now
presented, and the short time it was to remain in force. Serious objection
was taken by the Irish Members to the provision that in districts where a
proclamation is in force the D.O.R.A. regulations, instead of coming to an
end on August 31st, will continue for a year after the end of the War. This
they naturally interpreted as a means of continuing the military government
of Ireland, a country in which, according to Mr. DEVLIN, the Government had
as much right as the Germans in Belgium. The House, however, seemed to
agree with the Irish Attorney-General that in the present state of Ireland
it would not be wise to dispense with the regulations, and gave the Bill a
second reading by 219 votes to 61.

Then the House turned to the discussion of the levy on capital. The
CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER was still inexorably opposed to a general levy,
but would like a toll on war-wealth alone, and proposed to set up a
Committee to consider whether it was practicable. Mr. ADAMSON frankly
declared that the Labour Party was in favour of a capital levy, but wanted
to get at the war-profits first. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN objected to widening the
scope of the inquiry on the ground that it would take too long, and also
that uncertainty would promote extravagance and discourage saving. And,
despite Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY'S naive suggestion that we should
restore credit by making a bonfire of paper-money--he did not say
whose--the House agreed with the CHANCELLOR.

[Illustration: COLONEL AMERY CRUSOE RETURNS FROM A SUCCESSFUL DAY WITH HIS
MAN FRIDAY.]

_Tuesday, February 17th._--The Acting Colonial Secretary bubbled over with
delight as he described the success of the operations against the
Somaliland dervishes. The principal credit was due to the Royal Air Force,
but the native levies had also done their part effectively. The only fly in
Colonel AMERY'S ointment was the escape of that evasive gentleman, the
MULLAH, to whom he was careful on this occasion not to apply the epithet
"Mad." As, however, the MULLAH has lost all his forces, all his stock and
all his belongings, it is hoped that it will be at any rate some time
before he pops up again.

The Coal Mines Bill was wisely entrusted to Mr. BRIDGEMAN. Lord SPENCER
once delighted the House of Commons by announcing that he was "not an
agricultural labourer"; and Mr. BRIDGEMAN similarly put it in a good temper
by admitting that he had never himself worked in a mine. But he showed
quit