NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2168, 26 August 1920, Page 1

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Greater London, with an area of 119 square miles, has an average population of man' -! 1,000 to (he square mile, compared with Greater New York’s average of 19,901) to each of its HOD square miles. While words a hum cannot be an assault, angry words accompanied by the raising of a hand, apparently with the intention of striking' a blow do constitute a legal assault, although the blow may never lie struck.

It is notified by the Air Ministry that an area extending 200 yards in any direction from Mount Bat ten Breakwater, Plymouth Harbour, is kept clear of all small surface craft in order that seaplanes and Hying boats may manoeuvre there. Grey-haired men as drivers are preferred by a big American motor transport firm, while another linn chooses married men, since these two classes are supposed to possess more judgment and sense of responsibility than the young and unmarried.

The total cost of the principal lire losses in the United Kingdom during May is estimated at £1,124,000. The total compares with losses ol £478,200 in April last, and £500,700 in May of last year, and it is by far Hie most formidable monthly figure since .January of last year.

A barge containing about 200 London music-hall chocolate sellers, ncvcral music-hall managers, and a band, paraded up and down the river before the House oJ: Parliament one evening recently, and, protested against the restriction on the sale oi' ehoeolate in theatres. The robbery last year of sixty million Rumanian lei (nominally £2,400,000) from the famous Julius Tower at Spandau, Germany, where £(i,000,000 in gold, part of the French indemnity from the war of 1870, was kept, has now been cleared up by the arrest of four thieves who, it is learned, were in charge of the money at the time. Three of the thieves apparently turned their illgotten gains to good use by buying villas and engaging in poultry farming and fruit culture. The fourth wasted his substance in riotous living, culminating in an unsuccessful burglary which ended his career of crime. All four expressed deep disappointment at the miserable prices which they received for the stolen notes, which were bought by farseeing Rumanian and Russian Jews. France was beaten by England by 2 goals to 0 in the women’s football match at Preston, About 30,000 people watched the play. The French girls marched on to the field to the strains of the “Marseillaise,” came into line for the photographers, and bowed gracefully at the word of command. In. their uniform pf poilu blue they looked much slighter than their English opponents. The French girls ran and

jumped with fuse inn ling grace, their footwork was pretty and clever, but they lacked the strength and determination of the English team, and their kicking lacked power. Their goalkeeper was splendid, and after the game beautiful bouquets were handed her. The visitors took their defeat in the best of grace. They are ready for another match to “wipe it off,” they said.