BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION CHANNEL TUNNEL, 1 LONDON, Oet. 28. The House of Commons Channel Com mitteo have issued a booklet containing Marshal Koch's opinion that had there been a channel tunnel in pre-war times it might have prevented the war. Had the British and French possessed such a tunnel in 1914, it would have shortened the war hy at least two years.

FRENCH PREMIER'S VIEWS. J ItF.lTTKIt’s TKLECinAMS. | PARTS, Oet. 28. In the Chamber. M. Briaml declared that France was going to Washington Conference in the interests ot a world pciee The French delegates would hu'vc to explain their concern for France’s security, aml however desirous of reducing armaments and lightening tbe nation’s burdens. France must not oniv safeguard her own existence but uphold the traditions of right and justice upon which the fate of all humanity ’ depended. He explained that Franco bad trusted tbe guarantees off ered hy the Allies at the Peace' Conference, Instead of an extensive occupation of the Rhine area, but? now France had neither. A Bill was passed providing for an appropriation of six million francs for the relief of the Russian famine. DEATH AFTER -SACRILEGE. LONDON, Oet. 29. The “Daily Express" Geneva correspondent states that a strange case of sacrilege followed by a tragic Nemesis occurred at AAaldshut, on the Swiss-German frontier. Groups of young workmen employed at an electric factory pulled down the wooden statue of Christ from a eross on the roadway and replaced it head downwards amid blasphemous shouts. Two days later the ringleader fell i" tn the machinery ill the factory headforemost. He was killed, and his comrades, panic-stricken, confessed to t '<! sacrilege and were arrested.

NOBKT. I’HIZE. COI’KNHAGEN, Oct. 2G It is anticipated the Nobel literary prize will bo awarded to Mr. Thomas Hardy. j VNKNOWN WARRIOR HONOURS. I,ON DON, Oct, 29. Mrs M('Chidden, mother of the aviator and Victoria Cross winner. Captain M(■Chidden, has sailed for America to , nlace a British women’s tribute on tin ( linknown American wamors Brave in Washington oil Armistice Hay. Khll, taken several trunks of growmg (lowers. English roses. Scottish heather, Welsh forget-me-knots and violets, IHAi shamrocks, and red and white i.pres.'iitim; the Doimmons. with the Canadian maple leaves uill he made up in America in the form of a huge crown. COMMONWEALTH LINERS. LONDON, Oct. 29. The Port of London authority havino failed to provide berthing accommodation for the Commonwealth s liners in the Thames. Mr Larkin (managor) is negotiating foi* berthing them at Southampton

AMAZING SCENES

RED FLAG IN LONDON

LONDON, Oet. 28. Ex-servicemen and other unemplttyed broke up an Empire union meeting at Central Hall. Westminster, and howlod dowu Ijoril Derby. MaDy friN? fhihts occurred in the audiences., The promoters left tlie ball and later the police cleared it of row<U,‘S' , nn

LONDON, Oet. 2». There have been amazing scenes in Westminster. An organised bodv of Communists, earrvincr n red flag, broke up a j n „.' using stink bombs, whistles and (inally rushed the platform, tearing down the Union Jack. , Several were injured in a bout ot fisticuff's with the stewards Lord Derbv escaped scatldess. Afterwards wooden boxes were discovered labelled: “Anarchist Bombs and Stink Bombs— Made in Germany.”

FRENCH SENSATION. STRANGEST CRIMES YET. PARIS. Oct. 29. The Gentleman Girard ease. o«e of the strangest in the history of scientific crime, has opened. Henri Girard insurance agent, with two liien.and two women accomplices, was charged with (poisoning live persons with typhoid germs, after having ltoavilv insured their lives. Two of the victims

died. Girard had since died in prison. One of the accomplices was Girard’s mistress. Douetaeu. Girard ffrst. of all induced a friend named AT. Godel to insure his life for £23.000. M ._ (Wei was soon affected wit-li a mysterious illness but recovered. Ho next insured Af. Dolmas for £IO,OOO then bought typhoid germs, and invited Demins to dinner at Doneteau’s house, where Delmas wa'd typhoid stricken after drinking an aperient. Ffe recovered. One fatal' ease was ascribed to mushroom poisoning. Their maid says slid was forbidden to toueli the victims' plates after dinner, Gi rnrd mid Doneteau washing the [dates with The other victim was Girard’s ffrst wife. The insurance people wore suspicious of this case. Investigations led to tho revelation of the previous mysterious eases.

THE MOROCCAN AVAR. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) , MADRID. Oet. 29. In the Chamber, the Minister for AYar announced that the Moroccan ad-

vance is encountering stiff resistance by large Aloorish forces equipped with artillery and machine guns captured from tlie .Spaniards during last summer. BETTING BY CHEQUE QUESTION. LONDON, Oet. 28. Trustees and executors are inundating the book makers with claims for the repayment of liets, under Justice Sutters recent rccesion as to lietting by cheque. Some thousands sterling have already been refunded. Tho bookmakers are consequently claiming taxation refunds. The “Daily Express” understands that a member of the Jockey Club pro- ! poses to introduce a Bill in the House 1 of Lords, excluding cheque payments , anil bets from tho 1835 Act.