NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1921, Page 3

NEWS BY MAIL.

THE WRONG MAN

VANCOUVER, Dec. 20 When Sir Auckland Geddes, British Ambassador at Washington arrived at i Philadelphia to-night he was forced to J proceed from the station through a column of slowly marching sympathisers. Not recognising him, several of tlie marching men solicited him for Sinn Fein funds.

TRADE PROTECTION

LONDON, Dec. 16

The “big-ship” controversy is still producing a, wide diversity of views. In a letter to the Times Vice-Admiral A list nither discusses from the view point of the Dominions the result of his war experiences at Hongkong. “If the strength of the fleet is determined by what is necessary to protect trade,” lie says, “then submarines and anti-submarine craft appear to fulfil these conditions for our island colonies overseas. Urn Emden left from Kiaochow, yet was forced to operate in the Indian ocean because of the submarines at the China station. The fact that Ger many had no submarines in the Far East proved a notable advantage in the protection of our trade.” He makes the novel suggestion that merchant ships capable of submerging would prob ably be a powerful aid to trade protection.

MILLIONAIRE’S INCOME TAX

VANCOUVER, Dec. 20

John D. Rookfellpr, the millionaire, has been accused of having made incorrect income tax returns. The Federal. authorities ask judgment for l £40,000. " AUSTRALIAN MEAT. LONDON, Dee. 21. Sir J. I). Connolly, Agent-General for West Australia, will take an interesting meat report to Australia. It appears that consignments for France and Belgium have not yet actually been arranged, but excellent markets were found. COINS AND MEDALS. LONDON, Dec. 20. In the House of Commons Mr Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to Dir J. G. Hancock (C.L.) stated that the Mint in 1920 bought 200,000 standard ounces of silver bullion for coinage and 1,400,000 ounces for medals, at an average price of 4s 8d an ounce. AMAZING PLUCK. T.ONDON. Dec. 11

iiUn I /"C. 11 Von Hase, formerly a gunnery officer on the Derff linger, continuing his articles on the Battle of Jutland in the Sunday Times, says:—“The short northern night lasting from 11 p.m. to 2 am. began, ft must be admitted that b e English destroyers returned again and again to the attack with amazing pluck. Throughout the night our searchlights flashed, lighting up the destroyers rushing to the attack, we were unable to distinguish details, but one blazing, red-hot vessel after another passed us. We must have seen quite 10 of these dash by, and watched them with mixed feelings, not knowing whether they were English or German. As morning broke a big ship drove past us —the English cruiser Black Prince. The whole ship was red hot, and there could not have been a soul alive on hoard, for some time.” HAIR-CUT PUNISHMENT. j PRAGUE, November 20. The anti-German disturbances in Czej'ho-SLovaki'n continue. German buildings and shops are closed, and the Czech legionaries have commandeered the German owned theatres.

The disturbances began on October 28th. when the Czech legionaries compelled the Germans in Teplitz, south of Dresden, to put out a Czeeho-Slovnkian flag on the town hall. Later the legionaries against the order of the Government, removed the statues of Joseph II in Teplitz and Eger, near Carlsbad. The removals led to street fighting. The Germans in Teplitz and Egetr are alleged to have damaged Czech schools in these towns, also to have cut the hair of all German girls who were alleged to have been “walking out” with Czech soldiers. 'As reprisals the Czechs in Prague have seized two German theatres. VANISHED MILLIONS. NEW YORK, November 20. “The United States Shipping Board loses £500,000,000!” “£500,000,000 spent for nothing!” “Gone like smoke!’’ These samples of the newspapers’ headlines, beneath which are recorded to-day the staggering details of the sums wasted or thrown away in an effort to create an American Mercantile Marine. A.s they listened to the amazing story told by Mr Martin J. Gillen, Special Executive Assistant to the Shipping Board the members of the Congressional Committee which is conducting the investigation were dumbfounded. Ho made no charges of corruption. His tale was simply one of colossal inefficiency. He informed tfie committee

that the Shipping Board had thrown away £500,000,000 of the £990,000,000 which had passed through its hands. The Shipping Board, according to him is now working between 1,300 and 1,400 ships, which owing to the decline of cargo rates are not even earning their depreciated charges. Until August 1919, the Board had no balance-sheet showing what funds it .possessed. LEATHER-AND-NAILS hat. PARIS, November 20. A woman’s hat of leather and nails has made its appearance here. The crown is of black morocco leather fitted closely to the head and is thickly covered with small bright steel nails. Leather hats of vivid colours l'lte crimson and yellow are being designed and the latest fashion, is to order a hand-bag of the same material and colour to he nerried with them.