SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11671, 11 April 1916, Page 4

SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR.

THE VOICE OF THE HUN. The Germans have entirely given up hinging on tho Western front. On the other hand, the British soldiers continue to sing every mortal song. A new song that is going well is "Expect us in Germany in tho Morning." COPPER UNDER CABBAGES. The Helsingborg (Swedish coast, in tho Sound) papers state that the rail* way authorities there found two tons of copper hidden in railway waggons beneath cabbages consigned to Germany. The copper was seized and a search is being made for the smugglers. SEA LI OX LEATHER. On account of the increased demand for leather, caused by the war, the use of sea lion hides for leather has been proposed in Canada. Already one British Columbian factory, it is reported, has roado excellent gloves, beltnig and other articles from these hides. GREEK "WAR PROFITS. Enormous profits have accrued to Greece from its merchant vessels since the outbreak of the war. The American Consul at Athens reports that freight rates have reached a point where tho profit made on a single voyage is in excess of tho value of the ship. FAT SMUGGLED INTO GERMANY. The " Telegraaf 51 reports that a. new method of smuggling has come to light, namely, filling excavated piles with fat. The excavation of tho piles takes place in a small factory at Amsterdam, which is managed by a German, who commenced operations under tho direction of two Germans at Rotterdam. Each pile contains 101b of fa,t. BRASS FROM STOVES. Four million brass stove doors are to be removed by the German authorities, iron doors being given in exchange, says a. message from Copenhagen. BRITISH ANILINE DYES. A revolution due to the war is taking placo in the gas industry. Gas companies are now distilling crude coal, tar, with the object of extracting the oils required for the manufacture of aniline dyes. It is now proposed that the companies in the various areas should combine to establish dye manufactories. NEW GREEK ARSENAL. Much of the preliminary work has been done on the proposed new arsenal for the Greek Navy, which is to replace the present arsenal at Salamis. cost of the new establishment is estimated at £2,800,000. The work is. tain's carried out under the direction of British engineers. RED CLOTHES FOR DOCTORS. A Swiss correspondent of the "Lancet 5 ' states that the large number of doctors of all nationalities among the killed and -wounded has formed the subject of a special investigation by Professor Combe, the Lausanne surgeon," who favours a red uniform for all military .doctors of the belligerent countries. BUSINESS AS USUAL. \ienna jewellers, milliners, dressmakers and tailors, as well as automobile manufacturers, are doing - excellent business, despite the war, according to the United States Consul, General Halstead, at Vienna. Some of the purchases of jewellery are made by individuals .who thing it investment in these times. SMOKING AT DRURY LANE. Smoking is to be allowed at Drury i Lane Theatre, London, during all even- i xng performances. Mr Arthur Collins, managing; director, before arriving at i the decision, found that the milftary element, officers as well as men, was pleased with the idea of being able to smoke during ithe _ play. Although the oldest theatre m London, it will be the first to allow smokinsr the performance. ° BOOKS FOR THE TROOPS. +i 01186 made to the appeal bv the Postmaster-General for books and magazines to bo sent to soldiers 'and I *£l w •n« rgams ? ti ?iis approved ,bv ! , the ar offi ce and tho Admiralty has been encouraging. About 1400 'bags, representing about 140,000 items of literature, are being sent every week, ; inn fsnr» ere a shortage of over 100, jOO, as -uO.OOO a week arc required. QUITE A PICNIC. A church magazine at Willesden Green publishes a letter from one of the church officers at the front, who rejoices 111 the fact that "trench life"' is a picnic compared with what it was a year ago Speaking of tho modern trench, he says: f *lt is well drained ' and comfortable: we get hot- meals, and I have quite an attractive dun-out, a door that opens and shuts, a chair, and a bed with a veal mattress. At the present time f Jin re a beautiful coke i'iro." '•THE FEASTS OF THE SV, r J*\E. :! The German Government has come to die conclusion that there k too much catine and drinking at the socalled slaughter feasts, the occasions in country districts when the farmer's pis is killed and the neighbours gather to enjoy themselves. The consequence is that the Minister for Commeiee has called tho attention of local authorities to the matter, and the slaying of the fatted swine is to be celebrated in iuture with the abstemiousness required by the food regulations. WHAT THF. BUTLER I)ID. jAt a largo dinner party in New .Jersey ("writes an American correspondent). the president of a trust talked in such rabid pro-German manner that the English briler. unable to control his feelings, emptied a dish of hot I gravy over the offender's head So pleased was one of the guests with the action of tho butler i hat he rose and shook hands wiih him. GENERAL SMUTS. Die Britjsh Empire resembles the Roman in the effective use it makes of its quondam foes. Fourteen, years ago, the Veroeniging Conference, a Boer got up and i'lankly. proudly announced: " f am one of those who provoked the war with En land/" 'lhat man is now in crumand of the Empires cam pain against the Germans of East Africa. A TALL FAMILY. There is serving at A Idorshot n young soldier the South African Infantry, Pnvate F. F. F. Eidson. who stands orttcin. J i js father stood 6ft lin, and served in the Zulu Avar. His mother, with tlie family in Johannt slnny,. is 6ft 4i-in, and there are three daughters, all over 6ft 4in. Ihreo are inarriecl, witlr hutbaiids respectively Oft 4m, 6ft 2in, and Cffc i;n. Kidson belongs to a platoon of thirty-sis men, all of wtioui are over fift. He :s anxious to meet a- giant Hun. RUSSIAN SOLDIERS' ESCAPE. Telegraphing from Salonika tho correspondent oi the "Echo do Paris" says that six Rissian soldiers arrived at Salonika, recently. They were prisoners of the Germans, and were employed at Gbevgeli on the works of fortification. They efferted their escape by killing the .sentry, and then proceeded towards the Fieneh lines. The declarations they have given afford indications that important Bulgarian war material has been accumulated in tho region o! Ghevgeli and Doiran.