GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1866, 20 August 1918, Page 1

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

GRIM INDIVIDUAL EFFICIENCY.

The fighting on our side avus marked by the rare efficiency of the individual, Avrites an Australian in describing the fight at a bridgehead, east of Jordan, and near Es Salt. There was no loose, Avild shooting. Every man shot to kill, aiming Avith the zest and yet the coolness and deliberation of (be successful big game shooter. To these troopers it, Avas an exultant, fierce game, played grimly for keeps. One Turk, hit at close range, burst into flames, as though he had carried a bottle-of ' petrol or other inflammable substance, and a shout of Avild laughter sounded from our line. And as the individual Avas good, so Avas each grade in (he command. There Avas from corporal to, general a note of absolute confidence, a complete absence. of bustle or concern. Every man trusted his neighbour; every officer his men. VIRGIN ISLANDS GONE DRY. The Virgin Islands, America's ncAv possessions in the West Indies, have gone dry. The local legishfture have adopted the government's proposed acts for prohibition which will take effect’ on July Ist next year. “WALKING” IN THE DEAD REA. We hi)vo tried the Dead Rea, too, and “walked” breast high at least upon the chemical-laden waters. Trying to sAvim, our feet have, despite our efforts to keep them doAvn, splashed about on the surface like the semv of an empty, unballasted steamer. UNLUCKY SLIPS. Mr Ellison, in Black-wood’s Magazine, relates how prisoners trying to escape inadvertently gave themselves invay. “C had travelled by train as far as Dusseldorf after his escape from the Ranatorium for British civilians in Charlottenbnrg,.. and Avent into a hat shop there in order to buy it German hat. On entering the shop he tripped over something at the door, and forgetting himself, said aloud, “D —n!”- The shopkeeper heard it, sent detectives after him, and he Avas arrested. “H Avas seen eating a I'cav Huntley and Palmer's biscuits in a station restaurant in Magdeburg. ‘Ach, Englander’ av.-is (he head aauiiter’s comment. He was arrested.” THE FLYING A MENT. Major Marlin W. Flack, of the Research Department of the Air Ministry, says that unless measures Avere taken for protection, nr the airman avus a superman, collapse avou ld inevitably occur. It avus the function of the air medical officer to look upon the pilots under his charge as human machines, to say Avhether they Avere fit to take the air, and to take steps to remove any signs of menial or physical distress. It was obvious that a pilot must have good vision, good hearing,.and good hands, but lung capacity was the most important consideration. The successful pilot was generally a deepbrealher, who took in more oxygen per unit than the ordinary man, and Avas able to hold bis breath longer. At the same lime, Avhal avus knoAvn as “(he flying temperament” Avould to a certain extent overcome physical disability, and one of their most famous airmen Avas a man of diminutive stature. In ground training, hardening exercises should be insisted upon, as there avus no doubt that a man so hardened, silting in light clothing, had a much smaller oxygen usage than one -avlio had not undergone (he treatment.