BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WIRELESS TELEPHONE. * CAPETOWN, June 12. The first wireless telephone broadcast service in South Africa has been initiated by the Capo Argus, under a temporary post office license. Preliminary tests proved successful.

NEW CABLE ROUTE. LONDON, June 12

One of the first matters receiving attention of the Pacific Cable Board is the determination of the actual route of the new cable to eiise traffic on the present line which is working twentyfour hours a day. After the route is definitely derided, it will take some time to assemble the material.

JAPANESE CABINET TOKIO, June 12,

Kato’s Cabinet is confirmed It includes Ucliida (Foreign Affairs); Mizuno (Home Affairs) ; Tchiti (Finance); Ynmanahi (Army); Kamada (Education) ; Oknno (Justice) ; Aral (Agriculture and C-omerce); Maeda (Communications); Oki (Railways).

FEAR OF JAPAN. LONDON, June 12. The “Yorkshire Observer” (for which Foster Fraser used to write), in an article says:—We had hoped that the Washington Conference had allayed the Australian tendency towards “Japauopliobis.” hut people "'ho have once given way to an attack of nerves are apt (o see fright fulness in shadows. The iirttiiiiiigalion of the naval building programme at Tokio lias had a repeicussioii in alarmist articles in the Sjr--I,ov press. It must he admitted that a Japanese sea-craft budget, amounting to £35.000,000 does little to substantiate the hopes of naval economy. There also is force in the Australian comment that the hulk of the Japanese naval programme consists of cruisers and submarines. Admitting this, however by what obsession of the Mongolian bogey .locs the Sydney press persuade itself that a good understanding regarding tlie Pacific counts for nothing? We arc not told how many years the iokio shipbuilding scheme will take. It is only fair to presume that Japan "ill respect the Washington limitations. It must he remembered that Japan, iu tl e East occupies mush the same position as Britain does elsewhere. It is an island power, depending on its seifborne commerce. Hence the uecesSiQ of its having swift-moving protective craft. Australia’s surest line of defence must he more population, m.a cuing, in some degree, its vast territory. This event seems to be coming Sue nearer. What Australia wants is more hands, and more mouthy an not more submarines or more cruisers.

ENGINEERS’ LOCK-OUT ENDING. LONDON, June. 13. It is understood that the ballot among the engineers who are locked out fa.v ■Sir. » «*[**»» AXJTS& on Tuesday. The SSS.»

CIHME IN ENGLAND LONDON, .Tube W* in the House of Commons regarding *&snsrs f Pm ml Jury at Devon Assizes, mre . Ejft t 3 - to be left to the discretion of the Ha lev Street experts, for the only real deflcn.r the driver on to the road, and drove off with some thirteen hundred sterling. Some policemen pursued but the thief escaped. oTRTFE GERM AN INTERNAL sTRIF ■ BERLIN, June 12. The visits of von Hindenburg to KonigsbeVg, and of President Ebert * Munich were marked by incidents lead- . in rr to riots and bloodshed. President Ebert’s arrival was greeted with mixed hisses and cheers. A fight followed between the supporters of the Republic - and the Monarchists. . While von Hindenburg was receiving the homage of 100,000 people at Konigsberg, the troops met the Communists holding a counter demonstration. The Reds’ attempted to disarm the soldiers Who used their weapons and charged the crowd. Several were killed and wounded. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. MOSCOW June 12. The All Russian Central Executive have issued a new decree abolishing capital punishment except in the districts under martial law . Eii c imprisonment is now to bo lp m mum punishment in Russia.