NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1920, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

NEW ATLANTIC SERVICE. NEW YORK, Aug. 20. An agreement just announced by Admiral Benson, chairman of the United States Shipping Board, marks the most important Transatlantic traffic development since the end of the war. By this agreement, which lias the hoard’s warm approval, the old Hamburg-American Line niul the American Ship Commerce Corporation will run passenger and freight services between New York and other American ports and Germany. Further services will he established from Germany to world ports outside the United States. The.two companies arc in the new scheme on what is known here as the 50-50 basis. No German money, it is said, in invested in the American end of the business, nor is there a clause making this possible in the future. The Hamburg-American Line becomes the new agent of the American Ship Commerce Corporation in Germany, while tlie American company will act in the same capacity for tlie German company here. Plans are forward for the construction of new passenger liners, while several large cargo-boats, now building in American yards, will on completion he turned over to the American company. Two prominent Americans in the “ combine ” are Mr W. G. Siekel, who before tlie war was one of the American directors of the Hamburg-American,Com-pany, and Mr R. H. M. Robinson, president of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation.

OUFT DEBT OF HONOUR. LONDON, Aug. 20. “i am anxious that every effort should be made to support Lord Haig’s recent appeal on behalf of unemployed cx-Serviee officers and men,” states the King in a letter addressed to Lords Lieutenant, Lord Mayors, and Lord Provosts throughout the kingdom. This question has doubtless engaged your attention since the early days of Army demobilisation. “ I should be mueL'Tnt>erested in any local particulars which you may be able to give me both regarding the numbers still unemployed and the steps taken to deal with such cases. “ I am confident that, as my representatives, you will do what lies in your power to secure the co-operation of ail interests in your area to efface what might be regarded as a reflection on the fair name of our nation.” SLEEPING WIFE SHOT. PARIS, Sept. 1. The “Echo de Paris” gives details of a crime in the military hospital of Casablanca, Morocco, where Jean Essertel, son of a wealthy French merchant, shot his wife as she lay in a hospital bed, and then tried to make out she had committed suicide. The motive of the crime was the young man’s craze for another woman named Janine, with whom he had for a long time carried on a liaison. A few weeks ago Mine. Essertel fell ill and was removed to the military hospital, where her husband obtained permission to sleep in an adjoiningroom. In the dead of night Essertel entered his wife’s room unperceived, and as she lay sleeping fired a revolver at her heart. He then shot himself in the arm, and shouted “My wife’s committed suicide! She shot me in the arm while I was trying to disarm her.” The suicide theory was at first accepted hut when the dying woman was lying on the operating table she momentarily recovered consciousness and screamed, “Take me away! My husband is going to kill me.” Essertel was arrested and confessed. PROMENADE BOXING. PARIS, Sept. 1. j Open-air professional boxing marches on the promenade are Deauville’s latest attraction. On Sunday, Bombardier WeTTs will meet Journee, the French heavyweight champion, in a return match. Dick Smith will box Nilles, and Joe Beckett and Jimmie Wilde will give sparring exhibitions. Mr Eugene Corri of the National Sporting Club, and Major Wilson, of the Hotborn Stadium, 1 will act as judges.