BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reutkrs Telegrams.] LUTHER’S CABINET. BERLIN, January 12. Herr Luther is making headway with his Cabinet making effort. He has secured the conditional support of the Centrists and intends to select .Ministers from the Peoples. Centre and German National Parties. Dr. Stresemniin will remain foreign Munster. HUGE FRAUDS. LONDON, January 13. An n.sto; ' Ting prosecution has begun at Birmingham. Twenty-one men were arrested during the week-end, chiefly merchants, general dealers, and commission agents. Warrants have also been issued for ten others. They are being charged with conspiring to defraud, people, who were induced to supply goods on credit by false representation. The prosecution stated the case was one of gigantic proportions, and it covered a period of two and a half-years. Six of the accused gained appointments as commercial travellers for the firms who instituted the proceedings, and then put forward other men as genuine customers. Large quantities of goods were supplied, but were never paid for. Six of the men have remained in custody on hail. FOG TN EUROPE. ■LONDON, January 12. The fog is general throughout Western Europe. A message from Ghent reports that passenger trains collided in fog at Lnngerbrugge Station. Two passenger coaches toppled over. Thirty-nine passengers were injured, three seriously. A SURPRISE ARREST. LONDON, January 13. The “Daily Chronicle” Paris correspondent states that a. detective, who seized, a man who was attempting to pick his'' pocket found that lie had arrested the notorious convict Souchot, who, in 1913, escaped from a penal settlement at Cayenne with three companions. They built a- raft, on which they made good (their escape, but only Souchot survived. lie reached British Honduras, where he became a prosperous planter, but lost bis money in gambling while cm route to France, and be turned pick pocket. RAILAV AV A HEN’S I) EA f A ND. LONDON, January 13. Twenty thousand raihvnynuvn wore represented at a. meeting belli in Chester yesterday, at which resolutions were passed demanding that the railway companies withdraw the army order (cabled on January 9th.) within twenty-five hours.

CONSOLIDATION 01'' FASCISM. HOME, January 12. A further step in a campaign for the * * consolidation of Fascism is being taken. Signor Mussolini is introducing in the Chamber, a Hill directed against the secret societies, including the Freemasons. The Bill forbids public , ..minis to belong to secret societies, and aims at compelling them to divulge the rules of such organisations. SADOUL’S TRIAL. PARIS, January IT. At Sadoul’s trial the prisoner made a remarkable statement. Ho expressed I,joy at being able to confront bis accusers. He proceeded with sensational revelations regarding the part M. Nonlons, the French Ambassador at Pctrograd, played in the Russian revolution. Noulous was convinced that the Tsar would be speedily restored, whereas be (Sadoul) believed that the revolution bad consolidated Lenin and t Trotsky. He had constantly appealed to [''ranee for help during the "ur against Germany, but Nouleus re I used, so the peace of ftrest-Li Isovsk "as signed: “A revolution alone can save France! ft is revolution or death!” Sadoul was released pending a supplementary inquiry into charges aaginst him, following to-day’s hearing fab which Sado.nl expresed the opinion that ho was not being tried fo- any definite offence, but on account bis political opinions. MISSING TYPJ.STE. A CROWD OF SEARCHERS, LONDON, January 13. Scotland Yard lias been called in to clear up the Crowborough mystery. Soldiers, Hoy Scouts, and Air Scouts will bo utilised in order to make an effective search of the woods and other llonely parts of the Crowborough districts in the hope of finding the body of the missing typiste, Elsie Cameron. SINGAPORE All? STATION. LONDON, January lib The “Daily Herald” forecasts the early Cabinet consideration of a protest to establish a- large Air Station

int Singapore. CHINESE FIGHTING. .■ PEKIN, January P2. Yesterday’s lighting nt ShnnKliai came as a great surprise, as Chili bieh Yuan had been living quietly m the settlement since the flight from Nanking. Apparently he brought up two divisions and joined Sun Cluinn I'ang in attacking Chang Yuen Ming, whose forces had occupied the arsenal Sun Clninn Fang captured the nistna >e. terday. Chan Yuen Ming was dotcat-

L* cd with considerable casualties, and lied taking refuge in the settlement. Last night Sun again attacked Chang * Yuen Mings’ troops, wlnp s were lining f the creek on the border of the settlement. Hundreds of shots tell into the settlement breaking windows. One French marine was slightly wonndec in the leg. There wore no other foreign casualties. A number of Chang s men entered the settlement, where they peacefully gave up their arms. ll » remainder scattered. Club S,eh Ymm ♦ land Sun Chuan Fang now appauntb completely control tins district U » understood that they intend advancing on Nanking. Their object J hold the provinces of Kiangsu, - Chekiang. Fukier, and not to submit io control from Pekin. > THE GOLD STANDARD. <„ . PRETORIA, January U. It is officially announced that the •Government of South Afnca has received front Doctors Ke.nn.erc a. Vi.so.iTC « on tl.o roonK their .i»l"ir. into the «*!“* " . roeomptien of S'*' 0 ' ' to t. 1.0 it. .;oor»o. ‘

Government should make an imnv.m-«* 1/ announcement to this effect, f With a view to assisting m the storation of the gold standa d a » to maintaining it once it has been re r. Government hns d0H.10.1 t J iat will not introduce legislation m P pouing the resumption of gold P-D merits beyond January 13th.

I UN OR TOMB DISPUTE. CAIRO, Jan. L>The Tutankhamen dispute behveen the Egyptian Governmentwj t has been amicably and sausn. settled. Carter will resume nork the tomb immediately.

A HORRIBLE CRIME. LONDON, January 12. A horrible crime lias been committed at Birkenhead. The victim is Nellie Clark, aged eleven, whose dead body was found propped against a telegraph post, fourteen hours after she left borne on an errand. Blood hounds tracked the child to an open field, where it is believed she was abducted in a motor car. This theory is strengthened by the subsequent movements of a mysterious ear, which was heard in the lane where the body was found. GERMAN RAILWAY DISASTER. BERLIN. January 13* Numbers have been killed or injured as a .result el the recent railway disaster qt Westphalia. The morning express from Berlin to Cologne came into collision with a stationary train at Horn** station. So far twenty-one bodies have been extricated from the wreckage. SOUTH AFRICAN BILL. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN. January 13. It is understood that the Minister of the Interior, Air Malan, introduces a bill dealing will South African nationality, ami creating a South African flag. The principle laid down is that il anyone becomes a British subject lie is not a.s such, a South African burger. The bill, if it becomes law. "ill therefore create a South African nationality. DIVORCE PETITIONS. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 1. In consequence of the recent legislation equalising the sexes regarding the grounds lor divorce, there are "05 women’s petitions out of 597 undefended cases on the new list. PRISON REPORT. (Received this day at. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 13. The Commissioner of Prisons in his annual report states the general adoption of shaving is restoring prisoners’ self-respect. The hang-dog look, formerly characteristic is disappearing. The report pays a tribute to the work of the Social Service Organisations and asserts it is .seldom a member of a boys’ or girls’ clubs, boy scouts, girl guides, or church lads’ brigade becomes a prisoner.

FRENCH RUGBY. PARIS, Jan. 13. Mr Dean, interviewed, said tlie French team on Sunday was really better than the score indicated. With training and coaching it ought to beat many English teams. Me paid a tribute to the spurting nature of French crowds, and said he hoped a team of French Rugbyilcs would come to New Zealand. AVAR INVENTIONS AWARDS. LONDON. Jan. 11. The War Inventions’ Awaids show that five aeroplane design companies shared £2O9,(XX) sterling. Commander AYilkinson, originator ol the dazzle paint fur ships, received two thousand. BRITISH AERIAL PROGRESS. BON LON. Jan. 13. The “Daily Express” states that experiments are proceeding at I'elixstone with the world’s largest [-engined seaplane. which i.s primarily designed lor scouting for the- British licet, but which, can carry several tons ol bombs and attack enemy shipping. The seaplane is capable ol several days’ continuous cruising, and is a.-ie to outride the heaviest gale while anchored. BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. LONDON. Jan. 1.3. Dealing with Rnkovsk.v’s return to Moscow and Anglo-Soviet relations, the “Times” says the position of the British Government is unaltered : namely, that the resumption of Anglo-Soviet negotiations is impossible while .Moscow continues to demand impossible political treaties, guaranteed loans and refuses to concentrate on purely commercial issues. BRITAIN'S AIR PROG R A.MAI E. LONDON. Jan. 13. Further details of Die air programme slum that the non-regular units, wlu-h form the Home deleuce lorce. "ill he divided into seven special reserves and six auxiliary air force squadrons, toe two groups forming a- quarter of the total forces. The auxiliary group will he a territorial organisation wiLh the smallest nucleus of the regular personnel; but the special reserves will be administered through normal service channels, and will he one third regular and two-thirds of the special reserve personnel. The total strength oi the two groups will be approximately 360 officers and 2,1110 airmen. It is Imped the recruitment of two or three squadrons will begin in the spring, while the others will he formed in subsequent years. MIDLAND BANK CASE. 'ROBINSON APPEALS. LONDON. Jau. 13. Charles Robinson has entered an appeal against the judgment iu the Midland Bank case. CLYDE BANK EVICTIONS. TWO REPORTERS STONED. LONDON, Jan. 12. Four evictions took place at Clydebank this morning. The entry ol the sheriff’s officers was opposed in one ease .but the barricade was quickly battered down. , . . One family returned to their • nine two hours after their eviction and tnc others intend t.o follow suit. Tl, e crowd molested several reporters, two being severely stoned by cue hundred rowdies before the poli-.e H'tervened.

OUTRAGE IN BOMBAY*. GIRL SLASHED AND SHOT. DELHI, January 13. A desperate outrage occurred in the fashionable quarter of Bombay last night when a gang of armed men attacked a motor-car with revolvers and knives. Apparently the'ohm. t wan the abducting of a. Mohammedan woman who was accompanied by a Mohammedan citizen of Bombay. Adul Knderlm Rajhi and an Indian Christian named Mathews. The desperadoes, who. nuntailv injured Rajhi, slut and K the girl and Mathews, without killing them. Tliov were on the font ot achieving their object when another car with "four British officers drove up.

The officers rushed to the rescue and liberated the girl. One officer. Lioute.iiint Saegart. who was shot four tunes, but not seriously, seized one of the assailants. The others escaped, bring all round to prevent pursuit. The outrage tins aroused a tien.endows sensation. . . , It appears the mother of the liijuud nirl brought a case in 1919, against certain people in the employ of Maharaja i Indore, alleging that her daughter was kidnapped. The ease fell through as the mother was nimble to prove tno o-irl was under sixteen. Subsequently the mother filed another complaint alleging that her daughter was being taken to England against hoi will. The police questioned the gii " ' stated that she was going "ith Mavarani Indore of her own free will and, did not wish to return. Her mother states her <• r> went to England and returned, about five months ago lett th * * \ ‘ T rajah’s service and came to Bomba.

where she met Rajhi. The rescuing officers placed the girl in their own car with a view to hospi - 1,1 The gang twice attempted to seize her f The t arrested man had a considerable sum of money in Ids possession.