NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1921, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

.MISSING WOMAN SPY. Brussels, m.. 7

.Marie Tlicresc Peelers, 39, of Moll, was condemned in her aliseneo by the Antwerp Court ol Assizes yesterday t< death and tlie loss of all her rivi rights.

During the war she at lii>( helped her husband to carry on clandestine correspondence and to help lugilives over the border into Holland. Her inn at .Moll was a favourite hiding-place lor escaped prisoners. Not getting enough money from the fugitives, she entered the service of tlie Hermans and betrayed SO Belgians. including: her own bushand. She also oave French piisoiiers and (i Hussions up to the Hermans. In 19](i she offered to guide .'id Inc:, lives to the frontier but led them into a Herman trap near l.omme!. She lied at the Armistice, Hut only just in time, as the crowd sacked her inn immediatelv afterwards.

BATTLESHIPS Oil LONDON. Eeh. 8. As tlie result of iinpoi iaiit naval experiments which have been rallied out I to test the quaiil ies i i Ihe capital ship I (battleship or battlecruiser) and her j resistance to attack. the ex-Herman battleship Baden now lies sunk off the Isle of Wight. Some weeks ago tic Baden, a vessel of 28,01 til tons, eanyiiig eight loin guns, completed in 190. was specially lilted out as a target and taken into Lite Haannei. Hen- the vd.ei-ts of gunlire torpedo attack, ami bombing by uirernft under various conditions have been tested by experiments on her. Like all the newer German ships she was so built as to resist many torpedoes. The experiments form part of an extensive series of practical investigations carried out to provide data for the Department of Naval Construction in planning new yarships. This is the First time that a modern warship has been thus tested to destruction. In addition to the Baden, obsolete light cruisers and several surrendered E-boats have been used as targets. The results thus obtained will have an important influence on the design and equipment of future British warships of all types and on the battleship, which the Admiralty wishes to lay down when the Committee of Imperial Do-, fence lias Finished its labours. GIRL’S FIGHT FOR LIFE. ! MILAN. Feb. 8. His rich landlady in .Milan having refused his demand for money, a young student mimed Rossari last nig! : stabbed her to death with a knife. On tlie way from her bedroom be met a woman servant, whom he dragged to the kilcheir and also murdered. Afterwards Rossari’s sister came into the house and, seeing blood on his, Funds, questioned him. Rossari attacked her. The girl, who is powerfully j built, was wounded in a desperate, struggle', but escaped from the house. . Rossari. who was captured after a dramatic pursuit, lit a cigarette andsmilingly remarked. “1 have done what I had to do.” j MR FORD SUED. NEW YORK, Eeh. 8. j Tot:;! damages amounting to LT.000,--0(10 are claimed'by .Mi Morris Host, a leading theatrical produce) in the i United Slates, in an action for libel he is taking against A’l - Henry Ford, the motor ear maker, in (tie Chicago courts. I

Air Host, who produced the muolidiscusscd Eastern plays “Aphrodite” and “.Mecca,” complains of an article in Mr Ford’s paper, the Dearborn Independent, which described t ! ■ two plays as “tlie most salacious spectacles ever shown in America.”

In another portion of tin- article tlie Independent declared that the “American stage is under the influence and control of former bootblacks, newsboys, ticket speculators, prize-ring habitues, and Bowery (New York’s Whitechapel) characters.” Mr Host also resents the aspersions thrown in the article on his treatment of bis parents, who, it was suggested, he refuses to rescue from Russia. Tn an interview yesterday .Mr Hostsaid: “T’H make that Peace-Ship Henry pay dearly for wbal l, »’s raid. More, too, I’ll make him eat his own words.”