BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ARMAMENT QUESTION. LONDON, July 21. The British Admiralty states:—“ln view of unauthorised and inaccurate reports having been published regarding the aircraft attack on the fleet on the 7th of July, in the presence of the King,” it has issued a statement as follows(1) This exercise was in no wise a naval one, and it was designed as a spectacle, not as a critical experiment. Similar exercises have been carried out on several occasions during tlie past three years. The results on July seventh have only confirmed those of previous experiments. • (2) “In order to afford torpedo practice to the aeroplanes, the Fleet approached within a few miles of the aircraft base, in broad daylight, at a low speed, and on a pre-arranged day, and hour. The conditions were essentially unwarlike: , (3) “As is unavoidable in all peace exercises, the Fleet offered an unresisting target to the aircraft, whose attack was undisturbed by any counter offensive, either by means of the Fleet aircraft, by gunfire from light cruisers, by destroyer screens, or by anti-aircraft gunfire, combined with splash barrages from the ships in the battle line. (I) “The aircraft were able to deI velop their offensive, while the fleet was debarred from defending itself. I Despite these favourable conditions, , the number of hits obtained by aircraft on the battle line was small, and of minor tactical importance. (5) “Throughout the operation, the air nilots showed skill and dash, but the conditions were so unreal, that no practical lessons affecting security of the Fleet can properly he deducted from the exercises. LONDON, July 22.

Tlie Committee on Imperial Defence, with Mr Lloyd George presiding, heard deputations from the Parliamentary, Air and Navy and Army committees. The first deputation emphasised as vital the necessity of providing for a well equipped air force in future as a first line of defence, in view of the development of aerial warfare. The second deputation insisted that the Navy and Army must control their own air branches. The Committee adjourned.

MILITARY DEMONSTRATION. LONDON, July 22 The King reviewed 10,000 London territorials in Hyde Park, for the first time since 1913.

LORD R. CECIL. LONDON, July 22,

Lord Robert Cecil, addressing a Liberal Party meeting, said that Ms presence among Liberals did not iheaff that there had been any break with bis past opinions, but it involved a declaration that the public interest demanded the displacement of the present Government, because it had lowered the standard of public life. The bestowal of peerages for contributions to the Party funds was corrup-

Keforring to industrial matters Lord Robert Cecil expressed the opinion that no real industrial settlement would be attainable unless the workers received a share in the management and control of industry.

REPUBLICANS BEING SURROUNDED. LONDON, July 22. \fter the fall of Limerick and Waterlord, the Irish Free State’s net is now slowly spreading round the demoralized and defeated Irregulars. Only two countries, Kerry and Cork, remain nowin the possession of Mr De \ alera s forces, and Cork is predicted to be their last stand.

FRANCE AND INDEMNITY. PARIS, July 21

•T:.e “Echo de Paris” states—“ M. Poincaire, French Premier, has asked the Allied Reparations Commission to make a declaration of Germany’s voluntary default, and to claim fresh guarantees. >f Poincaire suggests that the Commission should grant Germany a moratorium, but for not more than five or six weeks, after which be recommends the immediate mortgaging of German public wealth, such as the forests, and mines as well as the customs.

WESLEYAN PROTEST. LONDON. July 21

The Wesleyan Conference passed a resolution unanimously protesting against the action of the London County Council in allowing Sunday games in the [>arks of London.

NORTHCLIFFE’S ILLNESS. LONDON, July 21

Owing to the serious illness of Lord Northcliffe, the libel actions initiated against him by Caird and Fish (cabled on June lltli) have been withdrawn.

RUSSIA’S STRATEGICAL MOVE, THE HAGUE, July 21.

M. Litvinoff (Russian delegate) in a statement, said the failure of The Hague Conference showed clearly that it is impossible to reach a general agreement at any conference. The only possibility is separate agreements.

BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED

LONDON, July 22.

Rt Hon Dr McNamara in a written answer, states that the payments of money in unemployed benefits between the Armistice and the thirtieth of June. Ist, aggregated £88,700,500.

THE WHITE SCOURGE. LONDON, July 21. Sir 1 Alfred Mond, Minister of Health speaking at Cambridge, stated that the tuberculosis death rate was declining. In 1847 the rate was three thousand per million; in 1877 it was two thousand per million; while in 1907 it was 840 per million. He prophesied that consumption would ultimately be stamped out.

AIR TRAGEDY. LONDON, July 22. The British Air Ministry’ announced that an investigation of the recent Folkestone aviation accident (cabled on June 3rd) showed the evidence was insufficient to determine • the cause of the tragedy. There was no evidence to support the theory’ that a demented man interfered with the pilot, whose cockpit was partitioned off, rendering interference almost impossible.

A SUICIDE VERDTCT. LONDON. Julv 22. A verdict of suicide was returned in the case of Maior George Hill-Tre-vor, The deceased was found drowned at Bognor. The evidence showed tht he was in financial difficulties, and was unable to pay his debts. He bad slept on the pier at Bognor.

INDIAN WORKERS’ STRIKE. DELHI, July 21. Forty thousand Calcutta jute mill workers have struck for increased wages. :■ ■ ••