BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND NZ. CABLE ASSOCIATION Y_ ,U A THRILLING STORY. LONDON, April 4. Sir Derrick Watson limit, a passenger by flic Krangeslall, relates a thrilling story of tbe ship taking fire. lie regarded the alarm as a joke, in retaliation for many played the previous dav, but when lie arose, he found tiie passengers mustered on deck, and watching smoke • arising from the veil tilatoi x. Even then it was not thought serious, but later on the smoke increased, and it became obvious that the fire was uncontrolled. When the flames spread, an aged pilgrim offered bis small vessel of holy water, being confident that it would quell the furnace. Afeanwltile, the Frangeslan communicated by wireless with lortyseveli ships. When tbe Clan Alaclvor arrived, tbe Euiopeau passengers were first transferred to if. Night fell bo- . fore tlw transfer was completed. The smoke was llien rising ill dense clouds. An Italian ship, standing by, turned, scan blights on the Eraiigestaii, and disclosed an eerie spectacle. The smoking; vessel was surrounded by swarms of sharks, led by a pilot fish. The crew remained aboard, and tbe wireless operator, despite the oppressive yJijUi. Lout and smoke, stuck to bis cabin till just before the captain ordered ihe crew to abandon the ship. The flames spread from forward, devouring firstly tbe saloon, then the lounge under the bridge on which the captain was standing at bis post. Tbe ship listed heavily, settling by tbe head. So intense was the heat, that the steel plates fell off like scales, leaving the ship’s skeleton silhouetted against tho louring furnace. The Tangistan lights were sighted at ten in the evening. It _ was then impossible for the captain to remain. As lie departed, he paused on the gangway and lighted a cigarette. Simultaneously the gangway caught , fire. The proceedings throughout were most orderly. None of the passengers’ effects were lost, and all are little tho worse of their experience. BALKAN SENSATION. LONDON. April 4. The “Daily Express’’ Athens correspondent states that amazing scenes were witnessed at Mouastir, following on the discovery of live Albanian bandits disguised as women. After a running light with soldiers, the bandits took refuge in a house, from ' which they attacked the suldiers with'

' bombs and revolvers. The house was ; then besieged. It was riddled with machine gun bullets til! the white flag was hoisted. Then the commander of the soldiers with an aide de camp, went to Use house. The bandits there beheaded both of them and exhibited their heads on broom-sticks from the windows. The suhJLers then vainly stormed the house, to which they finally set fire. Two of the desperadoes wore burned alive. The others (. escaped. Four teen of the attacking force were killed, and twenty woundid. The bandits’ bombs destroyed five houses. /_ jA'* A BELGIAN SENSATION. r A BRUSSELS, April 4. I Ire trial has concluded at Ghent of ihe thirty-nine bandits whose rounding up occupied two years. The charges against them were murder and highw'ay robbery. The victims were mostly wealth ;ypeople, whom they attacked in motor ears. Ten of the accused were sentenced to death, ami seven to penal servitude for life. Others got from twelve to twenty yi ars’ imprisonment. THE FRENCH ADVANCE. LONDON. April A. A message from Berlin states that the French have extended their occn-~‘ r - * pation to the northern outskirts of ’ Erlierfcld.