GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1927, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES

f Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

WIRELESS WONDERS

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON. Nov. 13

While Britain is cautiously experimenting with wireless telephony, keeping the results secret, European institutions are making considerable progress. Holland has successfully conversed with the Dutch East Indies, suggesting communication with Australia brought definitely nearer.

Surprising results are revealed by a German post office report of experiments from Nordreich Station and German ships, one of which, the Columbus, conversed with another liner 2300 miles distant. Several Berlin shipping offices have talked to ships 200 miles away. The authorities are fitting out an experimental ship, the Hoextor, which will cruise in the North Sea for tin- purpose of further research. It is further predicted that offices will soon he talking from Berlin to a ship far in the Atlantic.

JAPANESE FINANCE. TOKYO, Nov. 13. fn round figures 1.800.000,000 yen constitutes the final Cabinet estimate of the Japanese Government expenditure budget for 1928-29. Publications today give 1,730.000,000, including 84,000,000 of an increase for the Navy. It is expected that additional expendie, such as tenant farmers’ relief, will odd at lease another 30,000,000. '1 lie main round figures are: A\ ar 22.1.000,000; finance 400,000.000; education 144,000.000; .communication 350.000,000; commerce, 13.000.000. foreign 23,000,000.

BTGA RUMOURS. RIGA. Nov. 12. While the Stalinists arc busily clamouring for the expulsion of I rotskv, ZinoviefT and Kamoneff, the trio arc feverishly pushing on plans to establish an opposition to the Central Provincial Government Committees. Their street- propaganda and meetings are regarded as testing the people’s feeling, just as Leninites did prior to the overthrow of Kerensky. ITALIAN FLAG. ROME. Nov. 13. By Mussolini’s order and the King’s consent the national flag henceforth will contain the fascist emblem alongside the Royal coat of arms. SEAPLANE CRASHES. HORTA. (Azores). Nov. 13. Seaplane D 1220 took off lint had not gone far when the engine stopped and the machine fell. The airman jumped and swam until picked up by a motor boat, from which the crash was noticed. The plane was badly damaged. Probably the trans-Atlantic attempt will he abandoned. SOVIET VIEW. (Received this day at 3 2.25 p.m.) MOSCOW, Nov. 13. During a conversation with Continental workers’ representatives, Stalin said the Soviet did not participate in the League because it did not wish to assume responsibility for its Imperial policy, mandates and war preparations. There would he no freedom of the press for the Bourgcoise while a dictatorship of the proletariat existed, hut no proletariat press was freer than Russia s. The arrests of Mensheviks was a continuance of the policy of the October revolution. It was unlikely Second and Third,.lnternationals would amalgamate. The Opposition’s power within the Communist party was insignificant.

SOVIET DEMAND. LONDON, Nov. 13

The “ Times ” Riga correspondent savs the Soviet has presented a note demanding satisfaction for the so-called unfriendly act of Archbishop John bead of the Orthodox Church, Latvia, in bolding a memorial service in Riga Cathedral to the victims of the Bolshevik revolution.

XEXT WAR WILL OUTDO INFERNO. LONDON. N«v I

T);h it e-esq ue horrors in the next will are vividlv anticipated by the A\ur Office in a pamphlet, cntitled“Dcfenco Against Gas.” This petrifying document coldly relates. among other things, bow aeroplanes will spray mustard gas “like falling rain. Aircraft bombs, it adds, will contain a high percentage of poison gas and “the most favourable conditions for the use of gas will occur at night and earlv in the morning, when strong winds and ascending air currents are usually absent.” The pamphlet also remarks that in these conditions “there is the possibility of effecting a surprise on sleeping

men. Lung irritants will attack the breathing passages, and eye irritants will cause so profuse a flow of tears that it will be impossible for the victim to see.

Then to ensure the casualties are completely out of action, skin irritants will cause “deep and extensive blisters.’’ In nil urbane preface to this pleasant description, the Army Council writes: “The British Government at the outbreak of hostilities will endeavour to obtain from the enemy Governments an undertaking that gas shall not lx? used.

“In the event of failure, His Majesty’s Government will be free to take such action as the circumstances demand.”

WOMAN SHOWS BABE KNEE IX COURT. LONDON. Xov. 4. A woman lias bared her knee in open Court. The jury were emphatic that they had no objections, and the Chief Justice found no cause to blush. “Quite usual, nowadays,” lie explained nonchalantly. M iss .Marjorie Beck, a fashionable dressmaker's assistant, and also a tapestry expert, earning £ls a week, unhesitatingly lifted her skirt, lowered her stocking and showed her bare knee to the jury in the open Court in order, to show the scar for which she is claim- , ing damages from Dr Neil Sinclair, a surgeon. As the jury did not object Chief Justice Ilewart consented to the exhibition. He explained that hitherto such inspections bad been made in a private room, “ but,” be added. “it is quite usual for women to show their knees nowadays.” Dr Sinclair operated on Miss Beck and the burn was due to a hot liquid bottle during the anaesthetic. He gave evidence that the bottle was not his. and he was not aware of its existence. The burns were entirely the nurse’s fault, if anybody’s. The further hearing was adjourned.