BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1927, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

ACQUITTED. PARIS, March If

The court martial at Lyons acquitted two Frenchmen who deserted at the outbreak of the war and lived solitarily in the Alps for twelve years before the gendarmes discovered them. They pleaded they deserted because they belonged to a fanatical sect which forbade the shedding of blood. They even abstained from the killing of game for food while hiding.

EIFFEL TOWER. PARIS. Man h 1(1

It is reported that engineers are being considerably exercised by the condition of Eiffel Tower, in which, owing to wind stresses of expansion and contraction through heat or cold, eighteen thousand bolts snap yearly, keeping repairers constantly employed. The engineers detect signs of general strain. Some recommend a thin protective coating of cement. REAM WIRELESS. LONDON. March If. It is understood that the beam wireless opening is likely to be delayed for a, fortnight, while engineering details and tariff are finalised. LACROSSE PLAYERS. LONDON. March If. The Oxford lacrosse players, Formby and Shell, have been capped to piny for South of England against the North at Lords on Saturday. /- HANDLEY PAGE COV. LONDON. March If. Handley Page’s meeting adopted a resolution for reducing their capital from C 0.50.000 to 9203,041, reducing preferences to 98, and ordinaries to £l. The Chairman. Air Worslev, pointed out that the directors hoped to re-

commend a ten per cent dividend. The Preferences Board appointed in 1921 liquidated the heavy liabilities.

PACIFIC CABLE. LONDON. March 10

A hill has been circulated, sponsored bv Messrs McNeil and Amery. to amend the Pacific Cable Acts of 1001 and 192-1. It embodies the provisions of the Conference Agreement (cabled on 23rd November) and additionally permits elasticity in the amount- annually paid to the reserve fund, ft also empowers the Board, with the approval of the partners, to undertake for the Governments of any of the Dominions any cable wireless services within their sphere of operation on Caribbean Sea, also if necessary to provide a news service for the West Indies similar to that given by the telegraph companies at the commencement of 1921. The Act is a now [((ensure and comes into operation on April Ist.

SUBMARINE SAFE. GIBRALTAR. March If. The submarine supposed to lie missing from here is safe at Cartagena. Her absence was due to a submerging test of seventy-two hours, which was satisfactorily carried out.

A CLUMSY HOAX. LONDON. March If

The “Dailv News’ 1 Rome rorresomlont states the Minister of Education announces on the strength of reports of experts to whom Mussolini .submitted it, that the recently reported discovery of a so-called fifth gosnel is a, hoax. Tho book is merely a clumsy imitation of old manuscript.