TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14072, 17 June 1911, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The English explorers Dangerous who sought for secrets Exploration, and treasure in the un-

derground tunnels of I Jerusalem, nearly provokod a massacre of Europeans. They were believed to have taken from the mosque of Omar, which crowns the hill where they wero at work, the- sword of Solomon and other relics, and Moslem fanaticism was raised to a very dangerous pitch by this reported desecration of one of tho most venerated shrines in tho Mohammedan world. Tho mysterious excavations carried on hv tho party jeopardised the throats of all tho Europeans in Jerusalem for several hours. Considerable mystery still surrounds tho enterprise. Friends of tho members of the expedition deny indignantly that there was any idea of profaning the mosque, and affirm that tho objects were purely archaeological and legitimate, being pursued with tho consent of the Turkish Government, but other people think tho expenditure of £60,000, and constant work day and night, require some other explanation than that of purely scientific enthusiasm. Valuable manuscripts, including one bearing on the resurrection of Christ, and treasure of the Jewish kings, are said to have been amonsj the things they expected to find. Tho work was done secretly, [by specially selected labourers, and I supervised by an engineer who had had I experience in the construction of Loni don subways. There is no doubt that, I whatever the objects of the expedition, tho operations were exceedingly dangerous to tho Englishmen. At any moment their Moslem workmen might have been seized with a fear of the Holy Rock being desecrated, and havo murdered their employers. Next to Mecca, the Eock is, to Moslems, tbo most sacred spot in the world. It was 1 here, it is said, that Mohammed flew jto heaven on his miraculous steed, i piercing the rock as he went. Beneath the rock is said to havo been concealed the Ark of the Covenant, together with many treasures of the temples of Solomon and of Herod, of which it is the putative site. Beneafh it is situated the Bir-cl-Arwah, or Well of Soults, where- the spirite of dead Moslems aro said to assemble. It has never been permitted for the Rock to bo explored, although some years ago, during a period of drought, tho Moslem guardians of the place- were almost persuaded to permit some investigations. While they were wavering, however, rain came up, I and the parched land was refreshed. Allah had heard the prayer of the Faithful, and the wicked machinations of the "Christian dogs" were frus[trated.

Albania has its Joan of

An Are. A.young woman Albanian, reported to have disHeroiue. tinguished hersolf by h*r eouraceous leadership in j the recent fighting against tho Turks. Several Albanian bands wero being sorely pressed by a battalion of Turks, when Zanitza Martinay. at tho head of a few brotherhoods of tho clan Martinay, led her band to a flank attack on tho enemy, and comnelled them to retire. She had lost her fiancd and her father in the same war, and her brother being too young to take command of the clan, she had taken tho hereditary duty on herself. She is now a heroine in tho songs of the mountain poets, sung in the inns and coffeehouses of that region. Zauitza, who is a tall, handsomo woman of tTventy-two. followed the traditions of her race, for all the Albanian women arc brave, and arc trained to arms from their childhood. Their usual work in war timo is to carry provisions and ammunition for tho soldiers, and they distribute these in tho firinc line. The Servian Minister in London speaks cuthusiactically of the Albanians as physically tho finest race in Europe. To see them walk is a delight. They are a very gifted people, and when they acquire more civilisation .they will be the aristocracy of tho Balkans. Their handicap at present is that they cannot grasp the idea of a State, the clan being their highest organisation. Primitive as this organisation is, tho Albanian must be a formidable enemy in his mountains. "Shooting is almost the only amusement of tho young men and women in Albania," says tho Minister. "Both boys and girls learn to shoot when, they aro twelve years old. At weddings tho pnrtios amuso themselves by dancing and shooting; at christenings shooting is again the principal amusement—firing at targets for some little prize—and at festivals thero is shooting all day long. It is ono of tho groat difficulties that Turks havo to contend with, for it is part of the national life; tho people uso their rifles by day, and sleep with them at their sido by night. Tho custom has grown up with tho prevailing insecurity—insecurity from vendettas at homo and border troubles abroad." Albania could could make an interesting exchange with Great Britain—some of this willingness to boar arms for a little civilisation.

Notwithstanding the fact that Tho the motor 'bus has not been Motor a financial success generally, 'Bus. London is to have another

Hugo company to place upon its streets a new variety of motor 'bus, approaching, it is claimed, very near perfection. Tho London correspondent of tho "Sydney Morning Herald" reviews tho position of the unhappy promoters of motor 'bus companies, "glancing an eye Of pity on their losses." Fivo or six years ago, he says, tho vehicle promised to revolutionise travelling facilities and the investor accordingly rushed tho new companies. It is estimated that among tho companies £2,000,000 was subscribed, and it is no exaggeration to state that £1,750,000 of this amount has, been completely lost. It may bo argued that tho failure of tho motor 'bus "to make good" can be ascribed to tho improvement and extension of the electric tram and the "tube. ' At least one townin New Zealand, however, with no such competition, substituted the motor for tho horse, but returned, sadder and wiser, to its "old love." 1 Tho motor 'bus in London proved more expensive *and less efficient and popular than was anticipated. \>iicn company after company had lost heavily, an amalgamation was effected and general omnibus shares, with tho improvement of machines and reduced cost of running, obtained a firm market. On tho Stock Exchange many big fortunes wore made in the rise from £14 to £130. These shares have now fallen to £90, owing to tho new company with a capital of £1,000,000 and backed by two great manufacturing firms, making its appoarance. Competition will b© fiercer than ever, street congestion will be worse than ever, but the public will reap the benefit of cheaper fares.