The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-06
ENGLISH COLONY
Says British Soldier Asked
What U. s. Is.
Astounding Ignorance Of Troops
Shown by Quiz.
POLICE GET COINER
COunterfeiter Known to People
as Busy Man.
Construction Work on Austral-
ian Railroad to Be Rushed.

London, Jan. 6.-To ascertain how
much boys educated in the elementary
schools of England remember after
leaving school, several officers in charge
of recruiting depots have put a series
of Is questions to the newest recruits.
The replies in many cases were amaz-
ing, particularly as the recruits general
ly come from the larger cities having
the best elementary schools.
At one depot 80 recruits were ex-
amined. Fourteen, Is, IA and IL respec-
lively could not give a reply to the
questions as to the identity of Alfred
the Great, Nelson, Wellington and
Shakespeare, and many of the others
had only vague ideas as to who these
heroes OF their country were.
To the question What is the United
States?" 16 replied correctly, four knew
something, Is were entirely ignorant and
one man, who had been eight years at
school, answered IAN English colony"
Strangely enough even fewer knew
anything of France. When it came to
England, however, every recruit an
swered correctly, although only 10 could
say what the Empire was.
Begin Work on Railroad.
All the necessary legislation has been
enacted in connection with the pro
posed construction of the trans-Aus-
tralian railway and work on the project,
which is to be carried out by the fed
eral government itself, will commence
very shortly, and its completion is
looked for within three years. The
line starts from Kalgoorlie, 38G miles
from Perth, one of the eastern limits
of the western Australian system,
whence it connects with other railways
through South Australia, Victoria, New
South Wales and Queensland The new
line is l O60 miles in length and its
cost is estimated at nearly 20 million
dollars. While the railway will be of
great commercial advantage, the neceS-
stiles of defense have chiefly influenced
Australia in making the expenditure.
The country, faced with the danger of !
a possible Asiatic invasion, one reason
for the desire that Britain and America
should control the Pacific, has been put
ting her defensive resources in order !
ever since confederation. Modified con- !
scription has been adopted as the mill |
itary system of the country and liberal |
of ships and men have |
been made to increase the British naval |
forces in the South Pacific. Lord Kitch- |
sner too went out to advise the gov |
eminent on the measures to be taken |
to defend the country and one of his |
irst recommendations was the construc- |
ion of this railway to bring Western |
Australia nearer to the other states of |
he confederation at present the. west
arn province being entirely dependent
lpon assistance from sea.
He Will Be Buster Now.
The police have just succeeded in get
ing rid for five years at least of a |
nan who carried on the triple occupa-
ions of manager for a large West End
irn anarchist and coiner. He was
aught while engaged in the latter oc-
11pa tion and sentenced to five years
With hard labor. Alexander Estegny
yas his name and his description can