THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 22, 1939
News Snack Bar
NEW ARMY KIT
The British soldier of the future will have no buttons to clean, no puttees to wrap, lighter pack to carry, and will dress in battle kit in half the time the 1914-18 sol- dier took.
Here is the final choice of battle. uniform for the British soldier.
Instead of brass-buttoned #kirted tunic, he will wear a waist- length, close-fitting blease.
is trousers, loose-fitting at the knees, will buckle at the ankles, and he will wear short canvas an- klets similar to naval leggings.--
Cumbersome webbing ammunition belts disappear to be replaced by large pouches to take ammunition for the new Bren machine-guns.
Embodied in the left leg of the trousers is a large map pocket, similar to those in flying clothes, which can be reached when knoel- ing or living down.
PRESENTED FROM COURT
ORPHANAGE GIRL-- SECOND DURBIN-- TO STAR AT 13
A girl without a penny in the world has been wafted by Hollywood's magic wand from the grim existence of an Ohio orphanage to stardom in the film city.
No longer will she scrub the orphanage floors or labour in its kitchens-for, at thirteen, she has been hailed as the second Deanna Durbin.
And as Linda Ware, she will star with Bing Crosby in his next pic- ture. But before that her golden voice will be familiar to America's millions, for she is to be featured with Bing on the air by a coast-to- coast broadcasting combine.
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AUDIENCES ASTONISHED
Just a fairy story? No, it's typi- cal Hollywood big business.
blinked in And though Linda wide-eyed wonder as she signed her contract to-day her employers are certain she will be worthy of the huge salary and international fame they are giving her.
At present Linda's real name and many of the details of her gloomy childhood are being kept secret.
EAGLE DROPS CAT 400-FEET
A cat intent on stalking some sparrows in a field at the foot of the Ouloudagh Mountain (former- ly Mount Olympus of ancient Greece), near Brussa, was itself stalked-by an eagle.
The eagle swooped, gripped the cat and flow away. Villagers saw it rise to about 400ft. and then they saw the cat drop. It reco- vered, however.
MORE OIL PRÒSPECTING
LICENCES
Like Mother
Like Son
Film star Sally Eilers and her son, Harry. Joe, are to appear to- gether in her next film," "Thoy Made Her A Spy.” Miss Eilers' is the wife of Harry Joe Brown, the director.
1,383,LB. SHARK CAUGHT—
RECORD
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A tiger shark weighing 1,383th. world's record has been caught off Sydney by a member of the hunting party of Zane Grey, the author.
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The Board of Trade has issued TONS OF SUGAR BURN But it is known that for several, four new petroleum prospecting years she has been at the orphan- licences affecting Formby (Lancs.), IN FACTORY BLAZE age.
Melbourne area (Derby, Leicester Because of her glorious voice she and Staffs), Scarborough and Fife. became soloist in the orphanage (Scotland)., choir.
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All-who heard her sing at con- certo were astonished. They hailed PRESENTED FROM COURT her as a genius.
But when the concerts were over
From London Police Courts: Man at Highgate: I don't mind Linda went up to bed in the dismal coming to Court. I like to see the dormitory just like the other girls.
largest
When one of London's sugar and malt factories in Win- 'slow-road, Hammersmith, W. 6, was
swept by fire, police would not al❖. low anyone to pass within à quarter" of a mile. The outbreak started in a store on the third floor where tons of sugar are kept. The sugar melted and floated over the floor
and down the stairs., Firemen had Woman at Ealing: As soon as to struggle against a treacly mass any woman looks over the fence my which cascaded over their boots... husband puts on his cap and scam- pers about.
Until Charles Rogers, the Holly- wife now and then. wood producer, arrived. It was he.. who discovered Deanna Durbin. He went to one of the orphanage.con- : certa.
From Tottenham Police Court. Housewife: He looked like gentleman, so I didn't like to ask for a receipt.
Witness: I don't see why he should not pay the debt: he had 108 to start his turried life on.
Woman: My husband's idea of making money is for me to buy my own clothes; then he takes them away from me and sells them back
to me.
THE £5 10S.-A-WEEK LABOURER
A man told Mr. Justice Lewis in the King's Bench Division that bê- fore a road accident he earned £2 16s, a week as a navyy ther weekly sum supply workmates, and also 50s. or 558, at week-ends selling shrimps, prawns and watercress from a cart.
̈à fur-- tea to
He was George Gilbert Duncan, forty-seven, of Sidney-street, Tidal Basin, East London, who received £74 108. damages, with costs, from the owners of a vehicle which in- jured him.
amazed. She is indeed another
Girl at Wimbledon: When I said
head.
The
Afterwards he confessed: "I was I felt faint he showed great con- Durbin." Soon Linda's days at the cern, and affered to stand me on my orphanage were numbered. arrangements were quickly made and she had to say good-bye to her HIS ADVICE—“GO ABROAD” little friends.
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A former Lord Mayor of London Though she was destined for gave the unexpected advice, the glamour and the big lights, she other day, of "Go abroad for holi- wept as she said farewell.
days." He was Sir George "Broad- - The magic of the movies has bridge, member of the Travel As- 'made another fairy tale come true. sociation Council, who was "shock-
wet CAUGHT SI
Bill, the wen Hou, is an and at flik cat- ching,*The keeper at the London Zoo always throws fah to the sea fiona at meal time and Bill makes- sure of his share. Bilt shows how its dones: Well, caught and held, sir.
ed" to learn that there is a certain section of the public who advocate spending 'holidays in this country. He was speaking, of course, to travel agents.
"I do not think," he said, "they bear in mind that as a rule when you think of staying in our own, country you generally find hotels are full up, or that their charges are 100 per cent. more than they.. were a month before, and, that all- they can offer you is a tiny room overlooking the dustbin."
FIVE ROMAN
SKELETONS FOUND
Five skeletons have been disco- vered by workmen digging water supply trenches at Buryfields, Sal- monsbury Camp, Bourton-on-the- Water, near Broadway, Worcs. There is little doubt that this a was part of a Roman burial
Roman urn was found,
The introduction of cheap alarm clocks threatened Mr. William Crompton of. Bolton. He is the old- est of the knockers-up who wake factory workers every morning: Alarm clocks put most of the knockers-up out of business. but Mr. Crompton, now seventy two, survived the challenge, and still carries on after fifty three.. Strangely enough Mr. Cromp himself awakens
by and