Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1925, Page 3

' WEMBLEY. ] THE CLOSING SCENES. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] . tßcccived this tlnv at 0.-]> a.niA LONDON, October fli. ' Crowds brought by special trains from nil parts of the country began assembling early in the morning for the closing of Wembley ceremony. Massed bands greeted the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York, with a fanfare. Hishop Welsden offered a prayer and the huge assembly sang “God Our Help in Ages Past.” At the conclusion buglers sounded the retreat, the Dominions’ Hags were struck and the hands played “ Ailld l.ang Syne.” The audience sang "hand of Hope and Glory,” and finally the anthem. The Duke of York read the King's speech as follows: The Exhibition marks an important, stage in the history of my people, both at home and overseas. It has mil. only taught us much of the productive capacity of the Empire, hut has stimualted legitimate pride in our past achievements as well as increased the sense and responsibility for the years to come. I pray those lessons will not he forgotten and under God’s guidance over the Commonwealth of Nations ami mankind in general may strive to attain that spirit of mutual trust and confidence without which the pence aml happiness of the world cannot he secured. The Duke of York in a speech said the decision to continue t.hi' exhibition into the second year hail been amply justified. Doubt mi longer existed that it had completed its task of Empire education. Speaking at a farewell luncheon given liv the exhibition stall' to the overseas commissioners, he declared there: was ti consensus of opinion in Dominion and colonial circles, that the work dune i at Wembley should be carried on some-' | how in the future. I Crowds seized the last chance of pttr- | chasing at reduced closing prices amt II the days sales were a record. WKMISI.EY ATTENDANCE. I LONDON. Nov. 1. ! The total attendance at Wembley | for the year was !)J millions, eomparj ad with seventeen millions for (Tie pro- ■ . ions year. IN SYRIA. [Australia A N.Z. Cable Association.] J EYE WITNESS’S ACCOUNT. j (Deceived this day tit 9.,'i0 a.in.) ! LONDON, November 1. j It is practically certain General Sar- j rail will not return to Syria. It is { ■ tow stated the Syrian mandate will he j re-organised without delay by a special 1 mission front the League of Nations, j which is significant in view of the fact I that it expires in September, 11)27. i The ” Sunday Express ” publishes an j eye-witness’s account of the bombard- ■ meiit received by an English firm from | .heir Damascus representative, where- ? a he says: "The bombardment of ..he native quarters which the Druses ire holding was continued relentlessly or twenty-tour hours. 1 1 entirely demolished the houses which are rick- ■ tty. The struct tires collapsed like anises til cards, burying the occupants n a living tomb. The plight ol those .believing in the cellars ol the larger :ouses was no better. The houses colapsed and entombed them. I lie casualties must have been enormous, riintisnliils el men. women and children •re dead or entombed. Several villages on the outskirts of the city were ilso reduced to ashes. The whole wintry is in an acute state el rebilion.” The “ Times ” I’aris correspondent says there is growing .support for the abandonment of tSyrian Mandate on t : lie grounds that it merely involves hoavr rxjiemlit lire and ililfe-iiliies not compensated for by any positive gain. ! t is generally felt the tardy removal of General Karail was designed to save the Ministry, hut the latter far from secured a clean sheet and will prohdilv receive a severe shaking at the outset of his career. TURKISH ATROCITIES. HEARTH ENDING SCENES. (Received this day at 11.25 a.nt.) LONDON, Nov. 1. A Mosul correspondent describing the plight of between two and throe thousand Christians, who escaped from Turkish deportations along Brussels line, and are now refuging in Tiors-ine nul Zakho, saws the majority are food'ess. Many have cnlv one garment for ■iroteetioii from the weather which is wet and very cold. Iraq Government ' : s doing its best to Iced them, aided 1 by flic Royal Air Korce and other Mosul units, who art* sending money and •lothing. hut unless substantial Eurooenn help is forthcoming the refugees must gradually (lit* oil’. At present they are living in rude temporary booths and army tents. They utterly lack possessions of any sort, and have no bedding. Christians were eating irorits when f saw them and many vero ill. They related terrible stories if the Turks' atrocious callousness and ‘ barbarous brutality. Old men. women • ltd toddling babies were killed because ‘hey did not march fast enough. Most ■ f the deportees were repeatedly distributed among Kurkish chiefs, who gave "oroipts therefore, and many died of itarvation.

THE FRENCH ARMY. PARTS, Nov. 1. According to "ho .loiirnal" besides rwo-eavalry regiments, eight, more Initiations of infantry, including two from Morocco, arc being despatched to .Syria making the strength of the French army in the Levant five regiments of cavalry, and thirty infantry battalions. POLITICAL LAWS. CAIRO. Nov. 2. Hilmy Pasha Tssa. Minister of the Interior stated tbe object ot tbe political organisations law mentioned on October 29th was to safeguard the public secrecy, eliminate harmful societies and organise tbe political life of the country. There was no intention, whatever, to interfere with the rightful liberty of the people. All must obey tile law but requests for delay in regard to complying therewith would bo generously considered. A passenger from Syria states in--urgents oectipv villages around Damascus, where a famine is feared, as supplies of wheat from ITaurnr are cut off. Bedouin tribesmen led by Ramadan Shallasli are gathering at Dorrasul near Aleopo where a local Bedouin chief. Hajin. refuses to negotiate with the French.