BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1 . DUKE OF YORK. LONDON, December 21. The report that the Duke of York will visit New Zealand in U)2(i is officially denied. WHITE ’XMAS IN BRITAIN. LONDON, December 22, Heavy snow falls promise a white Christmas in the Midlands, and the north, where there is six loot ot snow. The Westmoreland railways were blocked. and snow cutters were necessary. The tanners in Yales are scouring me mountains for sheep. There have been many lugb lei el blizzards. The snow in the Midlands is interfering with the transport of coal from Cannock Chase. GHASTLY STORY. PRAGUE, December 22. The newspapers publish the story of the terrible fate of a Roumanian garrison of eighteen soldiers in a post in a prolonged snow storm. 1 liey were out off from all approaches, and their fuel rail out. The whole eighteen were- frozen to death.

THE POPE. ROME, December 22. The Holy Year lias made heavy de mnmis on the Pope, who has received three quarters of a million pilgrims and has distributed eight hundred thousand Holy Year Medals. The Pope has worn over three thousand birettas. each of which he put on for a brief period, and returned to the owners. His Holiness lias preached I.OSI) ser-

mons. It is reported that lie has de posited in an American bank £1,000,000 as Holy Year contributions. NFY' ZEALAND GIFT TO KING. LONDON, December 22. The King lias accepted an eightpound cheese presented by the Taratu Returned Soldiers’ Factory. New Zealand. with the Royal Arms in relief on top of the cheese.

HOY’ THE HAMPSHIRE SANK. LONDON, Dec. 22. Rt. Hon. Y*. C. Bridgemau (First Lord of the Admiralty) in the House of Commons, read a written reply from Admiral Waterhouse apropos of recentstatements. The reply said it was untrue that the sailing of the warship

Hampshire with I.orl Kicbener, fm Russia, was an open secret. The ship was not selected till ten days before she sailed, and her course was not fixed till the last moment. No mines had previously been reported to have lieen laid near the Orkneys, but- the Admiraltv had no doubt that Hie Hampshire foundered as the result of striking a mooted mine laid by the German submarine 1J.75. in preparation for the Battle of Jutland. Furtheimore. Admiral Schoor’s report of the Battle of Jutland showed that U. 75 had lieen in that area. The statement that spies had proviouslv lieen shot- aboard the Hampshire’ was a wicked falsehood. GIRR ALTAR SENSATION. • GIBRALTAR, December 22. There were extraordinary scenes at a Spanish house between Lallenea and Gibraltar, when five hundred Spanish women were returning to Lallenea. They were hold up in pouring rain for llie purpose of a Customs search. The women protested strongly, and determined to force their way through the building, and they stormed the harrier. Civic guards thereupon charged, and

malty woman acre wounded. Som/1 were arrested and imprisoned. Others tied to Gibraltar. FRENCH TRAIN CRASH. PARIS. December 22. The I’.asle-I’aris express crashed into lrucks at- Nois-de-Scc Station, three coaches being telescoped. Ihe first reports estimated fifty were killed, but a search of the debris revealed oniy two bodies. There is a very long list of injured. UP-TO-DATE PIRATES. ATHENS, December 22. Up-to-date pirates, equipped with speedy motor boats, are operating in tiie Aegean Sea in the vicinity of the Dardanelles. The boats carry guns with which small shipping is attacked. The latest exploit concerns an attack on a- yacht which is the property of a wealthy merchant, and the fate of which is unknown. Shipowners have sent an urgent request to the Greek Government for help. AUSTRALIAN FIREMEN STRANDED. LONDON. Dec. 22. The Australian High Commissioner has decided to discontinue supporting the Otira’s firemen, and i.s not prepared to repatriate them. The Shaw Saville Co. has offered to reimbuse the Commonwealth for the money already expended, and to contribute £1 weekly towards the men’s future maintenance, pending their shipment. "While repudiating responsibility for repatriation. it is willing to co-operate in securing them employment- on their return to Australia.