GENERAL ITEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13817, 11 July 1918, Page 7

GENERAL ITEMS

( "I can easily understand why the Chinamen here will pay 21s or more for a sovereign," said Air John Myers to a Post reporter speaking about his recent trip to the East. "During my stay i't Hongkong several passengers from the ship changed sovereigns and received 27s 4d in English money. 1 believe the Chinamen use the sovereigns for making jewellery." Tlie following appeal lor subscriptions to the eighth war loan appeared in several German newspapers. As a specimen of unconscious humour the reference to Belgium would take some beating: "How can one German still hesitate to subscribe for the eighth War loan? Oh, ye faint-hearted, go and ask the Belgians, the Serbians, the Russians, the Italians, what it means to have the enemy in the country. Do you not realise that it is your support of the loan only that can keep the horrors of an enemy accupation from Germany's soil!-" A survivor fiom the ill-fated Wim. mera, who returned to Wellington a few days ago, expressed astonishment at the fact that so little prominence lias been given to iiic courageous behaviour of the seamen. He says these men acted splendidly throughout and were to a great extent responsible for so many lives being saved. Careless of their own safety, the seamen exerted ;ill their energy on l>ehaif of the passengers ami again demonstrated that the true British spirit still dominates our mercantile marine. "They do so much," he said, "and get so little recognition, that I think it is up to us to do something for them. Many of them lost everything but their manly souls."