AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1925, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.] PRESIDENT COO LI DOE. WASHINGTON, .March 4. President C'oolidge gave his inaugural speech. In a brilliant hut unpretentious pageant, President C’oolidge Look the oath as Thirtieth President of the United States? Standing upon the Capitol the President affirmed the pledge of office and then laid down a threefold programme for the administration namely, economy, tax reduction, and co-opera lion with the nations of the world.

Chief Justice Taft, himself a former President, dressed in the black robes of his new office stood beside President Cooliilge and administered the oath. The President then delivered his inaugural address, which was carriedthrough a microphone and broadcasted to millions through 2d radio stations. Approximately forty thousand were jammed in Capitol Square and thousands of others lined the route from White House to tile Capitol. Justices of the Supreme Court, Senators, Congressmen. Government Officials, and many women occupied places of honour on the rostrum of the Capitol. The ceremonies were preceded by the traditional ritual in the Senate Chamber, where Colonel Dawes took his oath of office as Vice-President and delivered his inaugural address, immediately following the closing of the tiSth Congress. Mr Cnoliilge’s father attended tins ceremonies which were held in beautiful weather. PICTURES BY WIRE. NEW YORK, -March 4. A message from San Francisco states five picture of President Coolidge’s inauguration were released to the newspapers there less than two hours after t[iev were taken, by means of the telegraphic process. Officials ol the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company announced the transmission was perfect, "the two delicate instruments, the transmitter at Washington, and the receiver at Sail Francisco working with perfect synchronisation.

U.S.A. AIR ENQUIRY. AY ASHING TON, .March 4. The Aircraft Inquiry has ended., Closing features were General Mitchell’s denial that lie had disobeyed President Coolidge by publshing articles in magazines; also the testimony of Rear-Admiral Fiske (retired) who opposed Admiral Sims’s recent asset - tion that the battleship is obsolete. He said it was not even obsolescent. He also contended Admiral Sims over-es-timated the value of airplane-carriers. Admiral Fiske declared that it was difficult to launch airplanes from, ships. I.ieut.-General Miles (retired) testified at a secret session the iuquiiy declaring his evidence was valuable am! confidential. It is understood lie urged that the United States should lie safeguarded on both the Atlantic and the Pacific seaboards' against air attacks.

The Inquiry Report will go to next Congress. The best-informed circles believe that not only will the issue then again lie raised, but that probably a. joint congressional inquiry by the House and the Senate will he set up with a wider scone for the purpose of investigating the whole question of national defence, in response to the pressure of public opinion.