100 years ago

COLONEL Muller, of the Swiss Army, who was acting as war correspondent in Alsace, had just paid a visit to the training ground for German skiers in the Vosges.

With her splendid corps of Alpine Chasseurs, who had been trained as skiers, France at first had had a great advantage over Germany, but since the advent of General von Deimling in the Vosges district the Germans had been very busy training a corps of skiers recruited, chiefly, among sportsmen and the inhabitants of the mountainous districts of Germany.

The village of Oberammergau had sent the majority of the actors in the Passion Play, the man taking the part of Christ being a particularly skilful skier. Only a part of these troops were yet at the front, and others were undergoing training a few miles behind the lines. Skiers were found more useful in reconnaissance work than in actual fighting, and usually advanced in Indian file.

 

50 years ago

THREE young York women had volunteered to act as human guinea pigs for 48 hours to try to solve problems for the Civil Defence.

They were to spend a weekend in a mock “fall-out” room in what was believed to be the first experiment of its kind ever staged in this country. The women, all members of York Civil Defence Welfare Section, would go into a specially prepared room at the Guildhall to find how they would react under atomic attack.

They would be without normal food and water supplies, gas and electricity, cooking facilities, light and other amenities. Their only wireless set would be used to receive wartime regional announcements and instructions. Everything they did and felt during the 48 hours would be logged and timed so that Civil Defence scientists could assess the women’s reactions and the amount of radiation they would have absorbed under the assumed conditions outside.

 

25 years ago

CINEMAGOERS in York would be spoilt for choice when Warner Brothers opened its latest multi-screen cinema.

Hollywood heartthrobs Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and Robert De Niro would head an all-star cast at the cinema’s gala open day on March 15. Warner Brothers’ president Salah Hassanein would set the open day in motion and television personality Phillip Schofield would perform a reel-cutting ceremony.

All cinemagoers visiting the Clifton Moor complex, which would seat more than 3,000 people, would be able to watch the films free on March 15. Leaflets were being distributed telling people about the open day, and offering every visitor free popcorn and drinks as well as free admission.

Film Oscar winners Rain Man and The Last Emperor would feature alongside an adventure movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?