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instant and impressive. So marked is success of new departure in direction of taking Parliament and the country into confidence on the trend of affairs at the Front that hope is entertained that it will encourage Ministers to renewed excursions on the same lines. Immediate result of speech, which Bonar Law hailed with patriotic satisfaction, was that Hewins' amendment was negatived without a division.

Business done.—Chancellor of Exchequer made heartening statement on position with respect to munitions of war.

Thursday.—In Committee on War Office votes valuable speech contributed to debate by Walter Long. Effectively, because without acrimony, he criticised certain actions of War Office, heads of which, being, after all, only human, cannot fairly be expected under unparalleled stress to be free from lapses into oversight.

One case mentioned made deep impression on Committee. A Brigadier-General, leading his men into battle, was hit by a shell and badly wounded, his Brigade decimated by thunderbolts from the enemy's concealed batteries. The General, reaching home out of the jaws of death, apparently lamed for life, was rewarded by being put on half-pay, not on the scale of General, but of Colonel.

The Member for Sark, who has personal knowledge of the case, tells me Walter Long might have added that this gallant officer, eager to serve his country at the Front, voluntarily resigned one of the prizes of his profession, and now finds himself crippled, stranded, on half-pay. This pour encourager les autres.

Fortunately Prime Minister present. Listened with sympathetic attention to Walter Long's story, especially to the Brigadier-General incident. Certainly worth looking into.

Business done.—Prime Minister moved, Leader of Opposition seconded, House acclaimed, Resolution recording "exemplary manner in which Sir David Erskine has discharged the duties of Sergeant-at-Arms, and has devoted himself to the service of the House for a period of forty years." House adjourned till Tuesday.

Teacher. "What does ff stand for?"

Child (learning Military March). "Fump! Fump!"

"The flames were soon extinguished, and shortly after returned to the fire station."

Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

They should never have been allowed to leave it.

[In an interview with a German journalist the Sultan is reported to have said he was so glad to hear that the Kaiser was in good health, a fact it was impossible to gather from the enemy's Press.]