100 years ago

A lively Paris contemporary, “Le Journal,” had “discovered” an elephant - presumably not a white one - at the British headquarters in Northern France.

This imposing reinforcement to Sir John French and his staff was said to be the gift of an Indian prince, who sent his pet to act as a mascot at the front.

Accordingly, asserted “Le Journal,” the elephant was immensely popular with the British rank and file, and a certain company had volunteered to enlarge a section of their trench in order to permit of the presence by their side in the firing line of the monster mascot.

It was evident the war had not killed the Frenchman's sense of fun.


50 years ago

The Soviet Prime Minister, Mr Alexi Kosygin, had said that the Soviet Union would shortly propose an international agreement not to use nuclear weapons, said the New China News Agency.

His proposal had been made in a letter of December 28 to the Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai. This plan had first been advanced by Chou on October 17 after the explosion of Communist China's atom bomb.

Replying to Chou's letter to all heads of Government calling for a world-wide anti-nuclear summit conference, Mr Kosygin wrote: “While seeking a complete solution of the question of the prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament the Government of the Soviet Union also proposes to take measures immediately, which can be of help now to halt and limit the nuclear arms race.

"To sign an international agreement among nations to undertake not to use nuclear weapons is one of these measures. This agreement will be an important step towards the complete prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons.”


25 years ago

A Bill to safeguard the “frail and the vulnerable from abuse, neglect and ill-treatment” in private care homes had been published today by Shadow health minister Harriet Harman.

She said the object was to root out the “cowboys” entering this new and mushrooming market.

Ms Harman was to seek Government support for her measure, but meanwhile would table its provisions as new clauses for the Government's NHS and Community Care Bill, currently making progress through the House of Commons.

She said she had drafted the Bill in response to concern expressed by the Registered Homes Tribunal - which heard appeals when councils and health authorities tried to close bad private nursing and old people's homes - and the Mental Health Act Commission.