TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

! The visit of tho Royal Aγ- [ A School tillery Band lends interfor est to an article* in the Bands. . New York "Post" on tho Kneller Hall • Training School for English military bands. This admirable institution owes its establishment to a ludicrous incident which occurred during tho Crimean war. At Scutari, in 1854, there was a grand review of British troops on tho Queen's birthday, in which about 16,000 took part. At the close of the renew, on a given signal, all the regimental bands struck up "God Save tho Queen.' The famous anthem was played simultaneously, not only according to numerous different musical arrangements, but also in different keys. The result must have been appalling, and an additional degree of humiliation was ::dded by tho fact that the performance took place before the staff of the allied forces. The explanation of the confusion was that, till that time, each regiment engaged and instructed its own band, which was Free to select its own instruments and pitch. As Boon as the Crimean war was over the work of reform was undertaken, and in 1857 the Kneller Hall School was opened, with a staff of four professors. It gained only small support at first, but little by little it came tinder War Office control, and in 1875 was fully taken over by the Department. Candidates are divided into two classes, "students" and '"pupils,' , the former being usually band sergeants or non-commissioned officers qualitying tor the gosfc of hand-

master, and the latter privates, boys or adults, selected for their musical abilities, who are taugnt by the "studonte." Members of both classes aro frequently scut to London to attend the opera and the better-class concerts, and there is an excellent musical library at tho school. Every Wednesday afternoon during the summer months concerts aro given in tho echool grounds, which are illuminated for the occasion with fancy lights and Chinese lanterns, producing a delightfully sylvan effect. Between two lofty elms a sloping platform contains the 160 performers, with a remarkable variety of uniforms, representing the most diverse regiments. For tho small sum of fivepence (price of admission and cost of programme) the public is treated to a course of tho works of the finest composers, rendered with fine precision and delicacy. The fame of tho Kneller Hall experiment is not confined to England, for as tho result of a visit to the institution by several German officers in ISS4, a school was established on similar lines in Germany—which must oo construed as a decided compliment to poor, "unmusical England."

A story of considerable inAn terest, in view of tho fresh I African trouble that has arisen in Arsenal. Somaliland, is told by London "Truth," . and tuero does not seem to bo any reason to doubt its accuracy. Towards tho end of last year a man who had qualified in tho Army as an armourer, and retired from tho Service, answered an advertisement in a Birmingham paper for a man of his trade, and got into touch \ with one Julian Humphreys, who made it clear that he was obtaining the machinery and staff necessary for an arsenal. Hβ was shown a rifle, and given to understand that 20,uC0 of these would require his attention. After a while the ex-soldier was given an agreement to sign, from "which he learned that ho was to go to Abyssinia, superintend the erection of machinery at Adis-Ababa, and work at his trade there for a certain period. After signing this and receiving £10, an advance towards expenses, tho armourer began to have doubts about the business. Adis-Ababa, he found, besides being the capital of Abyssinia, was situated near one territory of that old enemy of England, tho Mad Mullah. He was informed that he would have to proceed to Aden, and wait his opportunity to proceed to Abyssinia by a roundabout route, so as not to awaken tfie curiosity of British or Italian officials. Not liking the idea of repairing weapons that might be used against British troops, ho sought an explanation of Mr Humphreys, whereupon that gentleman left him abruptly, and had no furthor communication with him. But is is known that Mr Humphreys leftshoruy aftenvards for Abyssinia. The armourer informed tho War Office, his late commanding officer, and other officials, of what had happened, but all the thanks he got was a visit from a policeman, who warned him that v he continuod to ■worry overworked officials with such nonsensical stories, he might find himself in an asylum! Yet, since tho ..recent disaster in Somaliland it has been, etated that an arsenal at -*dis-Ababa serves as a distributing centre for arms for the Mullah's men. Either the armourer is a very incoherent correspondent or the War Office must be singularly indifferent to developments in the Somali hinterland.