BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1707, 26 March 1913, Page 8

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

BUILDING OF WARSHIPS. HOW THE COST HAS INCREASED. London, March 18. 11l the memorandum which was forwarded by the First Lord of the Admiralty to the Canadian Government, and which was produced in the Dominion Parliament the other day, the cost of a plant for building battleships is fixed at U;15,0(!0,000. It is pointed out Hint a fleet unit that could have been ordered ill 1909 at a cost of .£1,407,000 could not be built today i'or less than .£5,159,000, the increase belli™: due to the rise in prices and the greater power that was .required in the later battle cruisers.

llr. Churchill, in his memorandum, remarks that the Australian unit stands oil a different footing, because it is relieved by the British vessels that are maintained on the Australian station.

"The Times," in a leading article oil Canada's navy, says: "We do not doubt that if the Canadians set. themselves to build battleships they will achieve their purpose as rapidly as any,other people in the world who were undertaking the business for the first time, but effective help for the Empire would bo delayed some years." The article goes on to say that the more rapidly tho Canadiaps succeeded with their project the more certainly would'their success be gained at the cost of Britain's sliinbuiltlintr establishments, because the skilled workmen, whose labour is indispensable, arc already insufficient to supply the demand. INTERNATIONAL SOCCER. A WIN FOR SCOTLAND. London, March 16. Scotland added another victory ■ to their already long list of international at Dublin ; on Saturday. They met a strong eleven representing Ireland before an enormous attendance. The game from start to finish was fast and exciting, and at one period it was thought that the Irishmen were going to win, owing to tlio superior combination they displayed in the first lialf. Scotland made matters lively in the second portion of the game, but Ireland failed to maintain their eiiriie)' form. The Scotchmen's passing and dribbling were splendid, and they eventually ran out winners by two goafs to one. Only a few weeks ago Scotland defeated England at Ilauipden Park by four goals to one.

ENGLAND BEATS SCOTLAND. GREAT RUGBY INTERNATIONAL. . London, March IG. unc of the most thrilling Rugby internationals England has over seen, was, that which took j)l ace yesterday at Twickenham, when England beat Scotland byvone try to nothing. There were 25,000 people present, and Brown, an Australian Rhodes scholar, scored the one try of the game, amid a scene that has been unparallel in the annals of English Rugby. The crowd went frantic with delight. England, by winning the game, takes tho international championship of tho year. [L. G. Brown, who won the great game for England, was the first (Queensland Rhodes scholar. He is captain of the Oxford University Rugby Football Club."] IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN'S GIFT. London, March 15. Tho Tariff Reform League has received a letter from Mr. Joseph Chamberlain enclosing a cheque for J1'5700, representing the subscriptions to the Chamberlain Birthday Euiul. Mr. . Chamberlain asks that the money shall bo employed in promoling Imperial preference. Tho league has resolved that any departure from its. full policy would be disastrous to the cause of tariff reform. In the future support will be given preferably to Parliamentary candidates who advocate the policy of Imperial preference.

BLOWN FROM A GUN.' AERONAUT'S -MAD FREAK. ' v London, larch 15. An aeronaut in New York .who enclosed himself in a steel cylinder, and was then blown from a gun to a height of 3500 feet, paid rather dearly for his mad freak, i'lio cylinder was constructed in such a way as to open itself at the cud of its flight, tho occupant accomplishing liis descent by means of a paracliuto that ho carried with him. It was about tho most thrilling experience an aeronaut ever had, but tho result was not encouraging, for although the fool-hardy fellow who thus risked Iks life elfected descent safely enough, he was .bruised, burned, and lacerated pretty well all over his body. . AERIAL DEFENCE. NEW FLYING BASES IN BRITAIN. London, March 15. The departure of a detachment of army aeroplanes from Farnborough to Montrose, tlie new station of the Royal Flying Corps in Forfarshire, marks an important phase in Britain's aerial land force. A system lias been evolved for tho formation of flying bases in various centres of the country. At present tho education of liaval and military. pilots begins at tho central school in Upavon, Wiltshire. After graduating there tho pilot' passes to Farnborough to join a squadron of the military wing, in which his education is completed. Under tho system just coming into operation, tho pilot will, after having completed his course of instruction, be transferred to one of tho new station that have been selected. The Montrose station is tho first that has been formed.

"CONSTABLE MARY JONES." London, March 15. Legislation is shortly to be introduced in New York providing for the appointment of 20 women to the police force, to do duty at tho dancing halls, in the parks, and at the biograph shows. It is consider-, ed.that officials of this kind will bo able to do a great deal to uphold tho moral tone of tho city, and will bo able to step in where the mere uniformed man would fear to tread. Tho papers aro joking about "Constable Mary Jones." CENTURY OF PEACE. London, March 14. An Anglo-Atherican exposition is to bo held at Shepherd's Bush, West London, next year to celebrate tho centenary of the Treaty of Ghent, which will mark (lie close of a century of peace between England and tho United States. Tho scope of the exposition will embrace everything,that, will go to show the progress of the arts and sciences of tho two countries during the last hundred years. The historical .sections will bo a prominent feature of the exhibition. GERMAN LEADER'S WARNING.

-London, March IS. Tho precise incidence of the now German defence taxation is not yet shown. Herr Heydebraud. tlio Conservative leader, has 'informed the members of his party that tho times aro the gravest tho country lias ever known, and they would bo guilty of having betrayed the Fatherland if they Tefused to bear the sacrifices demanded of them. AMERICA CUP CHALLENGE. London, March IG. Sir Thomas Lipton has decided not to issue any further challenge for the America Cup until he has consulted with the lioyal Ulster Yacht Club. He is anxious to meet the wishes of tho New York Yacht Club, but declares that a RO-footer is a dangerous freak, which would be likely to founder if taken across the Atlantic. TV/0 MILES OF FIRE. . London, March 15. Owing to an explosion in one of the manholes of the electric tramway in Lisbon, Portugal,, an' accumulation of gas burst into ilame along the mains for a distance of two miles, and belched forth from all the manholes in spirits of lire. There worn terrible scenes of panic, and as the crowds rushed to get awav from the blaze many women fainted and were trodden underfoot.

FRENCH NAVAL MANOEUVRES. London, March 15. The Paris paper, "Matin," commenting upon the manoeuvres that have just been earned out by the French destroyers and submarine boats, says that the operations proved that an enemy would uot have any chalice of entering the Channel unless exceptionally bad weather prevailed. AN AMERICAN PORTIA. ' London, March 16. Miss Inez Mulholland, a pretty young woman, who has just been admitted to tho Bar in New York State, distinguished herself yesterday by successfully defending a Chinese who was charged with murder. ; Miss Mulholland is prominently identified with tho suffragette movement in America. TO BRING GOOD LUCK, London, Marcli 16. In layiug tho foundation-stone of an institution for women in the East End yesterday the Countess of Aberdeen placed a sprig of shamrock under the stone, remarking that it was St. Patrick's Evo, and that this was tho way to bring good luck and a blessing. POPULAR LORD ROBERTS. London, March IG. Lord Roberts is staying with Colonel Hiokmaun, M.P., at Mottenhall, Wolverhampton, and yesterday the -grounds were thrown open to tho public, 5000 of whom crowded on. to the lawn and cheered the veteran soldier to tho echo. THE FRENCH ARMY. London, March 16. At the spring review of the troops in garrison in Paris there was a scene of intense loyal enthusiasm. Great crowds greeted tho appearance of the President with shouts of "Vive Poincare," followed by "Vivo l'urmcc." [The above items appeared in the Sydney "Sun's" spccial cable scrvice.]