Abergavenny Chronicle

A DRIVERLESS CAR. A verdict of "Manslaughter" was re- turned at a Dudley inquest against Timothy turn-ed at a Du d l,,?., Parkes, aged twenty-two, a tram conductor, who was in charge of a car that over- turned on January 16. Sixteen persons were more or less seriously injured, and in one case the injuries proved fatal. The car, a double decked one, had travelled a quarter of a mile towards Wed- n-esbury when the conductor realised that the driver was not on the car. Before he could get to the brakes, the car, which was going down a slight gradient, jumped tile points and overturned.

 GERMAN OESPERATMN. I GERMAN Ð:SPERATION.. FIGHTING AGAINST TIME IN THE WEST Discussing the reasons for the violent German attack on the French lines at Neuville St. Vaast and at Friee, in the bend of the Somme, Mr. Philip Gibbs, in a des- patch to the "Daily Chronicle," says:— The German General Staff watches the wastage of the armies, and has calculated to a day how long that drain of blood can go on until the end must come. They have watched the moral of their men weakening and the human material of the armies de- teriorating in physique and in training. They know that to ensure a victorious peace they must strike a decisive blow be- fore the stores of good material still in hand —the human material, which they use ruth- lessly as so many instruments of Killing power-is utterly used up. Behind them is the German people—the old men, and the women, and the men who work in the factories of war—and the German people, after eighteen months of false hopes, are clamouring also, for the decision which will bring peace. It is to get this decision, at all costs, which is the probable cause of the attacks on the Western Front. It is against France, which has fought with heroic recklessness and suffered tragic losses of manhood along a front of 530 miles, month after month, for a year and a half, that the enemy has struck savagely. Tf Germany could only give Franco a deathblow the decision might be won. What of his chance? I have been to many parts of the .French line, and only recently to Neuville St. Vaast and the lines around Arras, and the country of the Somme, where I talked with many French officers and men and saw the spirit and organisation of their great army. It does not seem to me that the enemy has any chance of breaking through. By concentrating his guns upon a small part of the front and hurling a mass of men at a position lavishly bombarded, it is always possible for the enemy, as well as ourselves, to capture the front line trenches and to take a number of prisoners. But that is not "breaking through," as we found to our cost in our own attacks, and the slaughter that follows is a great sacrifice of men which cannot be spared by those whose man-power is not increasing. This war has proved the strength of de- fence, and if the Germans take the offensive they must pay the price, which to them will surely mean death, unless all our calcula- tions are false. I was told that one of our men recently killed forty Germans with his own hand, by touching the trigger of a machine-gun. In that fact alone is the whole secret of this war. Given enough machinery, and no human courage can live within the zone cf fire. So it is that rocent German attacks upon our line have failed ignominiously. Only a few men dared to come out of their trenches to face those sweeping scythes of bullets from our machine-guns, and in a moment or from our mach i nc-gunt?s? pieces. The att, 'icc,?icc two they were cut to pieces. The attack upon the front-line trenches, prepared by terrific bombardment, succeeds only as far as those trenches. When it goes beyond the registering of the artillery behind, it breaks against the defence and becomes a shambles. That has been all our experience, and the enemy has no other magic to destroy this law. This year will bring many great massacres of men, but having seen the strength of our armies and of our French Allies, it is incon- ceivable to me that the enemy should break through on the Western Front. It is per- haps the last venture of desperate men who must end their business, whether they win or lose.

I KING DECORATES HEROES. I The King has held on Investiture at Buckingham Palace, and bestowed 130 mili- tary and naval decorations, including three V.C.'s. The V. C. heroes were Corporal Bassett, the first New Zealander to win the Cross; Piper Laidlaw. the piper of Loos; and Corporal Issv Smith, the first Jew to win the coveted cross. Corporal Bassett was escorted to the j Palace by a New Zealand detachment, headed by the Anzac band. A number of New Zealand and naval oiffcers and men who fought at the Dardanelles were decorated, including Lieutenant Allan Alcock, of the Royal Marines, who is not yet twenty vears old. He received the Distin- guished Service Cross, as also did Lieutenant Arthur Roberts. The D.S.O. was presented to Captains Thomas Wall, Morant, and Walters Mitchell, Engineer-Commander Carmichael, R.N.R., and Lieutenant Lancaster. Honours were also bestowed on Lieut.- General Wollaston and Lieut. Colonel Jenkins.

I COLONEL AND INSURANCE ACT. I In the King's Bcnch Division, before Justices Sankey and Low, Mr. Comyns Carr, on behalf of the National Health Insurance Commissioners, obtained a rule in the nature of a mandamus directing Mr. Mead, Metro- politan Police Magistrate, to hear and de- termine an application for two summonses against Lieut Colonel Villiers Spencer Bagot, of Berkeley-square, under the National Health Insurance Act. Counsel explained that on January 20 an inspector under the Act applied to Mr. Mead for two summonses against Lieut.-Colonel Bagot for neglecting to pay contributions in respect of two servants in his employ. The magistrate refused to grant the summonses on the ground that it did not appear that the servants had produced cards to their employer. I

I DEATH OF RUDOLF BLIND. I Mr. Rudolf Blind, the well-known artist, has died at his home at Bedford Park, Chis- wick. The son of Dr. Karl Blind, the famous Homeric scholar, he was born in Brussels in 1850. and received his education at University College School, London, and the Royal Academy Schools. He was. an admirable linguist, a witty and eloquent talker. He leaves a widow and three sons, one of whom is serving in the Army. Mr. Blind helped to decorate the Opera House at Vienna, and when the Franco-Prussian War broke out he joined the Prussian Army as a Volunteer. He was present at the siege of Strasburg, and received the war medal. His pictures, many of which achieved great popularity, included "The Throne of Grace," "The Golden Gates," "The Man of Gethsemane," "Chrict the Consoler," "The World's Desire," and "The Soul's Ecstasy."

I NAVAL OFFICER'S SUICIDE. I An inquest has been held at Torquay on Acting Lieutenant Robert Coleman, aged twenty-three, the victim of a shooting tragedy which ocurred on a patrol boat in Torquay harbour. Mr. William Grayson said that lie lunched with Lieutenant Coleman on Mon- day, the 31st ult., and went on board his boat with him, accompanied by a lady friend. While they were in the cabin a bull- dog Coleman bought recently attacked the lady, whereupon the lieutenant produced a revolver and shot the dog. He seemed terribly upset, and witness took the revolver from him as he repeatedly threatened to commit suicide. Coleman had been drink- ing, but seemed quite rational. A verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. .————— .—————

"Dearest," ecstatically murmured the enamoured poet, "don't you think we would make a good couplet? "Ah!" sighed the dear girl, nestling still closer, "I am net averse." A couple of neighbours were leaning over the back fence, exchanging gossip, as ladies will. "My husband," remarked one, "says he always does better work when he is think- ing of me." "I notice," responded the other, "that be made a very good job of beating the carpets."

FURIOUS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I Sidney E. King, of Heaton-road, Peckham, was summoned at Lambeth Police-court on Tuesday for driving a motor-omnibus at Peckham Rye at a speed dangerous to the public. Timed by Police-sergeant Curling over a measured furlong, the defendant's omnibus, according to the police evidence, attained a speed equal to over sixteen miles an hour. It was dark at the time. Mr. Chester Jones remarked that to drive motor vehicles at excessive speed in the dark was a wicked thing to do. The defendant would be fined £ 5. Richard Farr, another motor-omni- bus driver, of Victoria-road, Hendon, was also summoned for driving at a speed dan- gerous to the public. It was alleged that in the dark the defendant's omnibus passed over a measured furlong at Norwood-road at a speed equivalent to twenty miles an hour. A fine of £ 6 was imposed. George E. Brand, of Holmwood-road, Brixton, was summoned for driving by night a motor-car at a speed dangerous to the public. Police-sergeant Hardiman timed the car over a measured furlong at Coldharbour-lane. The speed was equal to twenty-seven miles an hour. The defendant was fined £ 7.

CRIME IN GERMANY. I Mr. Edmund G. A. Holmes, late Chief Inspector of SchooLs, speaking on the Montessori system of education at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, on Tuesday, said that in this country crime had de- creased to a remarkable extent since the war began. In Germany it had increased to an extent which had alarmed the authori- ties. In one local tribunal the sentences on young men and women rose from 58 in 1913 to 183 in 1914 and 254 during the first ten months of 1915. In Oldham, an English in- dustrial centre, with a population of nearly 250,000, there was not a single case for trial at the Quarter Sessions held last month. The inference was that neither the dis- cipline of drill nor the discipline of prohibi- tion could moralise or socialise mankind, and that if salvation was to be achieved by discipline, it must be by self-discipline and self-control.

TOO MUCH LIGHT. I I Mary J. Bateman, of Addington-square, Camberwell, was summoned at Lambeth Police-court on Tuesday for failing to shade or screen the windows of her premises—a lauRdryo that no bright light was cast in anv direction. Tho defendant said she in- structed a man to screen the lights. Mr. Chester Jones: It is not your fault, but you are responsible. You must pay < £ 3. Edmund Page, of Angell-road, Brixton, was summoned for failing to screen or shade the light of a room occupied by him as a lodger. The defendant said the room was not furnished with a blind. At the time this occurred (December 4) he had only just returned from a six months' tour in the country, and did not know of the regula- tions. A fine of 10s. was imposed.

FIRE AT MINING VILLAGE. I In a fire which broke out at Teams Col- liery, near Gateshead, on Tuesday, seven miners' cottages were totally destroyed and three children, Carrie, Sarah, and Isabella Minto, aged four, two, and one years respec- tively, were burnt to death. Other occupants had narrow escapes. The children are stated to have been in bed when the fire broke out. Altogether nine houses caught fire, but the brigade was able to save the rest of the row of colliery cottages.

I ESCAPED GERMANS CAUGHT. I Lieutenant von Schweiniken and Private Heinz Pohmer, who escaped from the intern- ment camp at Dorchester on February 1, have been arrested in London. Aided bv a City policeman, Sergeant Cox, of Scotland Yard, succeeded in capturing one of them in the City, and subsequently the other was found in Leicester-square. Both men are being sent back to Dorchester under military escort.

I MAJOR AT TWENTY-FOUR. 1 Major S. B. Quibell, of the 4th East York- shires, who has died of wounds received in action, was the youngest major in the Terri- torial Force. He was only twenty-four years of age, and was the son of Mr. Oliver Quibell, an ex-mayor of Newark.

Judge (to prisoner): "How big was the stone vou threw; was it as big as Prisoner (smiling): "Yes, Jour Zionour, but rot so fhick 1" Laughter in court.

DRESS OF THE DAY. A SMART SKIRT. One of the very first garme-nie which the average woman provides for her spiing wardrobe is a neat and serviceable skirt for wear .e;ith plain morning shirts or with simple blouses. Winter skirts have grown shabby, and now that the clearer light and stronger sun-shine begin to reveal all sorts of unsus- pected spots and stains, we all feel that we must have a new skirt to wear. For such a skirt, intended to stand any amount of wear and tear, a serviceable material is a neces- sity, so such fabrics as serge, tweed, gabar- dine, frieze, homespun, or woollen cord are the best things to use. Our sketch shows a particularly nice new skirt that would look well carried out in any of these materials, [Refer to X 673.J and that is quite easy to make. The original i was made of fine navy serge of medium weight. The skirt fits closely over the hips, but is cut with plenty of width at the hem. An inverted pleat is laid in the middle of the front and three fiat pleats on ethe" idc of it. All these pleats are firmly machined down to a point a little above the knees, where they are released. The back of the skirt is treated in exactly the same way as the front. A neat belt of the. material finishes the skirt. It has a rounded end on each side of the front, just corresponding in position with the outermost tuck at either side, which buttons on to a plain strap of the same width placed across the front. This belt is neatly stitched all round the edges, j The skirt is cut rather short. TWO COLOUR SCHEMES. Colour schemes, like everything else, are beginning to show the effects of the ap- proaching spring. Here and there one sees more brilliant colour than has been used during the winter, but on the whole, especi- ally where the more exclusive toilette are concerned, the tendency is still towards rather low toned colour effects. For instance, two of the newest and most suc- cessful colour schemes, if one may so call them, are elephant grey and black, and stone brown and black. In both cases the black is introduced in the form of narrow black soutache. A WELL-CUT WRAP COAT. There is no time of the year when a wrap- coat is more thoroughly useful than now. A wrap-coat, to be all round serviceable, should be made in a rough-surfaced fabric, such as heavy diagonal serge, cheviot tweed, blanket cloth, coarse whipcord, or frieze; and it is well to have neither silk, satin, nor velvet facings—nothing, indeed, that will take any harm by an occasional drenching. [Refer to X 674.] In the exceptionally smart model here phown, the roll-over collar and deep turn- back cuffs are made of the same material as the coat, the collar being so arranged that it can be worn either high or low, according to the exigencies of the weather. The sleeves are set into the coat in Raglan style, and the garment is sufficiently roomy to allow of its being slipped on over a thin costume coat. BOUDOIR CAPS. At this time of the year, when all the world is suffering from colds, coughs, and influenza, the boudoir cap becomes quite an important item in the feminine wardrobe. for when one is confined to one's room one may receive one's friends in a pretty rest- gown and a dainty boudoir cap, without the trouble and fatigue of carefully doing one's hair and making a toilette, serene in the knowledge that one is looking quite present- able. There are any number of pretty caps shown just now, but one of the very prettiest and newest is made of shadow lace in a delicate, old-lace shade. This cap has rather a large soft crown of the mob-cap order, surrounded by a frill of the same lace, which is very much wider at the back of tho head than in front. A band of pale blue or pale pink ribbon shot with silver is twisted round the crown and tied in a fmart bow at one side, whilst a bunch of little moss-rosebuds is caught to the centre of the bow. Paper patterns can be supplied, price rild When ordering, please quote number, en- close remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C. -====================?

I MARGATE LIGHTS. LANDLADY AWARDED DAMAGES AGAINST CAPTAIN. Miss Helena Emma Jane Clarke, lodging- house keeper, Cliftonville, Margate, claimed dauages in the King's Bench Division against Captain H. W. Case, of the R.A.M.C., for alleged false imprisonment and assault, arising out of the lighting re- gulations. Mr. Msddock;, opening the plaintiff's case, stated that on September 24 a member of the defendant's family left the electric light burning the whole of the night in the bathroom at his client's boarding-house. On the same day the Margate police had issued a notice against showing too much light, and the next morning Miss Clarke posted a notice in her house stating that the electric light must be turned off at 11.15. When the defendant came in at 10.30 he went up to the plaintiff's bedroom, and, banging on the door, shouted. "What about this light? I defy you to turn it off." Plaintiff was very much perturbed, but all the same she sent her companion to turn out the light at the appointed time. Defendant again went upstairs and banged at Miss Clarke's door. "I demand that the light be put on at cuc-e," he sild. WIaTga is a garrison tcwn." Later her companion answered the front door bell and found two soldiers with rifles and bayonets fixed standing on the doorstep. Plaintiff went down in her dress- ing gown, and defendant said to her, "Where are the lights? Show them to these men, or I'll put you in the guard- room." Defendant then said to the guard, "Arrest that woman," whereupon the two soldiers with rifies and fixed bayonets seized hold of plaintiff and put her under arrest. Eventually a. constable came to the house and advised plaintiff to put the lights on to save further trouble. OFFICER'S ETIDEXCE. I Plaintiff, who gave her evidence seated, stated that after the soldiers came she defied them and returned to her bedroom to dress. The soldiers came to the bedroom door, and one of them put his rifle in the doorway. She had to dress with the door partly open. The defendant, giving evidence, said that in the event of an emergency order he would I have to be on duty as quickly as possible, and that plaintiff's action with regard to lights might have delayed him seriously. As she refused to allow him to have the light he went out to find a policeman, but was una ble to do 00. He then went to the guard and obtained two soldiers. His Lordship: What had she done which necessitat.ed her being placed under arrest? —Obstruction in carrying out my military duties. Counsel: What duties-That I should be instantaneously available for military duties. He considered what he had done was justified under the- Defence of the Realm Act and in the interest, of public safety. "Mr. Justice Lush held that the defendant had no autkoritv to take the steps he stated he had taken, and still less those which the plaintiff said he had taken. The jury awarded the plaintiff £ 250 damages, and judgment was entered accord- ingly with costs.

I CAMP MURDER. CANADIAN OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH. Lieut. Georges Codore, Acting Adjutant of the -11st Canadian Regiment, was found guilty at the Winchester Assizes on Satur- day of the murder of Sergt. Henry Ozanne, another Canadian, at Grayshott, Hants, on December 8, and sentenced to death. Before counsel for the prisoner addressed the Court. evidence was called with regard to prisoner's mental condition. This showed that several relations of the accused were in- sane. Prisoner, said counsel, was discharged from an agricultural college at Quebec for not being crunpos mentis. In his regiment lie was called "Crazy Codere." Dr Maurice Craig, the famous mental ex- pert, said he had examined prisoner in Win- chester gaol and came to the conclusion that he was a man not quite of normal standard, hut he understood perfectly within normal limits the meaning of right and wrong. Wit- ness asked him if he thought it would be right for one man to injure another, and prisoner agreed that it would not. Canon Gunning, the gaol chaplain, con- sidered prisoner was of unsound mind. In the course of his summing up Mr. Justice Darling said the question for the jury was, what state of mind prisoner was in when he committed the murder, for it was now admitted that he did commit the murder, and the only defence was that of insanity. When asked whether he had anything to say before sentence was passed, the accused said, "All I can say is, I am not the man who doue it."

I BOGUS NAVAL OFFICER. Sub-Lieutenant James Liuccin Netherton, Royal Naval Reserve, was fined £ 7b on Saturday at Mary le bone Police-court for wearing naval lieutenant's uniform and three decorations, including the D.S.M. It was stated that he had obtained a commis- sion in the R.X.R. and had deserted a few days lateT. Since then, it was alleged, lie had obtained goods in various places by representing himself as a commander in the Royal Navy. A naval warrant for his arrest would be executed after the case had been dealt with, stated Inspector Sanders.

I CENTENARIAN'S DEATH. The death has occurred at Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire, of Mr. William Per- kins, at the age of 103 years and 10 months. His wife, who is ninety-two years old, sur- vives him. They had been married for over seventy-two years, and for seventy years had lived in the same cottage. With an old-age pension each, they declared that they found life well worth living. Mr. Per- kins had suggested to the Government that old-age pensions for centenarians should be doubled.

( KILLED BY RUNAWAY TRAM. Running away downhill at Gateshead on Saturday night, a. tramcar overturned at a curve. Four passers-by were killed—namely, Private Edward Hutchinson, 1st Durham Lig-ht Infantry. Yaisev Morrell, blacksmith, of 'Gateshead/ Jane Morrell, his wife, and Foster Morrell, their sevcn-year-old son. In addition Elizal>eth Rowe, conductress of the car, and Private 0. Foster, D.L.I.. were eeverelv injured, suffering from fractured legs. They were both on the rear platform.

 i i? I 4 I'? ????T????? y ill if -I To save tea. put a lump of sugar in the teapot when m thing the tea, and the on- ful usually put in "for the put" can Le dis- pensed with. When cleaning plate and silver, apply the whiting paste or liquid polish with a small paint brush, leave the article to become dry, then polish with a leather. This will save time and trouble. Before blackinsr a stove, rub soap over the hands and allow it to dry on, then when tr.e wor k is done and the hands washed, the blacking and soap will ccme off, and the hands will not be stained. An excellent substitute for a knifeboard is made by folding a newspaper lengthways and sprinkling the bath-brick on as usual. The knives will have a better polish than when cleaned in the ordinary way. Never poke a fire from the top. Insert the poker at the bottom, and raise gently, leaving the poker in the fire for a few minutes. This oauscs a draught, and makes the fire burn brightly. When making jam tarts, mix the jam with a little hot water before putting it into the pastrv. It tastes just as well and the jam goes further. When cocking green vegetables, put a lump of sugar, instead of soda, into the water. This will keep them a good colour, and will not spoil the flavour as soda does. To clean a velvet coat-collar, scrape a little pipeclay over the velvet, allow to re- main on for a few minutes, then brush off with a whisk. This cleans the velvet and. restores the pile. To remove the stain cf ironmould first drop a little powdered Ealt on to the mark and then squeeze on a little lemon-juice; hold the stained part of the article against the steam of a boiling kettle and the stain will dir appear. When doing a little home paper-hanging the amateur will find the paper much >Ea.<¡er to hang if the paste is applied to the wall instead" of to the paper. I DENTS :N FURXITUSE. Dents in furniture can be mended by damping' the wood with warm water, and then covering it with wet brown paper (three thicknesses), and holding a hot iron over it. The dent will gradually swell up. Don't scorch any other part with the iron! I CANE-BOTTOJIED CHAIRS. 11 Cane-bottomou chairs that iinvo "slack can be mended and tightened up by sponging both sides with hot suds in which a handful of salt has been dissolved. Dry- in? must be done out of doors. W-h-cn rearly dry, cover the seat with a cloth, and iron it. It' will be clean and "tight" once more after this treatment. I   II"'T A ?-'rCE-M..mXG HINT. When making- sauce with butter in it never cook the sauce after the butter has been added. Boil the sauce, then remove from the tire, and add the butter. V\ hen. this is done the butter will not appear oily and float on the top of the sauce, but re- main mixed with the other ingredients. I REPAIRING LEAKY KETTLES. Kettles and pans rendered apparently use- less by small holes in them should 011 no account be discarded, as they may be easily repaired at home by anyone at the trifling cost of only a lew coppers, by the following method: Thoroughly cleanse the utensil around the hole to be repaired, using a little fine emerv-paper to remove any burrs that are difficult to displace. Next procure from the chemist a pennyworth of litharge, and thoroughly mix with a little glycerine to the consistency of a thick paste, when it is ready for use. Now take the article to be repaired, and with a thin-bladed table-knife apply the paste to the hole, care being taken to see that the hole is well filled up, both inside and out. The utensil should now be left for the paste to dry and harden, a process tisuallv requiring a week to ten days, when it is cgain readv for use. This method of repairicg will be found very effective, as the ps.ste, when hard set, resists both fire and water equally well. —— —— I SOME USEFUL RECIPES. CARRIED STEAK A D Slice one pound of onions and iry their, ii margarine to a light brown. Then acd hah a pound of steak and half a pound of ox- kidney, cut small, with a little water, simmer for a few minutes. Then cover with water and cool: slowly. When cooked add two heaped up tablespocnfuls oi curry powder, one tablespoonful of flour, and a little gravv salt, made into a paste with water, and* stir till it thickens. Serve with boiled rice. GINGERBREAD RECIPE.—Tak? ten ounces of flour, three ouncôs of lard cr butter, four ounces of brown sugar, one timaJl teaspoon of ground ginger, half saltspoon of car- bonate of soda, seven- ounces of treacle or golden syrup, and a little milk if necessary. Bake in a moderate oven for about an hour, after putting into a well-greased tin. BREAD AND CHEESE OMELETTE. Boil half a pint of milk, then put in half a pint of breadcrumbs, and allow them to soak up all the milk. Add four tablespoonfuls of grated cheese, three well-beaten egg", and salt and p-eppcr to taste. Melt one ounce of margarine in an omelette-pan, put in the mixture, and stir it well for a minute over the nre, then roll it to one side of the pan, tipping the pan well up. Keep the omelette in" a neat crescent shape. When browned on one side brown on the other. y AKEE CAEF.Take one pound of flour, one teaoupful of sifted sugar, two eggs, four small teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar, two small teaspoonfuls of carbonate of soda, and a quarter of a pound of butter. Make the butter soft with the cream of tartar and the warm milk. Bake in a moderate oven. To FRY SHEEP'S LIVER.—While perhaps not as tender as lamb's liver, sheeps liver is quite as tasty. One method of cooking it is to fry it, in which case it should be pre- pared. in the following manner: Cut the liver into thin slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper; moisten each slice with cold milk, and roll lightly in flour. Heat some lard m the frying pan, and, when hot, insert the liver and fry quickly—not more than two minutes for each side, or even less time if the slices are very thin. Arrange on a hot platter; squeeze a little juice of lemon over the meat follow with a .sprinkling of minced parsley, and finally a little melted butter. RAGOUT OF BEEF. Buy some stewing steak and cut into dice about two inches square. Put a frying-pan on the fire to get h- t. When hot, put in the pieces of steak. Add no fat. Brown the steak quickly etl one side, then turn. While this is cooking, melt dc.wn an ounce of nut butter in the casserole, and put in an onion cut into slices. Frv till* a golden brown. Then add a carrot, sliced up thinly. Finally, put in the steak, and add an ounce of flour. Stir till all is nicclv browned. Season with salt and pepper, and a good, big pinch of ground ginger. Pour in a pint of stock or made gravy. Bring to the boil, then put irz six ounces of macaroni broken into small gieces. Cook gently for an hour and a half. V,?f? serving"ekim the fat from the gravy.

Mr. Algernon Latter, headmaster of the junior school, has been appointed by the dean and chapter headmaster of the King's School, Canterbury. A verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity" was returned at Wandsworth at the inquest on Emma Goodall, aged sixty- six, a widcw, who was found drowned ii: the river Wancle. She had said she would make a hole in the water, having a dread of t.í:4 workhouse.

IRESTRICTINGSUGAR IMPORTS I PUBLIC URGED TO ECONOMISE MORE The Royal Commission on the STigar Supply has issued the following statement "Owing to tho great shortage of tonnage, and the consequent necessity of deciding what proportion of the amount available shall be allocated to sugar requirements, having regard to the claims of other articles of import and to the demands of the. public services, the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply finds that it will be necessary during the coming months to restrict the importa- tion of sugar within narrower limits than have hitherto obtained. The supplies of sugar at disposal for consumption will, therefore, be appreciably reduced. "In spite of the fact that since the begin. ning of the war the price of sugar has been never less than 50 per cent. above the normal, and is now practically double, there has been no considerable or general reduc- tion in the amount consumed. It is there- fore evident that further economies in its use can be effected, and the Commission de- sires to impress upon the public the urgency of the obligation to use every effort to effect such economies. It accordingly requests all classes to reduce their consumption not only of sugar, as such, but also of jams, biscuits, sweetmeats, chocolate, and other goods of which sugar is an important constituent. "If due care is exercised, and individual consumption is kept within reasonable limits, such restriction will not cause anything in the nature of a shortage of adequate supplies of these foodstuffs, and will afford no ground for an increase in prices. A reduction in consumption will afford material assistance in solving the problem of tonnage, and will in this way help to keep down the prices of other commodities. Moreover, as all sugar consumed here is imported from abroad, economies in its use will tend to influence rates of exchange in favour of this country."

GERMAN OFFICERS SENTENCED. I  at the -)i?.;Iitary Sentence of nine months at the Military Detention Barracks at Chelmsford was pro- mulgated on Tuesday by the Military Court held at Philberds, Maidenhead, on two Ger- man officers who tried to escape from Holy- port Prison Camp. They were Lieutenant Otto Thelen, of the German Army Flying Corps, who was rescued from a sinking aero- plane in the North Sea, and Lieutenant Hans Keilhack, of the German. Navy. Both had previously escaped from Donnington Hall, and a reward of £100 was offered for their capture, which was effected in the Chatham district. After their punishment they were removed to Hoh'port, where they were caught attempting to escape, and arrested. The first indictment related to alleged tunnelling from the bath-room and making a hole thirty-four feet under the main build- ing. The evidence not being satisfactory as to the identity of the prisoners, the Court found them not guilty. The second indictment concerned a daring attempt to escape from a hut. Adjutant Armstrong discovered one of the prisoners underneath the bed sawing the floor, while the other vigorously played a mouth-organ to deaden the sound. At the trial both prisoners pleaded guilty to this charge. —————

"How old are you?" asked a judge of a prisoner, under arrest for stealing. (ó I dimno." "When were you born?" "What's the use of my telling you about my birth- day; you ain't going to make me a birth- day present, are you?"

I "TIPPING" AN M.P. Corporal H. B. Lees Smith. M P. for Northampton, now serving in the R.A.M.C had a rather amusing experience recently whilst corporal in charge of the divisional baths. In a letter describing the incident he writes:—"The authorities have found by experience that when men get into a bnth their spirits rise, splashing matches take a lid F. general mess is made and I have been installed to damp down any ex- ctssive exuberance and preserve order. As a matter of fact. the London Scottish bath has all the solemnity of the parade ground, and my duty is so light that I am taking the opportunity to continue these notes. "Two Army Service Corps men put four- pence oil the bench near me a few minutes ago. I did not know before that privates tipped corporals. They were so embarrassed when I did not take it that it will evidently be more comfortable for everyone if I take the next perquisite which is offered me without any compunction."

Second-Lieutenant Wedgwood Benn has been appointed an A.D.C on the personal staff, vice Lieutenant the Hon. R. A. Biy:h. There was never such a time for the sale of mouth-organs and concertinas, said a. wit- ness at Ploombbui-y (London) County-court.