ASTOUNDED NATIVES AT CAIRO.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 77, 2 April 1910, Page 13

ASTOUNDED NATIVES AT CAIRO.

For weeks past strange tales of foreign magicians cl«*ving the Hoe. desert air in mysterious buzziag [machines have been told in the Cairo bazaars. The natives, although sceptical, were sufficiently impressed by the rumour concerning the new marvel from restless Europe to assemble in lajsge numbers on the afternoon of Suaday, 6th January, at HeliopoHs for tbe opening of the flying meeting, at which, prizes wor^h nearly £8000 are offered. The Toad to the aerodrome was lieed ■by sqoatting Arabs, groups of Nubians in white robes, dusbees of native women with silver bangles sound their naked ankles, grave, tmflaaned Turks, and ragged Bedouin camel-drivers. When i£. Eougier, th© hero of the day flew round and ronnd at a, height of 309 feet, the astonishment of these. crowds was most amusing to 6ee. Som*were terrified, some laughed aloud, all chattered at the top of their voices, and watched with greedy eyes.

From time to time we receive copies of "The Nation in Arms," the journal of the National Service Jieague, established eight years ago in Britain to advocate compulsory military service. This monthly organ contains all the news of the movement, and is the isost effective agent in carrying on the propaganda. In the latest issue to haad (February) the New Zeafend Dtfeace Bill is noted, with tfee comment that it "is on the right lines, altboagh, as in the case of the Australian Aet^ the recruit training is inadequate, and th© provisions for compulsory training extend only to the twenty-first year of ' age." "Finance and War" is tfae tiSe of an able article by Miss H. S. CTreetham, in which the financial position of Germany is minutely set out. She concludes that to be leady for war financially that empire must, "first and'foi<emost, reform the Imperial finances by (1) refraining from borrowing for ten years; (2) giving up the wasteful meihodr of meeting cm-rent liabilities by nwaaas^ of expensive Treasury bills ; (3) paying -off loans as rapidly as possible." Sound advice, but how hard a saying for modem administrators ! The number, which aboutt&i in interesting matter, dy*e*