BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[ Router Telegrams.] POISON GAS IN WAR. CONSIDERED FIRST BY BRITAIN. LONDON. November 211. The fact that poison gas was considered by the British before it was used by Germany was revealed by tbc Hon. Winston Churchill when giving evidence in the Bentley ease; Mr Churchill said Lord Duudonald in September. Bill, unfolded the secret of poison gas which he had offered the Cabinet during the Crimean War. Tbe Government called for reports and finally resolved not to u-e the gas owing to the international treaty, but the fact remained that Britain had the idea a year before Germany. .JUDGE’S SIGNIFICANT WORDS. LONDON, November 2(1. The imprisonment of virtually the whole of the Communists’ executive, conceivably, is not to be the end of the party’s discomfort lire, since the justification of further proceedings may he regarded as embodied in a significant sentence used by the Judge in sentencing the defendants, which was: "You are members of an illegal party carrying on illegal work." Tbe convicitions are the leading topic in all the newspapers. .Many applaud the prosecution as providing a healthy warning. None <|iiestion the legal justice of the convictions, though some Opposition commentators doubt the wisdom of driving subversive activities underground.

FRENCH RAII.WAYMFN’S WAGES. PARIS. November 25. A special meeting of the railwaymen's organisations to consider the ever-increasing cost of living, agreed that: the minimum annual wage ought to he 7,fi1l francs. It was decided to take energetic action to obtain prompt satisfaction, including the immediate payment of one hundred francs oil account. THE LOST SUBMARINE. LONDON. Nov. 27. The Admiralty announces an analysis of a sample of paint from the hull of the Yirdar is considered to e-tablish the fact that the loss ol the M. L was due to a collision. NOT YET SOLVED. STOCKHOLM. November 2b. Ah examination of the steamer Vidar •as nut proved whether the damage is due to a collision with the submarine but an attempt will be made to collect enough supposed paint found in a few places on the steamer’s hull for samples to In* forwarded to England for send iny. ROME. November 20. The Fascisli Executive has decided that the Masonic Grand Master’s measures will pot do. A communique says freemasonry will not lie permitted to continue on traditional lines under the cloak of organisations ostensibly conforming to the new laws. POLO TOURNAMENT. BRITTS!! TEAM FOR AMERICA. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) NEW YORK. December 24. An English team to participate in the winter season polo tournament has been announced as follows:—Lord Cromwell, the Marquess of Waterford, Lieutenant-Colonel T. Melbourne, Major 11. E. Lyons and Captain R. R. Smart. The team will play in a series of tournaments, the first of which is to take place at Miami Reach, Florida, on February 15. Several trophies will he competed for. This is the first time in the history of the sport that an English team has competed in the winter tournaments. UNCONFIRMED. LONDON. Nov. 27. The Colonial Office is unable to confirm the report that Prince Henry will open Canberra.. No communication whatever has been received from Australia.

SOUTH AFRICAN LOAN. LONDON, Nov. 27. The South African loan was hilly subscribed. Dealings commenced at one eighth per cent premium. CANADIAN EXPORTS. VANCOUVER. Nov. 27. Doctor Mae Lean, Provincial .Minister of Finance, in a budget sneevli. said the exports to Australia and New Zealand had trebled in the past decade and were now fifteen million dollars to Australia and nineteen millions to New Zealand. CHESS. MOSCOW. November 26. Two Russians, M. Rerlingsky. and M. Ilyinzeveresky, heal Uapahlanca at the international chess tournament. The champion played an unusual number of drawn games hut his name does not: appear among the leading six. CHINESE AFFAIRS. PEKING. Nov. 26. Kuosungling’s attempt to seize Mukden and capture Changtsolin evidently has not yet succeeded, hut it is stated in reliable circles that be lias taken prisoner several of Cbangtsoliii’s generals with approximately one hundred thousand men. while Chang controls .70,000 around Mukden. Chang has seized Ktiosungling's family, and is holding them under the strictest surveillance at Mukden. TENNIS. NF.-AV YORK. Nov. 26. News from Berkeley. California, states Helen Wills is going to France early in January, hoping to meet Millie. Lenglen in the tennis tournaments. Site expects to play in several French tournaments as well as at Wimbledon. She will study art.