GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2047, 28 October 1919, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Twelve- persons have been killed by the explosion ot n mine near Carabrai, including Mx German prisoners of war. '

Orders have been issued by the Military Governor of Paris, on the instructions of M. Clcmeuceau, that in future troops must march round the'Are de Triomphc, and not through it. The chains barring the way through the-arch tire to be replaced. Under’ the patronage of Princess Margrethe, a Danish committee has now sent out the first 400,000,000 world-peace stamps. These stamps may be purchased all over the world, tind the money tints collected will go to a fund for the rebuilding of the ruined Cathedral of Rheims.

Band/, the charger of Colonel Snider, 27th Battalion Canadian Infantry, is returning to ’ the home farm at Portage 1c Prairie. He went through the South African War with his master, and until mobilisation in, 1914 worked on the land.. Dandy has been in France since 1914. He was never hit. “White Paws,” a kitten, saved the life ot 11. G. Mills, of Colorado, the kitten, which follows its owner as constantly as a dog, was riding with Mills in his automobile when engine trouble developed. Mills crawled under the car to investigate, ami found himself within striking distance of a giant rattle-snake coiled. The kitten leaped from the ear and sank its teeth into the rattler’s head, killing, it. The snake, which measured 9ft. in length, and had 12 rattlers, was sent to a taxidermist for mounting. Pioneers declared it to bo the largest rattier ever seen in the district.

A real tragedy, unbeknown to the audience, occurred behimHhc scenes at tlic Theatre (!<■•- Arts during the performance of a military drama entitled “Verdun.” The principal actor m tin* play is supposed to fall after being struck by a bullet. At (he same moment that this was taking place on.the stage the chief electrician of the theatre, standing a few yards' away in the wings, drew a revolver and shot himself in the same .place where the actor is supposed to bo hit. The screams of the dying suicide mingling with the actor’s cries guve f} the scene extraordinary realism.

Amateur photographers who managed to secure illicit pictures Muring the war are likely to be a little perplexed at the offer of the British authorities who are now beginning the task of appraising the value of several hundreds ot thousands of photographs taken during the war, at the front and elsewhere, the cream of which arc to be arranged for the benefit of historians ' and book illustrators of the future. The authorities slate that the' photographs they are anxious to get.hold of “are those taken illicitly by amateurs, large numbers of which- are known to exist.” Forgiveness is promised, but will the clever amateur with good pictures be willing to reveal just how clever ho was ! A committee of distinguished .Scots appointed by the Secretary for Scotland recommends that Edinburgh Castle should lie the site of a national war memorial to the 100,000 Scots who fell in the war. They propose that a dedicated building or shrine should be erected on the apex of the Castle Hock, practically on (he spot on which stood the ancient church built by. King David. In the building, which could be used for devotional purposes, would be memorials for all the Services. They also suggest that the old barracks on the east side of Crown Square should be adapted for a Hall of Valour, in which might be blazoned on the walls, the roll of Scotsmen who have won the Victoria Cross since its institution; and also the names of specially distinguished Scotsmen who have given their lives in the war. The scheme is estimated to cost £250,000.