AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

\DBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. BONFIRE OF Sllll\S. NEW YORK, Sept. 11. A telegram from Norfolk. Virginia, says that the' biggest honlire ever seen in American waters will occur in a few days, when a salvage concern that paid 202.091 .dollars for a fleet of 218 wooden vessels belonging to the Foiled States will tow the largest of them to a point oil' Tidewater, Virginia, and lull'll them.

These ships cost 21,’>,009.000 dollars. They were constructed during the World War. and are only part of the idle licet that lias Iren depreciating in value as it tloatecl in the .lames River for several years.

Such of the ships as can he mounted on skids will he hauled out and he Immcd ashore, in order to save alf their metal. Those which cannot lie so handle'll will lie stripped of their metal and destroyed off-shore. T.S.A. DEFENCE DAY. WASHINGTON. Sept 12. The American world fliers were a feature of the Defence Day celebrations to-day. Their machine passed over the National capital, followed by another containing officials, newsmen, and camera men.

Throughout the country Defence Day was celebrated by millions with parades, etc., the object being to keep alive the citizenry and interest in defensive preparation in accordance with Genera! Pershing, who retires from active service to-night. Church organisations, as well as many Liberal and Socialistic' Societies, adopted resolutions deprecating the appointment of a day lor Mich celebrations, on the ground that it tends to foster the spirit of militarism..

War Department reports indicate that more than sixteen million civilians participated in the Defence Day exercises throughout the country no Friday, POLO. NEW YORK, Sep. 1.1. In the international pole played at West bury. Long Island. America beat England by lfi to •>, alter an exciting contest. The Prime of Wales wits present. FRENCH lll'diT. WASHINGTON Sept. RD Air Hurley, a member of the Debt Funding Commission, is returning from |’a'is. where he discussed the pioblein with French olfic ials. lie has submitted to Mr Moduli (F.S.A. Treasurer) a plan for the settlement oi the French debt to America, informing Air Mellon that he Inis found the Frenc h are favourable thereto, Mr Hurley’s plan basically ] mvicks for the payment of the del t within fic year, ai the rate of one hundred million dollars annually with interest, and the agreement of America to reinvest the annual payment in Flench industrial bonds. The total French debt is :L.->C!I (JOO.OQO dollars.

MISTAKEN FOR PH 1 NOT

NEW YORK Sept. 1.1.

The Prime of Wales dill not attend the Firpo-Wills fight, hut Mwd Mountbaltea and other members of tlm Royal party did. and the crowd in its ex(ii 'iimni at webrming lioya'iios got out of hand, mistaking l. 'i’il Alonntkatlen Ini' the Prime and pressing forward. so that the visiters were in danger of being swi'i t oil' their feel. Fiuallv. j nlice reinforcements broke up the crowd and made a path lor the visitors.