Vol. 148.
January 27, 1915.
"Herts are doing well," reports Lord Cavan in a letter fromthe Front received at Stevenage. Herts, in fact, are trumps.
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In Germany it is now said that the Kaiser will receive Calaisas a birthday present. In France, however, it is said that it will bePas de Calais.
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The English governess whose book Messrs. Chapman and Hall havejust published says of the Kaiser:—"When he made a witticismhe laughed out aloud, opening his mouth, throwing back his headslightly with a little jerk, and looking one straight in the eyes." Itseems a lot of trouble to take to intimate that one has made a joke,but no doubt his hearers found it helpful.
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Further details of the battle off the Falkland Islands are now tohand. Von Spee, the German Admiral, it seems, ordered "Noquarter"—to which our men retorted, "Not half."
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An Express correspondent reports from Belgium that the Germans nowhave a number of monitor-like vessels at Zeebrugge which have only onelarge gun and "sit low in the water." We trust our Navy may be reliedupon to make them sit lower still.
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With regard to the occupation of Swakopmund the Vossische Zeitungnow says that this proceeding of war in South-West Africa is withoutsignificance. It seems rather churlish of our contemporary not to pointthis out until we have had the trouble of taking the place.
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A Berlin despatch announces that Dr. Weill, the member ofthe Reichstag who entered the French army, has been deprived of hisGerman nationality. We fear that Dr. Weill omitted some of theformalities.
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We cannot blame the ex-Khedive for assuming that his life isof value. He is to direct operations in Egypt from Geneva.
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"CARDINAL MERCIER
Belief that he does not enjoy
full Liberty."
These headlines are regrettable. They make it possible for the Germansto say, "What's the good of giving him full liberty if he does notenjoy it?"
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On more than one occasion lately the Special Constables have beancalled out only to kick their heels for a considerable time at thelocal police station. There is some grumbling as to this, it being feltthat they might have been told, anyhow, to bring their knitting withthem.
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The Glasgow Evening Times must not be surprised if it loses a fewsubscribers among the members of the R.A.M.C. owing to the followinganswer to a correspondent in its issue of the 15th inst.:—"'18'(Falkirk)—Delicate lads are of little use in the Army. You might trythe Royal Army Medical Corps."
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With reference to the action brought by Sir Hiram Maxim torestrain an alleged nuisance from noise and vibration caused by a firmof builders, our sympathy certainly went out to the defendants, for whocould have guessed that the inventor of the famous machine-gun wouldhave a rooted objection to noise?
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The new West London Police Court was opened last week, a