BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ENGLAND AND GERMANY. LONDON, Nov 29. Herr Rothennii and Doctor Simons, German Envoys, have arrived in London on some unknown mission. BERLIN, Nov 29. Herr .Hugo Stinnes, the millionaire, attended a, meeting of the German Foreign Commission. He was later pressed to state its purpose and the result of his visit to England, hut lie refused to comply, staling that he went to London solely for private reasons. The Chancellor lias likewise refused to reveal the secret. ACTION FOR LIBEL. LONDON, Nov. 29. Mr Thomas, the Rnilwayinen’s lender, brought mi action for libel against the Labour Press Ltd., and the editor and publisher of the newspaper “Communist.” Thomas’s counsel said that by words and cartoons, the paper alleged 4lull Thomas was a traitor to the movements which he professed to lead; that lie was deliberately trying 1o betray those who trusted him. The libels related to the coal strike negotiations. GERMANY AND BRITAIN. LONDON. Nov. 29 The “Central News Agency” states Ratlienau and Von Simons came to England to discuss with Sir Robert Horne, the repatriations question; also if permitted, the question oi a moratorium. Daboriion lias been in London for five days, and bad several conferences with Horne, whom Ratlienau and Simons will meet in the course ol the next few days. AN AUSTRALIAN'S TRIALS.

WITH SPANISH LEGION

Received This Day at 9.10 n.m.l LONDON Novemlier 29

Brandon Cremor a Molbourncnil the only Australian who served in the Spanish Foreign Legion interviewed said lie served in the Bth. Australian Light Horse in Egypt. Palestine and Mesopotamia. He was wounded and took his discharge in England. :is medically unfit, at the end of 191' Nevertheless he succeeded in entering the British garrison artillery, but did not see further active service. When discharged in February, he learned lie bail sacrificed Ids right to repatriation. lli- found employment as a cinematograph operator, lasting fifteen months mid then went to Alri.-a for a venr on similar work. On returning to V.nglaml in 1921, he found trade (lead, lie traversed England afoot, seeking work. Meanwhile his wife, an Englishwoman, died. He had diavn and spent his Australian gratuity and was down and out. when the cham-e offered to enlist in the Spanish Le-

gion. He was one of the first to join and " a Iked London to Southampton to join the t rnn.-port Tumbles Iw gall at Cent a. "hole the legionairies were immediately surrounded by guards and never enjoyed an hour’s freedom afnorwards. Two days later, the legionaries were shipped back to Spam. Thov presented a line martial npponranee when paraded at Malaga, where they were enthusiastically received by tlie' populace. After two days they were reshippod to Molilln. They "''re supplied with indifferent manners of Spanish manufacture, with blood-stain-ed webbing equipment taken from the dead, lie got through three months guerilla warfare unhurt. It was all rifle lighting against Hie Moors, "ho had the advantage of hill positions, a fact which accounted for the heavy Spanish losses. Cromer took part in eleven battles. The Moors were good shots but would not face bayonet charges, which the Spanish invariably /eft to the legionaries to carry out. Spanish officers and mut-eonis throughout inflicted physical punishment for the slightest errors, which were mostly duo to the British not understanding the language. One non-com struck bint in the face with a rifle, smashing his false teeth. He suffered from dysenterv throughout the campaign, but was forced to carry <>n. British bad to try anil explain every thing to the harshest non-coms and officers by means of signs. Brandon (Tenter is now penniless and winklis*.

(HERMAN .MOI!ATOItH'M. PARIS. Nov. It is Stated on high aiuliority that l-.iitisl, section of the Reparation Commission, as the outcome ol the recent visit to Merlin have advised the British Government that a monitorinin most be granted Germany for two yens or Germany can meet low .January instalment and that at a pTncl. the French would pi nimbly I a a reasonable view of the moratorium.

SHACKI.KTON’S F.XPKDITIO.N. •‘THE times” SI''.I!V!CK. 'Received This Day at 10. In a.m.l LONDON. Nov. 29. Sir Finest Slu.ckletm.’s exp-d.i,«•„ (ms decided Iki establish a base at Rm danicro. instead of Capetown. .nginc (rouble caused Sbacklctm. to dock thf (hirst, at Rio. where lie "'stalled a new topmast.. increasing the width o the vards in order t» drive aster through the ice. Delays caused by docking necessitated the abandonment of the Cape base. The Quest sails tor South Georgia on dth December and thence proceeds to Kmlerby Island, attempting en rente to locate Bouvet h|oml), and prove the existence air nonexistent e id'Thompson Isliid, 1 lie ship will enter thi' ice about the end ol .human-, and expects Ho emerge m the middle of March and reach Capetown in April or May.