No finer symbol of the war could have been selected than the poppy; which has just been chosen by the Americans who served, as_ their emblem. In the early summer the flower rioted from the Pas de Calais to Picardy, and probably over a much-greater area, and when in bloom it afforded the soldier in the trenches a welcome concealment. It grew everywhere. Often communication trench—was practically camouflaged by these tall nodding flowers arching overhead, and they were the first sign of beauty to cover the scars made on the soil of France by the heavy shells of the opposing armies... In fact we are not sure that Sir Philip Gibbs did not go into rhapsodies over them when he revisited the ground which had made his pen famous. But they had already been recognized as a feature of the battlefield before then, and summer suits of camouflage, designed for those who went to patrol No Man's Land, took heed of Natute's fashion plate. The artists got to work and toned these suits to meet the colours which the adventurer would craw] amongst in his dangerous wanderings, and the poppy was chief among these tones. Few who spent their days in France in these stirring years can to-day regard the poppy with aught but sympathetic affection.
Manita, May 5.—Genera] Leonard Wood has made a statement to tha effect that his investigation in the Philippines will last three months at least.—Reuter.
Pexinc, May 10.—The Paotu-Suaiyuan section of the Peking-Suaiyuan Railway is now being constructed, and it is hoped to complete it by the end of this year.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.