AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.] U. S. FLEET ROUNDLY CONDEMNED. WASHINGTON, .May 7. The icjiort of Admiral Coontz has been published by the Secretary of Die Navy. Mr C. Wilbur. It reveals what naval officials regarded as an alarming

weakness in equipment. Admiral Coontz. said that the material eonditioin oi the fleet was not as good as it should he. There were a number of major delects which would he corrected only by the correction of national policy. Unfortunately it required a long time to get a fleet up-to-date owing to deferred maintenance and delayed alterations.

The report bases its findings entire

ly upon recent manoeuvres. Besides reviewing the shortcomings recentlv published it further stresses the shortage of flagships, destroyers and leaders. Moreover the squadron leaders lacked offensive speed and reliabilillv, while the remaining sixteen battle-hips had become unlit for positions in the line.

Referring to submarines the report asserts that they are the worst combatants in the licet. Their design is obsolete and faulty. Some of their fuel tanks leak and all the submarines are so deficient in speed that they would not lie llsnhlo in fleet work. I here was a shortage of mines and

modern mines were non-existent. Ihe Admiral severely criticises tin aircraft situation declaring that sliij catapults are not working well am that some air-planes are unable to lifl a lornedo. _

.Moreover, the destroyer tenders are deficient in speed as to limit the fleet's train convoy to a speed of seven and a hall knots. The radio equipment lmd not been modernised and the signal searchlights were ineffective. The report concludes that the sole solution lies in the prompt imprnvment of the defective particulars.

STRIKE IN ARGENTINE. BUENOS AIRES. May S. The Syndicalist Union passed a resolution to end file strike of alliliated unions at midnight on Wednesday, in view of the public assurance that arrested strikers would he released. The decision of the men to return to work gives the (iovernnienl an opportunity. to fulfil its promise that the pension law. under which a portion of their wages was to be turned over to the Government, "ill he satisfactorily amended. BOXER INDKMXHT. WASH lAeGTOX. May 7. The House of Representatives adopted a resolution ordering, as an net of friendship, the remission of tlie remainder of China's Boxer indemnity, totalling U.iaS.lKHldol. fighting pneumonia. NEW YORK. May 8. { The Department of Health, in conjunction with tlm Harvard University Medical'Congress, announed a new development in the technique and finality of pneumonic serum injections, whereby it is expected virulence in <lisc;is«» miiv ln» iwomy-livo per <<*nt.. with ;t prop »i*t<**•crease in the death rate. Doctor 1., li. Eel ton. of Harvard, said that onlv ifiirtv-two odd isolated

antibodies from tin* -ermn of |mr-0.-. in whom pneumococci ha- been injected that these antibodies precipitated. Concent rated it formed a while iJiristaline powder, which intravcnnu-ly in 120 human cases it> effects, ,-eient i!ioal!,v authenticated, showed encouraging results. Felton previously ex) tnmeiited on m if* who find been icowiibitv'l witli tli" di-ease, and rien lime lie injected anti bi a lie* Die mice lived. Anripneilnmeneeiis serum itself has been known a considerable time, but its value for use by private practitioners was rapidly diminished, due to the action being weak, and which produced violent reactions, namely chill-, rash and socelled .-ermn sieknes-. Felton’s achievement consists of making safe anil effective what lormerlv was little known, and a liighlv dangerous weapon to light pneumonia. PROHIBITION IN U.B.A.

NEW YORK. -May 0. An indictment charges til imlividuls of a Corporation with conspiracy o violate tin* Prohibition Act and (lorn ml the Government of liqour taxes, , llegei Ily aggregating more than half million dollars. Federal-Attorney .onion said the Rent her Manufacturin' Corporal ion. engaged in making lair lonic, sold alcohol to bootleggers n western and mid-western cities i lire 11)21. WASHINGTON. Ma,y 8. Too resumption of the hearing of iftv-niiie beer hills ran.-ed a stormy e-sion. tilled with charges, counterliar,ges and denials. The room "as i-owiled with women dry leaders, and

igitators and wa- plunged into disorder vhcn a New York labor of the House if Representatives made personal • barges again-i Wheeler. General Couniel for tie' Anti-Saloon League. Ibo alter bad requested permission to file

a statement fur record hut the House member objected, declaring that Wheeler, when previously accorded the privilege. inserted matter extremely vicious and untruthful, adding: “I have a witness to prove this. Mistress Ella Boole. Vice President of the AVomeiiV Christian Temperance Union, denounced Governor Smith of New York for asserting he mice stated he would sign anything to bring hack ‘‘glass with foam on top."

VIOLENT Clll'JiCll DEBATE. NEW VOISK. May 7. According to a telegram the Philadelphia Convention ol the Protestant Episcopal Dioee>e of Pennsylvania, after revealing marked insurgency, adopted a resolution, calling foi obedience and support for prohibition. The question, which during the past twentv-four hours, threatened to disrupt the tranquility of the proceedings arose when a dozen delegates presented counter proposal- stating the prohibition enforcement to be inefficient, corrupt and unpopular, wherefore the law should he repealed. A violent debate ensued amid discord and dissension. One delegate, seeking to avoid a controversy, suggested" the resolution be tabled, since the Church did not .require to declare itself on the questou; but the insurgent minority.in the meantime gamed enough adherents to force a vote. . emasure approving ot prohibition •' adopted by 102 to sixty-tour, revealing an excess of four bundled delegates who failed to vote.

* STERLING DECLINE. NEW YORK.. May 9. Threats of industrial political disturbances caused to-day disastrous declines in the exchanges. Sterling closed at 4.:l0 dollars representing an overnight loss of nearly two and a half cents." The franc reached live ami nine-tenths, representing an overnight decline of -IS points. The International hankers, however, expressed the assurance that the franc would shortly emerge ascendant.