IMPERIAL AND FOREIGN ITEMS

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16728, 10 January 1920, Page 9

IMPERIAL AND FOREIGN ITEMS

A measago from Tokio states that nearly 100(J Gorman prisoners of war : have sailed for Germany. A "Washington message says that another murder of an American is reported from Tuxpam (Mexico). Tho murdered man was an employco of an American company. A London message savs the Court deferred promulgation of tho sentence on Lieutenant H. 0. Harris, of the Twelfth Battalion of the Australian Forres, who was court-martialled on a charge of fraudulent disposal of rations of a total value of £1500. The nccused pleaded guilty. Major O. B. Story, of tho ISirrhth Battalion, wns charged jointly with Lioutonant Harris. A remarkable bankruptcy is reported of a well-known foreign firm of Mincing Lane rubber merchants. Tho London jwtner sold £2,000,000 worth of rubber which advanced from 2s to 2s lOd, | involving a loss of over £/)00,(K)0. The partner absconded, and tho chief loss I falls onlarge firms who resold I ber, Tvlijch the bankrupts could not*dei liver. It is expected that the debtors ' will pay /is in tho pound. Professor Rankino has demonstrated ! telephoning by light transmission. Tho 1 instrument is a photophono, consisting of a gramophone sound box, a delicately poise*] mirror replacing tho needle, tho effect of light upon tho element selenium causing tho mirror to convey sound oscillations received. Professor Rankine states that sunlight offers limitless opportunities for tho transmission of speech, always allowing for tho earth's curvature. A cable from London states that the report of the administration of tho Australian fi.O.C. Fund since September Ist, when it wns handed over from headquarters, shows that tho Board of Control restricted it to relieve necessitous cases of unmarried mothers. Tho fund in September amounted to £24-10. Tho Board has since investigated 368 cases, and approved of 113, rejecting the others, and distributocl £700. At least J)0 per cent, of the applicants were women of clean reputation previously. Whenever possible the soldier responsible wns paraded. A large proportion of the rejections were due to the manner in which soldiers offered to shoulder the responsibility. Tn no instance wifc there an attempt at evasion.