MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) TO STOP RUSSIAN OIL SALES. LONDON, Aug. 24. The action of the Home Office In connection with Russian Oil Products firm, has attracted attention. This Is on account of a campaign being waged against Soviet petrol. Ono Russian Oil Products firm claims that its competition has reduced the price that is charged by its opponents. ’l’lic opponents of Soviet oil contend that Soviet petrol should not be bought at any price. This is in view of the treatment of British shareholders m Russian oilfields. A Home Office official said: “ This action docs not represent any attack against Russian Oil Products, direct or indirect. II o added: “ 'There is no hope of any alteration of the decision, despite ono of the directors making an effort to gor members of the House of Commons to intercede. The Government will' not let Russians ostensibly in Britain for the purpose of trade and to engage in anti-British propaganda and espionage.”

Russian Oil Products replies that it is significant that this order comes at the time when the Soviet petrol sales are soaring, but it adds that this business will not he interrupted.

The names of the Russians ordered to leave are: M. .Martin Boltin fdirector). and M. Ivan Khontnvako (engineer).

BRITISH TANK ARMY STENT. LONDON. Aug. 24. Britain’s “robot" army is still manoeuvring On Salisbury Plain. An idea of the costliness of ihc army operations is to he gathered from the fact that as it stands to-day. the outlay represents throequarters of a million sterling. The tanks are most costly. Estimates of the cost, in certain instances are as follows; The battalion, comprising forty-eight lighting tanks and two wireless tanks, cost £500,000. Twelve dragons, for field artillery, cost £48.000. Two companies of armed cars, eight in each company, cost £32,000. An unnamed number of six-wheeled vehicles £24,000. Twelve tankettes cost £6,000. Both the tanks and the dragons are very thirsty, for it requires 13s 6d to run a tank for one mile, or seven pounds for an hour, from which some idea may he gained of the terrific cost of the recent sixty-mile march. ROYAL SUICIDE ATTEMPT. VIENNA, Aug. 21. A Belgrade message states that Prince George, the elder brother of the King of Jugo-Slavia, has made a determined attempt to commit suicide, and that little hope of his recovery is entertained.

N. Z. DELEGATE. LONDON, Aug. 24. James Deans (President of New Zealand Forestry League) will attend the meeting of the English Arboricultural Society at Tounton next week. Ho is visiting a number of well-timbered estates. OBITUARY. LONDON, Aug. 24. Obituary.—At Florence, Mrs Janet Ross, author and one time “ Times ’• correspondent in Egypt. Aged s 5. FOREST FIRES. PARIS. Aug. 24. Giving evidence at the inquiry into forest fires, the Fire Brigade Chiel stated he was cycling through a wood when lie was attacked by two motorists. beaten and thrown into a ditch unconscious. A further outbreak devastated the forest of Breguires. It is believed an Italian, whom the police are seeking is responsible. It is reported from Toulon that two men were arrested, caught red-handed setting fire to the forest of Petit Oondin at midnight. EGYPT’S TRIBUTE TO PREMIER. CAIRO. Aug. 21. The whole of Egypt accorded homage to Zaghloul, whose funeral was most impressive. It was preceded by an informal procession of Labour syndicates, hoy scouts hearing crepe draped banners accompanied by hands. Then came the civil service students who took a parallel route as soon as the cavalry appeared heading the official cortege. Ambulance men revived heat stricken spectators white artillery and infantry paced slowly past. Two hundred officers escorted a gun-carriage on which the coffin was borne draped with the Egyptian flag, followed by Ministers and four thousand official mourners.