NEWS FROM ABROAD

Evening Star, Issue 19790, 14 February 1928, Page 4

NEWS FROM ABROAD

The Fatal Inoculations

Tragedy of Bundaberg Children

Serum Commission Investigates

Shocking Revelations in Boy Murder Case

A New Disease- —Lung Cancer Caused by Motoring

Srw* Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.

BRISBANE, February 13. The Serum Commission appointed to investigate the deaths of the children in Bundaberg Hospital has commenced its sittings. Dr Thompson, the local Government medical officer, who inoculated the children, gave evidence that he did not receive the usual circular warning him against bacterial contamination if the serum were used over a period, and urging that it be wholly used immediately. The bottle containing the serum was stored in a cool surgery. He examined it regularly, and saw no turbidity in it till the day of the tragedy. He had not previously administered similar serum, and he had had no experience of the Schick test. After the syringe needle was used it was plunged into methylated spirits, and then used for the next inoculation. The syringe had not been used for months before the fatal inoculations were made. His nurse had charge of sterilising the instruments. Each inoculation day the serum was transported between the surgery and the council chambers where the inoculation was done, and the rub-ber-capped serum bottle was sterilised. Dr Richards, pathologist, said that the cause of death appeared to be acute toxaemia. There was a toxin of some sort in the infection. He could not ascribe it to any organism. The toxin seemed to centre on the central nerve system.

EXCESSIVE CARE FOR GERMAN FEELINGS.

PARIS, February 13

Dr Murray, of the Federal Department of Health, said he understood that the bottle of serum received by Dr Thompson did not contain the circular warning as to its quick use. His name was not in the list of those who had received circulars. [Following inoculation under the Government scheme to provide immunisation against diphtheria, twelve children died in hospital at Bundaberg. The serum was supplied by the Federal Health bepartment, and the_ inoculations were carried out in the City Council Chambers. The first two batches were treated successfully, but later the children became ill, and were rushed to the hospital, where they died. The ages of the dead ranged from fifteen jnonths to six years.]

NURSE CAVELL FILM NO OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN PRIVATE SCREENING IN LONDON LONDON, February 12. It is authoritatively stated that no Government action has been taken in regard to the Nurse Cavell him. It was not before Cabinet in any form, and Sir Austen Chamberlain’s view is entirely his own. The picture was shown privately in London before the _ author, the producer, and the principal actors.

The newspapers are unsympathetic regarding the agitation not to show the Nurse Cavell film, and comment pointedly on the excessive care not to hurt Germany’s feelings. Some point out that there was no official disapproval of the film ‘Beau Geste,’. which was injurious to France.

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY REPUBLICAN NOMINATION MR HOOVER ANNOUNCED. WASHINGTON, February 12. Mr H. 0. Hoover (Secretary of Commerce) has made an open declaration of his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Ho pledged himself, if elected, “to carry forward the principles of the Republican Party and the great objectives of President Coolidge’s policies.” Mr Hoover does not propose to undertake an active campaign owing to his obligations as Secretary of Commerce. Hi§ case will be left entirely in the hands of his friends. His candidacy was announced from Ohio for the purpose of openly challenging the strength of Mr Willis there. This action is regarded here as a daring and crucial one, since his success in that State is calculated to influence the uninstructed Eastern Delegation, where politicians will carefully watch the Ohio popularity contest. Some observers pi edict that if Mr Hoover sweeps Ohio this will practically decide the outcome of the Kansas City Convention, IRISH FREE STATE PRESIDENT’S TOUR CONCLUDED RECEPTION AT SOUTHAMPTON. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless—Copyright.

RUGBY, February 12. The President of the Irish Free State (Mr W. T. Cosgrave) arrived at Southampton yesterday on his return from a tour of the United States and Canada. He was officially welcomed by the Mayor of Southampton.

ARRIVAL IN DUBLIN. REMARKABLE SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM. LONDON, February 12. Remarkable scones were witnessed on Mr Cosgrove's return to Dublin. A salute of 19 guns was fired. He motored to Dublin, and at the boundary of the city proper was met by an enormous crowd, the procession including several bands. Mr Cosgrave’s car was preceded and followed by detachments of cavalry, and thus, through thronged streets and amidst deafening cheers, he proceeded, with illuminated aeroplanes hovering overhead. His arrival in O’Connell street was signalised by the discharge of rockets, while from Nelson’s pillar a searchlight swept the city. Mr Cosgrave made a brief _ speech, and any reference to America was cheered. GANDER OF THE LONGS CAUSED BY MOTORING SIR ARBUTHNOT LANE’S VIEWS. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 13. Sir William Arbuthnot Lane expresses the opinion that motoring is the cause of the now form of cancer of the lungs, from which 10 per cent, of cancer patients die. Ho bases the statement on figures supplied from Vienna showing an increase in cancer of the lungs since 1895. Sir Arbuthnot Lane says; “ It is obvious that the condition is coincident with the motor car and use of tar on the roads. I am convinced that cancer is a disease of civilisation, as shown by its comparative absence in India wherever the natives adopt a natural form of living, though where the Indians adopt the habits and foods of white men the incidence of cancer is equal to that in Europe.”

PAPAL CORONATION COMMEMORATION SERVICE FIRST HELD IN ENGLAND. LONDON, February 12. Representatives of fourteen nations, members of the two Houses of Parliament, and thousands of prominent Roman Catholics thronged Westminster Cathedral for a service commemorating the anniversary of the coronation of Pope Pins. This is the first time that such a commemoration has taken place in England. The service included vespers, the benediction, and a solemn Te Deum. Cardinal Bourne held a reception at the archbishop’s house after the service. THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS SECURITY COMMITTEE SOVIET OBSERVER APPOINTED. LONDON, February 12. The Paris correspondent of the ‘ Daily Express ’ reports that the Soviet observer at the Security Committee’s deliberations is M. Boris, one of the ablest permanent secretaries in Moscow Foreign Office. It is probable that a meeting will be sought with Sir Austen Chamberlain, on the success or otherwise of which will depend whether M. Lityinqff goes to Geneva to take up negotiations with a view to the resumption of relations.

BERLIN MURDERS

GIRL'S BRAZEN MENDACITY BERLIN. February 13. Revelations in the Kranz case continue to appal the public. The friyolous indifference and brazen mendacity with which Hildegards Scheller answered the questions of the Prefect of Police are regarded as most shocking, when it is remembered that her brother and her boy lover were killed practically in her The girl’s callousness is partly explained in the discovery made by a policewoman, who went to the Scheller home to inquire regarding Hildegarde’s antecedents, and found the girl’s father bent over a table with his head in his hands. He was not bowed down by grief, however, but was solving a crossword puzzle. Elinor Ratto, a girl friend of Hildegarde, who visited the house on the night of the murders, was ruthlessly cross-examined, and she attempted to exonerate Kranz at the expense of Scheller.

[The case of Kranz, a schoolboy, who is charged with murdering a boy friend, recalling the Leopold-Loeb case in Chicago, has caused a sensation in Berlin. It will form a standard document for the historian of social life since the war in Germany, particularly as regards the consequences of the precocity of a youth playing on passmns which he is unable to control. Leading sociologists, doctors, authors, lawyers, and professors are present at the trial, analysing the psychology of the drama. Kranz, who is eighteen years of age, was a scholarship winner, his chief reading since being arrested having been Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Dostoievsky. Kranz was visiting the house of a schoolboy friend, Scheller, on the night of the tragedy, others present being a third schoolboy, Stephan, and Scheller’s sister Hildegn’rde, aged sixteen. The girl’s parents being absent, the boys sat up the night drinking liqueurs and talking of love. The discussion finally turned on death, and Scheller proposed that all four should die. He wrote a letter to the universe, beginning: “Dear Universe, —A single portion of your organism perishes. Don’t worry. Time will roll on.” The letter ended with the intimation that Stephan and Hildegarde would be killed, and the others would commit suicide with a smile. Kranz stated that Scheller shot Stephan and committed suicide, and he was about to commit suicide himself when the girl snatched the revolver. Some of the evidence suggests that Stephan being found in Hildegarde’s bedroom precipitated the tragedy. There is also evidence that some of the boys belonged to a juvenile club, the statutes of which strictly enjoined that all members who were deceived by men or women friends must avenge themselves upon their rivals.]

JUGO-SLAV SUBMARINES TWO BUILT AT NEWCASTLE COURTESY CALLS PAID BY OFFICERS. RUGBY, February 12. Courtesy calls were paid at Portland naval establishments yesterday by offioers of two Jugo-Slav submarines which have arrived in harbor from Devonport. The submarines_ were built at Newcastle, and will remain at Port* land foe two weetq,

DEMONSTRATION SN A CHURCH

EXTRAORDINARY SCENES AT DARWEN LAUGHTER, SHOUTING, AND BOOING LONDON, February 13. The demonstrations at St. Cuthbert’s, Darwen, culminated in an extraordinary scene. Mounted and foot police guarded the church. The congregation of 800 remained quiet until the vicar (Rev. M. Lauria) went into the pulpit, when he was unable to make himself heard owing to the laughter and shouting. The vicar went into the street and returned with police officers. Amidst ironical laughter and singing the police accompanied the vicar as he moved about the church taking names. Hundreds of people trooped out, and the vicar from the chancel announced that owing to blasphemy the service would end. When ho went out into the street again there was an outburst of booing, and mounted police escorted him to the vicarage. Legal proceedings will follow.

MR AMERY’S MISSION

EMPIRE TOUR CONCLUDED PERTINENT COMMENT BY ‘DAILY EXPRESS ’ LONDON, February 12. The ‘Daily Express,’ writing editorially, hopes that air Amery has not been too busily engaged in imparting instruction to the dominions to receive any in return. “His tour will have been of little use from the Imperial standpoint unless lie brings back a decided preference for action over talk. While ways of filling the dominions with Britishers have been endlessly debated and written on a practical and continuous policy is still wanted. The value of Mr Amery’s peregrinations may be judged by what he does to forward this necessity.” A BANQUET ARRANGED. LONDON, February 13. Sir James Parr and party, with the Agents-general and many friends, welcomed Mr and Mrs Amery at Euston Station. Mr Amery will be the guest at a banquet arranged by the Empire Parliamentary Association.

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN

GERMAN GENERAL'S DISGIOSURES BRITISH “ WITHIN AH ACE OF SUCCESS •? LONDON, February 13. General Von Saunders’s book, ‘Five Years in Turkey,’ which has just been translated into English, contains the interesting revelation that in the Dardanelles crises the decision often hung on a knife edge. General Von Sanders adds: Had the British succeeded the fortress of the Straits would have been quickly silenced, as it had little ammunition, and thus there would have been no further difficulties in the way to Constantinople. After the failure of the naval attack it was clear to him that Britain would not relinquish such an obvious prize. Fortunately a full month elapsed, enabling us to complete niost indispensable arrangements. Though the British underestimated the powers of the Turks it was most fortunate for us that the British attacks did not last more than a day. There were punctual pauses for several days. General Von Sanders says that the British, had they but known it, were within an ace of success.

AVIATION

MR HINKLER’S FLIGHT ARRIVAL AT BASRA. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 12. Mr Bert Hinkler has reached Basra, COLONEL LINDBERGH GOODWILL FLIGHT. HAVANA, February 13. Colonel Lindbergh hopped off early this morning for the 1,200-mile flight to St. Louis, the last Jeg of his goodwill tour.

AMIR OF AFGHANISTAN BELGIAN TOUR CURTAILED ACCIDENT WHILE SHAVING. BRUSSELS, February 12. The visit of King Amanullah has been cut short owing to an accident. While shaving he suffered a deep gash in the neck, and, despite advice, visited Antwerp. The wound grew worse, and he abandoned his programme, and left for Switzerland. URUGUAYAN SPECIAL MISSION ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND RETURNING PRINCE’S VISIT. (British Official News.) Press Association —Bj Wireless—Copyright. RUGBY, February 11. The Uruguayan Special Mission, which is returning the recent visit of the Prince of Wales to that country, arrived from Calais last evening. The party was met by representatives of the King and the Foreign Office. The mission is being received by the King at Buckingham Palace to-day. FRENCH COLONIES FRANCO-GERMAN EXPLOITATION SENATOR’S PROPOSAL. LONDON, February 13. (Received February 14, at 9 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Berlin correspondent says that Senator Lemery, an ex-French Minister, made a remarkable statement in the newspaper ‘ Tagliche Rundschau ’ about negotiations he was conducting in Berlin with a view to gaining German co-operation in the exploitation of French colonics. tie describes a plan to form several companies employing equally Franco-Ger-man capital in the Gulf of Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Equatorial Africa, and Senegal. Senator Lemery states that the Quai d’Orsay has approved of the plan.—A. and N.Z. and ‘Sun’ Cable.