OCCASIONAL NOTE

It is possibly more than a coincidence that General Diaz, the Italian Commander-inChief who did so much to retrieve the disaster on the Isonzo in 1917, should have been entertained at the Guildhall, after receiving the freedom of the City of London, on October 24. For it was precisely on that date, two years ago, that the tremendous Austro-German offensive opened on the Italian front, which the Huns hoped would collapse. Even at this distance of time it is impossible to recall the tense anxiety of those critical weeks in October-November, 1917, without a thrill. For a moment, it is true, the Italian line bent, and was only saved from buckling by the most superb heroism on the part of certain units, and by cool leadership. It will be remembered how the ubiquitous Mr. Lloyd George, together with a number of distinguished French and British soldiers, promptly left Paris for Rapallo, and how, as the result of a conference between the political and military leaders of the three nations, General Cadorna, the Italian generalissimo, was tactfully “promoted” to be the Italian member of the military council at Versailles, while General Diaz, the Commander of the Twenty-third Army Corps, was appointed to lead the Italian forces. General Diaz is further entitled to credit for the re-organisation of the Italian forces in so effectual a manner that, when the Austrians sought to attack next year, their offensive collapsed immediately, and this collapse hastened materially the end of the war.

STAR STUDY IN SCHOOLS

A powerful plea for the placing of astronomical study upon the school curriculum has been put forward by the British Astronomical Association. This recommendation, writes the Educational Correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, is based on the high educational value of this science considered by itself, and also on the fact that its study can be to some extent, combined with that of geography, mathematics, and physics. The association has appointed a special committee, consisting mainly of schoolmasters, to try to secure a definite place for astronomy in the school curriculum. In furtherance of this scheme they will admit schools to the advantages of affiliation for a fee of one guinea per annum. They proposed to allow the hire of their slides, to send the journal of the association to the schools and to admit the schoolmasters to attend their ordinary meetings.

SCHOOLMASTERS AND POLITICS

RANGOON, OCT 30

The Director of Public Instruction, Burma, has written to the committee of the Buddhist Anglo-Vernacular School, Mandalay, calling attention to a circular issued last year regarding the intervention of schoolmasters in political affairs. With reference to the position of the headmaster, Maung Tun Shein, who is one of the Burmese deputation now in England in connection with the Burma reform scheme, the letter says that Maung Tun Shein’s action shows that he desires to become a political leader, and that in England a schoolmaster so acting would be regarded with disfavour. The LieutenantGovernor desires that the managers of the school should be informed that the prominent position taken by Maung Tun Shein in such political discussions renders him an unsuitable person to be a headmaster and that he should be advised to choose another profession.

THE DISORDERS

DELHI, OCT 30

The Disorders Enquiry Committee, pending its public sittings, has been holding informal meetings and deciding upon the programme, procedure, etc. At Delhi the public enquiry will be conducted in one of the large halls at the northern wing of the Secretariat, where, in addition to the press representatives, limited accommodation has been provided for members of the public. The sitting in Delhi will in all probability last for five or six days, after which the Committee proceeds to Lahore, opening its public enquiry there after the 10th of November. The Committee was to have begun taking evidence here on Monday next. There will however, be a brief sitting tomorrow in order to record the evidence of Mr. P.L. Orde, Superintendent of Police, who is proceeding to Mesopotamia.

THEOSOPHIST COLLEGE FOR SALE

The Theosophical College in Tavistock Place, London, is being offered for sale by the Ministry of Munitions Disposal Board. The college, which was intended as the centre of the Theosophist movement in this country, was built to the order of Mrs. Annie Besant at a cost of over pound 100,000. It is a happy specimen of the work of Sir Edward Lutyens, creator of the New Delhi and designer of the Cenotaph. The building was almost completed when the war stopped further progress, and in 1917 it was taken over by the Ministry of Munitions under D.O.R.A. In order to adapt its spacious halls to their new purpose in life the Ministry had to spend a further sum of pound 30,000. Mrs. Besant says it is not yet decided what steps will be taken to provide new headquarters for the Theosophists in England.