JOTTINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 41, 5 October 1914, Page 3

JOTTINGS.

The Ruahino, which arrived at Wellintgon on Saturday from London, was a fortnight behind time, owing to a week’s delay in London and a stoppage of live days at Teneriffe owing to the activity of German cruisers. Aftei leaving Teneriffe, the Ruahme’s course was patrolled by H.M.S. Cornwall and several British armed merchantmen. * * * * Her Excellency the Countess ol Liverpool has been officially advised in regard to cholera belts that woven ones only are asked for. It is desired that all contributions of socks and cholera belts should be sent direct t< Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool at Government House, Wellington, marked, ‘Queen Mary’s Appeal.” * * * * The Franco-Prussian War of 18701871 cost France £372,000,000, whilst Prussia, now generally spoken of as Germany, spent £77,550,000. The indemnity she imposed on France as an off-set to this was £213,000,000, and she annexed Alsace-Lorraine, valued at £64,000,000. France paid off the indemnity by September 5. 1873, and the last German troops left her territory on September 16. * * * *

said the l\flnister of Defence In the House of Representatives last, week, “wo were to arm all member, of rifle clubs, the membership of wine! has increased enormously since tin commencement of the war, it would be necessary to withdraw rifles from th Senior Cedts, and their training wool suffer seriously; in fact, the whole has is on which our Territorial system i founded would be adversely affected At the present moment the Defence Department is obtaining from district: the exact number of rifle club member: in their respective areas, and after due consideration the available number o rifles for issue to rifle clubs under tin existing regulations will bo consider© and carried out to the best advantage. Officers Commanding Districts are do ing what, they can to assist in th training of the rifle clubs. Member of rifle clubs who arc actually in pos session of rifles are also doing whaf they can to train their brother mom bers who have no rifles.- The ammuni tion-silpply will be dealt with in a simi lar manner,”

Lord Kitchener, who is the present Secretary of State for War in Great Britain, is an Irishman, like most of our other famous soldiers. He was born at Crotter House, Ballylongford County Kerry, on June 24, 1850, and is consequently 64 years of age. He is a son of the late Lieutenant-colonel Kitchener, and was educated at the Woolwich Military Academy. He on. tored.thq Royal Engineers in 1871, r corps which has produced some famous soldiers. He became a majorgeneral ,in 1896, the very year that he commanded the successful Dongola Expedition. He commanded thr Khartoum Expedition in 1898, wliicl ended in the successful battle o' Omdurman. For this he received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, was created a peer with the title of Baron, and was given a national grant of £30,000. He was Chief of Staff to Earl Roberts in the Boer War from 1899 to 1900, and himself became Commander-in-Chief from the last-named year until the end of the war in 1902. For his services in the South African War he in the peerage, becoming a Viscount, and was granted £50,000 by the British Parliament. He was created Field-Marshal in' 1909, the same year going to India as Com-mander-in-Chief. When he vacated that commission he was made British Resident in Egypt. He was created an Earl in the last Birthday Honors.