Cultivation of the civic spirit is carried to gratifying lengths in Great Britain to Judge from the columns of fan East Anglian journal, Discussing {the activities of the local Urban Dis-{riet Council a correspondent refers the record of a townsman who, after several years service "father" of the Council, felt impelled to retire but afler retirement regularly attended the Council meet-ngs as "a representative of the gen-feral public:" The example is cited in Jencouragement of another council-For who hag signified his intention retrain from seeking re-election after twelve years' service. He is apprised of the desire that he should also "watch the loral authority" in a position "devoid of the onerous duties that fall upon the shoulders of councillors." It should be added that the tame article congratulates the said councillors on a_great improvement In the Fire Brigade in "hat it has installed a system of electric bells for warning its firemen emergencies. instead of leaving them dependent on the less direct signal of maroons, Tt is easy to imagine that for a' fireman who may be a little hard of hearing" a maroon is not as comforting as a well-tuned electric bell placed at a convenient proximity to his couch. Shanghai needs little enlightenment from East Anglia on the subject of fire-fighting eMiciency as comment elsewhere shows, but it may be thrilled to ponder over the notion Jor inviting former councillors tuttend the scenes of their successors' Tabours in order to ensure that the necessary assiduity is being paid to the traditions so well established by the old hands. If the principle, by the kind permission of the local Jpsyehleal organisation, could be extended to the spirit-world, the shades of departed councillors might make most attractive noises "off" during the weekly meetings of the august rulers of the Settlement. East JAnglia would then be highly de-
An Asmara message reports that, with Dessie in its hands, the Italian General Staff aim at the complete annihilation of the Abyssinian troops. This is the logical objective of a commander in war. Yet it may be well. to recall the grim fact that the hostilities which have thus led fo. the apparent over-running Ethiopia by the mechanized forces of Waly were deliberately planned and organized by Signor Mussolini's Gov-ferment and, from last July onwards, there was never any disposition to accept any proposal from Ethiopians, short of absolute surrender of their Independence. Despite the reckless courage of a primitive people, the relentless pressure of mechanized and mass-organized munitions of war has achieved its purpose—or is almost"on. the point of so doing. The method feat "destruction of the Ethiopians may be greeted with well-regimented celebrations in Rome. Other people will have their own views on the subject. Vital questions sull to be elfed must arise before the chapter closed. The Ethiopian Government may or may not accept the conditions proposed for discussion of peace between the (we belligerents. The Ttalian claims have to be critically weighed in the light of the urgent implications of the advent of the rainy season in Abyssinia itself and of the revelation that the imposition of sanctions has been far more effective than was deemed to be possible. It would. seem that France's efforts to justify "Italy's resumption of her proper place in the peace-construction of Europe are not helped by Signor Mussolini's persistently defiant _attitude, British opinion has already. strongly expressed itself against any exploitation of Italian ald in settlement of the Locarno orissa,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.