VARIOUS CABLES

Evening Star, Issue 17234, 26 December 1919, Page 4

VARIOUS CABLES

Proas Aiioclatioa—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable. Association.

' NATIONALISATION FIGHT. LONDON, December 22. In the House of Commons Sir Eric Geddes, Minister of Communications, moved to accept the House of Lords' amendments to tho Electricity Bill. Ho denied that the Government were accepting the emasculation of the Bill, stating that compulsory acquisition would be reintroduced 1 as a separate measure. The amendments were agreed to.': FIRES ABOARD' SHIP. LONDON, December 22. The Commonwealth. Line "have offered £IOO reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpertrators of tho Boonah fire. The numerous outbreaks are causing uneasiness in shipping circles, especially as they are not confined to ex-Gorman steamers. It transpires that while the Beltana was waiting to embark pasengers four fires broke out in different cabins. All were promptly extinguished, and the damage was of the slightest. The passengers were not aware of the outbreaks, the last of whichwas extinguished as the first of the passengers were mounting the gangway. The vessel's departure was not deThe latest wireless message from the Beltana reports that all is well, no further outbreaks having occurred. In the House of Commons Sir Auckland Geddes eaid that investigations were proceeding to ascertain the causes of fires on ex-German vessels.' Probably some weie due to old bunkers not having : been cleaned out. WHARF PILLAGE. LONDON, December 21. The Daily Chronicle states that there has been an enormous increase in the number of thefts at London docks, especially of wines and spirits. There have been 1,260 convictions" in 1919, and the police say that only one in a dozen of the offenders is caught. LONDON'S HEEDLESS ORGY. LONDON, December 22. The Christmas holiday season promises to be a wonderful round of gaiety. There is every indication that it will eclipse all prp-war (records. The hotels, hydros, country and seaside resorts are crowded, many of them having been booked up since the autumn. Theatres and restaurants are taeavily booked up, and there is a remarkajbl© revival of public and private dancing.

The orgy of spending continues unabated. Sbops are thronged with those in quest of expensive articles, such as furs and? jewels, which in the West End stores are celling faster than ever. A significant feature of the crowds ia the great preponderance of manufacturers and employers who are benefiting by the high prices, and the comparative absence of the middle class—the salaried people who are hit by the increased cost of living. On the other hand, skilled workmen and laborers enjoying are spending freely. Food is plentiful, except turkeys. COUTTS'S BANK. LONDON, December 22. Cbutts's Bank, which was founded in 1630, and is one of the oldest private banks, has arranged a fusion with the National Provincial Union Bank. U.S. DEPORTATIONS. NEW YORK, December 21. The transport Buford has sailed for Russia, carrying 249 Anarchists, who are being deported' from the United Slates. These include the leaders Goldman and Berkmaa. Berkman threatened revenge upon the Justice Department officials. He said he would be happy to return to Petrogxad, where he will co-operate with Lenin and Trotsky. At Ellis Island the transport was heavily guarded to prevent a demonstration, and' the ship's destination was not announced'. WASHINGTON. December 23. It is understood that the wives and children of the deported Radicals will be sent to rejoin their relatives shortly. Three 'hundred more Radicals will also be deported as soon as another transport can be made ready. EGYPT'S REVOLT. Australian and N. 55 Gable Association and Reuter. CAIRO, December 21. Aggression and intimidation by students keep the unrest dangerously simmering. The main weapon at present is stonethrowing. There was never such stonethrowing in the history of the country. Thousands, with organised relays of bags, keep up barrages, retiring behind walls and into buildings, from which they throw stones. The tram services are suspended owing to the stoning movement, which is co'nfined to the students, who call to their aid the street urchins and rabble. Even ' moderates are so intimidated that they 1 are afraid to express their views. '.The seriousness of the position is shown by the arrival of move troops. KITCHENER KNEW HIS EGYPT. i . 'The Times.' LONDON, December 22. Sir lan Hamilton, writing to 'The Times' concerning the loss of British prestige in Egypt, relates an interesting conversation between Lord Kitchener and himself during the closing days _of the evacuation of Gallipoli. Lord Kitchener stated ■ that, unless evacuation was immediately followed by a fresh attack in an adjacent theatre, it must for years unsettle the Near East, particularly Egypt. •His reason was that it would be ail objectlesson in smashing the legend of the invinciblity of British soldiers. Our ultimata victory would not affect the issue, because ideas move slowly in the East. GENERAL MONASH'S BOOK. LONDON, December 21. General Monash, writing in the. 'Sunday Times,' describes the capture of Peronne and Mont St. Quentin. lie says: "When I telephoned to General Rawlinson that we had obtained a footing at Mont St. Quentin he was totally incredulous at first, and was then generously congratulatory, proclaiming that the event' would have the most important influence on the immediate course of tho war." General Monash writes that the- execution of the tactical purposes resulting from these captures furnished the finest example in the war' of spirited and successful infantry action. THE COPE EXPEDITION. Renter's Tol&gTanss. LONDON, December 21. In connection with the propped Antarctic expedition, it is intended to fly ov6r the Great 'Barrier peaks, somo of which are 12,000 ft high, to the South Pole. Lieutenant Cope, in outlining the programme at the Mansion House, said he anticipated that the expedition would maintain communication with civilisation by means of a powerful wireless plant. The object of the expedition was to develop the Antarctic regions commercially. Tho expedition would proceed to Wellington (New' Zealand), reaching the Macquarie Islands in October, 1920. Here a geological, survey would be made. The Terra Nova would then go to Scott Island, establish a wireless meteorological station, thence to Ross Soa, probably makin o, her headquarters at New Harbor. The vessel would then go to Cape Crozier, where a party would be land?!, and another would set out on the Barrier, going as far south as possible to establish a wdn]ter observation camp, returning to Cape Crozier the following summer. The Terra Nova would return to Wellington for the purpose of coaling and taking in provisions for a.four years' commifcion on a cirenmnavigatory trip *f the Antarctic continent

HOTTED STATES PRESIDENCY. NEW YORK, December 24, Major-general Leonard Wood is announced as a Presidential candidate. A GREAT AUSTRALIAN. LONDON, December 21. A committee, including Lord Sydenham Lord Blyth, Fisher, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, are appealing for public subscriptions to a memorial for Sir George Raid's grave, and also for the erectioa of tablets in St. iM&rgaret's and $&. Columbus's Churches. PLACATING INDIA. Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, December 23 Chi the occasion of the Eoyal assent to the Government of India Act, the Kins a proclamation expressing his confidence tfiat all sections and races in India would display perseverance and mutual rorbearance in the march towards the goal of responsible Government. The proclamation also announces an amnesty to political offenders convicted under special or emergency legislation. U.S. RAILWAY CONTROL. NEW YORK, December 23 President Wilson has announced that the return of the U.S. railroads to their private owners wil be made on March 1, 1920. srva THE PRINCE'S TOUR. . LONDON, December 23 it is officially stated that the Princess (T Mary) will not acoompanv the Prince of Wales on, his Australasian tour. The Prince hopes to epend three months in Australia and New Zealand. T<RISCO*S AMEXS ITIGHT. NEW YORK, December 22. The New York 'TimesV San Francisco correspondent states that several thousand Chinese have declared a boycott on Japanese products.- They ransacked a store and burned thousands of dollars' worth of Japanese goods. IRISH BRIGANDS. LONDON, ' December 22. J) our masked men held up a market £2lO Castletomi and robbed a farmer of