Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 53, 5 March 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

DRUNKENNESS AND THE WAR.

Times and Sydney Sun Service, (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 4

The British "Trade" Defence Association, in a manifesto on the conduct of licensed premises since the war, declared that a substantial reduction in offences for drunkenness has been recorded. It was shown that in the majority of districts and several of the big cities where wages are high, drunkenness increases.

PASTEUR INSTITUTE DISCOVERY OF VALUABLE SERUM.

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London,March 4. Professor Weinburg, of the Pasteur Institute, has declared he has discovered a serum to prevent and cure gaseour gangrene.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Copenhagen, March 4

A hundred and twenty German Bismarck Islanders, including the Governor, have arrived at Christiania. London, March 4.

The Times, in a leader, suggests, as a cure for strikes, taking employers and employees to France to view the ravages and urgent war needs, and shame them into a refusal to continue squabbling over farthings.

THE SINGAPORE RIOT.

NOT REBELLION ACAINST BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 4. In the House of Lords Earl Crewe said the lamentable outbreak at Shiga-

pore was a painful contrast to the loyalty of the Indian troops at present. War iu many parts of the world was due to some internal jealousy which is to be found among recruits in ditFerent classes, and it is important to understand that it is not connected or in sympathy with the Holy War which true Mahommedans denounced. Fifty rioters were killed or wounded, and the remainder were interned. A courtmartial was proceeding. There was no suggestion of a religious rising

against the British Government

HALF THE FIFTH INFANTRY REGIMENT INVOLVED.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) Delhi, March 4

A communique states: Only half the regiment of the Fifth Indian Infantry at Singapore was implicated in the riot, which was clue to certain promotions in the Indian ranks on the occasion of the Regiment's impending departure.

"i THINK HE'S FINE!"

OFFICER'S NOVEL EXPERIENCE WITH GENERAL BIRDWOOD.

Following is an extract from a letter from a Sydney.officer now in Egypt:— "Excellent work has been done in the short time we have been in Egypt. Sometimes I feel rather sceptical, might I say, about the chances of the A.I.F. going to Europe. I know nothing, of course! Just keep in mind, though, that part of the world called Syria, quite close to Egypt; Turkish troops guard it at present, but will England miss this opportunity of adding such a line territory to the Empire, and of crushing the Turks, when everything is ready close at hand ? Personally, I am not averse to doing the Crusader act; I hate the Turks worse than the Germans a good deal. The army corps consisting of the Australians and New Zealanders has been placed under the command of an Indian General, one of "Kitchener's men," Sir William Birdwood, C. 8., etc. Well, curiously enough, I had the special honor of making the acquaintance of this distinguished soldier in the most amusing way possible. The funny part is that I have only seen two Generals before in my life; so to converse tete-a-tete, with the G O.C. Colonial Army Corps, as I did, was rather novel. It was this way. I went to Cairo one day last week, did some shopping, for myself and others, had a badly-needed hair cut, bath, etc., and went to Shepherd's about 8 p.m. to dinner. Afterwards I went into the smoking room to read the British papers. I was reading away, rather interested, when somebody near me 'chipped in,' as the saying goes. I turned round and saw a little fellow in evening dress. He had rather knowing grey eyes, and was rather cutelooking person, now that I come to think. He seemed politely interested in the A.1.F., asked me where I came fi«om, how long I had been soldiering, what battalion I was with, and so on; seemed to know a little about military work, and remarked that we were very fortunate to be able to train in Egypt, instead of Salisbury Plain, as the weather in England was most inclement at this time of the year. I warmed to the subject, told him my opinions of the conditions of war at the present day, and my impressions of the different troops we had seen. He had rather a knack of inviting confidence. I told him that,, in my opinion, the Australians would soon give a good account of themselves, and settle down to the new conditions. I also told him that I considered that a letter sent to officers and N.C.'s of the A.I.F. by the new G.0.C., Sir William Birdwood, was a very fine one, and that one and all would profit by his advice and counsels. He said, 'l'm very glad you liked it; I am General Birdwood!'

"I find I had more control of my feelings than I thought. 1 only went a little red, and murmured, 'Really, sir, I didn't recognise you.' 'Oh, no, said he, 'a aelmet makes a hig difference, doesn't it.' "He talked on just the same, gave me a lot of little tips about platoon and company training, and told ne what he was arranging in the way of instruction for officers and amusement for men. I think he's fine. He's very gentle, and very nice, very under-

standing, and so on, but he means to make the force a top-notch one and won't stand tomfooling. He wished me good-night at last, and told me lie hoped he'd see me on the training ground. 1 said I hoped*so, too! I felt like asking him if he had a vacancy on his staff "I mentioned my experience to a couple of our fellows when I got back; it got round the mess very quickly, and I was 'stung' next day for feloniously hobnobbing with generals. It was worth it, anyhow."

JOTTINGS. Lord Kitchener is so generally credited with an iron character, devoid of sentiment in matters affecting his great purpose, that the following story of his thoughtfulness is of special interest. A Sunderland woman with five sons in the army lay dying. Her one desire was to see her boys again. Through the offices of a local Salvation Army officer four of the sons serving in England reached home within 24 hours, their expenses paid by the authorities. The fifth son, however, was at the front, and there seemed little chance of the old lady's wish being fulfilled. Hut the Salvationist telegraphed to the- War Office, and back came a reply over Lord Kitchener's signature saying that if the son could be found he would bo sent homo. Afterwards came a telegram to say that the man was on his way homo, and eventually he landed in time to see bis mother. The authorities had paid the whole of the expenses, given him seven days' furlough, and lis ration money.