The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-27
ARMY USES DOCS FOR SCOUT WORK English Will Try the New
 New Feature
 - AGED LADY'S VIGOR Rebecca Clarke, at Age of 10S At tends Unique Celebration-Ger- man Government Does Not
 Like Lloyd George
By PAUL LAMBETH

By PAUL LAMBETH
 London, August 2S.-(Specia1)- thinking the matter over for 10 years the army authorities are about to mak e use of dogs as auxiliaries. And now for the first time trained dogs are to be used by a British force on active service. Two big Airedales from Major Richardsons kennels are to accompany an expedition in the Indion border to punish the Abor tribe for the murder of Noel Williamson and his party.
 Although nearly all the continental countries, Japan and the United states only, count among their military units a dog corps, English military authori- ties have held divided views as to the utility of these four-footed scouts, some officers contending that they would by barking disclose, not only the presence of an enemy, but also warn the enemy.
 "The great advantage, in my opin- ion," said Major Richardson, "of a dog to a sentry or outpost picket, Is that at once the value of his services is more than doubled. A picket accompa- nied by dog will never give a false alarm, and in the case of attack the approach of an enemy Is noticed by the dog owing to its keen sense of smell and sound long before the man has any definite idea of their pres ence
 During the Matabele war a police patrol had turned in in their blankets for the night, leaving one of the mum Der on guard. They had an old re- triever with them. The night was dark. The sentry saw and heard nothing, but the dog was restless and growled. Thinking something was wrong, the sentry reused his comrades. They were up, and had just prepared for an at- tack when a party of natives attempted to rush them. But for that dog that patrol would in all probability have been wiped out"
 "It may interest you to learn" added Major Richardson, that since the Bor- kun spy affair, dogs patrol those fortf- fled islands day and night.
 England's oldest inhabitant, Rebecca Clarke of Wood Green, gave remarkable proofs of her vitality few days ago. Accompanied by one of her younger sons. a youth of 66. Mrs. Clarke, who is 10S, attended an "old age" garden party given in her. honor at Ye Old Five Bells East Ffnchley, by the proprietor, MT. J. Cambridge. To meet her there assembled quite number of youngsters still in their seventies, eighties, nine- ties, including Robert Andrews, the oldest salesman in the meat market at Smithfeld. whose proud avowal of his 91 years Mrs. Clarke regarded with tolerant smile of superior age. "You have long way to go yet, young man. was her only comment. Mrs. Clarke was fetched from her home in a motor car and she then walked unassisted through the house to the garden. Here she was introduced to MT. Andrews, and the oldest man and oldest woman pres- ent. You see I don't get a ride in a motor car, and a time like this every day" she explained, ''so I can't help feeling joyful"
 MT. Andrews was challenged to a gamc of croquet. The challenge was accepted, and the match punctuated by frequent proved by far the most popa- lar event of the evening. Mrs. Clarke | claimed a victory, and there was no one | not even Mrs. Andrews, who would question that.
 The prospect of an octogenarian lord | mayor is provoking gossip here. Alder | man Thomas Crosby, senior alderman, | who has not passed the chair, as the | formula runs, would in the ordinary | course of events be selected next lord | mayor of London. As Dr. Crosby he for | many years was in active business In | Fenchurch street, while he is still mem- | Der of the firm of Crosby & Crosby, medi- | cal practitioners. Sir Thomas having | passed through the various stages of civic | life-common councillor in 1877, alderman | in 1898 and sheriff in 19O6-7-is desirous of | finishing his career with the highest | honor the city has to offer. But he is Tn l poor health. He recently went for con nlt ttota nf which he will determine whether he will 1 offer himself for election at the common hall to be held in the Guild hall on Sep tember 29. Sir Thomas Crosby is an ex- president of the society.
 The last report of the work of the cdu- cation (provision of meals act in Engllnd and Wales Is not a discouraging docu- ment Little attention seems to be paid to the medication of lessons in cleanli- ness, courtesy and good behavior among the children Children in many instances use their fingers instead of spoons; there is no attempt made to restrain polting of food or rudeness of behavior while they are at the table.
 It is said on what is regarded as good authority that in consequence of. the speech which Lloyd George delivered at the Mansion House on the European crisis, the German ambassador was in- structed to demand his dismissal here from the British government.
 In his speech which has done more to preserve peace than all the pourparlcrs which have taken place between ambas- sadors, MT. George said:
 II would make great sacrifice to pre- serve peace. I can conceive of nothing that could justify disturbance of inter national good will except cases of the greatest national movement, but if situ- ation were to be forced upon us. in which peace could only be preserved by the sur render of the great and beneficent posi- ton which Britian has won by centuries of heroism and achievement, by allowing Britain to be treated where her interests were vitally affected as if she were of no account in the cabinet of nations, then say emphatically that peace at that price would be humiliation intolerable for a