BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

fliy TELEGRAPH--PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] FRENCH DISCOVERY. LONDON, April 19. The "Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent says: “The French Governim.-... is closely studying French scientists’ invention, which it is claimed will enable France to cut down her imports of British coal by £12,000,000 per annum, and which may ensure to France an entire independence of anthracite coal. The discovery is the outcome of the British coal strike and of the high petrol prices that prevailed during the franc slump. French scientists then found that synthetic petrol was procurable from coal gas and hydrogen at one third of the c-ost of imported petrol. The process is by the distilling of the lower grades of coal, and even of coal dust, at less than half the temperature that is ordinarily employed in gas retorts or in coke ovens. LOAN FOR POLAND. PARIS, April 20. The paper ”Le Matin” states that following upon secret negotiations, an American financial group lias undertaken to lend Poland seventy million dollars. This transaction is regarded as being important, as it gives the United States a vital interest in the preservation of Poland. TORNADO IN INDIA. CALCUTTA, April 19. A tornado worked havoc in East Bengal, where it wrecked twenty villages and devastated the whole countryside. Numbers of boats oil the Xriver Padma were sunk, with casualties. NEW SUPER-BATTLESHIP. LONDON, April 19. Britain’s super-battleship, Nelson, which has been four years under construction, leaves the Tyne on Friday for Portsmouth on the eve of her being put into commission. QUAKE AT MANILA. MANILA, April 20. There was an earthquake, lasting 10 seconds at 1.30 o’clock this morning. The shocks damaged a number of buildings here. There were no casualties. NEW JAPANESE MINISTRY. TOKIO, April 19. M. Tanaka was summoned to the Palace, and aceepteil the Premiership.