During the retreat from Mons strict orders were issued against looting.
One day an officer, coming round a corner, discovered a stalwart
Cockney Tommy in the act of wringing the neck of an inoffensive-looking
chicken. The moment the Tommy caught sight of his officer he was heard
to murmur to the chicken, "Would yer, yer brute!" Quite obviously,
therefore, the deed had been done in self-defence.--_The Rev. T. K.
Lowdell, Church of St. Augustine, Lillie Road, Fulham, S.W.6._