ALLEGED GANG OF DACOITS

A number of men who are alleged to belong to a gang of dacoits have been arrested by the Howrah Government Railway Police, aided by the railway ticket checking staff. The members are all up-countrymen. It is alleged that they used to come down to Bengal from upcountry stations of the United Provinces and the Punjab, commit dacoities in the districts of Burdwan, Hughly, Howrah, and Midnapore, and return to their homes. A C.I.D. officer in plain dress, was waiting one day on the Howrah Station platform when he saw some upcountry men alight from a third class compartment of the Ranchi express and go into another compartment. He followed them, and at Midnapore, when they got down, they were arrested and searched. House-breaking implements were found in their possession. They made an attempt to escape but did not succeed, and are now awaiting trial.

EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN 

The following Press communiqué has been issued today by the Local Government:- The Committee of the Employment and Labour Bureau at Rangoon has, with the concurrence of the Local Government, decided to establish a local agency to deal with the employment of women in clerical and other posts during the war. The agency will take the form of a women’s section of the Employment and Labour Bureau, Burma. Its functions will be: (a) To obtain from employers lists of posts for which women would be suitable, with details of the qualifications necessary, pay offered, etc., and (b) to receive applications from, and maintain a register of, women desiring employment, with details of qualifications possessed, pay wanted, etc. The objects of the women’s section will be to assist as far as possible in the substitution of female for male employees during the war. In the event of applications being received from women who desire employment outside Burma, these applications will be forwarded by the local Bureau to the Central Employment and Labour Board at Simla.

THE VICTORY IN THE BALKANS

The Serbians have completely broken the Bulgarian front. Serbian cavalry has reached Polshno, twenty miles north of the original front. Other Serbian cavalry is advancing upon the important junction of Prilep. The front is now 25 miles wide. This is regarded as a most important success, and it seems likely that the Allies will clear the whole of this area.