Short War Stories.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 November 1917, Page 4

Short War Stories.

TOMMY'S RIGHT. Many stories liavc been told of the average sergeant-instructor's capacity for eloquent expression at the cxpenso of the raw recruit, but for grim humour it would be difficult to rival this retort of a sergeant. The recruit had developed a sort of conscientious objection to certain orders given to him by his sergeant, And he muttered something about "My rights." "Look here .sonny," said the sergeant, "the only right a British privato has in these days is six foot of earth, and vou-ve got to go to Flanders to get that.'' ANOTHER CASUALTY. During the operations of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine a town to the south of Beersheba was captured, and in it a splendid example of Mosaic pavement was discovered. A chaplain to the forces was placed in charge of the excavation of it, and in the course of the work some human benes were discovered. The padre was elated at the find and immediately wired to his G.H.Q., saying: "Have found bones of saint." A little while after the reply came back: "Unable to trace Saint in casualty list. Obtain particulars of regimental number and regiment from his identity disc." HUN JEWELLERY SMUGGLING. Jewellery is evidently not considered very safe in Germany, judging from the amount that is pouring into Holland in mysterious parcels. According to a consular authority in Amsterdam, the Duteli Government has been obliged to appoint special officers to trace and keep a record of these articles of value. Some are for sale, but the greater quantity is despatched in fictitious names to banks j'and places of deposit. The Ivaiserin is reported to havo deposited much of her jewellery in this fashion MARVELLOUS SURGICAL FEAT. The ingenious but simple operation whereby a thumb was supplied to a man whose hand had been amputated, has just been described in a German medical paper. The surgeon cut open the stump, split the radius for about two and a half inches, and inserted a piece of muscle and fat cut from the thigh; this lie folded over to make a soft pad. To the piece of bone cut off the radius ho attached the flaxour tendons, making it movable. The new thumb is weak in its extension movement, but can be bent so strongly that with it and the stump the patient can lift such oojects as chairs. Six month's after the operation the thumb is still improving in dexterity.