BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[BY TELEGRAPH- -PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] s'~~~

DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON, Alay 5. The Dairy Board is launching an extensive advertising campaign to moot the growing competition of Northern European butter. LONDON, May 5. Butter is selling steadily. Choicest New Zealand salted, 150 s to 1545; unsalted. 1645; Australian, salted 15(Ss to 1525. exceptional 1545; unsalted, 160 s to J62s; Danish, 100 s per ewt. Cheese—The market i s firm. New Zealand. 82s per ewt. AIAJOR, SHOT. LONDON, Alay 7. Alajor William Ludgate, D. 5.0., waN found shot in the drawing room atjli? home in Ayr, at midnight. He was taken to the hospital, but died. His wife lias been charged with murder.

BRITAIN AND SOVIET. LONDON, May 5. In the House of Commons, Air G. Locker-Lampson, in reply to a question. said that the Soviet had made no offer as Al. Rykov had stated in the direction of negotiations to remove the present strained relations bet weep Britain and Russia. Until the Soviet--, really showed it was prepared to stop its anti-British propaganda, it would lie useless to try to enter into negotiations.

GERAIAX PATRIOTS PARADE. BERLIN, Alay 7. Sixty special trains converging from every part of Germany have arrived at Berlin crowded with 80,000 field grey stall!helms (steel Helmets) and for Uho first time Republican Berlin will he tho scene on Sunday of the annual parade of these perfervid patriots. Though, after weeks of a verdosc press vendetta, the populace are adopting an attitude of philosophic calm, all police leave is cancelled ,and thousands of extra police have been drafted to the city.

The Communists are showering curses on the President of the Police for forbidding any counter demonstration. President Von Hindenlmrg, wlio is an honorary member of the Staldhelms, lias pronounced bis blessing on the parade, though otherwise he has withheld any official sanction. An enormous demonstration has been arranged in front of the ex-Kaiser’s Palace, with martial music, flags, a tattoo, and “Deutschland Tiber Ailes,” also the celebrated ATass for the fallen, with a march past and “ Hochs ” Germany.

PRIMROSE LEAGUE. LONDON, May 7

Alillions of primroses were worn in their buttonholes by 10,000 members of the Primrose League when attending a League demonstration at the Albert Hall.

I All- Baldwin, who is Grand Afaster i f the League, emphasised the necessity of the Trade Union Bill. He said—“ During the debate I have been buoyed up by the thought that, however tiring it might be to those present, it was worth untold votes throughout the country. I believe that the prolongation of tho-< debate will secure further support. I would have told Afr dynes so when I refused the request for an extension of time, but it would have been called provocative.” Mr Churchill declared the Empire has survived the fiercest storms that have ever beaten the globe, and thereby it has been unified and consolidated and has become more renowned than ever. The Socialists, he said, were now challenging the citizens’ freedom, resulting in a struggle that was likely to occupy the remainder of our lives in order to preserve the interests of the Commonwealth and the unity of •T tho Empire. Accordingly, any whittling down of the main principles of tho Trade Union Bill would be impossible.'"

LAHORE RIOTS. DELHI, May 7. Tho total casualties at the Lahore riots are eighteen dead and IG2 wounded. The departure' of the British infantry battalions from the neighbouring cantonments, for tlic hill stations, for the summer, has been inefinitely postponed.

A BRITISH VIEW. LONDON, May 7. Lord Birkenhead, addressing the Southampton Chamber of Commerce. __ said—“AYc are living in a critical period of English politics. The next two years will inevitably determine the Empire’s and England’s fortune, possibly for half a century. The election ahead is the most critical ever held in England’s history; discriminating between men believing in sanity and sobriety and the continuity of English life, ad those believing in Moscow’s fever-stricken and malignaat doctrines. There is nobody in the Government today who is not making immense sacrifices in order tit remain a member of it. If they undertake these tasks, surely they have some right to ask something of the people. lam satisfied that England’s heart is sound. The nation’s great spirit is available to repel Moscow, but it will not he available .unless nine who hitherto have not participated in politics come to our assistance.”

MECHANICAL WARFARE. LONDON, May 7. Alluding to the mechanisation of the Army. I /ml Birkenhead said it was the despised politicians who forced on the unconvinced Generals the power and resources of mechanical warfare. The only request made by the Army was that they should not employ a weapon prematurely. They derided it, and in every way disparaged it, but as soon as tanks were delivered they prematurely and uselessly exposed the supreme weapon, which if safeguarded and husbanded, might have won the final battle of the war. Sir AVilliam Robertson, in his book, made a solitary indifferent reference to the tanks, which revolutionised warfare, yet he, at the most critical moment, was Chief of the General Staff.

YF.LDT TRAGEDY. CAPETOWN, Alav 7. The police are suspicious that Swart could not have done all the shooting, on the other sergeant of police being found on the veld, making ten victims. Swart had been at bay ever since Wednesday. The police commandant wrote ing him to surrender. Swart replied that he was willing to discuss the suggestion, hut advising the police not to come after six o'clock, as he liudJMecided to shoot on sight after six. Tljg police knew his preparations, and when they arrived at dawn they were met with a fusilade from the natives, posted around the kraal. Swart threatened beforehand to shoot his enemies, including his wife, from whom he was separated. SHOCKING AFFAIR. CAPETOWN, May 6. Nine people were shot dead and several wounded in an attempt to arrest a farmer named Swart at Charlestown, on the Transvaal-Natal border. Swart was wanted on a serious charge, and refused to surrender, opening fire on the polio© posse sent to arrest him.

The killed consisted of the captain and three constables, two farm managers, a woman and Swart’s wife. Swart then committee] suicide.