The discussion of the aerial bombing of open. towns at Geneva has evoked expressions of opinion which clearly paint to the gradual development of the definite conviction ' that some international measures should be taken to restrict the use of the aeroplane as a weapon of offence. The Japanese view of the principles involved is clearly in conflict with the majority of the speeches made at Geneva. The difficulty of reconciling the claim that Japanese airmen are not warring against non-combatants with the actual facts of the bombing of some fifty cities in China must present itself to the mind of any unprejudiced observer. The revelations of experts have shown that the aeroplane is a very inexact weapon whether its target be sought by bombs or machine-guns. Chis was tragically shown by the destruction which Shanghai suffered as the resült of some miscalculation by Ci aeroplanes on August 14. It has been consistently confirmed by the casualties accruing from nearly every Japanese air-raid. Yet the statements of the Japanese authorities themselves show that miscalculation Sept. 27.—To explain the surprise I'got this morning I should state that, although fifteen or more different squirrels and chipmunks have been listed in Manchuria and the noi Provinces, there are none to be found in this part of the country. I must also explain that it the Magpies are absent when I put the birds' food out, I usually add a few hard crusts, too heavy and tough for the small birds to tackle, so that my friends Maggie and Father are not disappointed when they return late for breakfast. This procedure was followed this morning and it was not long before Father circled down out of the blue and, having eaten all he could, began hiding the hardest lumps in the crotches of the willows....to be recovered and eaten by himself and Maggie at their leisure. Watching this process idly, I was suddenly amazed by the sight of a little brown squirrel scuttling along a thick willow branch with tail erect and waving, while Father hissed and spluttered defensively over one of his hidden treasures. I can only say that if Father wes as taken-aback as I was he was a very bewildered Magpie: there was nothing in the nature of a fight.. just a little fluttering and jumping from either side, and next moment there was no Magpie. just a little squirrel flattened to the branch, nibbling at something heid between his fore paws. I reached for my glasses to get a closer view, but the next thing I saw was the. small brown body flashing down the tree-trunk and disappearing into the shrubs with a last wave of its tail. I do not know if squirrels like bread but Sir Frederick Treves said that "they will eat anything which can be eaten" and this one certainly seemed to relish it. Gardener, called into consultation, said "my savee he—one Chinaman have losee—he keeper inside coat-sleeve and he lunned away." Which is all very well....but why pick on Father and me to give us such mental shocks so early in the morning?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.