LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 12

LONDON TOPICS

[From ' Ouu Correspondent.]

January 5. ■ GENERAL ELECTION RUMORS. Tho Labor Party seems to have convinced itself that a General Election in the spring is definitely the Government’s programme. So far as this talk is based on differences between Ministers over the Prayer Book controversy, which are admittedly not only acute but in some cases embittered, it may be dismissed. It cannot be believed that though in some quarters it is so asserted—Mr Baldwin would consent to make the Revised Book a Government measure, and strain party loyalty to the degree of putting on the official Whips. Such a policy would certainly split not only tho parly, but the Cabinet, and probably precipitate a most unfortunate issue in tho country. But the Labor Party may bo on surer ground, in their General Election anticipations, when tho possibility is based on tho Government’s decision to push forward early in the next session with the_ Franchise Bill. Such a determination, with the now pensions operating and Mr Churchill’s Budget at all happy, might easily connote ballot boxes. NEW YEAR PENSIONS. Tho Government’s much-criticised extension of the existing State pension scheme came into force this week, and it may safely be computed that a total of 1,500,000 pensioners will become eligible. Those of the Cabinet’s supporters who have been hostile to proposals involving such considerable additions to the national expenditure at a time of dangerously high taxation may be disposed to moderate their criticism if a General Election begins to loom close ahead. But this, of course, from the standpoint of pure political economy, merely aggravates the position. The new old ago pensioners, whose claims are irrespective of means, may be put at about 500,000, and widows and orphans number together about tho same. But at least a further 500,000 will become pensionable, allowing for the average percentage of claims allowed, before tho full list is exhausted. THE PLEASANT BOLSHIES. A lew weeks ago the Moscow Dictatorship entered upon a new campaign that is part of its vital propaganda. This movement is in preparation for the Russian Christmas which falls early in our New Year, and its objective is just godlessucss. For three years an Auti-God Society has been in operation in Russia, but its present intensive campaign is aimed at tho younger population through the agency of the Union of_ Communist Youth. The programme includes village and town processions, tableaux vivants, and film pictures all directed to burlesque and make a mockery of the Christian “fable” about the birth of Christ. Some of these displays, apart from their blasphemous character, are really indecent in the narrowest sense. It is like tho “Rod” Bolshies to select a time like Christmas, with its message of universal peace and good-wili, lor malevolent political propaganda, END OF AN EPOCH. The peerage conferred on Colonel Gibbs terminates a lengthy membership of the House of Commons. It also brings to an end an exceptional tenancy of the Whips’ room which commenced in 1917. As a Court Minister lie was most experienced, and Ids tact and suavity will be a distinct loss to tho Lord Chamberlain at Court functions. . As a Whip he was precluded of late years from frequent participation in the Parliamentary debates, but the speeches ho delivered beiiire accepting office still road well. Tho Gibbs family are a magnet for peerages. His cousin, Lord Aldenhain, who as tho Hon. Alban Gibbs, resigned his seat in the City of London in favor of tho present Lord Ballour, is the son of tlie first peer, who was ennobled for his services as governor of the Bank of England. Another son of tho first Lord Aldenhain became Lord Huusdon some five years ago for public services, while another cousin became Lord Cullen of Ash bourne on relinquishing the governorship of tho Bank of England. ATLANTIC AIR LAURELS. Enthusiastic dying friends tell me that the respite from serious Atlantic flight adventures implies no cessation of tho “ dateless bargain with engrossing death,” but merely a short truce of God, while the winter gales and fogs render still more hazardous the pilot’s enterprise. Directly tho spring approaches the struggle for man’s supremacy in the mid-Atlantic air will be renewed more vigorously than ever, and a dozen dauntless knights of the central blue will make a bid for tho bright laurels awaiting the first casttowest flight. American pilots are even now busy with the building of two giant ’planes, onr Captain Courtney and Captain MMntosh will renew their efforts, and Captain Hinchcliile, perhaps our greatest air ace, is rumored to bo deeply engrossed in preparations of bis own, which include a mystery machine. Across the Atlantic another enterprise is afoot in which Mr Chamberlin is concerned, and his craft will bo a seaplane by the builder responsible for “Miss Colmiibia' FIRE-PROOF PETROL.

It is prudent not to accept as certain the report that French chemical research experts have discovered a noninflammable petrol. There have in recent years been many such claims made, but never yet have the latter been fully sustained on a severe practical test. It is true that samples of the new French discovery have been sent for test by our aeronautical experts officially, hut we must wait lor careful report from that quarter before placing confident hopes in the French product. What a fire-proof fuel would mean to aviation cannot be exaggerated. It would imply the greatest advance made in practical flight since the earliest davs of its development. Fire is at present the constant bugbear of all airmen and the elimination of such risks would immensely facilitate the era of popular flying. It seems fairly assured, however, that, even if not yet, such immunity must eventually be achieved by science. LORD FISHER’S PROEHBCY.

Some of the London newspapers have only just discovered that our naval .authorities are experimenting with aeroplanes, or more properly seaplanes, for submarines. Yet tins subject has engaged the American naval experts for years, and even during the war the possibility of using aircraft in conjunction with submarines was mooted. I believe that the German espionage service thought much of the idea. With the newest and largest typo of submarines there is no difficulty m stowin'T away aircraft with collapsible wings,, but the utility of combining flight with submarine navigation is perhaps limited. Its main interest would be on tho side of the Intelligence Department. Lord Fisher had much more ambitious visions, and so had Admiral Sir Percy Scott, who talked quite confidently of future battleships that would be both submersible and aeronautible. 'Wo may bo still a long way from such Jules Vernian conceptions as that, but the submarine with aeiial equipment, is at least a first step DUCHESS’S BRIDGE. A certain Dowager Duchess, whose advancing years have not impaired her gift for repartee or her love of society, will bo adding up her bridge book this week-end. Outside the really first-class players, she is probably one ol the most successful practitioners of aucVon bridge in London, and although she seldom plays for higher stakes than Is a hundred, her annual record, which she keeps most carefully, always shows a substantial profit balance. This is lucky for her pet hospital, as for many years now the Duchess, during the first

week in January, has sent a cheque to the hospital for the amount of the previous year’s winnings. FLAME OF OTHER DAYS.

Memory harks far back across the chasm of tho Great War at the news that Miss Loio Fuller, once a famous flame dancer, is dead in Paris after a long illness. She started her public career as one of Buffalo Bill’s circus troupe, but a sheer accident launched her on world-wide celebrity. To cover a, torn dancing frock she one night wore'an Indian shawl given her by an English Army subaltern. The shimmering limelight effects were so bewitching and unexpected that Miss Fuller promptly developed the idea, and she soon became known as the wonderful serpentine flame dancer. In her time sho know intimately such notables as Rodin, Dumas, junior, Bernhardt, Anatolo France, Flaramarion, and the Queen of Rumania, earning tho gratitude of the last named by her efforts on behalf of the. Rumanian Red Cross during the war. Her first London appearance was at the old Globe Theatre thirty-nine years ago, and she later on succeeded Lctty Lind at tho Gaiety. Sho was a native of America’s “ jungle ” —Chicago—and must have been well over fifty when she died. LADV SIMON AND “ UNCLE TOM.”

Lady Simon, wife of Sir John Simon, whoso efforts to put an end to slavery m Sierra Leone will be well remembered, naturally found the film ‘Uncle Tofu’s Cabin ’ of especial interest. Her ladyship has seen the film several times, and is now endeavoring to induce Mr James B. Lowe, who plays Undo Tom, to address meetings under the auspices of the Anti-slavery League. Lady Simon is quoting tho picture to her friends as a splendid piece of propaganda. The department of the League of Nations Union which deals with the slavery question is interested in the appearance of Mr Lowe in this country, and seeking his services to sneak at public meetings under their auspices. This well-known American actor-negro, in fact, seems to be in for a busy time, but bis one ambition, ho tells me, is to play Othello.

ULYSSES ON THE SCREEN

How brief is tho life of a cinema film is remarkably shown by the recent suggestion of General Sir lan Hamilton that some producer should “ do ” Ulysses. Tho general, one of the few British brass hats with a real literary and artistic flair, was specially and sentimentally interested in a screen picture of the ancient Greeks lauding for the siege of Troy at precisely the spot where so many centuries later our French Allies landed to co-operato in the Gallipoli adventure. But lots of people, including well-known film experts, seized the suggestion with avidity, and one slated how Douglas Fairbanks some years ago talked to him of his ambition to enact the role of a film Ulysses. That so obvious a subject for tho film should be so long ignored seemed strange. But now the fruth is coming out. The fact is that at feast ono ambitious Ulysses film has been screened, but forgotten even by film enthusiasts. SNIPE SHOUTING. While those of us who have to go about our lawful occasions in Loud in are not too pleased -with the piercing winds and the snow, sportsmen ; re getting out their guns, seeing to their stocks of “dust-shot” cartridges, and are flocking out of town to rough shoots on marshy ground. The rough weather is' bringing unprecedented, numbers of snip inland, and some of the best shooting of recent years is being experienced wherever there is water that is not frozen over. To tho keen shot this is a godsend, because the partridge shooting was exceptionally poor this year, and, owing to the shortage of birds, many first-class preserves have not been shot over at all. Some of tti<> best snipe shooting has fallen to tho lot of the naval officers at Shecrness, who shoot over tiro saltings which border the Swale between Sheppey and the Kent coast.