CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 5

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Theft of “Pearl of Asia”.—A Belgian named Yvo’n Collette, who escaped from a mental home and is sought by the police, was sentenced in absentia to 10 years’ imprisonment for the theft of the “Pearl of Asia,” one of the biggest pearls in the world. It was stated in Court that Goering tried to buy the pearl for £ 125,000i*Collette and his accomplices, while the negotiations were going on, stole the pearl by masquerading as German police. The pearl once belonged to the, Emperor of China.— Paris, June 8. Infants on “Bride Ships.”—-The United States War Department has announced that infants under six months will in future be banned from "bride ships” bringing American servicemen’s families from the European and Mediterranean theatres. The decision is a result of the epidemic of diarrhoea which claimed the lives of babies aboard the transport Zebulon Vance. It is stated that because the transportation of war brides from other theatres is nearly complete, they have been excluded from the restrictions.— New York. June 7. U.S. Hotel Fire Death Roll.—The death of a young married woman in hospital has»increased the death roll in the La Salle Hotel fire in Chicago to 60.—New York, June 8. Death of Classical Scholar.—The death has occurred of Mr John Grosvenor Barrington-Ward, student and classical tutor at Oxford University, and brother to Mr R. McG. BarringtonWard, editor of “The Times.” Mr John Barrington-Ward was aged 52. After a distinguished scholastic record he served with the Royal Marine Artillery in the 1914-18 war. Since then he has held several high educational offices, and has published occasional classical books.—London, June 7.

Excommunicated for Heresy.—For the first time in 36 years a Roman Catholic priest, an Italian, Father Ferdinando Tartaglio, of the Archdiocese of Florence, was excommunicated for the duration of his life on a charge of heresy. The Vatican newspaper “Osservatore Romano,” announcing the sentence, said that Father Tartaglio had spread false doctrines. His excommunication means that no one except members of his family may speak to him or assist him in any way unless authorised by the Vatican.—Vatican City. June 8. French Traitors to Die.—Seven defendants, including a former heavyweight boxing champion of France (Francis), were sentenced to death after being found guilty at Nancy of betraying and killing members of the French Resistance Movement in the Ardennes during the occupation.— Paris, June 8.

Norwegian Troops for Germany.— The Norwegian Government has announced that it is sending 4000 troops into the British zone in Germany, in accordance with a British-Norwegian war-time agreement.—London, June 7. Sentence on Australian Airman.—An aircraftman in the R.A.A.F., aged 19, has been sentenced to 28 days' detention for absence without leave. At his court-martial it was revealed that the man had been held in close arrest for 101 days before being charged. This has precipitated an inquiry in which it is ejected high officers will be implicated. The court is unable to restore* the 101 days’ pay automatically forfeited during the close arrest. The man was absent for some weeks without leave after the war had ended. He will be discharged from the service at the end of his sentence.—Sydney, June 9.

Goebbels’s Mother Found.—“ Goebbels’s 79-year-old mother has been discovered living in the village of Icking, about 20 miles south-west of Munich, says Reuter’s correspondent. “Other members of his family were also found, including his sister and his brother-in-law. They were living under assumed names, but German officials discovered their real identity. They fled from Berlin in the spring of 1945, in spite of Goebbels’s order to remain." —London, Jufie 9.

Effect of Loggers’ Strike.—The Powell River Company in British Columbia, the largest British Empire newsprint producer, has decided to cut the working week to five and twothird days, the result of a shortage of logs caused by the continuing strike of Columbia’s 35,000 loggers.---Ottawa, June 9.

U.B. Intelligence Service.—Mr Truman has appointed Lieutenant-General Hoyt Vandsberg to be Director of Central Intelligence, replacing Admiral Somers, who has resigned. Central intelligence is a new department created last January to co-ordinate all foreign intelligence activities of the Government. It operates under a board comprising the Secretaries of State. War, the Navy, and Admiral William Leahy.—Washington, June 7.

War Criminal to Die*—Major Tararo Mizutani, Japanese commandant of the Prisoner of war camp on the Siamurma railway, was sentenced to death at the conclusion of h* trial, when he was'found guilty on three charges of being concerned with inhuman treatment and brutalities resulting in the deaths of 570 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war. the illtreatment of Burmese civilians, and the murder of a Northumberland fusilier.—London, June 7.