AN INVASION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20100, 2 December 1930, Page 15

AN INVASION.

VICTORIA'S ENEMY. MILLIONS ADVANCE BY AIR. (FROM OUB CTWK CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, November 25. A great army has raised its standard in Victoria. lJown through the State its millions of brown uniformed mercenaries have been advancing, leaving desolation in their wake. Already hundreds of acres of oats and grass have been laid waste. Many districts have felt the iron heel, and it has been difficult to say where the army would strike next. Every now and again it vanishes, and then it appears again out of the clear sky, and the damage goes on ruthlessly. These marauders go by the name ot Paehytelus Australis, which, in common terms stands for the common Australian locust, and when they gather in millions, as they sometimes do, they can do an enormous amount of damage. Millions of these flying grasshoppers took possession of the Rochester district last Thursday, and they did not leavo until the following day. They did not show any respect for anything. Thousands of them landed on the iron roof of a local dance hall throughout the evening and it sounded like a heavy fall of rain. They took possession of the bowling green and ate from its surface every particle of grass. They even i-efuscd to leave when the water sprinklers were turned on to them. Private gardens suffered dreadfully. Scarcely a green thing was left. Then, as suddenly as they came they departed, the Commander-in-Chief evidently deciding that ho would seek pastures new. and green.

Great fears are beinp «c*t«ossed that tlie attackers will lay wasi-e th® oat crops that have not yet been harvested. Oats are favoured by this vast company oi vagabonds. It is fortunate that tlie grasshopepr army has done comparatively little damage in Australia In South Africa they have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage af different times. Still Victoria is taking no risks, and the enemy will not be permitted to continue unchecked Two very effective ways ot dealing with them have been devised, and unless they are more canny than they are usually given credit for, molasses. for which they have an inordinate fondness, may be> their downfallBaits of bran, molasses, and poison are laid for them, and it is surprising how quickly the enemy can be made to vanish This army of millions should soon be no more.