Cable Briefs

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 17

Cable Briefs

Aust, wool speculation

The Australian Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Douglas Anthony) has suggested that acquisition by the Federal Government, or by an authority, of the total Australian wool clip may take place by the end of next year. He added that the Australian Wool Commission might be given increased finances within the next 12 to 18 months to allow it to buy the entire clip.—Sydney, July 16. Islanders’ problem

Wide areas of New Britain and the New Guinea islands face water shortages after Wednesday’s highmagnitude earthquake, which caused widespread damage but only one death and injury to only five islanders. Most rural areas depend on rain water catchment in corrugated iron tanks as their only water supply, and many of these were damaged.— Rabaul, July 16. Strike threat

New South Wales coalminers say that they will begin a week-long strike next Wednesday over their wage demands, in spite of the fact that Mr Justice Gallagher, of the Coal Industry Tribunal, declared yesterday that the miners would not force him to alter his recent pay judgment by striking. Last month he rejected their claim for a $2O-a-week pay rise, and granted an extra $6 a week to 9000 New South Wales and 2500 Queensland miners. —Sydney, July 16.

Naval activity

A Soviet Union Kotlinclass destroyer has anchored in Singapore Harbour—at the same time as the most powerful British fleet seen in the Far East waters for some time is taking on supplies at the nearby naval base in preparation for exercises in the South China Sea. The Soviet Embassy has identified the destroyer as the Blesty Atshy, and says she will probably be in port for two days. —Singapore, July 16. Bus tragedy

One hundred and fifteen people were killed when a bus plunged 2000 feet into a river gorge in the Swat region of West Pakistan. Only 35 bodies have been recovered so far. It is thought that overloading may have led to a brake failure, or another mechanical defect, which may have forced the bus off the road.—Rawalpindi, July 16. Equine epidemic A rare disease which has killed thousands of horses in an epidemic sweeping from South America across Mexico into Texas has begun to afflict humans. Thirtyfour people have been admitted to hospital in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, with symptoms of the disease, equine encephomy elitis, which is, however, not as dangerous to human beings as it is to horses. Texas vetterinarians forecast that thousands of the 40,000 horses in the state will die from it.—BROWNSVILLE, July 16. U.S. war toll

The United States Military Command in Saigon reports that 29 Americans were killed in battle in Vietnam last week, and 179 were wounded. The figures bring to 45,373 the number of United States troops killed on the Vietnamese battlefields since January 1, 1961, and to 55,026 the total number of deaths from all causes.—SAlGON, July 16. Blast in ship

At least three dockworkers died, and many more were injured, when an explosion in a forward hold set fire to a Danish cargo vessel in Gothenburg harbour yesterday. The explosion in the 9500-ton Pona, which was carrying chemicals, rocked the city and shattered windows in the I vicinity. The blast pushed the boat away from the dockside, (hampering rescuers’ efforts to get on board. Almost an hour after the explosion, the ship was still blazing fiercely.—Gothenburg, July 16.