WAR MISCELLANY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15671, 17 August 1916, Page 8

WAR MISCELLANY.

BBITAIN'S WAB WIDOWS.

OTBOU OP* OWU CORRESPONDENT.) IvONDON, June 29' In the early days of the war the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation was estimating as to the number of widows tKat in all probability would be created by the war. They then numbered 3000 and the highest estimate of anyone was 30,000. Lord Kitchener heard of this, and said they must make provision for at least 50,000. Since the war broke out, Mr Hayes Fisher says, grants have been made by the Royal Patriotic Fund to 34.662 widows of soldiers, 5020 widows of sailors, 84,737 children, and 24,606 other dependants. The total cost of this had been £30G,540. As th e result of the recent great naval battle there had been added 1550 widows to th© list, and I£oo to the list of other dependants. After June 30th the Patriotic Fund grant wil: no longer b© available. The new Statutory Committee will deal with all subsequent cases. The widows' pensions will be 10s, 12s 6d, or loe per week, according to age, and it will be in the power of the Statutory Committee which succeeds the Royal Patriotic Fund, to make additions to that flat fate where the amounts are found to be inadequate. ARMS AND LEGS. An interesting statement as to the value the Chelsea Commissioners put upon missing arms and legs when considering the pensions of disabled men has been made Here is the scale of pensions:— Legs missing: Off up to the hip, 16s per week; short thign, 14s per week; just above knee, 12s 6d per week; below knee, 10s 6d per week. Arms missing: Right arm to shoulder 16s per week; left arm to shoulder, 15s per week; above or through elbow joint, right, 14s per week; do. do. left, 13s per week; below elbow, right, lis 6d per week; do. do. left, 10s 6d per week.

RED CROSS EMBLEM. The British Rtfd Cross Society and the War Office have been oonsiuering further rules dealing with the use of the Red Cross emblem. It s use on placards is regarded by the War Office as undesirable, and can only be permitted on the understanding that such use is carefully watched and controlled. Ib must be limited to placards or notices issued by th e Society or its affiliated subordinate branches for the purpose of raising funds for the Society. The use of the emblem in any form on private motor-cars is prohibited, even when those «ars are being used for the conveyance of sick and "wounded soldiers. Private houses which have been handed over to the military authorities for the reception of sick and wounded soldiers are entitled to fly the Red Cross flag -when written authority for this purpose has been received from the War Office. In all cases where the Red Cross flag is flown over such establishments, the Union Jack must he flown alongside it. WAR HONOURS. The War Office makes the following interesting statement: — A desire having been expressed for the issue of information as to the medals which may be earned by soldiers for war service, the iSecretary of the War Office announces that the medals in question are the following:— The ' Victoria Cross: The conditions tinder which this is awarded are well known. Up to the present date eightysix Victoria Crosses have been awarded in the present war to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers. The Military Cross is awarded for services in time of war,'' and may He won by warrant officers, ns well as by commissioned officers of rank not above that of captain. One hundred ana thirty warrant 1 officers have received the tMipTy Cross un to date.

The Distinguished \ .duct Medal is awarded for individual acts of dietinfuished conduct, and for devotion to uty in the field. This medal ha s been earned by .about 6150 warrant officers,* non-commissioned officers, and soldiers during the present war up to date. The Military Medal, which was instituted- ~ some two months ago, is awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers for individual or associated acts of bravery in the field. About liuu of these have been conferred up to date.

about 151 miles from Ypres, and &x>ut 400 ft above sea level, the sounds were Midiblo at some peiTocta not at others. Reports of audibility had come from the Temple. Cricklewood, Hamputead. Lewisham, Wimbledon, Lougbton, Eastbourne, and Broadstairs.

minute to more than one , hundred. | What was heard resembled more nearly a dull and distant thud which "was felt rather than heard. Among those who had heard the "sounds were Mr Lloyd George and Sir A. Conan Doyle. At i Elmoon, north-west corner of Essex, I