+ UR cA in the sky these August nights — if it isn’t raining! MAJO The constellation Ursus Major or Great Bear_can be seen clearly Most prominent part is the group of stars usually called the Big Dipper but this diagram shows the pairs of stars that make up the feet. Note how the North Star can be located by sighting along the lower edge of the Dipper. BY JOHN STACHEL Do higher life forms exist on planet Mars? MARS. that fascinating planet, will make its closest approach to the earth in thirteen years this summer. “Millions of people will gaze up at its brilliant reddish orb, and wonder whether its sur- face holds the answer to an age-’ old question — is there life on other worlds? The ancients peopled the skies, imagining they could discern the shapes of heroes of their past and of mythical animals in the heav- ens. The face of the “man in the moon” has become proverbial. In recent years interest in our coun- try has centred around Mars as a seat of advanced forms of life. Who can forget the panic caus- ed by Orson Welles’ radio broad- cast of a “Martian invasion,” which was itself a take-off on H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds? * * * It is a sad commentary on the state of our morality that we can best imagine interplanetary crea- tures coming to make war on us, and not, as G. Legman once point- ed out, with “the outstretched jentacle of friendship,” in order *o trade encyclopedias. But in any case there is good scientific reason for the popular - interest in the question of life on Mars, if not for lurid imagin- ings about supermonsters. Mars is the most favorably stuated planet for our observa- tions. Its distance from the earth varies from about 35 million niles to 63 million miles — not very far in astronomy. It is al- ways one of the brightest objects in the heavens and about once every two years conditions are particularly good for examining it by telescope. Mars is the only heavenly body whose surface we can see which we know to have an atmosphere, : {though a very thin one because ef the weak gravity, which has allowed most of: the atmosphere te drift out into space over the ages. In a way this is lucky for us, because it is thin enough to let astronomers see the surface fairly clearly. This surface has two polar ice caps, resembling ours, but only a few inches thick. These melt in the Martian “summer” and re-form in the “winter,” both of vy hich seasons are twice as long as on earth. The surface in be- tween is covered with many dark markings, which were once thought to be actual canals by the more romantically inclined USA TORONTO. CANADA CMPIRE STATE BLOG, CAN BANK OF COMMERCE WELSON'S COLUMN: REW YORK, ened DPE MER LONDON, ENGLAND “DEEPEST WORKINGS » 1600 BELOW SEA LEVEL A rubber railroad, three miles long, is now making mining his- tory at Bell Island, Newfoundland, on the Atlantic seaboard. fron ore mined three miles under ithe sea is carried to the cliffs of the island on the longest and highest slope conveyor belt system in the world. It moves 1,000 tons of ore per hour. i PACIFIC TRIBUNE — AUGUST 27, 1954 — PAGE 4 * coal miners’ strike. Bride government’s savage efforts sors, which of course, we are not, our role being that of liber ators of the American Colonists from self-seeking despots ard dictators. We should establish a cordon sanitaire between the loyal De- minion of Canada and these Am- erican States, with whom we should refuse to trade, and com — pel nations friendly towards. co!- onialism, which previously had been well primed with lavish fin- ancial aid (out of humanitaria® reasons, of course), to refuse t@ ship materials of war. to the rebels. We must naturally, introduce loyalty fests to ascertain that none of our nationals is giving aid and succor to the enemy, members of the Civil Service be ing thoroughly purged of anti- colonial sympathies or dismissed- These United American States must be asked to show evidence of good faith by deeds and not merely by words before being allowed to resume their seat 18 the United Nations. Failing t© do this, we should all resign from that body, and leave these Ameri cans in splendid isolation. whey What! I remain, Sir, Your loyal and obedient se? vant, Major-General Sir Reginald Ponsonby Busby-Brown (retired) Late of the 6th Royal Pun- jab Punkawallers. Wescut in the Wash, Wessex, England. The cause of real peace is, irre | sistible, attainable, and every- thing that is good and true is part and parcel of the cause of peace. Therefore, in fighting for peace all peacemakers should fight under a fighting slogaD which advertises the value truth for without it no cause can win, © So I would like to suggest that your papers ahd pamphlets and those who sell them, proudly dis- Play, verbally and journalistical- ly, the slogan “The Truth Shall! Maks You Free.” Fidei backs | 40 years ago (From the files of the B.C. ' Federationist, August 28, 1914) J. J. Taylor, United Mine Work- ers district vice-president, and Sam Guthrie, president of the Ladysmith local, were released from prison. They were amoné the union leaders jailed in the Mc- to smash the Vancouver | Is] I5 years ago (From the files of the People’s Advocate, August 25, 1939) Headlines in the People’s Advo- cate read: “Chantberlain’s policies leading world to war. Plans British Tories to embroil USS in war with Germany smashed by Soviets.” = 10 years ago (From the files of The People, * August 26, 1944) . Mines Minister E. C. Carso® declared that the Coalition gov ernment was absolutely oppos- ed” to export NE iron ore from Bc.