RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events

(By

Kickshaws.)

The Minister of Education thinks that games of chess should be broadcast. With, we take it, a suitable crawling commentary. * » » The arrival of another lot of quintuplets is announced to a couple in Nicaragua If this habit becomes popular Father Christmas will have no alternative but to get himself mechanised. * « * Let's hope that the bills won’t be included among the Christmas waits this year. * * * “The Italian Navy may not be very large, but it and the Italian air force are much too large for the much reduced British Navy and air force to deal with them with any comfort,” says “R.H.F.” “Italy has seven cruisers with eight Bm. guns each, and the British Empire thirteen, but deducting five on the China station leaves eight including the two Australian ships, and all much slower than the Italian ships. In modern smaller ships with 6in. guns, there are ten British to about six Italian that are much faster. The “Diaz,” that was out here, seems to be five or six knots faster than the fastest British cruisers. So the entire British Empire would be very foolish to tackle Italy without lots of real and willing assistance from France, Jugoslavia and Russia.”

Standard books of reference on the subject may, of course, be wrong. They certainly do not indicate that all the ships in the British Fleet are slower than the Italians. As a matter of fact if we are to believe Brassey’s list all the English capital ships are faster, better armed, better armoured, and far more modern. As regards the cruisers the Italian speed tests are made, it is understood, without armaments aboard and give a fictitious result. The British figures refer to speeds attainable under war conditions. At any rate it is a fact that during the war of 1914 many units of the British Fleet operated at speeds higher than their _ listed top speeds. Experts moreover doubt whether the top speeds of the Italian vessels could be held for any length of time. If it came to an engagement between Italy’s little fleet and the British Fleet “Kickshaws” would put his money on the British Fleet without hesitation. Only some magnificent blunder could alter the issue from a foregone conclusion. This does not mean that the fleet should not be modernised and, if necessary, improved upon for its task. *

Snow at Christmas time in any part of England was sufficiently unique for the news to be flashed round the world to the Empire. Just how those fallacious snowy Christmas cards ever arose is a mystery. The real truth is that it is very rare for there to be snow in England at this time of year. Snow comes the month after, in January, the coldest month of the year. Possibly before tbe calender was reformed and Christmas fell later than it does now snow was not uncommon at Christmas time. Tbe last time that snow fell at Christmas time in England was in 1927 when lOln. fell in the South of England. For any snowfall that equals that fall one has to go back as far as ISS6 when Sin of snow was recoi-ded in London on Boxing Day. The odds against any Christmas in England living up to Christmas card standards are about ten to one. Moreover, snowy Christmases are rarely cold ones. The coldest Christmas' iu England of recent years was that of 1923 when the thermometer fell five degrees below freezing. Previous to that there had been no appreciable frost since 1906.

It seems to be an undoubted meteorological fact that Christmas time iu the days of Queen Victoria did tend to be colder than at the present time. In 1860, 1870, 1878, 1890 and 1891 up to nearly 20 degrees of frost were registered" on Christmas Day in London.. On at least one occasion the Thames has been known to freeze over at Christmas time. Indeed, 150 years ago the Thames froze so hard that booths were erected on the ice to sell things to the public. Unfortunately a thaw set in, and booths and all floated out to sea. This century the tendency has been just the opposite. Heat waves have actually been recorded in London and the South of England on Christmas Day. In 1913 apple-trees were in bloom, ripe strawberries were picked in Kent, and all the spring flowers were out. In 1920 the people of England were sun-bathing on Christmas Day like their cousins in New Zealand. Which is the better, the English bleak Christmas or our own warm one depends upon how one contemplates the stowing away of unlimited plum pudding. Our warm Christmas does spoil the appetite for Christmas fare.

The sad railway accident that has marred the festivities m Germany will be deplored right round tlie world. The fact remains. however, that accidents at Christmas will happen. Indeed, possibly the worst accident in the history of 'Britain occurred in the mists of the past when William the Conqueror was duly crowned on Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey. The Saxon Archbishop Eidrid placed the crown on the bead of tbe invader and asked the congregation if they would have him for their king. Their roar of “yea. yea” was misunderstood by the No:man soldiery. They imagined a rising bad started and a terrible slaughter ensued. William stood alone and unarmed before tbe altar amid the tumult. Was it coincidence that no blow from a Saxon sword fell on him? As a matter of fact Christmas is a popular season for the crowning of kings. Henry VI was crowned in Christmas week at. Paris. Edward IV came to the throne at Christmas time. Even Oliver Cromwell became Dictatoi of England just before Christmas. 1653.

Possibly tlie luckiest accident that ever occurred iu England during Christ-mas-time was the escape iu 1688 of James 11, who made a get-away to France. Under the wise rule of William of Orange the country started to flourish, and has done so ever since. In 1644 Christmas time was indeed kept as if an accident had occurred. Tlie Puritan Parliament ordered it to be kept as a solemn fast to bemoan tlie great sin that had been done at previous Christmases in the eating of boar’s head, drinking ale. devouring plum pudding and general romping.

In more recent times the Prince Consort brought sorrow to Christmas when he died. Queen Victoria refused to fake part in any <'lirisfm:i< festivities for ten years afterward Indeed, 'ins period only terminated in 1871, whm. after a desperate illness, the then Prince of Wales made a good recovery. Christmastide of that year was one of great rejoicing throughout Britain.