NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1994, 24 June 1919, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

During the war 7,000,000 troops were conveyed from Southampton to Havre with the loss of only seven lives.

The total' area of destruction in France is about 6,000 square miles of territory, supporting about 2,000,000 people. A German.professor figures out that the abdications and dethronements in Germany include 278 persons. Bavaria leads with one king, one queen, 15 princes, 10 princesses, five dukes, and one duchess. Prussia has sent 33. royalties into exile, including the emperor, empress, 20 princes and 11 princesses. Brunswick is at the bottom of the list, with only the ducal couple and their three children.

Many ancient families in England have stored away life-sized figures in wax of their ancestors, made at the time of the original’s death. For example,-The Duke of Norfolk has the figures of three wives and one of his ancestors, which are kept in a glass, case at one of his country seats. Most of these etligies were made by Italians, and it was from Italy that the idea came. The Channel Tunnel was advocated as a practical proposition so long ago as 1865, and, indeed, begun by French enthusiasts of 45 years ago, when, under the first concession from the French Government a shaft was sunk at Sangatte and a gallery driven forward beneath the sea to a distance of one and a-half miles. Later, in 1881, a tunnel 7ft. in diameter was bored at a depth of 160 ft. to a distance of 2,615 yards from Shakespeare Cliff, near Dover. There is a local precedent for the air duel which is to be fought between two French airmen. A quarrel over a Parisian operatic star in 1808 was .the cause of a ballooy, duel between M. le Granprc and M. le Pique. The idea was to lire at each other's balloons with blunderbusses. They ascended from the Tuilleries, each with his second, amid an immense concourse of spectators. When about half-a-mile up, and 80 yards apart, the signal Avas given, and Le Pique’s balloon AA'as hit, descending with frightful rapidity; he and his second were dashed, to pieces. The victor continued his voyage,' and landed safely seven leagues from Paris.