CRUISER NIGERIA ARRIVING SOON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25427, 25 February 1948, Page 7

CRUISER NIGERIA ARRIVING SOON

“Britain Will Not Be Chivvied” STATEMENT BY MR ATTLEE

LONDON, February 23. Mr Attlee said in the House of Commons that the cruiser Nigeria would arrive at the Falklands shortly and would visit the Falklands Dependencies with H.M.S. Snipe. Mr Attlee assured Mr Eden that the Government would not “be checked or chivvied out of British territories anywhere in the world.” This statement was greeted with cheers. The news that the Nigeria was on her way to Falkland Island waters caused consternation among Argentine and Chilean officials. Uruguayan observers believe that the President of the Argentine (General Peron) intended the occupation of the South Shetlands only as an election move, and did not expect such strong reactions from Britain. However. Argentine public opinion, which is solidly behind the President, received the news of the British protests with what a correspondent describes as “cannonades of words.”

The Nigeria was expected at Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, to-day. The “Daily Express” says it is expected that Nigeria’s captain will be instructed to be as firm as possible short of fighting. It is anticipated that the Governor of the Falkland Islands (Sir Miles Clifford) will embark on the cruiser, which will then sail for Deception Island where Chilean and Argentine outposts have been established in defiance of British protests. Asked in the House whether he would consider asking Australia to send a cruiser to the Falkland Islands, Mr Attlee said that he appreciated Mr Chifley’s offer, but the British Government did not see any necessity to ask Australia to send a ship.

INDIANS BEATEN BY

SIX RUNS

LAST MATCH OF TOVR AT PERTH

(Rec. 11 p.m.) PERTH. Feb. 24. The last match of the Indian cricket team’s tour had an exciting finish, when Western Australia won a hardfought match by six runs. With two wickets to fall, the Indiana needed only 10 runs to win, but the tail-enders failed.

Puckett’s bowling on a crumbling pitch deserved the figures he obtained, six wickets for 78 runs.

India scored 184 (Hazare 50. Kishenchand 46. Adhikari 25. Irani 20; Puckett six for 78, Cumming two for 19). During their tour, the Indians won five matches, lost seven, and drew eight.