SOLDIERS’ SONGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20079, 27 October 1939, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ SONGS

THE OLD WEAR WELL A NEW BIT OF FUN LONDON. Sept. 30. “Hanging Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" is promised as successor to “Tipperary” and other Great War song's. It lias been popular with the British troops on the way to the Western Front, and also at concerts for the soldiers. It has caused amusement wherever it has been sung. The chorus is:— We're going to hang our washing on tiie Siegfried Line, Have you any dirty washing, mother dear? Because the washing day is here. Whether the weather is wet or fine, We’ll just rub along, no fear. Yes. we’ll hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line, If the Siegfried Line’s still there. So far, however, the war has not called forth any songs that have a comparable place to “Tipperary.” Together with other old favourites, including “Pack Up Your Troubles,” it is being sung by the sons of the men who marched to the tune in 1914-18. In France “Boomps-a-Daisy” is said to be very popular with the poilu. SEBASTOPOL’S DEFENCES (Reed. Oct. 27, 9 a.m.) BUCHAREST. Oct. 26. Sebastopol is reported to be fully mined. BANK RATE 2 PER CENT. (Reed. Oct. 27, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 26. The bank rate is now 2 per cent, a reduction of 1 per cent. THEORY AND PRACTICE Commenting on the failure of the German air attacks on British warships in the North Sea, a Copenhagen newspaper draws attention to the tact that before the war such attacks were rehearsed in the Baltic by the German fleet and tiie air arm. In theory the attacks proved successful. In the- attacks on the British Fleet in the North Sea on Saturday, the newspaper points out, the German forces were compelled to .retire after suffering fairly heavy losses and no British ships were lost, thereby illustrating the difference between theory and practice.—By radio.