AMERICAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1928, Page 2

AMERICAN NEWS

U.S. ADMIRAL’S OUTBURST. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 24. During an interview with journalists in the course of which Admiral Plunkett’s speech was brought up. President Coolidge said: “The country now is in no danger oT being attacked. No alarm is necessary. I feel it is natural that men in military services should ephasiso the needs anil activities of their branches, but the statements concerning war with our commercial competitors, should not. he taken seriously.”

He added : The moment he attempted to call attention to them, he was accused of muzzling free speech. The country should know that alarming charges were often made when appropriations were sought in Congress. He was unable to understand why no intlainmatpry statements had followed the large naval appropriations when the army and navy hills always brought declarations that the country was facing dire consequences. He believed it impossible for men in responsible positions to ’speak their own opinions, hut they must consider the welfare of the whole country. He expressed the wish that naval men would adopt a similar policy. He was convinced that the people in this and other countries understood the motive behind such inflammatory statements, and would not permit themselves to lie disturbed.

PRISONERS ESCAPE. NEW YORK. Jan. 24

Twenty-one prisoners confined in a prison in Detroit dug their way to freedom i.trough■ brick walls by means of tools, fashioned from a plumbing fixture and flattened buckets. They substituted dummies which smiled on the guards while the prisoners made a get-away. Two have already been captured. The search for the others is extending to Canada. U.S. NAVAL OIL. WASHINGTON. Jan. 24. After a silence of three years, Milton Everhart, son-in-law of ex-Senator A. li. Fall, admitted having transported to the latter 301,000 dollars in cash and Liberty Bonds given him by Mr Sinclair (oil magnate) for the lease of the Teapot Dome Nava! Reserve in 1922. His explanation at that time was that Sinclair had purchased a third interest in Fall's cattle ranchos. Everhart to-day appeared as a w;tness before the Senate 1 ommittee, which is resuming the oil investigations.

The Navy has made a move against the Royal Dutch Shell Company, through its effort to prevent the Honolulu Consolidated Oil Coy from selling to the former, products from the Elk Hills Oil Reserve, which is again under navy control. Mr Wilbur has appointed a Navy Board to draft recommendations for legislation to prevent all such sales ol oil to foreign trade. PRESIDENT! A L CA NDIDATE if EP LIES WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. Mr Curtis has replied to M. Borah's letter, regarding prohibition. He said; “Should I he nominated and elected President. 1 would favour meeting the issue squarely and believe in the strict energetic efilorecnient of laws to carry out constitutional amendments.” Mr Curtis stated he opjKisod the policy of allowing the States to determine the alcoholic content of beverages. He also opposed the repeal of the eighteenth amendment.

wall street loan. NEW YORK. January 24

The New York “Times” financial editor says that a new loan from forty to fifty million dollars is refolded today to he miller negotiations in A) all Street. The money is desired chiefly for refunding purposes.