AMERICAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1927, Page 3

AMERICAN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) TREATIES PROPOSED. WASHINGTON, Dee. 23. Senator W. E. Borah, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, has issued a .statement that objections to M. Briand’s proposal for a United States treaty renouncing war could he obviated if France would propose a similar treaty with other leading Powers. In the event of the other Governments rejecting the idea France and the United States might then well consider the advisability of such a treaty.

Senator Borah is of the opinion, however, that such an agreement between the United States and France alone would be equivalent to an alliance. He said: *‘ I cannot imagine anything of a greater tendency to strengthen the League of Nations and enable it to function than this treaty between the leading Governments ol the world. II Af. linand will propose, a similar treaty with other nations the United States should co-operate sincerely.”

A 20-STORKY CRASH. (Received this clay at 12.25 p.m.) NEW YORK. Dec. 20. Three heavy steel girders crashed from a height of twenty stories to the street in AVall Street, district, one of the most crowded sections in the city. They crushed a motor lorry, hut injuries to pedestrians arc still unknown. .7. P. AI.ORG AN. NEW YORK, Dec. 2d. J. P. Morgan has been elected ( hairman of tile Hoard ol Directors ol the United States Steel Corporation, in succession to Gary. ARC ENT I NIC SENSATION. BUILDINGS BOAIBEI). BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 24. Bombs were exploded in two American hank buildings, the National City Bank and the First National Bank ol Boston. The former explosion occurred near the office of the management. Seven girls were injured, and considerable damage was done in both banks. No deaths were reported.

The explosions occurred shortly before noon, when the hanks were thronged with people. All the windows of the National City Bank were blown out, and windshields of passing automobiles were shattered. Strong cordons of police were placed around the buildings while firemen investigated. Hundreds of people immediately formed an impromptu parade through the streets, shouting “ Death to nil Communists! Long live the United States! Long live the Argentine!” The manager of the National City Bank was cut on the head by Hying glass, lit' is believed to he the only American hurt.

Great confusion followed the explosion in this hank, and there were miraculous escapes in the crowded room. Uninjured people were surrounded with demolished woodwork and shattered glass from a huge skylight. which covered the floor. One theory is that the ho rah was thrown through the skylight, hut no one saw the hotnb.

Smoko and dust poured from tlio building for twenty minutes after the explosion, and the screams of women employees added to the commotion. Both hanks had been heavily guarded since the .Sacco and Vnnzetti agitation, which was most violent here. The police have taken charge of both buildings, and no one is allowed to leave or enter.

COMET Til KORY. NEW YORK, Dec. 2:5. Discussion is proceeding on a theory which originated at Harvard .University Observatory. that Skjclleinp's comet may have been the original Star of Bethlehem. Professor Frost, director of the Yerkes Observatory at Williams Ray. Wisconsin, says: “A great deal Inis been written about the Star of Bethlehem for hundreds of years. That star may have been the Skjellerup comet. It may have been any particularly bright star, such as Venus. Again, it might have been a comet that has never reappeared. and, still again, it might have been a comet that we on this side of the world never have and never will see. There never will lie any scientific determination of the famous stai spoken of in the Bible. The Skjellerup comet, however, lias gone as far north as it is going. We have obtained ,, holographs of it. but not very good ones. Tt will be more visible on the other side of the world.”