GENERAL NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 2 January 1918, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS

DILAPIDATED BUT PROUD. Our men are rather proud of their own dilapidated appearance after an advance, says a correspondent at the front. One lad who was literally caked with mud from eyebrows to puttees shouted to the driver of a lorry: "Bill, you see what it is to be a wonting man." They were very tired, but in fine spirits, all of them, in spite or the mud, though they said many profane things about it. "Simply awful," was the frank verdict of an Irishman, "you had to roll towards the Huns, you couldn't walk." NEEDS OF MUNITIONEERS. At the Royal Small Arms Tavern, at Enfield (opened by the Duke of Connaught) 2500 persons can be given food and shelter daily in four shifts. The menu at the opening meal consisted of roast fowl, beef, mutton, pork, chop toad, and steak pudding, all at 8d each, with two vegetables in abundant quantity for 4d; apple pie, stewed apples, custard and plain pudding with jam or marmalade, at 2d each; and beer at 5d a pint, or bitter. Burton, or stout at Is. MORE WOMEN FOR THE R.F.O. Although the response made to the appeal for women foF'&e Women's Army Auxiliary Corps has so far been very encouraging, a total of 10,900 applications having been received, there are still vacancies. 'ln addition to the 10,000 women which tile War Office notified to the. Employment Department would be required, numbers are wanted for work under the Royal Flying Corps. These women will be required to work in the aircraft repairing depots, both at home and in France.

SWIFT AIR TRAGEDY. A remarkable story of a swift air tragedy was told by Mr Boyd Cable recently. "At a certain mess," he said, "I met a boy in tfie Royal Flying Corps. He bad just lit a cigarette and ordered a drink when a major came in and asked for volunteers for a balloon 'strafe.' The boy put down his cigarette and went out. His machine went up and—he 'went west.' 1 was still at the same table when they brought the news. So little time had elapsed that his cigarette was stin burning. It was a bit of a s-hock to see it." CURIOUS GERMAN ARMY ORDERS Numbers of documents, including army orders a nd so forth, have fallen into our hands in Flanders, and among these Is an order from a divisional commander to a battalion commander telling him to hold on, as he was to be relieved in a couple of days. The latter had scribbled across the document in pencil. "Yes, by the English." Another quite priceless order commands the Germans to attack wit-h fixed bayonets and shouting loud hurrahs, which, "being their own fashion," the English cannot stand." To put it mildly, ThTsorSer was not uniput it midly, this order Avas not uniTHE AMERICAN WAY. The United States army is attempting to solve the soldiers' pension problem in a very simple manner. Their War Department has instituted a form of State insurance. Every soldier on j enlistment takes out an insurance policy towards which he pays a small premium monthly by deduction from his pay. Should he be killed in action his next of kin draw the insurance, while should he be so seriously wouded as to prevent his obtaining subsequent employment the man himself is paid a monthly allowance under the scheme. It saves a lot of worry, attendance at pension committee meetings, contentious cases and possible ligitation.