The Greek evacuation of Brusa is confirmed. Athens telegrams assert that the Greek withdrawal continues only on the northern front, the southern army having concluded its withdrawal on a well-fortified line from Allah Shehr south-eastward. The newspapers state that the National Bank is transferring all its cash and documents from Smyrna to Athens. British warships at Smyrna are evacuating the British population.
An alarming incident
To be awakened from a warm bed at 4 o’clock in the morning by a policeman’s lantern flashed full in your face is not the sort of experience to put the best-tempered of men in a good humour.
“Suspicious noises were heard in your shop a little while ago,” said the Voice from the Darkness, “and the sergeant wants you to bring down the keys and open the door. We have surrounded the place so that if there is anyone inside he cannot escape.”
Accepting the inevitable the owner of the shop soon arrived at the scene of the supposed burglary. Two stalwart constables had scaled an iron gate leading to the back of the premises and were maintaining a vigilant watch there. Two others had established themselves at the front entrance, and the sergeant was patrolling round the outside for the purpose of keeping the whole of his very complete arrangements under a supervising eye. The tense moment had arrived for the opening of the door and the discovery of the thief. The lock was turned and in trooped the sergeant followed by two of the constables and the shopkeeper. Not a sound was heard. Nothing had been disturbed or displaced. Everything in and about the shop was as neat and orderly as when the place had been closed at 6 o’clock. Then the explanation dawned on the owner. He is something of an inventor, and being of an economical turn of mind he did not see the force of having his shop lights burning all night, so he manufactured a contrivance that had the effect of extinguishing the lights at a certain hour. The device consists of an old alarm clock which is set for a certain hour. The ringing of the bell loosens a pin and the removal of the pin brings down a weight which disconnects the circuit. The only thing wrong with the contrivance is that its working is accompanied by some noise and it was this combination of sounds which attracted the attention of the vigilant constable on the beat.
No place for live targets
We are not prepared to accept the gloomy view presented by opponents of the measure as to the effect that would follow the enactment of the Animals Protection and Game Bill, which aims at putting an end to trap-shooting of live pigeons. Mr G.M. Thomson, who is responsible for the Bill, characterises the practice of trap-shooting as a survival of barbarous sport. We cannot find any fault with the characterisation. This contention scarcely merits serious consideration. The condemnation passed upon the shooting of pigeons from traps is based upon thoroughly reasonable grounds. The practice is a callous one which serves no purpose that cannot be equally well served by the use of other than a living target. The birds are tame and have no sporting chance — it is merely a question of how many the marksman can bring down in the shortest possible space of time. There is no adequate reason why this wanton slaughter should be necessary to test the skill of those who take part. Another form of so-called “sport” which is not very creditable to the community is the coursing of hares within enclosed areas. For teachers to inculcate the principles of humanity in the minds of young people in the face of some of the spectacles that are offered in our midst must be an up-hill task indeed.
ODT, 8.9.1922
