OCCASIONAL NOTE

The sudden recall of Marshal Foch to Paris, immediately after his arrival at the Allied Headquarters at Luxembourg, looks, on the face of it, as though the French Government had suddenly become aware that the Germans are prepared to take the consequences of refusing to sign the treaty. It is true that we have been told that every military preparation had been made for that eventuality – the name of Foch is sufficient to guarantee for that. On the other hand, there may be some new development in Germany which may have affected the potential military situation, not necessarily in a sense disadvantageous to the Allies. It may be that the French Government believe the Huns capable of “bluffing” up to the point of even permitting the Allied forces to be set in motion, after which they will collapse. In view of this possibility the Allies may wish to have Marshal Foch at their elbow, so to say, in order that they may be in a position to act instantaneously upon any advice which he may give them. It is to be hoped that, if the Huns do attempt any such desperate bravado, they will be treated to the full rigour of the law. They have shown themselves to be so completely impenitent that there is every incentive to the enforcement of the war’s sternest lessons upon their understanding. Whatever be the occasion for Marshal Foch’s return to Paris, it would certainly appear to be extremely urgent.

MISSING JEWELLERY

On Saturday the Government Railway Police produced before the Railway Police Magistrate at Howrah a steel trunk containing jewellery valued at Rs 20,000. On Wednesday morning, Babu Nursing Das Binani, a Marwari merchant residing at Strand Road, reported to the railway Police at Howrah that he was a passenger by the Down Punjab Mail and had entrusted his luggage, including a trunk containing jewellery valued at Rs 21,000, to four licensed coolies, but before he left the station, he found that the trunk was missing. The police arrested the four coolies on suspicion and took up the enquiry. On Thursday night the Railway Police ascertained that a trunk had been deposited at the Burra Bazar thana by a Marwari gentleman who stated that he had travelled on Wednesday morning to Howrah by the Punjab Mail and that the trunk, which did not belong to him, was put in his carriage by mistake. The trunk was identified at the thana by Babu Nursing Das Binani. It was opened before the magistrate and the jewellery was found intact.

DANGER OF PTOMAINE CASES

The following notification appears in a Garrison Order issued by the Officer Commanding, Fort William. Sporadic cases of ptomaine poisoning as well as cholera having been reported in the Brigade, the attention of all concerned is directed to the risk or ptomaine poisoning from eating tinned foods, specially various tinned fish, which appear under present trade conditions, to be old stock. Cholera precautions should be taken in all stations, i.e., regular and strict attention to sanitation in dairies, soda-water factories, bazars, butcheries, cook-houses, pantries and sculleries. The risk from uncooked vegetables, from fruit over-ripe and with damaged skins should be remembered. Milk should be boiled and drinking water supplies protected from contamination.

ANGLO-BENGALI SCHOOL OF BENARES

The Anglo-Bengali School of Benares has been permitted to teach up to the school final and matriculation standards of the Allahabad University. The United Provinces Government has sanctioned Rs 35,000, to be supplemented by the authorities of the school, for a building to be erected at a cost of Rs 50,000. Mr. R. Burn, C.S.I., I.C.S., Commissioner of the Benares Division, presiding at the last prize-giving ceremony of the school, paid a tribute to the enterprise of the Bengali settlers of Benares and spoke in favour of giving education to Indian boys in their own vernaculars even in advanced courses of studies.

MYSORE BUDGET

BANGALORE, JUNE 21

At today’s meeting of the Legislative Council the Budget discussion was continued. The Dewan, in the course of his concluding remarks, said that the suggestion to introduce technical and agricultural education in middle schools was considered by the Government and would be embodied in a Government resolution on education which would be issued shortly. As regards finances, he said that a mixed committee of officials and non-officials to enquire into the finances of the State was not necessary, but if the Government review of finances which would be issued shortly did not satisfy non-officials the request for a mixed committee might be repeated