GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1746, 9 August 1917, Page 4

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

£5,000,000,000 WAR PROFITS. According to the statement of the Baden Minister for Finance, Germany’s actual Avar debts now amount to over £5,000,000,000, of which £3,000,000,000 are covered by Avar loans. The Minister added that a Avar indemnity was necessary ahove everything. DRILLING THE CENSORS. One hears much of “the censor” as if there Avere only one, but as a matter of fact there are hundreds of them. Tloav great their number is may be realised from the fact that the Inns of Court Reserve Corps (Volunteers), AA'hich consisted of lavo companies, has just been increased by a third company, consisting solely of War Office censors. HUNT FOR JOVE’S GOLD. The Rome Municipal Council has passed a resolution asking the Government to demolish the Palazzo Caferelli on the Capitol, hitherto the scat of the German Embassy, which stands on the ruins of the ancient temple of Joa’c. Hopes are entertained of recovering an enormous amount of pui’o gold, Avhieh, according to Tacitus, was deposited by the Romans in the fo'nndations of the temple as a votive offering. • GENERAL PLUMER. General Plumer’s success marks an epoch in the life of one of the most painstaking soldiers in the British Army. We all remember the steady, persistent advance of Colonel Plainer (as lie thou was) from (he norlh towards.* the relief of Mafcking in Avhat now seem the faraAvay days of the South African War. A good many people in those times watched bis progress with hope, tempered perhaps by anxiety. Noav he has achicA’cd one of the most brilliant successes in the great Avar. His experience extends over a period of forty years, during which lie has rendered the Empire yoeman service in the Soudan and in iUatabeteland, as Avell as in the campaign already referred to. GERMAN AIRCRAFT LANDINGS. The German method adopted for the safe landing of aeroplane pilots at night As Avortliy of notice. A targe Avhite light is placed in the centre of the aerodrome, sunk in a pit in the ground, and covered over Avith a sheet of Ihiek glass to withstand (he Avcight of an aeroplane should the Avheels pass over it. AI a distance of about 25t)fl. from this light and also sunk in the ground, are four red lights corresponding to the cardinal points of the compass. Each of the red lights is connected by subterranean cables to a Avind vane, mounted on a mast or tower at some convenient point. At night the eenh’al light gloAVs constantly, while the rod light in the direction of {lie wind that happens to he blowing also shoAvs, indicating to (he pilot the wind conditions Avherc the landing is to lie made. It is understood that a system of altering (he lights has been devised, so that an aviator has to understand the code in order to knoAv his whereabouts. Enemy airmen are thus thwarted from making use of (he lights as guides. FLYING SENSATIONS. A curious absence of vertigo in persons undertaking; Highly in the air is (minted out by F. Lacroix. He is himself dizzy on a second story balcony, but has never experienced vertigo in his (lights in France, even during spiral evolutions or rapid descents of the aeroplane. The explanation seems to he that the terroslial landmarks are too di-dant and the relative stability of (he present-day aeroplanes 100 perfect to excite (lie nerves of the eye and ear giving rise to vertigo. Disturbances of the bearing, hoAvcver, almost invariably occur. Deafness and intermittent tinnitus (noises in the ear) are especially trpuhlesome at great heights and during rapid descent or ascent, and arc at least partly due to the great or sudden changes .of air pressure. Those effects arc more or loss overcome by swallowing movements, though they may persist in some degree for several hours, or even a day after the flight. THE UNREASONABLE. ADMIRALTY. It’s (he funniest ease I’ve ever had,” said the chairman at West Ham Police Court. Though aAvare that John Halfpenny, fireman, Avent to prison for stealing before his ship sailed, the Admiralty had him arrested for failing to join the boat. “He couldn’t he in two places at once.” said the chairman, discharging him.