London, Aug. 1, 'The Cabinet decision on the me crease of the Royal Air Force is on the basis of a five year programme 'The number of new' squadrons is or 492 machines. At least a dozen new aerodromes will be needed and additional personnel running into Several thousands. More short service commissions will be offered to civil Ayers and undergraduates, It is probable that new defence squadrons will be allocated to Edinburgh, Neweastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bi bingham, London, Plymouth, Ports mouth, Tuli, Felixtowe, Dover, and Yarmouth. The are round London will be specially covered, and more machines for Malaya and China The new promotion scheme follows my indication. The "ghost" system of not filing a vacancy when a general officer retires prematurely, until he Feaches the age limit, is abolished. A number of regimental amicers whose commissions date before January, 1019, will be retired,—Majors. will not continue serving beyond. three years in the rank unless considered for command, but none such will go to half-pay Before 45. The selec= tive list will be extended and transfers will be more general, The number of officers to "retire on special terms will be 150 to 200. Under this new order is the promotion to gen eral of Sir Felix Ready, to Lieut General of Sir Reginald May, and to Major-General of Colonels. Freyberg, Harrison, 'Tompson, Barton, Kel Butler, Lindsay' and Brownrigg. 'Th latter was administrative Chief' with the Shanghai Defence Foret Trooping Programme The arrangements for the China trooping season are to be as follows: "Tie Don ongkong, Arrives Nov. 0, Leaves Nov,'0.. With Families 2nd Worcester, ie. to Tientsin, Shanghai, "Arrives Nov. 12. Leave Nov, 14. with 2nd Worcester. Shangh CChinwangiao, Arrives Nov, 7, Leaves Nov. 24."'With ist Queen's." Tientain 10
Arrives Nov. 21. Leaves Nov." Fr With "Drafte and How etalis Yor Surpeisinely Many Visitors Nov. 30. Leaver 10 intermediate, There was a surprising amount of trafic on the stairs (but all very well-behaved), and a no less surpris~ ing number of visitors at the top. T had hardly realized that London was full of strangers. You cannot get to the very top, that is into the sort thistle ornament which crowns the pillar, but emerge on to a square gallery, just below the thistle, closely caged in lest you should feel tempted to hurl yourself on to the fishpotters in Billingsgate below.
It was a glorious day, cloudless and clear. The traditional smoke of London had disappeared and the view. was almost overwhelming. In the foreground, all about one, rose innumerable spires. and towers, domes and airy iron fleches. One huge, building just below us on the river's edge had a beautiful roof garden, with lawns, flower beds and shaded seats. The 'Thames wound this way and that, so that the Houses lof Parliament, theoretically west of us, lay very nearly southwards. And away and away stretched the' miles and miles of houses melting into the blue of the sky.
One surprising discovery was that, except on the west where Middlesex
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.