MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1918, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

I'AUSTRALIAN & N'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] A V.C. WINNER. WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. Base Records have received particulars of an incident for which the Victoria Cross was awarded TO/2950, feeigt John Gilway Grant, of the N.Z. E. i., for gallantry on the field of action. At Bancourt, bh Ist Sept, under point blank fire at twenty yards, he rushed enemy positions on the right leitj showing conspicuous bravery. It is recorded that throughout the operations lasting three days, he set a splendid example to all. His next of kin is his mother, Mrs J. Grant, of Princes Street Hawera. RECIPIENTS OF HONOURS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The following additional honours have been awarded New Zealanders and notilied to Base Records—Distinguished Conduct Medal: Private J. L. Shackleton, Company Sergt-Major W. Deijclirass; Corpl It .D. Brown; Private A. G. Aljfroyd; Lance-Corpl L. Green band; Sergts T. It. Kennedy, F. Ellery, Riflemen F. Healey, M. Berry, A. Gillan, Sgts D. Fletcher,, J. Heatlev, Corpl. A. T. Brocken hue, (M.M.) The following get a bar to the Military Medal: Rifleman W. H. Hair, Corpl. J. A. Batv, Sergts A. S. Clark, Bambadier, R. J. Sinclair; Privates W. G. Ware, It. Campbell. The following get the Military Modal: —Privates J. C. Low, Lance-Corpl D. Jacques, Private E, Maden, Sergts A. H. Muir, N. A. McKenzie, J. McKeclinie, H. Baker, and Lance-Corpl, E Girven.

REMOVED FROM OFFICE. MELBOURNE, Oct. 14. A special Gazette announces that the Governor-General lias removed Mr. Jensen from office. SHIPPING. MELBOURNE, Dec. 14. Arrived, Kauri from New Zealand. CONSCRIPTION. f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] LONDON, Dec. 13. The “Evening Standard” is authorised to state that HOll. Lloyd George will press forward for the abolition of conscription. Even if unsucessful in inducing the continental powers at the Peace Conerence to do so. NOT PUBLISHING. LONDON, Dec. 14. The English newspapers will hot publish on ’Xmas Day nor Boxing Day. MERCANTILE MARINE MEDAL LONDON, Dec. 14. King George has approved of the grant of a silver medal to the mercantile marine for war services. HONORING THE REVOLUTION. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 14 King George has approved of the grant of a silver medal to the mercantile marine for war service. HONORING THE REVOLUTION AMSTERDAM, Dec. 13 Berlin advices state the Government has npopintccl January Ist for elaborate al fresco celebrations, in honour of tlie revolution, EX-KAISERINE ILL. HAGUE, Dec. 13. The ox-Kaiserine is seriously ill. A heart specialist from Berlin is coming. BOXING. LONDON, Dec. 13. At tlie boxing, the final points were British Army, 50; American Army 30; Air Force and Royal Navy, each 32]; American Navy, 32; Australia, 28; Canada 18; New Zealand 141; South Africa, 10’. AMERICAN CROP RETURNS. WASHINGTON, Dec. 11. The Department of Agriculture estimates the years corn crop at 2,582,000,-. 000 bushels and the wheat crop 9,171,000,000 bushels. SOLDIERS MEDAL. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] LONDON, December 13. All Allied officers and men are receiving a common war medal, with a b«r for each year of service. SOMEONE BLUNDERED. LONDON December 13. The newspaper “Merchant Service Review,’’ recalls Hon. W. Churchill’s statement.—“We wero within an ace of the greatest victory at the Dardanelles the world had ever seen.” TIIO cargo steamer Fresh field was sent with water for the troops at the landing at Suvla Bay and when she arrived there, homebody told tlie captain to clear out as he was not wanted. The captain obeyed and returned to Mudros. The troops landed and wandered on the peninsular between the Turks and Constantinople. They saw the Dardanelles but in the blazing sun could not advance without water and parched with thirst they were obliged to withdraw. FINLAND ADMINISTRATION. LONDON December 14. The Finnish Diet have elected General Mannerheim administrator of 1 inJaifd. Mantaerhojin is at present in London. AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS. LONDON December I t. 'l’he pitiful stories hitherto told arc repeated by Australian prisoners from Turkey, who were subject to unfeeling neglect. Floggings, were given for the most trivial offence**. One man relates that he extracted a human head with teeth from a stew. He reported this to the Commandant but nothing was done. BAVARIA’S PEACE EFFORTS LONDON December 12. The Leipzig “Tagcblatt” stifles that prior to the revolution the ex-King of Bavaria, endeavoured to establish a /south German-Rhino alliance, for a separate peace with the Entente, excluding North ‘Germany.

MAIMED AND MUTILATED. LONDON December 14. The correspondent of tlie Morning Post narrates that a British prisoner of war has reached Tournai after (he armistice, with the word “Germany ’ branded across liis forehead and hm tongue mutilated, rendering him speechless, while fingers on both hands were missing. ‘Service ribbons showed tint, he was one of the “Old Contemptibles, ■ and a victim of German kultur. EDUCATIONAL RECIPROCITY. NEW YORK, December 14 The “New York Times” Washington correspondent learns that the French Government has placed at the disposal of the American Armies in France its higher educational system including the universities. American professors n ill be appointed to the French unversities. if the United States accepts tlie offer. TRIBUTE TO BRAVERY. LONDON December 14. The Lambeth Coroner warmly praised the conduct of Private Cosgrove an Australian for pluckily rescuing a youth named Lunnon. Tlie latter dashed into the Thames at Putney f >and tried to sav c a woman from drowning . Cosgrove next recovered the woman’s body, which Cosgrove vainly attempted to resuscitate. Tlie Coroner will bring Private Cosgrove’s and Lunnon’s conduct under notice of the Royal Humane Society. WEAVER’S DEMANDS CONCEDED LONDON December 14. A Court of Arbitration lias awarded the Lancashire weavers a fifty per cent increase on the present standard piece work price lists. STRIKE SETTLEMENT PROBABLE LONDON December 14. In consequence of tlie strike ilierc has been a conference between Mr Lloyd George and the representatives of the cotton spinners. A basis for a setl'ement of the strike lias been reached. THE GERMAN COLONIES. NEW YORK, Dec. 14. Commenting on the peace question Mr Frank Sinunonds states there is a German propaganda for the purpose of dividing the associated powers at the peace table on the question of the return of the German colonies. He says it is important that the American people must realise that t-lic German colonics must not be returned. He points out that Australia and New Zealand don’t wish to be compelled to maintain a navy for use against Germany, which, ho says, they would have to do if Samoa and Now Guinea were returned. Referring to Soutli West Africa, Mr Simmonds points out that the return of that territory to Germany would perpetually menace the Union of South Africa and would compel the Union Government to maintain a large army. In conclusion, the writer says that the determination not to return the German colonies is not a British scheme for expansion, but it is a British policy dictated from the Cape, Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington. DUTCH MINISTER RESIGNING. AMSTERDAM December o. It is expected that Van Karnebcek, the Foreign Secretary, will resign owing to the difficulties with the Allied Foreign Ministers. AMERICANS’ NAVAL GOAL. WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. The United States General Naval Board has recommended that the United States should have a navy equal to that of any other nation in the world. Admiral Badger, of the Naval Board argued before the House of Representatives Naval Committee that it will be necessary for thie United States, in 1925 to possess a. navy equal to any other Power in the world. GERMAN U-BOAT FIGURES. LONDON, Dee. 14. Prior to August last, 150 German submarines and seven Austrian submarines had been sunk. The Germans had up to then built 331 submarines. On August Ist, however, only 119 Üboats were available for operations. LINER STRANDED. HALIFAX (Novia Scotia), Dec. 14. Yarmouth reports state the Allan liner Corinthian has become stranded on Brier Island. P. AND O. SHIPPING CO. LONDON, Dec. 13. Lord Inehcape, addressing the Peninsular and Oriental Shipping Company’s shareholders, said that as to construction, the company had ordered two large mail ships and three cargo carriers. PASSENGER. AEROPLANES. o LONDON, Dec. 14. The aeroplane firms are converting war machines to peace purposes, providing a small promenade deck, state cabins, and sleeping berths on each machine. They are planning a service to India and the East. LONG AIR JOURNEY. LONDON, Dec. 14. An aeroplane, with a crew of six. has left Ipswich for a flight to Karachi and Delhi. ELECTION IN SAXONY. COPENHAGEN December 13. In an election in tlie Dresden Soldiers’ and Workmen’s Council, the Majority Socialists polled 177,566 votes and the Minority Socialists 9,440. 30,000 ARMENIAN VICTIMS. LONDON, Dec, 14. Thirty thousand Armenians were massacred bv burning in recent Turkish evacuated outrages. PROFITABLE CANTEEN. LONDON, Dec. 14. There are large profits from the British Expeditionary Force canteens, of which many wore established behind the •lines throughout the war in France. These will be distributed among the ex'soldiers.

A LONDON SCANDAL. REVELATIONS AT INQUEST. LONDON, Dec. 14. There lias been a. sensational inquest on Miss “ Billie ” Carlton, a well-known beauty and a leading lady at the Hayniarket Theatre. She was found dead in a flat in the Strand after a- fancydress ball at the Albert Hall. The evidence disclosed the prevalence of a remarkable drug-taking habit in certain theatrical circles, including dope parties, where opium and cocaine were dispensed. It was also revealed that visits are paid to Lime House opium dens. Miss ‘"Billie” Carlt-on obtained cocaine at a cost of six pounds for a small packet worth two shillings. Mrs Lo Ping, the English wife of a Chinaman, has been arrested. She cooked the opium for the dope parties. Several well-known actresses were mentioned in the evidence. Curious details were given as to how their male servants are sent to Chinese opium dens in the East End'to secure drugs. They resorted to ingenious expedients to preserve secrecy, owing to the stringent anti-opium law. NOTE TO CHILI. WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. The Acting-Secretary of State, Mr Polk, has published the text of a United State Note sent to Chili and Peru, in which the United States urged that the two nations owed it to the rest of the world to compose their difference. The Note tenders American assistance, if required, to bring about an equitable settlement. The Note viewed with the gravest apprehension the severing of consular relations, particularly on the eve of the Paris Peace Conference, at which it is hoped that steps will bo taken to provide an era of lasting peace among all peoples. WOMEN’S INTEREST. LONDON December 14. “The Time” (Unionist) says the Loudon women arc largely apathetic at elections but their interest will grad Italy grow, in the same way as in Australasia. There is a greater keenness in the north of England where ‘he women Have received a. rough sort or political education, through industrial co-operative organisation. say (the Times continues), women everywhere show an uncompromising attitude towards Germany, but arc ardent for radical social reconstruction. The “Times” adds that excitement is gaining in Ireland, and collisions arc reported between Sinn Feiners and Nationalists.