BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuters Telecrams.l AMERICAN CONSUL SHOT. BELGRADE, Dec. 7. Harry Dayton, the American ViceCoiisul staggered into the Consulate and stated lie had been shot by a Lithuanian girl. His condition is most serious. The girl thereafter was found dead at the Vice-Coiisul’s residence, having apparently committed suicide. authoress killed. NEW YORK, Dec. C. A telegram from I.os Angelos says Gene Stratton Porter, the authoress, has died as the result of an accident through her automobile striking a street ear. A]DI.bE. LENGLEN SCRATCHED. LONDON, Dec. 7. Mdlle Lenglen has been unexpectedly scratched for the Nice Lawn Tennis tournament opening to-morrow. foreign COMMUNISTS. ' BEING DEPORTED FROM FRANCE. PAULS, December 7. Yesterday’s round up in the Communist quarters of the city produced a hag of undesirable aliens comprising six Belgians, six Italians and one Swiss. All have been deported. The police took special precautions at Uouhaix to-day on the occasion of the visit of Premier llcrriott to attend a banquet. Numbers 'of both Communists and Royalists booed the Premier on his arrival. Scuffles ocpurred as Ar. llcrriott drove through the stivots. A .score of Royalist youths were arrested. They were subsequently released. The Communists, headed by tho Deputy, AI. Cochin, paraded the streets during the banquet and shouted ‘A ivc Sadoul I A ivo Revolution!” AL Cochin delivered a speech which was not marked by any incident. AL Herriot subsequently returned to Paris. It is announced that as a result of police operations the Minister for the Interior has issued expulsion decrees against sixty foieign Communist agents comprising -I*l Italians, six Poles, seven Belgians, one Serb, one Swiss, one ,Swede and one German. It is understood that the Government is continuing to closely watch the foreigners, and is disposed to take fresh measures against any one suspected of participating in preparations for a revolutionary movement.. UKI.fiIUAI’S ARMY. (Received this day at S a.m.) LONDON. Deo. S. The Brussels correspondent of tho “Times” states tho Alinister of National Defence has fixed the active strength of the Belgian army at 92.300. > FREEDOAf OF PRESS. ROAIE, December 7. Tbo text of the new press law aroused a storm of protest. 'I be penalties include six months to three years’ imprisonment for anyone publishing false news, which may damage the national credit at home or abroad, or' disturb the public order, or prejudice diplomatic action. Other offences for which penalties are provided are inciting ’lie people to actions calculated to intensify class balrcd, inciting people to disobedience of the law, and relating to the libelling of the King or any institutions of the country or the national llag.

SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON. December 5. The Imperial Defence. Committee discussed the Singapore question yesterday. It is understood to have recommended that work ho resumed. It is expected Cabinet’s acquiescence will Ik* indicated in the King’s speech in Pariamcnt on Tuesday. Meantime tho Dominions will probably be consulted further and more than £120,000 of the preliminary vote is at present not expended. A REPRIEVE SOUGHT. LONDON. December 7. Unprecedented excitement prevails at Hull, because Sir Win. Jo.vnson Hicks (Home Secretary) has refused to reprieco a young boilermaker, William Smith, who has been sentenced to death for killing a woman with whom he ilvcd. because lie suspected her fidelity. Smith's mother tramped the Ktcrets for days‘and nights, and obtained nine thousand signatures to a petition for his reprieco. She faint-

ed when told of Sir A\. Joynson Hicks’ decision. Ail eleventh hour effort is being made to get the decision changed. Knornious crowds engaged in a demonstration in this direction to-day, processions marching to the prison and crying: “Hang the hangman !*’ and men and women singing: “Onward Christian Soldiers!" •••Hirow out the Life Line!” and “Abide With Me!" The lady Mayoress and the Archbishop of York are interesting themselves in the reprieve movement, and trade unionists in Hull threaten to strike at noon to-morrow unless a reprieve is granted. AVIATOR SAFE. LONDON, December fi. A Bucharest telegram records that Sir 1L Bmucker has arrived there. HIGH PRICE OF WHEAT. LONDON, Decemtfcr fi. The Minister of Agriculture, speaking at Chelmsford, said that the consumption of wheat in China and -Ta- * pan was steadily growing. There were considerable indications that the wheat price would not fall in 1925. PNT'SUAI. COMPENSATION CLAIM. LONDON. Dee. .. The Secretary of the National Seamen's Union at Swansea is trying to obtain 1350 ft compensation for the widow and two children residing at Swansea of John Jacob, a coloured seaman, the victim of a stabbing affray at Newcastle. New South Wales. SWIMMING. STOCKHOLM. Dee. 7. Amo'Borg claims the world’s record for swimming five hundred metres freo style in 0 min. 29 3-5 secs.