BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1926, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.] SPIES TRIAL AT PARIS. 'PARIS, April 26. The trial has definitely begun here ' of Leather and Phillips (Britishers) and a Pole;, accused of seeking French military and air secrets. The Tribunal has decided to proceed in camera. [Note. —There are two French women involved, one aged 23, and the other 29. The former is a theatrical known as “ Mddlo Foxtrot.” One of the Britishers, both of whom were employed by the Bleriot Radio Coy at Paris,, gave the name of a French airmail to one of tho women, but the airman in question was called in court and indignantly denied that lie knew any of the parties. The French authorities proceeded very slowly with investigations and London papers reported they were using a “fine comb” to gather facts. One French naval officer was supposed to he implicated by one of the women, both of whom were at tiho outset shown to have received from Leather and the other Britisher considerable sums, ns one of tho women admitted as much. The accused denied they were seeking military secrets.] FILM STAR SUES PRODUCER, LONDON, April 20. Miss Betty Blythe, the film actress is suing Air G. B. Sanuiclson, the producer, for the alleged repudiation of an agreement to pay her £3OO to appear in the picture version of the hook “She.”

FRENCH AND RIFFS. OTJ.TDA, April 26. Tb e Franco-Span ish delegates agreed to waive the preliminary conditions for a peace conference. The Riffs’ delegates are expected to return to tbe conference and proceed on the basis of the original terms.

AFR ICA X DEFENCE . CAPETOWN, April 27. In tbe Assembly when tbe defence vote was under consideration, Mr Cresswell outlined the proposed changes of the del dice force, which, aimed at an aii foice which- could strike anywhere; practically any enemy gathering within the Union and in addition, the certainty of mobilising ten thousand men to concentrate within seventy-two to ninety-six hours within measurable distance of an enemy, with an additional fifteen thousand equipped and able to take the field. The conception of an active citizen force units not being suited to country districts, there will be a development of the commando system in those districts in the direction of more regimented and more disciplined organisation.