GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1751, 25 August 1917, Page 1

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

CANADIAN DESTROYS A ZEPPELIN. The German Zeppelin brought down on May 22nd, oft the coast of Holland, was felled by Flight Sub.Lieutenant Robert Leckic, of Toronto. He is a native of Glasgow, but had lived in Toronto 10 years, and secured his preliminary training at Toronto Island in the summer of 1015. SHELLS FROM CHURCH BELLS. A letter found in a raided German dug-out, written at Arfurt, in Saxony, on May 28th, says:—“The church bells have pealed a farewell. This week all of them will bo taken away to be smelled down and turned into shells. No eye remained dry when the pastor mentioned that instead of ringing out the tidings of an early peace they must now cause death and destruction.” LONGBOAT STILL 'WINNING. Sports held by the army with which the Canadian corps is connected resulted in the re-discovery of Toni Longboat, the famous Canadian Indian runner. In a three-' mile cross-country race, Longboat won well in advance of some of the most famous British and Canadian runners without even extending himself. He had a great reception from his regimental comrades. AMERICAN OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS. Easy recognition of the different ranks of the American Army is helped by the following list of markings: —Brown or black band on sleeve. The black band is for the General Staff, and the brown for all others. Second-lieutenant, plain uniform; first lieutenant, one ban; captain, (wo bars; major, gold leaf; lieutenant-colonel, silver loaf; colonel, eagle, brigadier-general, one star; major-general, two stars. THE STARCHLESS DAYS. At Grosvenor House (says the Pall Mall Gazette) they have no exact figures of the amount of starch still in possession of the laundries, but when present stocks are worked out, limp cellars and cuffs wilt become pretty general. For months past Captain Bathurst himself, who warned us of the coming disappearance of starched linen, has abstained patriotically from starched collars, wearing instead a neat collar of soft linen. Many M’s.P. are following his example. A MINISTER WHO CONJURED. Canon Parfit, of Bagdad, speaking in London, said that what impressed native rulers in the East was the scrupulous honesty of the. English officials. The Sultan of Turkey on one occasion was walolling a conjurer. The British Ambassador, who was present, remarked that it was “wonderful.” ‘No,” said the Sultan, “not so wonderful as all that. I once had a Minister of Marine who swallowed a battleship —at least, he had the money for it; and I’ve never seen the money or the ship since!” REFUGEES FORM ST. QUENTIN. The inhabitants of St. Quentin who were expelled by the Germans arc arriving in Paris, having travelled by way of Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. Later arrivals say that the town was finally evacuated by the last of the civilian population on March 18th, after a long period in which they sullered from lack of food. Supplies from the relief commission had been entirely suspended for that region and other parts of Northern France, and the refugees subsisted during (heir passage into Belgium' and Germany on soup from dandelions and nettles.