BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.]

TOGO’S FLAGSHIP. TOKIO, March 17

A group of Japanese visited 1 the American Ambassador, Mr Woods, asking him to use his influence to save from destruction tho Misnka, Togo’s flagship in the Russo-Japanese war, which must be scrapped under the Washington Treaty. They desire to retain the vessel as a monument.

Mr Woods promised to transmit tho petition to the State Department, hut stressed the fact that the United States was only one power which signoil the treaty. The visitors declared they will present a petition to the other signatories. Admiral Togo then informed the correspondent, “We must conform to the treaty, but we would like to see the vessel preserved, although she is useless and was seriously damaged hv tho earthquake.” .FRENCH DEFENCE. PARIS, March 19. Fabry, in introducing the Army Bill said the Frontier Army’s Mission would be to givc.the country an assurance that at any moment a strong battle front could he formed beyond the Rhine frontier. The standing army could not rely wholly upon itself. The National forces would have to support it, but the reserves could not he- mobilised under satisfactorv conditions, unless the frontier army cosverd the operations. assuring to the country freedom of military movement. It was objected that the frontier army would he costly, requiring an enormous amount of material. The country must provide that material. Two men had charge of a

tank on a. battlefield, hut forty-five were required to maintain the tank serviceably. An airmail fought alone, but sixty men’s work was necessary to enable him to fight. MEMORY RECOVERED. LONDON, March 20. Garv nll Knott, heir to the Torquay millionaire shipowner, Sir James Knott, has recovered his memory in a London hospital. Me enlisted in New Zealand and was reported missing at Gallipoli Two older brothers were killed in Franco.

A HANGMAN RESIGNS. LONDON, March 19. .Tulin Ellis, the hangman, has resigned. He has executed two hundred persons, including Dr ( rippen and Sir Roger Casement. He was formerly a barber but i.s now a traveller for Blanicts. He i.s a sensitive and nervous mail and when lie kept fowls he got a friend to wring their necks. JAPANESE TYPHUS OUTBREAK. (Received this dav at 9.0 n.m.) TOKIO, March 19. , The city has been swept by a typhus epidemic for the past seventy days. The number of cases reported is 1739, with 390 deaths. The authorities after investigations, learned that the refugees living in the bararcks were the chief sufferers. Physicians blame the exceptionally dry winter, the frequent whirlwind dust storms and the shortage of sprinklers. A thorough inspection throughout the city is being planned.

A AVAR TIME RESTRICTION. (Received this day at 9.15 n.m.) LONDON; Ma-rch 19. In the Commons, one of the .surviving war-time restrictions, the continuance of which the public greatly resent i.s the prohibition of sale of ice creams and mineral waters alter 9.20 in the evening, a private members Bill was introduced to permit the side till midnight every night- in. the week.

A SWINDLING SOLICITOR. (Received this dav at 9.‘25 a.m.) LONDON, Match |9. Amazing disclosures were made at Guildhall at the hearing of charges against Herbert Hotld. fifty-nine, a solicitor, of fraudulently converting to his own use the property and deeds of Lord Gerald Folev. Counsel for the prosecution stated the defendant was subject to n receiving order, answering which he said he was unable to state what lie owed. Foley’s counsel explained that Foley, when ho attained his majority and inherited an estate, signed a power of attorney by which the defendant had power to sign cheques, dispose of property and securities and withdraw moneys, while Foley was absent in Italy. Defendant speculated disastrously, and much of Foley’s property was sold, two items being one hundred and seven thousand and Pin thousand. Accused also Longnt a valuable property at A\ estniinster am 1 obtained tbc deehs in eis own name, obtaining an overdraft i hereon. When the power of attorney was revoked Instill held £108,00!) assets. He always paid Foley's money into bis own aceoiiut. Defendant hr the thio? yens

lie was acting for ''"lev overspent his income 1.0 the e\t"Ut ‘u fd •■■en Hi.)' sand. He fold the aymuf'it that the books were muddled and asked could they not he wangled. The accountant advised him to nut all His cards on the table. Foley tiled proof debts for twenty thousand. Counsel intimated that there would be other charges, relating to properties of Lady Alary Foley, and Alaior Atoubray.

NAVAL ESTIMATES. ARCHIBALD HURD COMMENTS. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, Ala rob 19. Archibald Hurd, in an article in the •‘Daily Telegraph" dissects the fleet comparisons accompanying the Naval Estimates.' He points out that, natui competition Inis taken a new lorm, tin building of lighter vessels useful for at tacking commerce. Such voxels build in<t or projected are ns follows : Bri taTii eighteen, United States twentyfour. Japan seventy-four, France fortythree. Italy eighteen. Russia thiiiifov.r. Hurd agrees that the centre -■ naval gravity has shilted to the Pacific where the great Hoots of United States and Japan are concentrated, flic Lie pire has vital interests there, even i the existence of Australia and Nov. Zealand were ignored. In the light ol Britain’s ever-increasing commerce m the Pacific it is preposterous to suggest further British fleet economies. .

SOVIET A PPOIN TAI EN TS. [Reuters Telegrams.] (Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, Alareli 19. Reports from Moscow state that TYliitcberin has I wen appointed Ambassador at London. Trotsky assuming the Foreign Office. BRUSH WITH REBELS. LONDON. Afarch 19Reports from Turkestan show a recrudescence of rebel activities in wine i Juntaidkluui had a brush with Soviet troops, attacking and looting Khiva. Subsequently lie scattered on the arrival of Red cavalry.