LATE CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1930, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS

AMERICAN SHIPPING

NEW GOVERNMENT POLICY

WASHINGTON, June 9

The announcement in Canada that the Canadian Government is considering the discontinuance of the dominion’s merchant marine is paralleled by Mr Hoover’s declaration of a new policy concern,ing Government shipping in the United States.

The' Shipping Hoard has at present proposals for selling the Black l)iantond and Cosmopolitan Lines, and there are plans to lend £12,000,000 to the United States Line for new ship construction, to meet German and (British competition on the Atlantic with 30-knot ships.

The President shelved both these proposals with the announcement ol the appointment of a.special board of shipping men to recommend the broad policies of a merchant marine organisation. In general, Washington’s policy is to divest itself of all Government activities which might be regarded as activities belonging more properly to the field of private initiative.

WORLD’S BIG LINERS,

COST OF INSURANCE,

LONDON, June 12

The Orient liner Qro-ntes is among, the 16 liners in the world which are insured for more than £1,000,000 says the shipping correspondent of The Times.

The White Star Company’s Britannic, which will be insured for £l,iivJ.uu, will add the seventeenth when it joins the transatlantic service next month.

The highest-valued' liners at present are the Bremen and Europa, insured for £1,900,000 each. The Leviathan is insured for £1,640.000. Tjhe highest-insured British ships are the Canard liner Aquitania. Berengaria, and Mauretania, at £1.509.000 each. The Majestic, the world’s largest vessel, is insured for £1,300,000, and the He de France at £],- 200.000. Those insured for £1,000.000 consist of the Canadian Pacific Company’s Empress of Canada, the French liner Paris, the Italian liners Vulcania, -Suturnia, and Augustus, and the Americans California and Virginia. . Numerous large liners a.re valued for insurance at rather less than £1,000,000.

FIRES AT WINNIPEG

INCENDIARIES AT WORK

WINNIPEG. 'Julie 12

Organised gangs of foreign agitatoi'^Tfast night made repeated and almost incredibly lb«!d attempts to bum down the city of Winnipeg. Fanned ibv a strong wind, many fires raged for five hours until drenching rain brought relief and daylight drove the incendiaries to cover. The citizens of the prairie metropolis spent a night of terror, and only a heroic battle by firemen, police, militia-men, and citizens prevented the burning of the entire city. It was just before midnight that the first alarm was sounded, and from more than a dozen places the city was menaced in the two hours. The main outbreak was in the lumber yards of the Caledonia Box Company. The next call came from the Praire City Oil Company's plant, which soon was an inferno. The fireman’s work was hampered toy the explosion of Several liquor stills sequestered in sheds and small warehouses.

Large drums of oil exploded, showering the vicinity with burning oil and suffocating clouds of smoke.

FACTIONS IN CHINA

STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY

SHANGHAI, June 11

Foreign information indicates that the position of the Nanking Government is improving, chiefly owing to division among the Northerners concerning the future campaign. The Nanking command has completely changed its plans, and it is reported that it now contemplates holding Shantung against General Yen Hsi-slum, and letting Hankow fall it the hands of the Nprtherners or Communists, whichever arc first, intending its ultimate recapture.

The Ironsides, the Kwangsi troops, have captured Yochow, the Government’s last line of defence, established 35 miles south of Wuchang. It was announced to-day that Marshal Chang J-Isueh-linng, the Manchurian war lord, intends issuing a telegraphic exhortation for peace, suggesting that the President, Marshal C’hiang jxai-skok shall retire, that the capital he transferred to Pekin, and that a convention of the National Assembly be bold.

Nanking reports the possibilities of early peace, with Chiang Hsueh-liang and Li Chi-sen as .peacemakers. It is understood that the Northerners do not insist Oi: the capital being at Peking, but desire certain changes in the regime. There is a suggestion that Wang Chingwoi. leader of the extreme Left of the Kuomintang, may be invited to form a Government acceptable to the North. All depends on the attitude ol Chiang Kai-shek, who is believed to recognise the impossibility of settling disputes by lone. He may even resign if his troops are kept intact under generals in whom he has confidence. The movement is expected to take a little time to fructiiy.