Main Surnames: DILLON, BRUCE ANNIVERSARY OF HALIFAX DISASTER (The Canadian Press) Halifax, Dec. 6 -- Canada's greatest disaster - the Halifax explosion - occurred twenty-four years ago to-day, leaving 1,600 dead, thousands injured and damage amounting to $35,000,000. Halifax was then, as it is now, one of the world's most important wartime ports. Activity in the city was just commencing on Saturday morning, Dec. 6, 1917, when the Belgian relief ship Imo and the French munitions freighter Mont Blanc collided in the narrows of the harbor. The Mont Blanc's deckload of benzol burst into flame as the ships parted, and a few minutes later 3,000 tons of explosives in her holds blew up. Three thousand buildings were smashed as the tremendous concussion of the explosion struck the north end of the city, leaving it a shambles. Dazed survivors, many of them badly hurt, searched ruins for their families. Twelve hundred bodies, were located, and 400 are still listed as missing. The great explosion is still fresh in the minds of many Halifax citizens, for many still bear the scars of that Saturday twenty-four years ago, but the city holds no special observance of the day. (Hand written at the top of the clipping - 1939.) CHILLING NEWS. Ithace, N. Y., April 15 -- To shivering New Yorkers, awaiting the delayed advent of warm weather, came to-day this chilling news - in 1816 there wasn't any summer! A scrapbook diary kept by the grandmother of an Elmer Dillon of Buffalo, reveals chronologically a summerless 1816 when there was snow in March, April, June and October. There was frost in the other months. FROM ALDERSHOT. G-18122 Pte. L. Bruce, "C" Coy. Car. York Regt. Aldershot March 10, 1940. To Editor of The Daily Gleaner, Fredericton, N. B., Canada Sir: -- I am a private from the district of Nasonworth, N. B., near Fredericton and I am now in training with the Carleton and York Regiment in England. On an impulse I decided to try and give some idea of what we think of our Mother Country. I wish very much to have this or extracts of this article published, but of course this is for your judgment. The English scenery is very beautiful and I was impressed by the particular care that had been taken on the houses and fences which are nearly all built of brick or stone. The streets themselves are narrower than ours and accordingly the cars are smaller and the English motorists drive on the left-hand side of the roads thus the cars have all right-hand drive. London has been the main center of sight-seeing with most of the soldiers, with a few who have been given leave to more distant points, for many of our boys have relatives in Scotland and Ireland, as well as England. At first it was almost impossible to get around after darkness had fallen for "the blackout" which is strictly enforced here, both by military and civil law was more confusing to us than the forests of Canada, but as we grew more accustomed to our surroundings, we became more familiar with the place. My leave was given me for Liverpool where I was given an address and asked to go by a friend back home, whose relatives are living there. On my arrival I was warmly welcomed and shown many sights of interest. Among these were the Liverpool and Gladstone Docks which extend for miles up the mouth of the River Mersey. I was then taken thorough the Mersey Tunnel which is a wonderful feat of engineering and extends for two miles under and across the river. ENGLAND They tell us this is England And well perhaps they may, For in what other country Could freedom hold such sway? With all its fame and glory To all the world is known, And told that old, old story Of England and her throne. Where men have bravely struggled And sacrificed their lives To keep her name and honor, And praise it ot the skies; >From Knights in shining armour To soldiers of our time, Have fought and died for England And liberty sublime; The fortress of our Empire, She stands for truth and right. Would you dare to hesitate To help us win the fight? Rise up, ye Allied nations, Take heed to England's call, To fight in desperation Lest our Dominion fall. To thee in salutatoin, We give our country's pride, The dearest of our nation, To fight by England's side May victory then be handed To those who follow Him, With arms once more disbanded, And nations all are kin. L. Bruce