THE WORLD'S NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 3

THE WORLD'S NEWS.

SOME RECENT CABLEGRAMS. Tha following items are taken from tho Sydney • "Sum's" special cable eervioe:— SNOW AND STOEM. London, November 12. Winter 'lias commenced in earnest in tho north-west of Europe, and fearful gales are being experienced. Tho first fall of snow: commenced in England to-day, when a heavy storm swept over.'. tho country of Westmoreland.- • A schooner broke loose, from her moorings at Dunkirk, a French port in the English Channel, and drifted among the fishing sloops moored at' the quay side. Fifteen of these wero sunk, and soveral lives lost. A barge 'foundered in tho Thames estuary, and those on board wero saved by a boat that was dasneil to pieces on landing. At Fishguard, Ireland, the gale did tremendous damage to the breakwater. The wind blew with ■ cyclonic force; its velocity had not been so great for many years. Shipping is held up all along Tynesido, and the North Sea fishing fleet is making harbour after many perilous adventures. BRITAIN WANTS IRON. London, November 13. Mr. Wallace Thorneycroft, of tho wellknown firm of engineers, gave evidence before tho Imperial Trade Commission today. He pointed out that five or six million tons of Bessemer ore was imported in each year into tho United Kingdom from foreign countries, and urged tliat.the Gov. ernments of the dominions could with advantage hypothecate money for geological survey in the territories in order "to develop their iron resources. There would be, said tho witness, no moro profitable investment. ALTERED CHEQUES. London, November 13. English banks are bringing into practice an innovation to prevent dighonosty. Owing to a gang of swindlers stealing letters with cheques in them, and then altering the amount and presenting them for collection, cheques in futuro will not bo recognised unles3 the full signature of ' the drawer is appended to any alteration, and then only when presented by the drawer or his known agent. WIRELESS ON MAIL BOATS. London, November 14. In the House of Commons this evening Mr. Craig inquired whether tho Government would direct mail steamers to carry two wireless telegraph operators. The Postmaster-General replied that « Bill dealing with the question was now in course of preparation. LORD ROBERTS'S PENSION. London, November Some of 1 tho moro prominent Radicals have lately been talking about stopping the pension of Lord Roberts ,of his recent trenchant criticism on Britain's unpreparedness for war. When- the famous soldier heard of the proposal he, is reported to have said; "I was proud to win the pension in the service of my country, and I shall bo proud to loso. it • in her service." '■—' i' AJIiIOUBED SHIPS. London, November 11. Replying to a question in the House of Commons to-day, Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that sixty armoured; ships had been launched since 1908.. The totals for the different naval Powers were:— Groat Britain ( 21 Germany '. 18 Franco - 11 United States 10 PICTURES AND MUSIC. , London, November 14. A controversy is now in progress as to whether halls given over to picture shows are entitled to the, unrestricted music licenses for which they-have made application. The granting of the licenses is being strenuously opposed by the managers of the halls, who maintain that it would mean creating about a 'hundred new music-halls. The biograph 6howmcn affirm that their only object in applying for the licenses is to enable them to provide the music that is necessary as an accompaniment to many of the subjects which are screened. CANADA'S VETERANS.' Ottawa, November 13. The Army and Navy League, is endeavouring to induce the Dominion Government to sanction a vote of .£IO,COO with which to assist the ex-soldiers of Canada. LONDON CHORUS GIRLS. ■ London November 13. ' The chorus girls at those theatres that will stage pantomimes at Christmas lately threatened, that they would come out on strike unless their rates of pay were based.on a more liberal scale. The girls demanded that they should receive at least £2 a week, and the managers all found themselves in the position of being obliged to yield. NEW NAVAL BASE. - London, November 12. • It is understood that the Admiralty has surveyed a site between Kirkaldy and Kinghorn, on the Fifeshire (Scotland) coast, to decide whether the spot is suitable for a large naval harbour. • EMPIRE TRADE MARK. London, November 12. Representatives of the firms of Bass and Guinness, the beer .and stout makers, giving evidence before the Imperial Trade .Commission, opposed the suggestion of an Empire trade mark. It was pointed out that such a trade mark should be essentially striking and distinctive, but the proposed trade mark was neither. _ They were confident that a large majority of other firms would also disapprove of the trade mark. The Bradford Dyers' Association gave similar evidence. Sir Charles Owens, general manager of the London and South-AVestern Railway, has resigned his position as one of the members of the Imperial Trade Commission. He will be succeeded by Mr. Joseph Tatlow, lately general manager of tlie Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland. RUSSIAN NAVAL ESTIMATES. London, November 12. The estimates for the Russian navy which have been presented to the Duma provide for to be spent on the construction of warships in 1913. NO BLOW-OFF SHOTS. . London, November 13. The National Rifle Association has decided that tho sights approved of last year shall be acceptable at the next isisley meeting. The association has also issued an order abolishing "blow-off shots, which are to be replaced by practice shots. TRIPS TO THE STARS. London, November 12. At an astronomers' dinner, in London, it was stated that the great map of the skv was nearing completion, and tlie problem of whether or no there was any limit to the stellar universe might soon be solved. It was stated that tri.psi to the stars were possibilities of the tuturo. STUDY OF HEREDITY. London, November 12. ' Mr. Reginald Crundall Punnctt, Professor of biology at Cambridge Umversitv has been appointed first professor to the* recently-created Chair for the Study of Heredity. - MUSIC IN A CAGE. London, November 12. The well-known Russian violinist, Mit. nitzkv, has received a letter from ths, "Black Hand" demanding money, and threatening him with death if ho does not comply. Mituitzlw has handed the letter to tho police. Ho appears on _ tho concert platform now in a massivo iron and steel cago. A READY NAVY. London, November 13. Tho reorganisation of the British Navy is actively proceeding, and ;vhen completed next year 19 battleships will be manned with activo. service ratings and in continuous commission, and ready lor any emergency within a few hours.