IMPERIAL AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 7

IMPERIAL AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

A helicopter, designed by Louis Brennan, -will begin trial flights at the Royal Aircraft Factory, at Farnborough, this week.

A Moscow message reports that battle plague is ravaging the Tamboff district, and peasants and their cattle are dying in great numbers.

A Warsaw message saya the Allied authorities have arrested General von Arnim for being in possession of false identity papers. He was engaged on an inspection of various military organisations. During the war he commanded the 4th German Army.

A feature of the passage of tihe Orient liner Osterley from Australia to London was the meeting of 120 Freemasons. The New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland, West Australian, South Australian, New Zealand Scottish and Irish constitutions were represented.

The Premier of Persia has issued a manifesto thanking the British troops for their services, and stating that Persia must prepare to undertake her own defence. She cannot always have another country defending her, and then withdrawing without reward. Persian Cossacks have taken over all the positions evacuated by the British.

According to a message from Delhi, Bolshevik forces from Resht are bombarding the Persian Cossacks' positions. The Persian Premier ordered the new Russian Minister to Persia, who is a few days' journey from Teheran, not to proceed until an explanation was given. A protest has also been addressed to Moscow.

The Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, attended the annual St. George's Day service at St. Paul's Cathedral of the Knights of Saint Michael and St. George. Sir Henry Galway (ex-Governor of South Australia), Sir John Cockbuni' (President of the International Masonic Club). Sir John Findlay, and Sir James Mills attended.

A London message says window scratching is spreading throughout thi country. There have been 140 cases in Tottenham, 100 in Kingston, 60 in West Ham, and not one street in Weybridge escaped. Many cases in the City occurred during- daylight showing that the miscreants are becoming bolder. The police have issued descriptions of eight men and a woman seer. under suspicious circumstances at tho time damage was done to windows. In several cases men were seen actually at work in daylight, but they escaped.