BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1922, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

AT7BTHALI&N AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION. , WASHINGTON, May 3. Following its passage through the House and the Senate, the U.S.A. Immigration Restriction Bill, extending the 3 per cent limitation until 1925, lias been sent to the President for signature.

2,000 CASUALTIES. PEKIN, May 2. Heavy cannonading is now extending from Machurtk to Pekin. Both sides are massing heavy forces on the Hunho river, 30 miles from Pekin. General Wupoifu is attempting to cross the river in order to take possession of the Penkin-Tientsin railway. It is believed that Pekin City is safe from attack. The city gates are shut at night and Chinese troops patrol the city. The casualties in the Changsintin battle are now estimated at 2000. Some French railway workers narrowly escaped when ail airplane dropped bombs on the railway shops at Changsinin.

ITALY AND TURKEY MAKE A PACT. LONDON, 'Maty 2. The “Pall Mall Gazette” says: Italy, following the French example of immoral, underhand bargaining, has made a secret political pact with the Turkish Kemalist Government. The Italians do not deny that they have obtained unsolicited offers and concessions in Turkey, but they say that Italy has given no promises in return. The ‘‘Pall Mall Gazette” says: “This is untrue as Italy is supporting the Turkish position at Genoa, including Italy’s claim for Adrianople. Turkey lias been lured into this secret pact by fear that France otherwise, would capture most valuable railway, mining and irrigation concessions.” The "Daily Telegraph” says: “Britain hns protested to the Italians against their economic agreement with Turkey, which Italy officially admits but the “Telegraph” says it believes that h secret political pact also exists WUPIEFU CHECKED BY ARTILLERY fire. VANCOUVER May 3. The United Press correspondent at Shanghai states reports from Chowchow the headquarters of General Wupeifu, admit General Fengtein’s accuracy in artillery fire, which frustrtaed Wupeifu in an encircling movement sopth-west of Pekin, unit has stopped the Inner: ing of fresh attacks. Cliangsintein is facing the heaviest artillery. His casualties were over 1000 yesterday. General Wupeifu’s chief of staff accuses General Fengtein of employing Japanese gun pointers; which explains his superior artillery accuracy.

SERIOUS CHARGES. i iK w 'i'WO BRITISHERS IN TROUBLE. PARIS, May 2. At the request of the American Embassy in Paris, detectives have arrested John Pincott, of Melbourne,- and Arthur Ernest Knox, a Londoner, two commission agents, who left New York with SIOO,OOO. They were staying at the Crillon, the most expensive hotel in Paris. Only 20,000 francs were found in their possession. The charges have not been disclosed. BANK PRESIDENT SWINDLED. NEW YORK, May 2. The correct names of the commission agents arrested at Paris are Cox (not Knox) and Prescott (not Pincott)The men came to America in 1921, in company with Eric Skogstadt, a Norwegian bank president, aboard the liner Aquitania, after a casual acquaintance, picked up in a Ixmdon hotel bar. The three men travelled to Troy, in New York State, where a horse racing betting swindle resulted in Skogstadt’s loss of 100,00?) dollars. Cox and Prescott then disappeared. Skogstadt appealed to the Norwegian consul, who enlisted the services of the New York Police Department, which traced the men to Paris, where they were arrested, SHIPBUILDERS AT WORK. (Received This Dav at 10. In n.m.) LONDON, May 3. Vickers and Coy. announce half their workmen have returned to work at Barrow, under the arrangement cabled on 27tli April. In som? brandies . tlm whole of the employees returned. Other firms make similar reports., N.S.W. LOAN. /Received This Day at 10.15 n.m.) LONDON, May 3. A New South Woles loan of five millions bearing interest at four and half, and issued at ninety-five, has been underwritten. A CONFERENCE. ROME, May 2. The King attending, inaugurated the meeting of the International Astronomical Geodetic Conference. Australia was represented apd joined the Astronomical and Geodetic Unions.