BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.,

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. —C ' REMISSION OF SENTENCE. I ! (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) ■ LONDON, Feb. 14. Recently a London magistrate expressed surprise that a prisoner he convicted had been sentenced to death'by courtmartial for cowardice during the war time, and then released. Enquiries in official circles disclosed that since 1914 eighty-nine per cent of the war death-sentences had been commuted. The case of military prisoners had been reviewed at least thrice since the armistice, largely at tile initiative of Hon. W. Churchll, resulting in none being now imprisoned for military offences. Only sixty-three are undergoing penal servitude, of whom fifty-seven will be released within a year. It is estimated that fifty thousand soldiers, including , numbers sentenced to death, 'have henefitted under the suspension of sentences acts. BANK SMASHES. . (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 14. Advices from St. Paul state a series of spectacular failures of thirty banks came to a climax when the huge Scan-dinavian-American bank closed, involving millions of dollars. There is no estimate of losses. Middle-West farmer s were caught) last autumn with immense stocks of wheat, which cost them more than the slumped prices could realise. Farmers have been hanging on for a better market, while the banks were unable to carry them and found it impossible to liquidate the paper.

CHINA AND JAPAN. THE SHANTUNG QUESTION. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 14. The Chicago “Tribune’s” Shanghai correspondent states it appears that Japan is steadily consolidating her position at Shantung, despite assurances that troops will be withdrawn and that Ysingato will be returned to China. Incidents indicating an ambition to convert the provinces into Japanese territory. the infringement of China’s soyreignty are practically of daily occurrence. The Japanese administration at Tsingtao forbids Chinese to establish schools, religious societies newspapers or similar public organisations. Japanese companies are minting Chinese copper coins of a lighter weight than the standard which they are circulating, not only in Shantung but in other parts of the'country. Tln> most serious charge, however, is that the Japanese are arming Chinese bandits, who prey on the native population of Shantung, robbing them of the few possessions left, with which to struggle against famine. The Japanese population at Tsinanfu claim the China police are incapable of providing the necessary protection and demand the right to organise their own force, one part of which is already patrolling the city More than 3,000 Japanese troops are now- stationed along the Tsinanfu-Tsingtao railway. They often destroy crops where they drill, without compensation.

TYPHUS IN AMERICA. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK,' February 14. The Federal Government declared a twelve ‘ day quarantine precaution igainst typhus, the first authenticated death from which since 1892, occurred here to-day. Under this ruling, Atlantic liners must remain six days in port before landing passenger*.