BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

VITAL IMPORTANCE OK SINGA PORE.

[“The Times” Sice.va j

(Received this day at 10.10 a.m.l LODXOX, Feb. 4. The “Times’’ publishes a letter from Admiral yHeudersoii emphasising tlife vital importance of the Singapore Base to Australia. Admiral Henderson says: “The Government; has lawn urged to abandon the Singapore base and sDcnd the lummy saved to increase the Horne defence and air force. This increase i- based on (he strength of the French air force which. in the event of an emergency, might ilirmm u other security. hnL similar arguments apply to tim Singapore Itu-e whereby the fleet is capable of operating ill the Pacific and Indian Oceans should an emergency arise, thus securing the -afety of Australia, New Zealand and India and protecting the vast Eastern trade, the stoppage of which would bring disaster to Britain." Admiral 'Henderson declares that under the conditions lell by the war, the construction ol tlm Singapore Base Is essential to the eeurity of Australasia.

A UIGURS IN RUSSIA. ENGLISHMAN’S IMPRESSIONS. (“Sydney Sun" Cables). (Received this day at 10.43 a.m.) LONDON. Ed,. |. The Englishman, continuing history of Russia in the "Daily Mail,' says that when Russia breaks up -la will lapse into barbarism for a time. There is no immediate alltomi Ii \ e 'tin' present Government of Bolshevism will he overthrown bv internal dissention or an unsuecesstul military

campaign against a foreign enemy. There is not the slightest chance ol Trotsky calling on the Red army m take the field as a means of stimulating the Hugging enthusiasm for the Bolshevik cause. The Soviet does not trust the hull; of the army and dare not risk defeat in an olfen.-ivc against Poland, Roumania or Ihe Little Entente Border States, which would in evitahl.v end in disaster. Even it Poland deliberately challenged the Soviet war would not lollow as Trotsky is well aware that the rank and file of the army is dangerously permeated with ant i-Bolshevism, the exceptions being the special corps in .Moscow and Pel rograd who ate well equipped and well led. Trotsky knows that tin order for mobilisation lor war would not produce the number ol men required, while the railways are incapable of handling large bodies ol troops or of maintaining oHieient lines of communication. Even the factories, could not manufacl tire adequate munitions for a campaign. The people of till classes, except the Bolsheviks, eagerly discuss every rumour of friction with Boland and other countries. They hope some unloreseeii complication will result in a hostile army marching towards -Moscow as such means would hasten the collapse of Bolshevism. I

SAHARA RECORD. PARIS. February I. The trans-Sahara record, raided yesterday, was eclipsed hv three Renault motor cat's, which covered the -nine rente in six days. 4he ete were luted with six ordinary wheel-, coupled in puns, and averaged two bundled miles a dav. Tile wnr.-t feature- id t’m joiirnev was the enormou.- dilferemes id temperature, averaging heiv-live degiees centigrade day lime and sinking to freezing point at idol i MR rsAHT'S TRIBUTE. (Ho:s', wd tlim day at I-. 43 p.m. CAPETOWN. Fob) nary J. General Smut.s, in a cable to the New York newspaper “World", -ays. his view of Alt' Wilson's work was fully expressed in the statement cm his retirement from the Presidency in 1921. Air Wilson’s untimely eclipse was due lo temporary, accidental eireiimstnnces. .As these pass away his heroic figure will stand out ever more clearly, and liis work - will he recognised as amongst America's greatest contributions to the World.

LABOR J’FUR Si. [ R KUTEits Tei. non a ms.] LONDON. February 4. Labour Peers announced are Sir Sydney QUivcr, Brigadier-General Thomson a id Sydney Arnold. GREEK POLITICS. 'Received this day at Id 45 p.m.) ATHENS, February I. The doctors’ verdict is that Venixelos must resign. Carnndaris (Minister of Justice) will form a Cabinet.. TTAi.O-RUSSO TREATY. (Received this day at 1d.‘25 p.m.) ROME, February 4. Owing to the appointment of .Rynknff to succeed Lenin, it is necessary to send to Moscow, the toxi of the Italu-Eussian treaty which is already printed and approved by the ltalo-Rus-rian delegates here. A courier conveying (he document has left for Moscow.

BOOLS HTNC'HBAC IvS FORTUNE. (Received this dav at 9.15 a.m.) PARIS, Eel.. 4. The death at Montecarlo of one of its most famous figures, Hunchback Giovanni Posotli, discloses a colossal swindle, lie amassed a lortune trout the shop where he sold to those trying to win fortunes at the tables, post cards and charms supposed to have been made lucky by touching his hump. After death it was discovered that the hump was composed of cardboard and made in Germany. Posotti bequeathed his fortune of many thousands sterling to the church.