AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AVIATION INVENTION. WASHINGTON. November 14. The U.S.A. Army Air Service has announced the perfection of an automatic airplane control device. It is said to be a more accurate and a more dependable one than a human pilot. The device consists principally of a gyroscope and bellows. An airplane thus equipped lias successfully made several 90 mile flights, and take-offs. The new device can he mounted on any type of machine, and in humpy weather it will hold a plane steadier than a man, aiid it carries an absolute true course despite fog or adverse weather. It will also maintain any pre-determin-ed height. It is able to ascend to an unusual height, and it makes possible new methods of bombing in war.

HERRIN TRIAL. (Received this, dav at 8:80 a.m.) NEAV YORK, Nor. 15. At Marion, Illinois, 3 men have nowbeen passed tentatively to sit on the jury to try the miners charged ill connection w-ith the Herrin massacre. The prosecution has been endeavouring to restrict the jury- to miners, which is apparently impossible. It is already indicated that the prosecution will not demand the death penalty. DEBTS TO U.SA. NEAY A'ORK, Nov 14. It* is announced that Britain will pay the second 50,000,000d01. interest on her war debt to the United States on November 15th. This is calculated, at the rate of 5 per cent. Therefore an adjustment is expected, since the American Debt Commission is authoris- / cd by Congress to refund the All • 1 debts at tlie rate of 4) per cent. Secretary Mellon has conferred with the Roumanian Debt Commission which declared that Roumnnia is unable to pay her 41.000.000d01. debt to the United States for four or five years, liut every effort will be made to give the- United States debt preference.