, where there was a remarkable rescue on the Palace Pier. where a constable who was on a trip to the town with a party of London police was saved irom drowning. Although advised by a local comrade that the s'm wa.; too rough for bathing. Police- constable Ernest Stenning, of the R Divi- sion, plunged in, and found his strength failing whe* he was some distance from tho shore. A lifebelt was thrown from the pier. He grasped it, and was being pulled up when the ropo broke, and ho fell neck into the, sea. Three n "11 climbed with a rope along the o-irders to a po?-t where the constable was cHn"'in? desperately to the pier supports. Stennin? caught the rope, and tied it around his Waist. Owing to tho extreme difficulty of his position, it was found that the only way to rescue him was to cut a hole in the wooden deck of the pier. The rope was carried to the hole, and Stenning was drawn up aa through a trap- door. He was exhausted, but recovered after treatment.

PIGEON POOLS. ¡ It is not generally known that the King has won the national homing pigeon 500. mile race from Thurso to London, and his bird has beaten all records for speed on so long a journey. King George himself is president of the National Flying Club. He takes grea interest in the öport, and had a fine loft of birds. It is hardly necessary to say that pigeon racing is more popular in the North than in the South, and may lie called the particular sport of the cotton spinner. In Lancashire the millionaire mill-owner and the humblest weaver alf own racing pigeons. As may he imagined, there is much money in pigeon racing, yet little, if any, betting. The prizes are large, but are added to in a curious fashion by what are termed pool prizes. For instance, sav it cost, a shilling to enter a bird for a race, there are also pools for which the owner can enter. The pool entries vary from sixpence up to per- haps five pounds, and the owner can enter for as many or aH few as he pleases. The winner of a pool takes twenty time-R the entrance fee to that particular pool. There may be as much as two or three thousand pounds depending upon a particular race. In Belgium the s port was the national hobby before the war, and all the büst British birds are descended from Belgian strains.

MINISTER'S CHEQUE. I Benjamin Howard Clark, formerly a local Wesleyan minister, was charged at War- wick with obtaining k25 by false pretences from a butcher who Was a member of his congregation, and from whom, it was alleged, he obtained in all between X400 and £ 500.

HOS ERY TRADE COMBINE. I General interest attaches to the announce- ment of the amalgamation of two large Leicester hosiery and underwear manufac- turers. The firms concerned aro Messrs. "William Tyler, Sons, and Co., makers of Jason hosiffy, and R. Walker and Sons, makers of Wol-sey underwear. These two firms control the output of 12 factories, and the combine will place them in the forefront of the world's hosiery trade.

GENERAL BOTHA DEAD. HEART FAILURE FOLLOWS ATTACK OP INFLUENZA. I AFRICA'S STRONCI MAN." General regret will Le felt at the news of the death of General Botha, who died suddenly at Pretoria from heart failure fol- lowing influenza. On the news being received it was at once transmitted to the King at Balmoral, and to the Premier, who is now in Brittany. General Louis Botha, at one time a valiant foe, became in later years a faithful friend and servant of the Empire. Born on September 27, 1863, at Grey- town, Natal, he received his early educa- tion at a small school in the Orange River Colony. During the stormy period that preceded the outbreak of war between Great Britain and the South African Republics, Botha's influence was consistently exercised on the side of moderation. From the outset he displayed those qualities which made him what he subsequently became South Africa's "strong man." .0_ I BJEATIJVU- THE ri U IN. General Botha rendered much valiant service during the war with Germany. His command of the Union forces in South- West Africa was a complete success, result- ing as it did in the surrender of the Ger- man Army. His final message to the Empire was de- livered as recently as last June, after a brief visit to Europe. "As Britain led the war," he declared, "so she has led the peace, and we look to her to secure its just fulfilment." Some years ago General Botha married an Trish lady, the great-grand-niece of Robert Emmet, the Irish revolutionist, who was executed for his complicity in the rising of '98. A GOOD STORY., Once the late General was at a luncheon at which Mr. Lloyd George was attacked by a "male suffragette," who was ejected. At a later stage General Botha rose to speak. Ho had uttered only a few words when the interpreter rose to translate what he had said. The toaetmaster, who was standing by, believing the interpreter to be another male suffragette interrupter, seized him by the shoulders and proceeded to drag him out of the room. Tho company for a moment was amazed, but the mistake was at once dis- covered. Of course the toastmaster apologised.

SAD SEASIDE TRAGEDY. CHILDREN ORPHANED THROUGH FATHER DROWNING. "WAITING FOR DADDY." A sad tale is that received from Broad- stairs, where two children, Leonard Field- ing, aged 11, and his sister Edith, aged 13, of 22, Erlanger-road, New Cross, arrived in high spirits to join their father, a widower, quite unaware that he had been drowned some little time previously. They sat on their luggage and were found by Superin- tendent Ford, of the Kent County Police. He told them that their father had "met with a slight accident" and could not come to thg, station. The. superintendent's children went for a walk with the visitors, who returned to London later in the day. They were much disappointed at not having seen "Daddy," and it was only -by reading a newspaper re- port that the children learned of their tragic bereavement.

THE "CORSICAN'(T) BROTHERS." I When Louis Goldstein, of London, was I charged at Kirkham (Lanes.) with unlaw- fully wearing military uniform, it avus stated that his brother, Lazarus Goldstein, R.A.M.C., did not report after leave, and Louis turned up wearing his uniform and representing himself to be Lazarus Gold- stein. He pleaded that his brother was delicate and unfit to return. Goldstein, who volunteered to go to the Russian front, was fined £ 10; in default, two months' imprisonment.

William Doyle, 20, chemist's assistant, re- manded at Marylebone on a charge of burg- lary, was alleged to have been found by a housemaid in her bedroom at 41, Haver- stock-hill, N.W., and to have stolen a pen- dant. Berlin messages state that the German Popular Party has decided to nominate Hindenburg. for the presidency. v Flamborough Head was gfty with bunting when the vicar* the Rev. David McLean, the "Trawier Parson," was married to Mis? Dorothy Featherstone, of Bridlington. A three-year-old child at Tipton, Staf- fordshire, drank some tea just poured out by its mother, and was scalded so Ladly that it died.

NOTES ON NEWS. A Government Department has teen in. stalled at Queen Anne's Gate for the ad- ministration of the new Profiteering Act. and work is now being actively pushed for- ward. Invitations have been sent to repre- sentatives of various local authorities to which it is proposed to delegate the power to investigate and determine complaints of alleged profiteering, and all replies are dealt with immediately they are received. There has not yet, however, been time for more than a few such replies to come. to hand. In the meantime the Investigation Committee charged with the duty of inquir- ing into the cost of the production of boots is pursuing its research In view of the threatened general increase in prices which is predicted for the next few months, it is to be hoped the Department will be as active in fulfilling its responsibilities as it has been in its inauguration. Wireless Telephony. Most of us arc keenly interested in the possibilities of wireless telephony, and it is distinctly inspiring to learn that Dr. Lee do Forest, of New York, announces that he is prepared to come to the relief of thosa suffering from a bad telephone service with a new wireless invention, which obtains the right number and provides an instantaneous service without the use of a central operator. All that is necessary for his system, he says, is "a bracket and a desire to converse." He explains that his appa- ratus consists of a small machine fitting into a brackot and attached to the ordinary electric light wire of private residences. By turning on the switch it is possible to get into immediate contact with the party at the other end. Apart from the fact that an alternating current is used, which is a new step forward in wireless telephony, de- rails of the invention are not published. Dr. de Forest says that a set carrying 20 to 30 miles costs £40. It is not possible at pre- sent to secure voice transmission for a greater distance by this means. He de- clares that conversations with his apparatus 1 have already taken place from one end of New York to the other. The idea described is distinctly novel, and hardly seems to follow the method of procedure adopted in the Marconi system. Will this latest novelty prove successful? Women's Army Pay. By an Army Council Instruction the grant is permitted of a bonus payable as from May 1, 1919, to officials and members of the V.A.D., General Service Section, the Women's Legion (Motor Drivers), and the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, who undertake a fresh engagement to serve to April 30, 1930, or who have already under- taken to serve for a longer period. The rate of bonus payabto to women other than officials will be 2s. a week; separate in- structions regarding the rates applicable to officials will be issued in due course. Pay- ment ceases when the payment of the Army of Occupation bonus ceases. Parliament's Clerk. f It is said that when Parliament reas- sembles in the autumn a successor will have been appointed to Sir Courtenay Ilbert, who has long been desirous of relin- quishing his post os clerk to the House of Commons. Sir Courtenay has stated that the only thing which has stopped him from giving effect to his desire to resign is the fact that, so far, he has been quite unable to get a suitable house in London. Sir Courtenay, who has had a distinguished career in the publie service, succeeded at the table another well-known Parliamen- 1 tarian, the late Sir Archibald Milman, the son of Dean Milman, of St. Patul's, who in his turn was the successor oi an equally famous man, the late Sir Reginald Pal- grave. Sir Courtenay, who held high office in India, w the father-in-law of, Mr. H. A. L. Fisher, who has made so great a mark as President of the Board of Educa- tion. J Standard Costumes. I Will our clothing be standardised in the future? It is reported that there is a prob- ability of an additional 500,000 standard costumes and ooat frocks being shortly pro- duced. About 2,000,000 yards of material are available for their manufacture, and Leeds firms have already made up 6-ample garments at the request of the Department of Wool Textile Production, and furnished detailed particulars of their cost. Tho cloth is of the same quality as that used for the original supply of standard ooetumes, and is said to havo been for eome time in a Leeds warehouse. Although the department has tho alternative of utilising it for standard goods or selling it as it stands, many of the officials favour the first course, and are sup- ported in their view by costume manufac- turers in certain parts of the country, who are quite willing to produce the garments at t controlled prices, yielding a low profit. The fixed retail selling prices will probably be higher than the 75s. 9d. for costumes and 69s. 6d. for coat frocks produood under the original scheme. Green Forage. I It seems desirable that farmers should take all possible steps to provide ilhSt a shortage of green food next spring, says the Boar-d of Agriculture. For a feeding crop to be ready in May or June, farmers in the warmer counties will find trifolium (crimson clover), mixed, if desired, with a little Italian rye grass, likoly to give good results if sown as soon as corn crops are removed. The preparation of the seed-bed is simple and inexpensive. About 251b. per acre of trifolium is a usual seeding. Trifolium should be fed young, either alone or chaffed, and mixed, with hay or sound straw. Tri- folium makes very good silage. An alter- native more widely applicable is to sow in < early autumn a mixture of rye and vetches, say, 2r} bushels of the former aad t bushel I of th.e latter per acre. I

Importation of opium and cocaine eKccpt I under Home Office licence remains pro- hibited. Liman von Sanders, Hun dictator in Tur- key, is leaving Malta for Venice. Several persons were injured in a tornado at Malines. Mr. Lloyd George, Earls Beatty and Haig will accept the Freedom of Sheffield. ) Dr. William Angus, Leeds' medical offi- cer, has died while on holiday, aced 3G years. Brigadier-General Nicholson and two friends were saved from drowning by some lads in a row-boat in the Solent, when their I sailing-boat capsized. News was received by the Earl of March from Archangel of the death of his elder son, Lord Settrington, who was shot in tho chest on August 10. I All Llanelly tinpiate works are closed through scarcity of water. Sir Thomas Hunter, Town Clerk of Edin- burgh from 1895 till last year, died, at the age of 69, while spending a holiday in Ber- wickshire. He wa-s knighted in 1011, during the royal visit. A tramcar broke down at Harlesden and held up the system for an hour, during which time a queue of 1,000 people, waii iiiij to go home, had assembled at the juuetion of Edgware-road and Harrow-road.

GASSED IN A SEWER. Unavailing heroism figured in a fatality in a Hull sewer the other day Some corpo- ration employees were trying to fia gas leakage in a main sewer, when Alfred Holden was overcome. Another man named Robinson, who was forced to retreat and was helped out of a manhole, was also overcome. A third sewerman went down to find Holden, but after going 80 yards was unable to proceed farther. Holden was afterwards reached by John Nettleship, a fishcurer, who put on a gas-mask. He was dead when found, and six other sewermen were taken to the infirmary.

FREE BREAD. A citizen of London. Jeremiah Bright, in 1697 left a sum the interest 011 which (2s. a week) was to be distributed, in bread, to the poor of Ruislip. Twelve parishioners still receive a email loaf every Monday, and as some of them are too old to fetch the bread the church caretaker brings it to them. On Sundays the loaves are placed in the church on a shelf, bearing the inscription that the bread is to be distributed to the poor "for ever.

THE UNFINISHED LETTER. Henrv Ve-sey Machin, aged 59, cf Gate- ford-hill, Worksop, a famous rose grower and judge at HOY3l and county shows, ws found dead in an armchair with a pen in his  hand and an ?nfinish?d letter before hIm. At the inquest a verdict of "Death from natural cause" was returned.

Rear-Admiral (acting Vice-Admiwl) ^ir Roger Keyes ia reverting to rank cf rear- admiral at his own request. The Labour Party in Soutiiwark have de- cided to ccntest all the CO seats on the borough council at the election in cvem. ber. Australian seamen's strike is over. Swine fever has broken out in Leicester- shire. Belgian Senate unanimously approved the Bill for the ratification of the Peace Treaty. Foot and mouth disease has broken out in Shropshire. Trade boards have been formed for the light nietai and perambulator trades.