Two Lutonians were mentioned in connection with Mr Tennant, the Under-Secretary of State, replying to a number of questions in the House of Commons on Monday. He said it was a fact that courts martial held in France had, in the exercise of their judicial functions, certain men described as conscientious objectors for offences so punishable under the Army Act.

The sentences, 34 in number, had been commuted to penal servitude, and the statutory provision that such sentences must be undergone in the United Kingdom, would be given effect to. He did not know if all the sentences had been reduced to 10 years penal servitude, and that wilful disobedience of orders, though not in the face of the enemy, was punishable by death.

In connection with the statement, the Friends' Service Committee sends out some details, including the names of H. F. Stanton (Quaker) and B. Bonner (International Bible Student), both of Luton. All 30 men were sent from Harwich and Felixstowe (where most had been sentenced to 23 days' detention, and had been on bread and water, and in irons), on May 8th.

Harry E. Stanton, of 39 Wellington Street, Luton, and Bernard Bonner, of 20 Park Street West, Luton, had both written home to tell of their experiences to date. Sympathy for their plight and courage was also expressed in a letter from the Rev W. H. Haden, minister of the Union Chapel, Castle Street, in referring to one of the cases.

• Additional honour has been conferred on Sgt-Major J. E. Hawkes, of the 22nd Londons, for gallantry in the field. The new D.C.M. was a quartermaster-sgt previous to proceeding overseas. The eldest brother of E. J. Hawkes, of 7 Alma Street, Luton, he has served in the Regular Army for 24 years and was colour-sgt of the 2nd Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment during the South African War, when he was awarded the D.S.C. medal. The London Gazette of June 21st, 1916, states that the medal was awarded: "For consistent good and gallant work, notably when, after the explosion of a mine, he dug out the ammunition supply from a Store, the entrance to which had been blown in. He was under heavy fire, and was himself buried while at work, but, on being extricated, he successfully supplied the front line with ammunition."

• L-Cpl F. Goode, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, and son of Mr Charles Goode, of North Street, Luton, has sent his father the Madras Times which contains a report of the Brigade boxing tournament at Bangalore, where the 2/6th Royal Sussex are now stationed. From it we learn that the lance-corporal took part in the final bout in the novices 11-stone contest in which he was runner-up and awarded a handsome silver medal. The 21-year-old has a wife living in Luton.

• The news has some from the War Office that Pte Sidney Fleckney, 13164, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, was reported missing after at an engagement "somewhere in France" On June 4th, 1916. Pte Fleckney was the first to offer himself for military service from the Mangrove district. He joined the Army on August 27th, 1914.

• The inability of married men applying for exemption from military service with reasonable promptitude to three important questions, has induced the Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) to prepared the following notice and place it in a prominent position in the vestibules of the Town Hall, "Each candidate for the Local Tribunal is requested to be prepared to answer the following questions when his case is being heard: 1 Actual date of marriage. 2 Number of children, their age and sex. 3 Occupation of wife before marriage."

• About 170 tank and file of the Luton Volunteer Corps, including men from Leagrave and Dunstable, were inspected at Luton Hoo on Sunday morning by the Regimental Commandant, Col Spenser Jackson. After watching the men go through various battalion movements, Col Jackson said he was glad to see them looking so smart and he had not the slightest doubt that a minimum of 300 men would be secured to form a Luton Battalion.

• A very large audience assembled to witness an aquatic gala arranged by the Luton Swimming Club on behalf of the V.A.D. Hospital, Wardown. Mr Hugh Cumberland, presiding, said he recalled the opening of the original baths in 1872 and having a preliminary plunge with a few friends before the were officially opened. He rejoiced that the baths had been rebuilt and enlarged as swimming was not only one of the most healthy of exercises, but one of the most useful.

• The annual Government inspection of the Luton Police Force was held on Monday in the Modern School drill yard by Mr Leonard Dunning, one of the H.M. inspectors for the Southern and Midland Divisions. Chief Inspector Teale, two inspectors, one sub-inspector, four sergeants and 29 constables were on parade. Two men were on duty, one on leave and 13 on military service. The inspector afterwards expressed high satisfaction.

• Last evening, a very interesting event took place at the fire station, when members of the Fire Brigade Committee attended to see the progress made by the brigade. The brigade have been in strict training for a lengthy period and their performance last evening gave the highest satisfaction.

• At their meeting on Monday, the Luton Board of Guardians cordially thanked Mr Mullett, hat manufacturer of Tavistock Street, for the gift of a dozen "exceedingly nice" hats for the girls in the Children's Homes.

• On Saturday morning, Jim Bygrave, the groundsman to the Luton Town Football Club, sprained and bruised his right knee and foot somewhat severely when the ladder on which he was cleaning walls at the Cocoa Factory slipped along the tiled floor. He is under Dr Bone's care.

• An ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Luton Town Football and Athletic Co Ltd was held on Tuesday, when the profit from the past year was revealed as £21 3s. Wages and salaries for the year were £119 7s 1d compared with £2,485 1s 6d the previous year. Gate receipts totalled £777 3s 11d compared with just over £3,000 and most other expenses were substantially down. Chairman of the directors Mr Harry Arnold reported: "Nothing can be said at the present time as to the coming season. We don't know what will happen; we are in a state of uncertainty. There is no lead given by any combination of the League up to the present...it must be left with the directors to make the best arrangements for continuing the club and the playing of football during the coming season that they can."

• On a dripping June day on Saturday, the youthful collectors for Alexandra Rose Day raised a record £271 4s 9d - a £74 increase on last year's receipts. The bulk of the money raised will be divided between the Bute Hospital and the Children's Sick and Convalescent Home.