We are told that "it is confidently believed by the advisers to the
Treasury that the new issue of L1 notes cannot be successfully
imitated." We think that it is a mistake to put our artists on their
mettle in this way.
* * *
A black eagle, a contemporary tells us, was seen one day last week at
Westgate-on-Sea. A Prussian bird, no doubt, in mourning for lost Calais.
* * *
The German Government has declared timber contraband of war owing to its
alleged scarcity in Germany. Surely, as DOUGLAS JERROLD suggested on
another occasion, the German authorities could find plenty of wood in
their own country if they only put their heads together?
* * *
The news that "Bantam" battalions are now being formed all over England
is said to have greatly interested General KLUCK.
* * *
The report that the PRIME MINISTER spent last week-end in the country is
said to have caused intense annoyance to the KAISER, who considered that
it showed a lack of respect for His War.
* * *
A map of the United Kingdom published in the Berlin _Lokalanzeiger_
depicts the Mersey as being located in the West of Ireland. Frankly, we
are surprised at the Germans showing any Mersey anywhere.
* * *
Mr. JOHN WARD has been accused of perpetrating a mixed metaphor when he
warned the Government, the other day, that "they would wake up and find
the horse had bolted with the money." Is it not, however, a fact that
when a horse bolts he sometimes takes a bit between the teeth?
* * *
The financial expert of _The Observer_, in referring to the War Loan,
said:--"From all over the country the small investor rallied in his
thousands." But he had just said that "the applicants were enormous."
Possibly the truth is somewhere between the two--say about 11-1/2 stone.
* * *
A football pavilion in Bromley Road, Catford, was entirely destroyed by
fire last week. We are trying to bear the blow bravely.
* * *
There would seem to be no limit to the influence of the Censor. Here is
the latest example of his activities:--
"MEXICO
GENERAL BLANCO EVACUATES
THE CAPITAL."
We must confess that we fail to see what British interest is served by
withholding the General's name.
* * *
The German IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR has now repeated, in the presence of a
full-dress meeting of the Reichstag, the old falsehood about Great
Britain being responsible for the War. This, we believe, is what is
known as Lying in State.
* * *
And the statement that Germany need have no fears of a food famine may
be described, we take it, as a Cereal Story.
* * *
SVEN HEDIN has received the honorary degree of Doctor from Breslau
University--as a reward, presumably, for doctoring the truth.
* * *
"GERMAN PREPARATIONS IN BELGIUM.
6-MILE GUNS IN POSITION."--_Star._
It sounds like a 30,000 foot cinema film.
* * * * *