Reported in the News Letter during this week in 1916

Zeppelin Bombs on Paris

24 killed and many injured

January 31

Paris on Saturday night [January 29] had a visit from a Zeppelin.

At 9.20 the raider was reported as flying towards the city, and about ten o’clock the reports of the first Bombs were heard.

All the precautionary measures prescribed in the event of a Zeppelin raid had been put into force, and the city was plunged into complete darkness.

Within a few minutes of the first alarm the squadron of aeroplanes entrusted with the protection of Paris ascended, but the operations of these machines were hampered by the thick mist which prevailed, and as the raider is reported to have been flying at an altitude of 11,500 feet it was able to escape the searchlights.

At least twelve Bombs were dropped, and serious damage was caused to property, nine or ten houses being wrecked, while twenty-four persons were killed and over thirty injured.

Mother, if your Child

is Constipated, give

“California Syrup of Figs”

January 31

Look at your child’s tongue, mother! If coated, it is a sure sign that the little one’s stomach, liver, and bowels need a gentle, thorough cleansing at once.

When peevish, cross, listless, pale, unable to sleep, doesn’t eat or act naturally; or if it is feverish, with a disordered stomach and tainted breath, or has stomach-ache, sore throat, diarrhoea, or the “stuffiness” caused by a cold, give a teaspoonful of “California Syrup of Figs” and in a few hours all the foul, constipated wastematter, undigested food, and sour bile gently move out of its little bowels without griping, and you have a healthy, playful child again.

To be sure you get the genuine, ask to see that it is made by “California Fig Syrup Company”. Refuse any other kind with contempt. All leading chemists sell “California Syrup of Figs”.

The King and

Irish Soldiers

January 31

The King, in recognition of the value of his Irish troops, has placed rooms in Kensington Palace at the disposal of the Irish Women’s Association, their present accommodation in Victoria Street having been found insufficient for the growing work of the organisation. The Irish Women’s Association (of which Lady McDonnell is president) devotes its energies to supplying comforts to Irish soldiers in the field, and food and comforts to prisoners of war belonging to Irish regiments.

The Great Raid

Material Damage Small

February 2

The War Office announced last night that during a Zeppelin raid on Monday night [January 31] bombs were dropped in Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire, the number being estimated at 220.

Except in one part of Staffordshire the damage was not considerable and no military damage was caused. The casualties known up to the present are 54 killed and 67 injured. The Germans claim that they bombarded Liverpool docks and factories.

General’s Tragic Fate

Suicide in a

Nursing Home

February 2

At the Kensington Coroner’s Court yesterday, an inquiry was held with reference to the death of Brigadier-General Sir Rollo Estouteville Grimston, extra equerry to the King, who was found dead in a private nursing home on Saturday [January 29].

Evidence of identification was given by Mr Horace St Ledger Grimston, of Woking, who said deceased was his half-brother, and was 54 years of age. Deceased returned from India two years ago, and had suffered from neurasthenia. He had been depressed lately because he was anxious to take part in the war and was not able to do so.

The jury found deceased committed suicide at a time when he was not responsible for his actions.

Manx Loyalty

Legislature Adopts Compulsion Act

‘Any Sacrifice to Secure Victory’

February 2

The Manx Tynwald Court met yesterday to decide whether or not the Military Service Act should apply to the Isle of Man, the question having been referred to it by the Imperial Government.

The Deputy-Governor explained that under the old Manx law every Manxman was liable for military service.

Mr Crennell, in a stirring speech, welcomed the opportunity, given the Court, of voluntarily extending the Act to the Isle of Man, and he moved: “That this Court, while expressing satisfaction at the part taken by the Manx people in the present war, recognises the paramount importance to the Empire of using every possible means to obtain a speedy victory. Assured that the Manx people will shrink from no sacrifice in order to secure these ends, the Court desires his Excellency to request his Majesty’s Government to extend to the Isle of Man the provisions of the Military Service Act recently passed by the Imperial Parliament.”

The proposition was carried unanimously, and the members of the Legislature concluded the sitting by singing the National Anthem.

Recruiting Meeting

Mr Redmond’s Appeal

February 3

Speaking at a recruiting meeting representative of the province of Connaught, at Galway yesterday, the Lord-Lieutenant said it had been decided by Parliament that Ireland should be left out of the Military Service Act. This had preserved to her the old voluntary system. He hoped that the Irish people would realise what that meant, and that they would appreciate that a deeper duty had been cast upon Ireland now than had been cast upon her before. He thought the report which he had recently made to Lord Kitchener constituted a fine record for Ireland, and one of which Ireland might well be proud. He was there, however, to tell them that that was not enough. Ireland had done well, but she must do better.

Mr John Redmond, who spoke next, said that recent events made it absolutely essential that Ireland – for her own sake, to guard her own highest interests and to maintain her honour – should make it plain to the whole world that she was ready, willing, and eager to fulfil her obligations.

There had been, he was sorry to say, an effort to create the impression that because conscription was found by the Coalition Government to be unsuitable and unnecessary in Ireland, that fact somehow or other meant that Ireland was shirking her duty. Such an impression would be a false and a cruel one, and would be a deadly injury to the future interests of Ireland.

Since the commencement of the war this little island had put a huge Irish army in the field. Up to 8th January last, Ireland had sent 86,277 men into the army, and into the navy 3,266, making a total of 89,743. In that magnificent record Ulster led the van naturally and properly, because that province held one third of the whole population of Ireland.

There had been slackness in the agricultural districts. He honestly believed that if this war ended in the defeat of the Allies, there would be imminent danger that every tenant farmer in Ireland would be robbed by the Prussians of his ownership of the soil.

The position of the tenant farmer who expected the people of the towns to do the fighting for him was a contemptible position.

Canadian Sensation

Parliament Buildings Burned Down

February 5

The Canadian Parliament House, one of the most beautiful structures in the Dominion, was almost completely destroyed by fire on Thursday night [February 3]. It is stated that the structure is now little more than a shell.

The origin of the outbreak has not yet been definitely ascertained, but there are statements that a bomb placed in the reading room by a German sympathiser was responsible.

It is known that six persons lost their lives – the two nieces of the Speaker and four men – and it is reported that two members of Parliament are missing.

Sir Robert Borden, the Premier, had a narrow escape, and two members of the House of Commons left the burning building by a rope of towels.

The King was deeply shocked on hearing of the

Ottawa disaster, and promptly telegraphed a message of sympathy.

The damage is estimated at £1,000,000.