GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1938, 11 February 1919, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

MAINTAINING THE BLOCKADE

The Tenth Cruiser Squadron, with its famous cruiser, the flagship .Alsatian, from 1914 to 1917 held the 800 miles stretch of grey sea from the Orkneys to Iceland, In those waters they intercepted 15,000 ships, taking foodstuffs to our enemies. ‘‘VILLAGE CENTRES.” Ilis Majesty the King has subscribed £IOO towards the funds of the Village Centres Council as an encouragement to the council to proceed with the work it is undertaking on behalf of ex-service men. The council’s intention is to establish county centres in various parts of the kingdom, where ex-service men will be received after discharge from hospital, and (heir treatment carried on, under expert supervision, in conjunction with'training in various occupations. The Enham Estate of over 1,000 acres, situated at Enham, near Andover, Hampshire, has been selected as the site for the first village centre. 709 RAIDS ON GERMANY. Oflicial figures show that the number of air raids made by the British on Germany iu the last year of (he war was nearly live limes as great as the total number of air raids made by Germans on Great Britain during more than four years; of war. From October, 1917, (o the conclusion of the armistice Royal Air Force squadrons made over 709 bombing raids, of which 374 were upon large German towns, many of them situated more than 100 miles from the British Hying base. MetzSahlons, with 91 raids, Thionville coming next with 52. BRITISH PENSIONS INCREASED. Owing to the high cost of living, the British Government has approved a 20 per cent, increase being paid on all pensions, according to a statement by Mr G. N. Barnes. As a result, a disabled soldier will now: get 335, and a little more, instead of 27s (id, and a woman with four children 40s Od, instead of 32s Gd. .[

PRINCESS MARY IN FRANCE. ' Princess Mary was the first member of the Royal family to go to the scene of (he war after the signing of the armistice, making a lour in France and Belgium. Long as was her list of engagements, she found lime and energy to extend it considerably. On her return to London, Princess Mary looked exceedingly well, and stated that she had most thoroughly enjoyed her (rip. She found her lour replete with interest, and came away deeply impressed by the extent and the variety of (he -work overseas in which women of the various organisations arc engaged.