CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 7

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Raid on Opium Den. — The story of an opium den in the Bois de Boulogne, furnished in Oriental fashion and linked with drug sellers in Marseilles, was disclosed by the Paris police when they announced the closing of the den and the arrest of the Countess de Salles, says the British United Press correspondent in Paris. The police said that when they raided the place they found famous writers and artists. The police also arrested a “well-known Painter, Edouard Georg, aged 64, a French citizen who was born in Sydney.” They also arrested several opium traffickers from Marseilles. Further arrests are expected. Prominent society men and women and nigh naval officers also frequented the den.—London, January 21.

Greek Public Servants on Strike. — Thirty-three thousand public servants m Greece struck to-day for wage increases. Post offices, schools, and Government departments are closed. — Athens, January 21. JLZ. Address at Defence College.— The New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr w. J. Jordan) addressed highranking officers taking a course at the ■imperial Defence College to-day. He spoke on New Zealand’s problems for three-quarters of an hour, and answered questions for one hour and a half. The audience included Lieu-hinant-Colonel L. W. Andrew, V.C., and Air Commodore S. Wallingford.— January 22.

High Temperatures in N.S.W.—Temperatures of up to 112 degrees were recorded in the far west of New South Wales, but the Weather Bureau reports no sign of a heat wave approaching the coastal areas. Ten widely separated towns, including Broken Hill, Albury, and Forbes, recorded temperatures of over 100 degrees. The maximum temperature in Sydney during the last 24 hours was 79 degrees.—Sydney, January 22.

U.S. Aircraft Missing in China.— The United States Army announced in Shanghai that a Dakota aircraft carrying 13 American soldiers has been missing between Shanghai and Canton since January 18. The search has been impeded by fog and mist. — Shanghai, January 21. N.Z. Airmen Fly to Japan.—Three New Zealanders were in the Royal Air Force Transport Command’s Lancastrian which flew the Under-Secre-tary of Air (Mr Geoffrey de Freitas) to Japan. They were Flight Lieutenants C. D. Milne (North Canterbury), K. B. Smith (Otaki), and L. A. Hill (Havelock North).—London, Jan. 22.

Two Explosions in Steel Works.— The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent in Budapest says sabotage is believed to have caused an explosion in one of the huge furnaces of the Manfred-Weisz steel works—the second explosion there in recent weeks. —London, January 21.

Former Crown Prince of Sarawak. — Mr W. L. Clark, secretary to Mr Anthony Brooke, the former Rajah Muda (Crown Prince) of Sarawak, told the Singapore “Free Press,” on his return from Sarawak, that the Governor had informed him that Mr Brooke would be banned from Sarawak for as long as was deemed necessary. There was no objection to Mr Brooke sending a representative, political or otherwise, to Sarawak.—Singapore, Jan. 21. Sydney War Memorial Centre.— The New South Wales Cabinet has decided to vote £lOO,OOO for the purchase of a site at the corner of Macquarrie street and Martin place in the centre of Sydney on which to erect Anzac House. The Premier (Mr W. J. McKell) said the Cabinet was planning to erect a building costing £350,000 on the section, which would be a memorial to servicemen and women and the centre of all returned servicemen’s activities. Already £385,000 had been subscribed to the cost of the building and furnishings. A special panel of members of the Institute of Architects was competing in a contest for a design.—Sydney, January 22.

Al Capone Suffers Stroke.—“Scarface”s Al Capone, head of Chicago’s bootleg empire during prohibition, suffered an acute stroke at his Palm Island estate. The last rites of the Roman Catholic Church have been administered.—New York, January 21.