BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1921, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

• WIUUJIN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE NATIVES’ TREACHERY. .MADRID, July 25. Ail escaped officer reports that the native-trained levies showed previous indications of treachery, and committed acts of mutiny, hilt Svlvestro did not heed the reports, believing that his presence would restrain them and restore order; hut when the General despatched the hulk of his troops to a new position at Higherniina, thousands of fully-armed and trained mutineers, possessing artillery, attacked t'e Commander. Silvestre and his .'tall succeeded in getting back to Anna], near Alclilhi, where the Spanish were entrenched. Tho relic Is cut

Silvestrc’s force from the supply base. Silvestre then ordered a retreat to Sedi Driss. He, with his staff, remaining at the post of danger in Anna 1. The retreating troops, carrying the wounded, proceeded in small contingents. Each was attacked on route by the pursuing rebels, who charged with fixed bayonets. Silvestre eventually got, all lli survivors of his force to safety, lie and bis staff slill remaining alone in Annul, being unable to escape. They assembled, Silvestre saying: “They must not fall into the hands of the .Moors.” He drew his revolver and the others did likewise. All shook hands and embraced, and then shut themselves. Silvestre, after witnessing their deaths, shot himself last. Silvestre is hailed as a hero throughout Spain, having saved thousands of troops from massacre.

AMERICA AND JAPAN. WASHINGTON, July 21

The Chicago “Tribune” Tientsin correspondent has received a statement from Huron Kato, revised and approved by Premier Hara, that the Japanese navy considers the existence of two squadrons necessary as tho irreducible minimum for naval defence. It was cun -adored after the Chino-Japancse war that the framers of the “eight and eight” programme did not have in mind any probable enemy. They only knew the financial ability of Japan whereby Japan could he defended in any emergency arising in the Far East alone. Nothing could he more preposterous or more absurd than a propaganda that .Inpan v.mild attempt to comjK'te with tin* United States Navy. Japan would gladly participate in tho disarmament conference, and although, added Kato, our relatively inferior navy cannot lead the wav in any reduction, I therefore would not insist upon the complete eight and eight programme under certain eircumstn in-es.

ACTRESS CHARGED. LONDON, July lb.

The actress Victoria A Dinks was no quitted on the charges connected with tiic theft of jewellery. In June she and Arthur Simmonds (no occupation) were committed for trial on charges connected! with the theft of ClnOO worth of Jewellery. The evidence shoved that Hie owner had inadvertently left a dressing cn.se containing the jewels in a taxi. The prosecution said that Monks and Simmonds engaged the taxi and appropriated the jewellery a. portion of which a London pawnbroker handed over to the [Kilice. Afonks maid gave evidence regarding pawning the identified jewellery.

Simmonds withdrew his plea of not guilty, subsequently alleging that he did so at rottnscl’s instigation. He never meant he was guilty of stealing, hut possessed a guilty knowledge. The Recorder did not accept the explanation and sentenced hint to eighteen months’ imprisonment.

REPORT ABORT PERSTA PARTS. July 23

Tt is reported that armed hands under the command of Essan Ella Khan are marching to Teheran to oust the Persian Government.

“SURPLUS” WOAIFN. LONDON. .Tilly 25

Tl. e census has disclosed that there are two million surplus women in Rritnin. Socialists, prominent public workers. and Church dignitaries, are ill grappling with the problem involved

Professor Patrick Geddes considers that unless the situation is tackled in time, the nation will he faced with social debasement worse by far than an.previous social disaster. Afiss Earlier (Director of the AVontert’s Training Employment Commit too) suggests training for a full independent life as the nnlv rentedv.

HE (T-STROFE PREVALENT

LONDON, July 24

Twerttv-four cases of heat-stroke have been admitted to London hos-ii tals during the last twenty-four hours

OIL WHARF GUTTED

LONDON July 21

\n oil wharf at I’enn.) Ih (vV-d *sl docks 'was destroyed by fire. An 8000 ton tanker alongside narrowly escaped likewise two pa ratlin and petrel reservoirs, valued at £2.000.000. Tito damage is estimated at £IOO,OOO

DISEASE FROAT POOR DIET. NEW A T ORK. -Ldv 25

The “New York Times” Washington correspondent reports a statement by the Public Health Service, that the disease pellagra will claim approximately 100,000 persons in the cotton belt States, and it is expected that 10 per cent, of them will die. The tenant farmers there, who devote the greater part of their land to cotton culture, have been unable to sell their crops. Therefore they have been living on salt pork, corn meal end molasses, which is a semi-starvation diet, because it is not varied. The grow of a diversity of crops, which from time immemorial has been the South’s problem, has not yet been solved.