_Thursday, May 4th_.--Although Mr. GINNELL was one of the Members to
whom the Government were ready a week ago to impart secrets of State
with which the Press was not deemed fit to be trusted, I gather that he
has other sources of information which he considers much more
trustworthy. Among various tit-bits with which he regaled the House this
afternoon was a suggested reason why British aircraft have not yet
bombarded Essen. He has his suspicions that it is because members of the
British Cabinet have shares in some of FRAU KRUPP'S subsidiary
companies.
Most people know that all leave from the Front was stopped just before
Easter, and have hitherto assumed that the stoppage was due to the
exigencies of the military situation. To Mr. PETO, an earnest seeker
after truth, as befits his name, Mr. TENNANT admitted that there was
another reason. Last year, it seems, some returning warriors got so much
mixed up in the congested Easter traffic that they never reached home at
all, so this year the authorities resolved to keep them out of the
danger-zone.
The Government welcomes any suggestion that may help to win the War. Mr.
EUGENE WASON'S latest idea is that if the War Office and the Admiralty
were to put their heads together they might make it easier for outdoor
artists in Cornwall to obtain permits to pursue their studies, at
present restricted, in military areas; and Mr. TENNANT assured him that
this important matter was still "under consideration."
The Second Reading of the Military Service Bill brought forth some
rather trite arguments from Mr. HOLT and other opponents of compulsion,
and a lively defence from Mr. LLOYD GEORGE, who thoroughly enjoyed the
opportunity, after a long silence, of being able to speak his mind
without fear of complications with his colleagues. With examples drawn
from France and the American Civil War he argued that compulsory service
was an essential incident of true democracy. But an even more effective
backing for the Bill came from Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON. Hitherto, according
to his own description, "the heaviest drag-weight of the Cabinet," he
now lent it increased momentum, and carried with him into the Lobby all
but nine of his colleagues of the Labour Party. Altogether, Sir JOHN
SIMON and his friends mustered just three dozen, and the Second Reading
was carried against them by a majority of 292.
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[Illustration: _Dear Old Silly._ "And where do you two come from?"
_Wounded Australian._ "We're Anzacs, Madam."
_Dear Old Silly._ "Really? How delightful! And do you both belong to
this same tribe?"]
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Another Impending Apology.
"Pigs.--Live Stock Mem of Mark. No. 10.--Alderman ----."
_Live Stock Journal._
* * * * *
"God be with Lord Hardinge wherever he may be, whatever may be
his sphere of service, for we fear we shall not look upon his
like again."
"It is in this atmosphere of hope and confidence that Lord
Chelmsford takes up the mantle of the Viceroyalty."--_Times of
India._
Not for the first time the attempt to welcome the coming and speed the
parting guest in the same breath has failed to turn out quite happily.
* * * * *
"Evidence was given that the pig, which was introduced in a
revue at the Metropolitan Music Hall, was kept at the back of
the stage in a crate in which it could not turn or stretch
itself ... Mr. Paul Taylor said he was glad the case had been
ventilated."
_The Times._
So, no doubt, was the pig.
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Instructor._ "Gunnery, gentlemen, is an exact mechanical
science. Everything is done by rule----"
_Ex-Actor._ "Then where does my personality come in, Sir?"]
* * * * *