In the Commons on Tuesday the Bill for amending the
Defence of the Reale' Act was in Committee, when the Government made various concessions. The principle is that civilians are not to be subject to martial law unless the Government think it necessary. Under the Amending Bill an accused civilian is to be informed of his rights so that he can assert them. But the Government retain the right to abrogate the Amending Bill altogether in an emergency. The Universities Bill received its second read- ing. It will allow Colleges to borrow, to draw upon their endowments, and to delay repayments of loans. The fignree Mr. Asquith gave of the sacrifices of Oxford and Cambridge were wonderfully inspiring. But we think that, impressive as the figures are, they have been frequently understated in the newspapers. For example, it is generally said that Pembroke College, Cambridge, has sent seventy-five per cent. of her men to the war. But the Master has stated that the figure is eighty-eight per cent.a memorable contribution.
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