OCCASIONAL NOTE

Drop by drop the Germans are draining the bitter cup of defeat, and Herr Erzberger, who narrowly escaped lynching a week or two ago, is hardly likely to increase his popularity when he blandly assures his fellowcountrymen that the deficit on the current year is ten thousand million marks, and that the income of the Empire imperatively requires to be increased nine hundred per cent. This may bring home to Germany a little more of the terrible lesson which she has to learn before she becomes fit to associate with other nations upon equal terms. Apart from the penalty which the loser naturally incurs in so mighty a trial of strength as that which has just been decided, the Germans have aggravated the position by their profligate finance, which for four and a half years did not dare to envisage the possibility of defeat, and, by deluding the people into hoping that all their expenditure would be recouped by indemnities compared to which those exacted at Versailles are a bagatelle, led them into a quagmire from which it is difficult to see any possibility of escape. The German Government have decided not to repudiate their internal war loans. This policy is undoubtedly wise from one point of view, because, in the present temper of the Hun public such a step might well have crushed all hope in millions of breasts. On the other hand, the obligation to meet those loans, so long put off, must involve a national burden hardly less crushing in its incidence and depressing tendencies.

INFLUENZA IN BOMBAY

BOMBAY, JULY 14

The mortality from influenza in Bombay is growing and the Municipal Health Department is doing its best to cope with any emergency. The Health Officer, in submitting a lengthy report to the Corporation in which he has made some blunt statements, holds that unless the insufficient water supply is remedied and overcrowding and insanitary housing removed not much improvement is possible. Arrangements are being made to reopen a large number of roadside table dispensaries and establish a spraying installation where contacts and cases can be treated. A chamber has been erected where ten persons can be treated at a time. Should this experiment succeed several more installations will be provided. Captain Malone, Government of India specialist, is carrying on investigations at the Parel Laboratory and should be arrive at any conclusions they will be made known to the Municipality.

VOTES FOR INDIAN WOMEN

BOMBAY, JULY 14

A public meeting of the women of Bombay was held on Saturday afternoon, under the presidency of Mrs. Jaiji B. Petit, to record their protest against the recommendations of the Southborough Franchise Committee and the Government of India disqualifying Indian women for the franchise under the Reform Scheme. There was a fairly large audience of ladies representing all classes of Bombay. Mrs. Petit said, in her opinion, this disqualification was a great blow to the progress of Indian women. It would ill become a civilised and progressive country like England to do such an injustice and insult to Indian women. Mrs. Higabai Tata moved a resolution protesting against the disqualification and drawing the attention of the Government to the fact that the women of the Bombay Presidency were exercising the municipal franchise intelligently, and urging that it was not premature or unpractical for the qualified women to exercise the higher vote and that mere sex should not be made a disqualification.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT HOWRAH

On Monday the Government Railway Police at Howrah arrested an up-countryman named Gopi, an engine cleaner, on a charge of causing the death of three coolies by a rash and negligent act. Some trucks were being loaded at the Bamangachi yard, and a few yards away an engine was being coaled. The driver of the engine had left it and it is alleged that the accused, wishing to test his skill in driving, set the engine in motion. He moved it a few yards ahead and then brought it back but could not stop it, and it ran into the trucks derailing one. Eight coolies, four men and four women, had taken shelter from the rain under the trucks, and two women were run over and killed on the spot, while a man and a woman were seriously injured. The woman died later in the Howrah Hospital. The accused was remanded in custody.

LIABILITY FOR PRO-NOTES

RANGOON, JULY 14

The Chief Court today delivered the unanimous judgment of four judges on the subject of the liability of a Hindu undivided family for pro-notes signed by only the father or by one son in temporary managing charge of the business. The judgment affirmed the liability, but added a proviso that the members of the joint family other than the signatory of the pro-note are liable only to the extent of their shares in the joint family property.