GENERAL NEWS ITEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1996, 28 June 1919, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS ITEM.

M. Breton, a former French Deputy and Under-Secretary for War Inventions, claims to be the father of the tanks. The Matin says his claims will have to be discussed with his British friends. How can a whale be mistaken and —bombed for a submarine? This little problem can be solved by a visit to the Grafton Galleries at London. There are two pictures of whales taken from seaplanes, and one is informed that the rule, “when in doubt bomb,” was responsible for the death of a good marfy of these inoffensive animals.

It is reported that Maxim Gorki is playing an important role in Moscow, where everybody is consulting him, even Lenin and Trotsky. Gorki, who is personally not a Bolshivist, is devoting his time to preserving Russian art treasures, antiquities, and collections on behalf of the Government.

When peace is signed it is expected that the Government will be called upon to extend hospitality

during' the year to various distinguished visitors, whose identity at present is not known. In the Civil Service Estimates just issued it is proposed to set £200,000 aside for “Government Hospitality.” Last year the figure was only £25,000. Skippers and trawler-men are to have the opportunity of purchasing boats on easy co-operative terms as soon as the thousands of trawlers now used for mine-sweeping can be released. It is understood that there is to lie one important; restriction — the shares in the acquired trawlers must not be permitted to pass into the hands of merchants or moneylenders. The first United States fleet of commercial aeroplanes has been purchased by the Kerr Steamship Company as auxiliaries to the shipping service. The type selected is the “Christmas Bullet,” which made a record of 180 miles an hour. These aeroplanes will overtake ships 21 to 30 hours after leaving port, and

deliver delayed consignments and papers. Steamers’ lime in port may thus be reduced by over a dav.

“It is a very serious slate of affairs when boys gamble with money that the State gives to assist them.” So said the chairman of the Enfield Bench to Leonard Crawley, a 15-year-old ex-munition worker, who, along with his brother, were charged with playing banker. Leonard Crawley admitted that he was receiving 14s (id per week from the Slate. He said he was used to having a lot of money. A 5s fine was imposed in each case. A romantic discovery has been made at Cambridge. Sumo ancient premises, because of frees in front of them, were recently acquired for business offices. The curious carving of a cupboard attracted the attention of an expert, who on invesligation found that practically all the woodwork of the house was of sixteenth century oak. The rooms panelled with Jacobean carved oak arc estimated to bo worth at least £2,000. The panelling had been covered with cheap wallpaper.

If the armistice had not been signed when it was, the Germans would have had the surprise of their lives, for new super-tanks were being constructed, a great factory covering twenty-two acres had been completed in France for assembling these machines, and 300 would have been turned out every month. This disclosure was made at a dinner of members of the Anglo-American Commission specially formed to assemble these mammoth tanks. General Seely and Mr Churchill were among the speakers.