GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1811, 9 April 1918, Page 1

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

A letter from Sir Stanley Maude, written from Mesopotamia on October 14th, shortly before his fata! illness, has .reached Mr E. Vaughan, of Eton. General Maude wrote :r—----“It was a stern and severe struggle during last winter, but, thanks to the magnificent fighting qualities of all ranks in this army, we succeeded ins- dealing the Turks a stunning blow. Two thoughts were uppermost in my mind through that the old regiment (the Coldstream Guards) would ■ be proud, and the other that the old school would be pleased.” VALUABLE SILVER SPRUCE. Owing to' the large number of aeroplanes that are being manufactured in Great Britain and Canada, the demand for silver spruce has been prohibited to all destinations, abroad other than the United Kingdom possessions and protectorates except under license. The supply of silver spruce has greatly decreased in the United States and Europe, and, owing to the havoc caused to the forests by the war, it is certain that the stands. of this tree will greatly diminish in area and volume. So that the Province of Quebec, which still has 80,000,000 acres of spruce and balsam-fir forests, will be called upon to contribute extensively towards making up for the denudation of the European forests. UNWANTED GUESTS. - Shipping offices in New York have been inundated with applications from wealthy Americans for berths on board ships bound for England, and estate agents there are receiving numerous inquiries for houses in southern counties from American parents who desire to be near their soldier sons. The British authorities view this movement with considerable alarm. Not only does it aggravate the shipping problem, but the Food Controller may have something to say about the importation of a large and wealthy population. Difficulties are already being made for the prospective visitors, and until the American Government is able to prohibit these sailings the companies, by imposing severe limitations and requirements, are keeping the numbers well in cheek. A LUCKY FIND, There is great rejoicing in a wellknown London club over a lucky discovery. In the course of alterations to provide increased accommodation, the builders had to knock, through a cellar wall, when to their amazement they came upon a small vault, with no enti’anee, containing over 100 eases of brandy. Many years ago, it apepars, a new staircase was constructed, and it had been built over the door of the vault. SKILLED AMERICANS EXPECTED. It is not at all improbable that ns : soon as the American armies .are ready to take the field a very large ■number of American skilled workmen will be sent to England and France to assist in the manufacture of munitions. The view taken by the members of the American Mission is (says the Evening Standard) that it is desirable that as much iof the highly-skilled work as is possible should be done on this side of the water. A mine or torpedo, it is: pointed out, might destroy in a moment the week’s labour of thousands of hands, and the risk in that direction should be reduced to a minimum.