GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 29 August 1916, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Of the operations in the battle of the Somme, Mr Malcolm Boss says: Wounded and unwonndoj Gprman prisoners, many hundreds ol whom we saw, had in their faces that grey scared look that tells its own tide of torments of mind and ot bodily fatigue and shock ondurpd. With a haunting rememherance of the ordeal they said it was terrible. 'I hey were a mixed lot- m.t, of course, seen at their best-- but amongst them were some line strapping fellows. Mamadmitted that Germany could not now-win--the most they hoped lor was a draw- —but in any case the war could not last much longer! One thing was certain—namely, that their morale had been shaken. Few there wow who were not pleased to he prisoners, fewer still, who, could they regain their liberty, would care to go hack.

Mr G. F. A!organ, of Bondi, caught a shark on Bondi beach with a rod and reel and ‘2-1-cord line of the’usual type generally used for tarpon fishing (says the Sydney Sun). It took him and hour and a quarter to land the lift din monster, which weighed between eight and nine cwt, and was of the true tiger species. But it probably took the shark much longer to digest the last meal that he had before being caught, for a quaint collection .’of prey was found in his stoinach'.(First and most inedible was a 2Ulb ,porcupine fish, absolutely covered iwi/tl? hard spines, and looking like a weapon of|;lorture used by the Huns. ' It was probably this tit-bit that caused the shark to become disgusted with life, and to commit suicide on the hook. His stomach also contained a large porpoise, a most unusual meal in a shark’s menu, a little'shark, an albatross with a wingspan of between six and seven feet, a lot of small ( fish, and a King Charles spaniel dog with a collar on, but no name. Mr McCulloch, of the Australian Museum, saw the captured shark, and testified to the fact that if-was a real tiger. It must have been to consume a porcupine fish, a porpoise, an albatross, and a lap-dog.

The extensive course of repairs that the,Aurora lias undergone is now practically? completed (reports the Otago Daily- /Tpnes), and the little vessel will he rennjved from the dock early next week. The task that was placed in the' hands of Messrs Miller Bros, was one of great magnitude, and it has been performed so efficiently that the Aurora is now declared by sonic to be in as good a condition as when she loft the. stocks, if not better. All die outside sheathing has been removed, the hull caulked, and new sheathing fitted. A new funnel has also been supplied and a fresh stern-post rigged. The difficult work of shipping the * new rudder was carried out on Thursday, ami was successfully accomplished. As a further precaution the vessel will he filled with water before she is taken out of dock in order to make certain that there are no leaks. The above, of course, represents only an outline of what has been done, and in justice to Port Chalmers, and to Messrs Miller Bios, m particular it should be added that the su and labour devoted to the refitting ol the Aurora during the many weeks she remained in clock are hignh f >c ditable and bear testimony to the olhcieney of the. shipwright industry m that town.

In- one raid (writes Mr Malcolm Koss referring to the work ol the •Anzaes) there were several parlies, and soon alter midnight we learnt that thev had got in ami out ot the German 'trench. A little later came tJie message: “One prisoner just arrived, sir!” The prisoner was a man who talked English very well. 'h' had 'been a clerk in London. “Don t kill me I am a married man,” he said to the big Anzfcc who captured him. Hi- cantor gave him a little pat on the head and replied: “You re all right, sonny! Don’t you worry!” The prisoner said he iVckoned this raid was very cleverly carried out. It was clover, he said, using an adjective with whieh the Annaes are quite familiar. 1 saw ihe prisoner afterwards, lie was a good-looking fellow. The searehers took finite a lot ~f letters olf him, and photographs of Lis' -wife min. children. He had a pretty wife and pretty children. I'hcre was also a recent letter 1 rom his wilt'. It. would he the last,she would receive for some days—until lie could get a letter to her through a neutral country. The prisoner was anxious to keep |V> pictures of his family, and these were promnily handed hack to him as r.non as he was put in an adjoining dugoiit under guard. He wa> giv-Mi cigarettes, and seme of the men gave him of their wu loot!. One could not help thinking ol the contract in tin* treatment ol our men in ths Hh.lthen Camp!