THE SWISS NAVY.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1926, Page 3

THE SWISS NAVY.

BATTLE WITH LAKE PIRATES. PARIS, November 28. The Swiss Navy is not, as utility people think, a joke. It has just fought and won a desperate battle against pirates on the Lake oi Geneva.. 'The action arose out ot a trontier incident on tin* line dividing the waters of the lake between Era nee and Switzerland. A French fishing boa t I rout Thonnn-lcs-Bains was fishing at the lines ft had laid down to capture the delicate lake trout, when it was pounced upon by a last Swiss mosquito craft, a motor-boat whose role is fo prevent poaching in the Swiss waters. The Swiss sailors claimed that the French boat was Tn,, Swiss waters, and easting graopling irons aboard the

French craft, they proceeded to board it. revolver in band. The Frenchmen were outnumbered and unarmed, but they seized oars and gaffs and resisted desperately until they were overpowered. The Swiss warship finally lowed its prize into the port of A'evoy. where the two members of the crew of the French vessel were lodged in gaol. This naval dispute is to be settled through diplomatic channels.

SLOVENLY BOYS. LONDON, November 28. An indictment of the working class

hoy of to-day made by Messrs Lehmann, Archer and Co., Ltd., engineers and toolmakers of Fairlop, lltord. Essex. having been replied to by the Ilford Juvenile Employment Committee, one of the directors of the engineering firm, has made a rejoinder, stating: Alany Tails who have been sent [by the committee] slouch up with both hands in their trousers pockets and lounge wearily against the doorpost, and also conduct all interview with the foreman with the inevitable “ fag-end” in the corner of their mouth.

Some are exceedingly dirty and some appear to be menially deficient, and quite a good percentage obviously do not want work and when not engaged go away feeling quite relieved. The average boy oi to-day, from our experience, is fur from industrious and in a largo number of cases distressingly ignorant. Many lads who apply lor . work cannot even read the simple measures on a rule.

One lad, questioned recently as to the number of sixteenths in an inch, replied that he did not know, but on further consideration he thought there were fourteen! This is by no means an isolated case.

ihe following are “howlers” from essays by schoolboy candidates for scholarships offered by Cumberland Education Committee: Cmyfeerland is a wonderful place. I live The mountains in Cumber-' land are the Cotswolds. the Halps, and the Nasturtiums. Horatious kept the bridge against the Turkies. _____