CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24914, 29 June 1946, Page 7

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Mourners Asked to Celebrate.— “While a 64-year-old bachelor schoolmaster, Alphonse Marchais, of Valet Village, near Nantes, was buried today loud-speakers relayed his merry voice throughout the village,” says Reuter’s Paris correspondent. A broadcast invited mourners to drink 500 bottles of wine in his cellar. Marchais had records of bis voice made in preparation for his death, and his last injunction to villagers through the loudspeakers, as his coffin was being lowered into the grave, was: “Have a good time and sing my favourite songs.”—London. June 27.

Sale of Atomic Bomb Shares.—An alleged atomic bomb share-selling racket involving more than 500,000 dollars in which several persons were swindled of large sums on the promise of r;ch dividends, has been revealed by the police. Two persons were arrested arid the capture of the alleged ringleader is imminent. A Montreal doctor is reported to have handed over 20.000 dollars in the belief that the new scientific wonder bomb would return him a fortune.—Ottawa. June 27.

Missing Czechoslovak Children.— The Czechoslovak Red Cross is sending teams of searchers into Germany to co-operate with UNRRA in the search for Czech children kidnapped by the Germans, particularly those missing from Lidice.—Frankfurt, June 27. Bulgarian Opposition Leader Sentenced.—The Social Democratic Opposition leader (Mr Krstiu Pastuhov), aged 71, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for writing articles “aimed at the impairment of the military efficiency and fighting spirit of the Bulgarian Army.”—Sofia June 28 Chilean President’s Death.— The death has occurred of Mr Juan Antonio Rios, aged 58, the President of Chile.—Valparaiso, June 27.

Mr Attlee’s Visit to N.Z.— Although the mounting pressure of Parliamentary business has caused reports that Mr Attlee will be compelled to cancel his proposed tour of Australia and New Zealand, it is learned that he still hopes to make the trip, and he has begun preparations by having inoculations. According to his present plans, Mr Attlee will leave England on July 22. shortly before the House rises for the summer recess.—-London, June 27. Austrian Steel Plants.— An agreement has been reached for returning to production Austria’s two biggest steel plants. They are the Alpine Montan works In the British zone and the Hermann Goering works near Linz in the United States zone. Both former Nazi concerns at present are under public administration. It is understood they are the first to be taken over under the Austrian Government’s nationalisation plans.— Vienna. June 27. Boarding-Schools Reopen.— “ Four or five closed boarding-schools will be reopened in Moscow this year," says Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow. “Boarding schools have been unknown in Russia since the Revolution. The parents of the students will pay the fees."—Loz.don. June 28. Preference for Australian Soldiers. —Returned soldier employees of the Crown will be given the same facilities for redress as those in private employment, according to a promise by the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) made in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Chifley said that the Government was considering an amendment to the Re-establishment and Employment Act to bring this about. The matter of soldier preference in Government jobs had received attention since the decision of a Court that the regulations were not binding on Government departments.—Canberra, June* 28.

Helicopter Used In Hunt for Convict. —After a 13-day hunt in which as many as 500 police and troops scoured the Isle of Wight with the help of bloodhounds and a helicopter, the police recaptured a convict from Parkhurst Prison. The commando-trained fugitive, George Jackson, kept the whole population of the island in a state of anxiety, and appeared able to break through the cordon after it had been thrown round the places and areas in which he was seen. The search is estimated to have cost £7OO a day.—London. June 28.

Belgian King’s War Record.—The Belgian Cabinet rejected a proposal by the presidents of the Seriate and the Chamber of Deputies for the appointment of a non-Parliamentary- fact-find-ing commission to examine King Leopold’s war record. A Cabinet communique described the proposal as unconstitutional and added that Parliament was the only authority competent to examine the King’s and the Government’s record during the war.— Brussels. June 27. N.Z. Victory Contingent.—Members of the New Zealand Victory Contingent are now starting to reassemble in London in preparation for embarking on the Maunganui on July 2. About 10 members of the contingent will remain in Great Britain for various purposes, the majority to take up bursaries. —London, June 27. Plot Discovered in Guatemala^—A

plot to overthrow the Government and the President of Guatemala (Dr. Juan Jose Arevalo) has been frustrated by several arrests. The newspaper “Mediodia.” which reflects Government opinion, said that the uprising was scheduled to break out on Tuesday night. Among those implicated were some persons involved in the unsuccessful revolt last September who were released on ' —Guatemala City. June 27. \ j