In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24684, 4 March 1942, Page 4

In the News

Advice on Trench-digging

Some useful advice on trench-digging was given by Captain Chaplain N. F. Sansom in an address to members of the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday. “One thing that has surprised us very much,” he said, “is to see people digging trenches, both in Australia and New Zealand, with no idea of the kind of trenches that are needed. “Experience in the Middle East showed that the slit trench should be only wide enough to enable a person to stand in it and turn round. It should be no more than 4 feet 6 inches deep, and Brigadier Hargest was of the opinion that the best shape was the crescent shape, as a protection against machine-gun fire from the air. The depth should, not be greater than 4 feet 6 inches, or there would be danger of the trench being stove in and those inside being suffocated. Properly designed, a slit trench was a wonderfully safe thing—the best protection of all. He knew of one case where a bomb had fallen so close to a trench that those in it could put their hands out into the crater, but no one was even scratched.

16-year-old Diver The youngest member of the Claymore’s crew while she was recovering the gold from the wrecked Niagara was Leslie Mischewski, of Whangarei. A deck hand on the Claymore, Mischewski is 16 years of age and was on the salvage operations for about a year. He holds a certificate signed by Diver J. E. Johnstone, stating that he went down in the bell and was under water for half an hour. Describing the. descent to a depth of 438 feet on an inspection trip in ffie special diving bell, Mischewski said the feeling-was similar to that experienced in a lift. The bell appeared to turn all the time, but no sound was to be heard. Although the visibility on that trip was not as good as on other occasions the white railing and other features of the Niagara could be clearly seen even before the bell reached the wreck. At that time the Niagara had a fair amount of vegetation growing over it. The only discomfort suffered by the speaker after his journey to the bottom of the sea was a temporary tingling in the ears after the lid of the bell was raised. W.O.G. A new definition of the term, “Wog,” well-known to the troops in Egypt, was given by Captain Chaplain N.| F. Sansom in his talk to the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday. It was: Westernized Oriental Gentleman. Photos of Military Positions That up to a few days ago many types of photographs of military positions which could be of value to the enemy were freely displayed for sale in stores throughout New Zealand, was an allegation made in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch by Mr D. W. Russell during the hearing of a case in which a young man was charged with taking a photograph in a prohibited area. The photograph taken by the defendant was one of Lyttelton Harbour and among other things it showed a graving dock. Mr Russell handed the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Lewey) two or three other photographs showing the same graving dock. They had come from a city shop, he said. “I wonder that the Intelligence Department has not made the rounds,” Mr Lewey said. “One of these is a beautiful picture. You could not get anything better.” Although none of the photographs he had shown were taken after the emergency regulation had been passed, they still showed the same filing, Mr Russell said. He had communicated with a departmental store with branches throughout New Zealand which had immediately withdrawn for sale all such photographs. “Perhaps it was doing what the Intelligence Department should have done,” Mr Russell added. War on Rats A novel weekly competition is held in a large Christchurch factory which appears to have more than its quota of rats. The more youthful employees construct their own traps and many original designs are tried out. One of the most ingenious involves the use of a mirror to lure the unsuspecting rat to his doom. The traps are set every night. The competition is conducted on a basis of weight, and the “catch” is carefully weighed in the mornings. The competitor with the heaviest weight of rats to his credit at the end of the week is presented with a packet of cigarettes. Daughter Replaces Son A Waikato farmer has written to the No.'2 Armed Forces Appeal Board withdrawing the appeal he lodged on behalf of his son, who had volunteered and been accepted for the Air Force. The writer said he was incapacitated. He had one son serving in the Middle East and found it difficult to handle his large herd without the. service of the second son. Japan’s entry into the war, however, had changed the whole position. His daughter was willing to undertake the milking. Control of Lifts Regulations are to be Gazetted immediately giving authority for the control of lifts in an emergency, according to advice received by the Emergency Precautions Services at Christchurch from the National Service Department. Lift companies intend to advise their clients that immediately an emergency warning is given lifts should be taken to the nearest landing and all passengers discharged. The lift should then be taken to the highest landing and put out of action by teh cutting off of power. “All persons in buildings where there are lifts should be informed of the danger of using lifts at any time during an emergency,” says the department. “Should the lift equipment of the building be damaged, the equipment should be examined before the lift is put back into operation.” Samuel Butler’s Run

The days when Samuel Butler, author of “Erewhon,” owned a sheep run at the head of the Rangitata Gorge in the Geraldine County were recalled at a meeting of the Geraldine County Council by a letter received concerning rates amounting to 3/- on a 20-acre area of land six miles up Forest creek at the head of the Rangitata Gorge. The Lands and Deeds Office had been approached, the letter’ said. The position was:—“R.S. 2591 is situated in Block 7 Fox S.D. and not Block 4, and is described in C/T 408/85 as being freehold property with no encumbrances, the owner being Samuel Butler, of Forest Creek, runholder.” The County Clerk said that the rates had been paid in error previously. Samuel Butler died in 1902. Girl of 10 Swims a Mile

Vilma Beverly Prue, a ten-year-old pupil of the Shirley School, Christchurch, distinguished herself and impressed all onlookers at the swimming trials held at the school recently, when she swam 70 lengths, approximately one mile and 100 yards. Not satisfied with this effort, Beverley also won her section of the dive. Japanese Propaganda

One of the propaganda leaflets dropped by Japanese aircraft over Singapore in an attempt to upset the morale of the defending European troops has been sent to his parents at Lyttelton by Leading Aircraftman R. F. Wilson, of the New Zealand Aerodrome Construction Unit. The leaflet shows a weeping child, and carries the caption: “Daddy! Come home quickly. Mummy and I are very lonely without you.”