A press communiqué says: In response to the appeal of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the number of binoculars received at the Mathematical Instrument Office during the week ending the 21st July, 1917 and the total number received up to date are as follows: Binoculars received during the week ending the 21st July (1) On loan 3, up to date 162; (2) as gifts 2, total 50; (3) by purchase 1, total 60; grand total 272. Persons who are willing to give, lend or sell binoculars for use by officers in Mesopotamia are invited either to send them to the Officer-in-charge of Mathematical Instrument Office, 15 Wood Street, Calcutta, or to deliver them to M/s Lawrence and Mayo, Manufacturing Opticians, at their establishments in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi, Lucknow, Simla and Rangoon for despatch to the Mathematical Instrument Office. The names of all persons who send in binoculars on loan will be registered with a view to the return of their property after the war and in case of loss or damage compensation will be paid on the valuation made by the Mathematical Instrument Office. All binoculars with a magnification of not less than 3 diameter will be accepted. Suitable telescopes will also be accepted, but opera glasses are not required.
