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DAMAGE IN FIVE DISTINCT AREAS.
DAMAGE IN FIVE DISTINCT AREAS. OFFICIAL STORY. The writer appointed by the Home Office to observe ana describe the effect of the re- cent Zeppelin raid has prepared the follow- ing account of the damage in the London area, which has been issued by the Press Bureau: On the evening of Wednesday, October 13, another aerial attack was directed against London, which differed in no material re- spect from those made on previous occasions. The enemy's vessel or vessels flew high at an altitude chosen, no doubt, in order to pre- vent as far as possible the danger of damage or destruction from anti-aircraft guns. The darkening of the metropolitan area, to- gether with the height at which the aircraft travelled, certainly prevented the enemy from discovering the exact position of places of importance. As on the last occasion, the official report issued in Berlin proves the raiders to have been grossly in error in most cases as to where they were dropping their bombs, and if we can suppose that they had really some definite objective other than the mere hap- hazard destruction of the lives and property of non-combatants, then. owing to the height at which they flew, they entirely failed to attain that objective. Except for one chance shot the damage was exclusively on pro- perty unconnected with the conduct of the war. Of the 127 persons killed or injured, none, save one or two soldiers who were in the street at the time, were combatants. NO SIGX OF PANIC. As for the moral effect, for which pre- sumably the enemy is seeking, that was all to his disadvantage. The raid occurred at an hour when practically no one except children were in bed, and, though shops in the principal shopping areas were closed, places of entertainment were full, and the masses of the population were about their ordinary evening's pleasure or business. A very much larger number of people, there- fore, were aware of the enemy's presence than had been on previous occasions, but the population of London, though hundreds of thousands heard the sound of the bursting bombs and the guns, remained cool and free from panic. There were. if possible, even less signs of excitement than on previous occasions. The official warnings to take shelter were better observed, and when the aircraft had passed and the grins had ceased firing most of the people who had been watching the bom- bardment went quietly to bed, and were undisturbed by the second raid, which took place about midnight in another part of the London area. In the theatres, from which the sounds of firing and of explosions could plainly be heard, there was a com- mendable absence of panic. Altogether the imperturbability of the people of London would appear to offer a striking oontrast to the behaviour 01 the population on the occasion of the "re- hearsals" of aircraft attacks recently said to have been held in certain German towns. HIGH RXPLOSIVE BOMBS. When the results of the raid were examined next morning, five distinct areas could be distinguished in which damage had been done. The first of these is an area is which there is little or no resi- dential property, some large buildings devoted to various kinds of business, and comparatively wide streets. In this area bombs were dropped containing high explo- sives,. which in tour cases feU upon the street, and in a fifth upon the back pre- mises of one large building thronged with people. One of the bombs, which was apparently of a large size, penetrated the street into the subways containing the gas and water mains, and in exploding melted the gas pipes, setting alight a fire, which, though slight in extent, lasted for several hours. The explosion of this bomb damaged the 3 round about considerably, and destroyed almost all the glass in the neigh- bourhood. It was also responsible for a number of casualties, which will all be the subject of inquest. Those who were killed were either sitting in the front rooms of buildings or working or walking in the street. OLD GENTLEMAN'S COOLNESS. The second area contains a large block of residential flats, some of which are occu- pied as offices. Like many other blocks of fla-ts in London, this one has a stretch of garden behind the buildings, and one of the enemy's high explosive bombs fell in this garden close to the flats themselves. One or two rooms on the ground floor were totally wrecked, and on the first floor con- siderable damage was done. Another bomb fell on the top of one of the buildings, demolishing the top storey. In this area there were no casualties, though several narrow escapes. One elderly gentleman, who was in the ground-floor rooms when the bombs exploded, and who was knocked over by the force of the ex- plosion, picked himself up and made his way up the broken staircase to his bedroom on the floor above, and immediately went to bed in spite of the fact that the glass of the windows and the shutters behind them in his bedroom had been shattered by the foc of the explosion. HOTEL BLOWN UP. The third area contains two damaged busi- ness premises, the first of them a large and modern building, constructed of reinforced concrete, and with a steel and concrete roof and flooring. Two bombs dropped in this buildiuc, one of them actually on the roof and one on the pavement immediately beneath the doorway. The bomb on the pavement apj-esrs to have exploded side- ways; at any rate, the damaged done, which consisted chiefly of broken glass and plaster, occurred mainly in the houses on the other side of the street. The bomb which dropped on the roof of the building: itself did little damage. In the same area a bomb dropped on the roof of a small hotel, the ground-floor of wliicli was occupied as an office. In this case the strength of the building, which was an old one, was not sufficient to with- stand the force of the explosion, and the whole of the hotel, which consisted of three floors of the building, was entirely blown up. Fortunately, in this area those indoors had been warned by the sound of previous explosions, and, by taking refuge in the lower floor, they escaped injury altogether. In this area, as, by a curious coincidence, in one other, the effect of the bombs was severely felt in a small restaurant opened in the interests of Belgian refugees. INSTANCES OF BRAVERY. The fourth district in which damage was done is one consisting entirely of what may be called working class property, with small, low buildings, sonft of them used to house small shops or businesses, but, in most cases, occupied, and in many cases over- crowded, by private residents of the poorer classes.. In this area more bombs were dropped than in those previously described, and the damage done was exclusiv eiy suffered by private traders or householders, who behaved with the utmost heroism and coolness, and who suffered damage, and, in some cases, loss of life, with no compensat- ing military value for the enemy whate rer. One group of small houses in this area wj.3 entirely destroyed by a single exploitive bomb. and in the ruins, above which floats an evil smell of gas and drains, are to be found, torn and covered with dust, the account books and documents of some small business which, up to half-past nine on Wednesday night, no doubt kept alive the owner and his family. In another spot in this district the bomb fell on the top of a building used for keep- ing dairy cattle. None of the cattle were killed, though one of them was injured. The dairyman, with presence of mind and cool- ness, made his way to the top storey of his house near by, in which all the windows were broken and most of the ceilings de- stroyed by the force of the explosion, and brought down his children to safety below. On his way downstairs 011 the last journey a furthev explosion blew him backwards on to the floor of one of the rooms, but he suc- ceeded in bringing all his family out un- harmed. After the aircraft had passed they  returned to their rooms until they were I I awakened again ?y the sound of guns about midnight. I "RAPID FIRE" ON A SUBURB. 1 In the last area covered by the raid (this time in a suburb) there is not a single fac- tory or business house, and hardly any shops. There are no military encampments, no store sheds, no aerial defence, and not even searchlights. All the property consists of detached or semi-detached houses, sur- rounded by small gardens. It was in this district that, for some obscure reason, the largest number of bombs were dropped, and thev must have been launched bv what the commander of the Zeppelin, in his interview on the last raid, described as "rapid fire." The actual period of bombardment did not last a minute, and the distance from the spot where the first bomb dropped to the last could not have been more than 600 yards. Within sixty yards no fewer than five fell together, while near by three fell in a single garden which did no measure more than thirty yards square. A striking and fortunate feature of the bombardment in this district-and, indeed, of the whole attack on this occasion-is the number of cases in which the bombs dropped not on buildings, but on the ground. In only three oases in this suburban area were houses actually struck, though, of course, the force of the explosion was sufficient to destroy whole houses, even at a considerable distance. I REMARKABLE ESCAPES. < Here there were many astonishing escapes. In one instance a bomb fell on a narrow passage separating two houses, the entire fronts of which were blown out, caus- ing the upper bedroom floons to collapse. In one of the upper bedrooms a mother and daughter were sleeping. They were thrown out on to the street through the place where the ground-floor window should have been, both escaping with their lives. In the next house a little boy lying in his cot was buried under the debris of the wrecked roof of the house, and in order to release him the whole roof had to be lifted up, so securely was the cot pinned down. There was not a stick of furniture nor a piece of china left whole in either of these two houses—only two small pictures remained with the glass unbroken. A large house a few yards away suffered very badly. The bomb fell right on the centre of it, killing instantly two children and severely injuring a third child and the father and mother. In the road in which this occurred twenty houses are without dooas or windows, and every house is heavily pitted ?th shot marks. In one of the houses, where a woman was sitting on a sofa, the door of the room was forced open with such violence that the lock was wrenched from its fastening and struck the wall within a few inches of the woman's head. At another point, where a bomb fell in the street, a young man waa saying good- night to a woman at the front door of a house. He was immediately killed by a frag- ment of the bomb, and the woman was severely injured. At this point also an old man who was walking on the pavement, had his arm blown off, and died in hospital shortly afterwards.
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The military and naval fondness for tat- tooing has spread to many young women in London, who are 'having the name and often the regimental badge of their lovers in- delibly marked on their arms. East-End tattoosrs are said to be doing a highly Te. flcumer alive bosiMto. — "Jr J MJtIII
SIR EDWARD CARSON. I
SIR EDWARD CARSON. I I RESIGNATION FROM THE CABINET. I Sir Edward Carson has resigned Eia posi. tion in the Cabinet. tl Sir Edward Carson joined the Ministry aa Attorney-General when the Coalition Govern- ment was formed. Itii- Last week there was a persIstent:" ,mour in the Parliamentary lobby that Sir ridward had resigned; but when Sir Edward was asked if such were the case he replied: "You can contradict this report as untrue." Several meetings of the Cabinet have been held since, but Sir Edward has not been present at any of these. At a critical moment like the present (says the "Daily Telegraph"; there will be general regret that another difficulty has thus been added to the shoulders of the Government. No doubt Sir Edward Carson has been moved by some very compelling motive to take this serious step, but when Cabinet unity was of such paramount im- portance his resignation is to 'be regretted the more. It was not, however, unexpected. During the last ten days Sir Edward has abstained from attendance at the Cabinet Councils. The last at which he was present took place on October 8. Since then, including that of Monday, there have been four meetings, from all of which he stayed away. Such abstention, especially when the House of Commons was sitting, naturally gave rise to much speculation. The reason of his estrangement has been variously at- tributed. Some say that he was opposed to his colleagues on the question of the ex- pedition to Serbia; others believe that his action is designed as a protest against the Cabinet's attitude towards conmulsion; others, again, are inclined to put it down to some Irish difficulty, connected, perhaps, with the cause of Ulster.
FRENCH PREMIER'S MESSAGE TO…
FRENCH PREMIER'S MESSAGE TO SIR E. GREY. Telegrams have been exchanged between M. Viviani, the French Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sir Edward Grey. The following is a translation of M. Viviani's message: To his Excellency Sir Edward Grey, His Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, London. At the moment when a modification is being made in the composition of the Ministry over which" I have the honour to preside, I desire, while assuring your Ex- cellency of my personal Tegard, to de- clare to you that the Government of the Republic intends to follow without any change the policy which has hitherto happily united it with the Government of his Britannic Majegty.-Viviani. Sir Edward Grey replied as follows: London, Oct. 18, 1915. M. Viviani,-In thanking you for the cordial message you send after the modifi- cations introduced into your Ministry, I hasten to assure you again of our con- tinued steadfast co-operation, which has only been strengthened by the events of the past year and the combined heroism of French and British troops in fighting side by side in the same great cause.—E. Grey.
FATAL BENZOL EXPLOSION. I
FATAL BENZOL EXPLOSION. I A terrific explosion occurred early on Monday morning in the benzol rectifying shed at Beokton Gasworks, which resulted in one man being killed, one injured, and considerable damage in the immediate neighbourhood. From some unexplained cause a considerable quantity of benzol which was being purified exploded, with a tremendous report, and flames shot up to a height of several hundred feet. A workman named Jacob Francis, of Sheringham-road, Manor Park, who was in the building at the time, was blown to pieces. Another man who was near by had a marvellous escape, receiving only shght burns on the head and arms. One or two other people complained of shock. After the explosion the buildings took fire, and considerable damage was caused in this way. A workman who lives near states that the shock of the explosion threw him out of bed. There was one terrific bang, followed by two smaller ones, and imme- diately flames leapt upwards. Another rectifying house not far from the scene of the explosion was damaged, but work can be proceeded with there. It is stated that the machinery has been in use for thirty years, and this is the first acci- dent to occur. -0
A PUBLIC-HOUSE QUARREL I
A PUBLIC-HOUSE QUARREL I Charles Smith has had the misfortune to lose the sight of both eyes as the result of a quarrel in a public-house. At Brighton on Monday Harry Joseph Wade, was indicted for causing him grievous bodily harm. Prosecutor, who had to be led into the witness-box, was given a very bad cha- racter by the police. Several convictions for assault, theft, and refusing to quit licensed premises were recorded against him. He declared that when he went into the Morning Star public-house, in Church-street, on July 9, he saw prisoner and another man. After Bone conversation they went outside, when prisoner struck him across the face with a bottle of beer. He admitted being "able to take care of himself with his fists,' and said he had boxed for charity. Wade said that Smith attacked him, and, on the impulse of the moment, witness threw the bottle of beer at him. Several witnesses corroborated. The jury found prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged. Smith stated that he had a wife and ten children.
JUDGE'S LENIENCY REPAID. I
JUDGE'S LENIENCY REPAID. I At Carlisle, on Monday, Mr. Justice Low related to the grand jury a story which he said went far to repay for many of the try- ing scenes that took place in the courts of justice. At Chelmsford Assizes he had before him last May a Border Regiment ser- geant on a charge of bigamy, whose com- manding officer gave him an excellent cha- racter as a soldier. Under the circumstances, seeing that the sergeant was much needed in the service of his Majesty, he allowed 'him to go. He had just been informed that by his gallantry and bravery in Gallipoli the sergeant had been recommended for the Dis- tinguished Conduct Medal. —.——
GOLDEN WEDDING GIFT. I
GOLDEN WEDDING GIFT. I In commemoration of their golden wed- ding, Sir James and Lady Reekitt, of Swan- land Manor, Hull, have made gifts to local and national institutions amounting in the aggregate to more than £ 25,000. Among the institutions to benefit are the Salvation Army, tlíe Commercial Travellers' Benevolent Institution, and schools at Pinner, the Royal United Kisgdom Benefit Association, Mr. Fegan's Homes, and the British and Foreign Bible Society. Sir James Reckitt is chainfian of Messrs Reckitt and Sons, Limited. .————.
TWO AIRMEN KILLED. I
TWO AIRMEN KILLED. I Two officers of the Royal Flying Corps, (Eapttain Arkwright and Lieutenant Hardy, were killed between Glamis and Forfar on Thursday, their aeroplane crashing to the ground and beiit totally wrecked. They flew from Montrose the previous day and had to descend near Glamis Castle, on. Wed- nesday night owing to defective machinery. On Thursday morning a new propeller was used, and the two officers set off on the re- turn journey, 'Lieutenant Hardy acting as pilot. When about a mile from Glamis Castle they were eeen to be flying low, and suddenly the aeroplane circled downwards. The aviators met with an instantaneous death, being crushed beneath the machine.
IDRESS OF THE DAY. I -——…
I DRESS OF THE DAY. I -—  — A DAINTY CAMISOLE. I So many of the new blouses shown for winter wear are of the pinafore type, and have more or less transparent under-blouses, that the camisole worn beneath has become a matter of great importance. Of course there are plenty of extremely dainty and pretty lawn camisoles shown, but these are not over-warm wear for our chilly English winter, and most women find that they are obliged to put something warmer over the lingerie camisole when the really cold weather arrives. Woolly vests and bodices are to be had in endless variety, but they aro not the most beautiful things at any time, and are specially unsightly beneath the transparencies of an up-to-date blouse, hence the necessity for a camisole that is at once warm and pretty in. effect. Fortunately there are plenty of charming models from which to choose. Most of these are carried out either in crepe de Chine or in very thick [Refer to X 641.] I lap silk, though some few examples are made of charmeuse or of washable satin. Our sketch shows one of the newest of these camisoles, a simple model which is dainty enough to please the most fastidious of women. This particular model is carried out in thick, white, washable crepe de Chine, but it might be realised with equal success in any of the materials mentioned above. It is cut out in a point at the neck, the edge being finished by a hem-stitched border and a band of lace. The camisole fastens down the front with small press-studs placed be- neath the edge. A wide band of lace inser- tion threaded with broad satin ribbon is carried all round the figure beneath the arms, the ends of the ribbon being tied in a smart bow in front. This insertion is set into the camisole with an open-stitched hem on either side. The short sleeves are cut in one with the garment, and are edged by a hem-stitched border and a band of lace, like the neck. The camisole is gathered into a little stitched band of the material at the waist. COMBIES FOR LITTLE GIRL. I Tlie most practicable, as well as the most I easily carried out of home-economies that are so much advocated at the present time, [Refer to X 642.] I has to do with the careful purchase of material and the skilful use of scissors, needle, and thread. There is scarcely a mother living who can- not manage to save something upon tipt- clothes of her little one if she will only pro- vide herself with really good patterns and let to work to make both outer clothes and undies at home. Home-made garments, when carefully cut and neatly finished, are a joy to the one who wears them, as well as to the one who lius made them. Our sketch shows pretty little combies for a young girl-a very simple and dainty garment suitable for carrying out in flannel, Aza, or flannelette. The sketch needs little describing. It is almost enough to say that the trimmings are of fine Torchon lace, sup- plemented by dainty feather-stitching, or by neatly set bands of insertion. THE FOOT FRILL AGAIN. I Some of the very newest French models shown for winter wear, more especially the afternoon and evening gowns, are finished by a little foot frill or ruche of silk placed inside the hem, a revival of a fashion popu- lar some fifteen or twenty years ago. Some of the daintiest of these ruches are made of pinked, box-pleated bands of taffetas. Paper patterns can be supplied, price 6Jd. When ordering, please quote number, en- close remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.
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The Kaiser has marked the fiftieth ann iol versary of General von Xluak's military service by presenting him with -his portrait in oils and congratulations on his "fine successes till honourable wounds tore him from work."
I WITH THE GRAND FLEET. I
WITH THE GRAND FLEET. I WHERE WILL THE NEXT BLOW BE STRUCK. A special correspondent of the "Daily News," who has paid a visit to the Grand Fleet, gives an interesting description of his impressions: "The way the Sailor men talk about the Grand Fleet and Jellicoe's ships imparts a wealth of meaning and con- veys a feeling of awe at its power The guns of that great battleship whick joined the Fleet not many days ago are very true. The few on shore who knew of the leviathan's unheralded coming, and watched with well-justified pride the pass- ing of the battle squadrom—the last word in naval construction—said to each other: "The guns mounted on that boat are not intended to hit ships." No, nor will they. They will hit something else, and will crumble what they hit into ashes and dust. Legions of men work night and day among the great steel ribs in the shipyards, legions more are at work in the engine- rooms, and still more legions are in the forges at Newcastle, Birkenhead, Barrow, and Parkshcad casting the guns that will soon make the British nation open the eyes of whole world. The great ships are finished silently and secretly. They pass out to their appointed place, and we hear nothing. Only a few on shore watch them sail away. Pride in their power beats fast in the hearts of those who speed the monarchs of the deep on their way. All is conducted behind a veil. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will be in the next sea-fight. In the French journalists' account of a visit to the Fleet they mentioned four boats—Jellicoe's Iron Duke, Beatty's flagship, the Lion, the boat the Germans "sank" off the Dogger Bank—the Tiger, and the boat the Turks "destroyed" in the Dardanelles—the Queen Elizabeth. These may have been the ships that appealed to their imagination. But it will give jov in our overseas dominions to know that when we come to strike the next blow on the sea tho Colonies, which have already won imperishable fame in Flanders and in Anzac, will be given their oppor- tunity to strike for the freedom of the Time only can tell where or when the next blow will be struck. Will these ter- rible guns first blow into ruin that rubble- head of tho North ?-ea (Heligoland), a^.d leave the waves to wash away the wreckage, or shall we go right on and cut our way on another course? These are Admiral Jelli- coe's secrets, but his men think that the Fleet which has grown in strength every week since the war began, will soon show its giant power.
SIR DAVID BEATTY IN NORTH…
SIR DAVID BEATTY IN NORTH SEA BATTLE. The "Times" has published a series of articles on "With the Grand Fleet," by Mr. Fredk. Palmer, a well-known American journalist. His references to Sir David Beatty will be read with great interest. From the bridge of the Lion on the morn- ing of January 24, 1915, Vice-Admiral Sir DavM Beatty saw appear on the horizon a sight inexpressibly welcome to any com- mander who has scoured the seag in the hope that the enemy will come out in the open and give battle. Once that German battle-cruiser squadron had slipped across the North Sea, and, under cover of the mist which has been the friend of the pirate, bombarded the women and children of Scarborough and the Hartlepools with shells meant to be fired at hardened adult males sheltered behind armour; and then, thanks to the mist, they had slipped back to Heligoland with cheering news to the women and children of Germany. This time when they came out they encountered a British battle-cruiser squadron of superior speed and power, and they had to fight as they ran for home. Now, the place of an admiral is in his conning-tower after he has made his deploy- ments and the firing has begun. He, too, is a part of the machine his position defined, no less than the plugman's and the gun- layer's. Sir David watched the ranging shots, which fell short at first, until finally they were on, and the Germans were be- ginning to reply. When his staff warned him that he ought to go below, he put them off with a preoccupied shake of the head. He could not resist the temptation to re- main where he was, instead of being shut up looking through the slits of a visor. But an admiral is as vulnerable to shell- fragments as a midshipman, and the staff did its duty, which had been thought out beforehand like everything else. The argu- ment was on their side; the commander had really none on his. It was then that Vice- Admiral Beatty sent Sir David Beatty to the conning-tower, much to the personal dis- gust of Sir David, who envied the observing officers aloft their free sweep of vision. Youth in Sir David's case meant supple- ness of limbs as well as youth's spirit and dash. When the Lion was disabled by the shot in her feed tank, anfl had to fall out of line. Sir David must transfer his flag. He signalled for his destroyer, the Attack. When she came alongside, he did not wait for a ladder, but jumped on board her from the deck of the Lion. An aged Vice- Admiral with chalky bones might have broken some of them, or at least received a shock to his presence of mind. Before he left the Lion, Sir David had been the first to see the periscope of a German submarine in the distance, which sighted the wounded ship as inviting prey. Oncers of the Lion dwelt more on the cruise home than on the battle. It was a case of being towed at five knots by the Indomitable. If ever submarines had a fair chance to show what they could do it was then against that battleship at a snail's pace. But it is one thing to torpedo a merchant craft and another to get a major fighting ship bristling with torpedo defence guns, and surrounded by destroyers. The Lion reached port without further injury.
BRITISH NURSE EXECUTED. I
BRITISH NURSE EXECUTED. I Miss Edith Cavell, the English nurse in Brussels who has been executed by the Ger- mans, was the daughter of the Rev. Frederick Cavell, a former vicar for forty years of Swardeston, Norfolk. Her widowed mother lives at College-road, Norwich. Mrs. Cavell had not heard from her daughter since April last. Miss Cavell was the matron of the Ecole Beige d'Infirmieres Diplomees, in the Rue do la Cuiture, Brussels, which was opened in 1907. She was trained as a nurse at the London Hospital, where she was known as "Nurse Mellish." Miss Cavel joined the London Hospital in September, 1896, and left in January, 1901, as a fully qualified nurse. While she was in Brussels she was joined by several other nurses from the London Hospital. The matron at the London Hospital said that Miss Cavell was one of the most apt pupils the hospital had turned out, and was an excellent nurse.
SIR L CARDEN DEAD.I
SIR L CARDEN DEAD. I Sir Lionel Carden died at Basil Mansions, Knightsbridge, on Saturday, in his sixty- fifth year. Sir Lionel had spent thirty- eight years in the Diplomatic Service in various appointments in the States of Cen- tral and South America. He was twice Acting Charge d'Affaires in Mexico, and was instrumental in arranging the debt-of Guatemala when he was Minister there. He had been British Minister to Brazil since last year, and retired in May owing to ill-health.
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In the evening school curriculum at M, id. dlesbrough there is now included the Rus- sian language, and quite a large number of young students have taF.en it up with a view to practical use immediately at the close of the war. A number of cases labelled "tinned fiah," which were loaded at Copenhagen for exportation to Germany, aroused the suspi- cions of the Custom authorities, who, on examination, found they contained raw rubber. The exporter was arrested.
HEROIC SERBIA. -—<—
HEROIC SERBIA. -—< — HOLDING UP GERMANS AND BULGARIANS. The following French official communica. tion was received at the Press Bureau bj wireless on Saturday:- "The French newspapers render unanimous homage to the heroism of Serbia, who denies to the German-Bulgarian forces the over- whelming successes of which they have. need, and gives time to the Quadruple Entente to concentrate their troops. "The disembarkation of the Anglo-French troops continues at Salonika under the most favourable conditions. It is generally con- sidered that the German undertaking of going to Asia and Africa-there to seek a decision of the war in Europe—indicates the increasing fantastic character of German policy. "The weaker the Austro-German alliance becomes, the more her fits of megalomania develop in frequency and violence. The German people at first replaced corn by a mixture K.K.—subsequently coin by paper- and now they are trying to replace German by Turkish soldiers, all of which merely proves that they were short of corn, then of coin, and are now beginning to be short of men. This may prolong the war, but is not the road to victory." | GERMANS CHECKED. In a despatch to the "Daily Telegraph," sent from Milan on Monday, Mr. A. Beau- mont says the German attack on Serbia seems to have received a severe check, for neither the German nor the Austrian bulle- tins announce any further progress. They still rivet their attention on the taking of Belgrade, which is now a fact ten days old. The only advance recorded was the taking of Pozarevatz, as stated yesterday, about six miles from the banks of the Danube. On the other hand, the most important news comes from the Bulgarian border in the direction of Strumitza. Here the Bul- garians have not only been defeated, but the Serbians, with the help of some Allied troops just arrived from Salonika, pene- trated into Bulgarian territory, and are pushing the enemy to Strumitza. A des- patch from Salonika to Rome says that the Bulgarians sustained considerable losses at many points, entire battalions being cut up and dispersed. Several engagements took place north- east of Doiran, some distance from Vardar, near the Bulgarian front, and also at Valandovo. In these encounters the first troops of the Allies which had reached Ghevgheli took an important part in the principal engagement at Valandovo. eight kilometres from the Bulgarian frontier and eighteen kilometres from the Salonika rail- way line. The engagements were unfavour- able to the Bulgarians, who, despite repeated counter-attacks, were compelled to retreat to their own territory. The Serbo-Allied troops immediately followed up the advan- tage and entered Bulgarian territory, driving the enemy's contingents before them. The occupation of Strumitza. is expected at any moment. Meanwhile the Serbian resistance in the north is causing great concern to tlie Ger- man military critics. They warn their readers that they must not expect that the Serbians will surrender at discretion. The Serbian army again has an effective strength of over 300,000 men, well supplied with aTtillery and ammunition, and the entire nation is helping the army transport and supplying provisions, even women and children taking their share in the national defence. The army, from the simple private to the King, is giving a splendid exampie of heroism.
BRITAIN AND BULGARIA.
BRITAIN AND BULGARIA. STATE OF WAR DECLARED. On Friday night the following announce. tnent was received at the Press Bureau from the Foreign Office:- "In view of the fact that Bulgaria has announced that she is at war with Serbia and is allied with the Central Powers, His Majesty's Government have informed the Bulgarian Government, through the Swedish Minister in London, who is in charge of Bulgarian interests, that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Bulgaria as from ten p.m., October 15."
SIR C. C. MONRO TO SUCCEED…
SIR C. C. MONRO TO SUCCEED SIR IAN HAMILTON. The following statement has been issued from the War Office:- "General Sir C. C. Monro, K.C.B., has been appointed to the command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in suc- cession to General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B., D.S.O., who is returning to Eng- land to make a report. "Pending the arrival of General Sir C. C. Monro, Lieut.-General Sir W. R. Birdwood, K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O., has been appointed temporarily to command the force."
DEFRAUDING THE ADMIRALTY.
DEFRAUDING THE ADMIRALTY. William Frederick Tabor, of Westpella- road, Harleeden, was charged on remand at Marylebone with feloniously attempting" to obtain £ 114 19s. lid., the money of the, Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by means of a forged naval separation allow- ance certificate. Mr. W. Lewis, who appeared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, explained that the prisoner nad been employed as a temporary clerk at the Admiralty. It was his duty to issue identity certificates and books containing drafts in respect of pay- menta made to persons to whom naval sepa- ration allowances were due. The allegations were that the prisoner wrote a fictitious name in the two draft books, which he sent to post offices in Edgware and Harrow roads. He then presented himself with identity certificates bearing the same name and drew money from the post offices. Tabor pleaded guilty, and said he should like to go into the Army to redeem his cha- racter. He was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour.
SENTENCE QUASHED.
SENTENCE QUASHED. At London Sessions, Barney Smith appealed against a conviction of three  months' hard labour passed upon him by Mr. Hedderwick at North London Police- court on a charge of being a rogue and a < vagabond. The police evidence was that appellant was an associate of reputed thieves, and was seen outside the Hackney Empire, London, attempting to pick pockets. The appellant, however, brought witnesses to show that hg > had a good character, and that he was a foreman boot clicker. Witnesses swore that another man, who was his double, attended s the music-hall on the same night, and sat in the same part of the house. This doubk" was of undesirable reputation, and was i-o like the appellant as to cause a mistake to be made easily. Mr. Allan Lawrie, in allowing the appeal, said there were reasonable grounds for sup- posing that appelleant had been mistaken for his "double." He believed the mistake was an honest one, and the conviction would be quashed. No costs, however, were allowed.
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Many London teashops are finding great difficulty in keeping up their staff of wait- resses, the possibility of earning two pounds a week in munition work having tempted N some hundreds of young women to Govern- ment factories. The King has sent a letter of congratula- tion to Mrs. Collyer, the Highland Cottage, Wallington, Surrey, whose seven sons are with the colours. i ■1 1
IINQUEST STORIES. *
I INQUEST STORIES. I BEREAVED FATHER'S DRAMATIC I OUTBURST. Inquests were held on Monday on twenty- three victims of last Wednesday's Zeppelin raid on the London area. The deaths all occurred in one district, and the victims were all civilians, many being women. In the case of a railway goods guard, aged fifty-eight, the widow said that she and her husband were just about to enter a public-house when there was a terrific ex- plosion. She escaped with a bruised arm. A doctor stated that both the deceased's thighs were smashed. Another man had a cut right, through his neck, dividing it from side to side. This was apparently due to glass. In the third case a woman had her spine smashed and a perforated wound in the chest. A police-constable stated that these three deaths were caused by the first bomb dropped. A police inspector said that four other bombs dropped in the road and on the pave- ment. Ten explosive bombs were dropped altogether and five incendiary bombs. All were dropped by the same airship within three minutes. "The second bomb dropped," went on the witness, "made a hole 9ft. in diameter. One of the gas mains was struck, and the fusing of electric wires caused a fire which took until five o'clock in the next evening to put out, because the main had to be cut. A 'bus which was passing at the time was struck, and the driver, conductor, and a special constable were killed. A schoolboy, thirteen years of age, who was on his way to a theatre where he went on errands, had both legs broken, and there was serious injury to the arms and chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he died next day. In the case of a street newsvendor it was stated that the man was practically decapi- tated. On the body was found an old-age pension form, several 5s. postal orders, two £ 5 war loans, .£4 in gold, two .£1 notes, one 10s. note, and X3 in a wrist bag. The war loan was issued in a different name to that by which the man was known. He was a naval pensioner. In the case of a woman of fifty-five, the widow of a costermonger, it was stated that the Natives were so poor they could not pay for the funeral. The woman existed by selling apples in the street, but did not possess a penny in the world. The coroner stated that arrangements would be made to pay the funeral expenses. The coroner told the jury that as they would realise that these inquests were more or less of a formal nature no useful purpose would be served by indulging in recriminations against the Germans. All they had to do was to place on record the facts concerning each case so that they might be filed and preserved. The jury returned a verdict to the effect tttat each of the victims died from injuries caused by the explosion of bombs thrown from an enemy airship. When the coroner had recorded his find- ing there was an impassioned outburst from the father of one victim, a young married man of twenty-eight. Trembling with emotion, he exclaimed: "I must protest. My son was murdered by order of the Kaiser. Every man in this room knows why that verdict was not returned. I sum- mon the Kaiser to meet me before the Judgment Seat of God to answer for the murder of my son and the murder of the other twenty-two poor people." Inquests on five other victims of the air raid were opened at another court. One victim was a member of the Royal Field Artillery, aged nineteen. He came up on furlough on the day of the raid, and was on his way back. Death in this case was due to syncope. General evidence was given by police wit- nesses. One stated that he heard a loud explosion some distance away and took cover in a doorway. A little later a bomb ex- ploded seventy yards from where he stood, and he saw a man fall. He then heard gun- fire. A good many people were about, and after the explosion a large number gathered in the street, the majority, he thought, out of curiosity to look at the Zeppelin. The Coroner: The public don't care a bit. They like to go out and look on. The jury returned a verdict "That the five people had met their deaths through explosion caused by bombs discharged bv hostile aircraft contrary to the rules of civilised warfare."
I SIR JOHN FRENCH'S DILEMMA.…
I SIR JOHN FRENCH'S DILEMMA. I During the hearing of a case at Willes- den a girl said she had written to Sir John French asking him to allow her young man to come home from the front and marry her. Her prospective mother-in-law, who ob- J'ected to the match, had also written to Sir John asking him not to allow her son to come home to be married.