NEWS FROM ABROAD

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 4

NEWS FROM ABROAD

On the Slopes of Etna

Lava Flows on Remorselessly

Sufferings of the Villagers

London to Try Smokeless Fuel

Frets Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, ROME, November 8. The lava is rushing on remorselessly, ■with no signs of abatement, and it is becoming hotter and more liquid. Mascali is now completely obliterated, the last sound from the doomed town being the mournful tolling of the bells ns the belfry swayed violently before collapsing. "After overwhelming Mascali the lava split np into three streams. Two of these later reunited, and arc now advancing at the rate of approximately Tuyds an hour. Tho important centres of Giarre and Reofreddo have been partially evacuated. Meanwhile a third stream is on the point of wiping out the small village of Carrabba, which has already been deserted. Trenches have boon dug and barriers thrown up in the hope of diverting the mass from Giarre, but the richest and most fertile districts are definitely threatened.

Professor i’.ouic, director of the Etna 'Observatory, lias telegraphed to Signor jMussdiui saying that tho eruptions ol 1910-11 lasted a fortnight, but the present disturbances are far more violent and' must extend over a much lougci period. Aeroplanes are circling the summit and signalling any new phenomena. It has been announced that a rain of stones and ciuders_ Ims begun, accompanied by explosions which are heard throughout the district like the roar of artillery. Three men were _ incinerated in « farmhouse at .Vlascali. They had taken the women and tho children away, and were preparing to leave themselves when boiling lava encircled the house, which collapsed like a pack of cards. Of the vast crowd assembled none could reach the men before they were swallowed tip Animals are reacting to the catastrophe strangely. Cats jump boldly into the advancing incandescent mass and are incinerated, while birds fly low. uttering mournful death songs before fluttering downward to destruction Only tho dogs arc normal, barking violently as at the approach of an enoniy Tho evacuation of villages is being carried on with wonderful discipline and calm, each family following iho cart which is carrying their effects. One young widow tramped alongside the coffin of her dead husband, Woods and orange groves have been blotted out over a largo area, I Tho Minister of Works is supervising I tho evacuation of villages, and detach- \ merits of troops are helping, explosives being used to form great holes in the mountainside in an attempt to chock the progress of the lava, iu addition to the lava, incandescent boulders arc; now being vomited from the crater. Some measure ten cubic feet, constituting a grove menace to the water pipes, iwbicli could, not withstand the impact should they be struck. Among the victims were an old couple living in a lonely cottage amid orange groves. They lingered on, hoping that their home would bo .‘pared, bnt suddenly he lava sped over the cottage, and” the occupants disappeared in a stream of fire A number of Muscat's homeless people, who exceed 10,000, are in a pitiable condition, despite efforts to alleviate their suffering.—Australisn Press Association.

HOPE FOR THE COALFIELDS smokeless fuel production } _ I 1 SUPPLY FOR LONDON Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 0. Smokeless fuel, produced by a lowtemperature carbonisation process, will shortly be available in London as the result of an agreement between the gouth Metropolitan Gas Company and the Low Temperature Carbonisation Company, Ltd. - Tins is the first gas company in ; Britain to commercialise • new treatment of coal, which, it is believed, will resuscitate the coalfields. w‘ Times ’ Cable. AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN ! FACTION DEVELOPMENTS Pmm A»<>ciatioft—By Telegraph—Copyright I SYDNEY, November 0. A meeting of over 300 seamen passed % resolution expelling Mr Walsh from the union, on Die ground that ho was guilty of a betrayal of confidence on : yital union matters and aided tlio fori matron of another union in Australia.

OIL FROM GOAL SEARCHING FOR A COMMERCIAL PROCESS Press Association— By Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, November 8. Iu the course of the debate in the Bouse of Commons on the industrial situation, Air Herbert Williams said that as soon as a first-class process for the distillation of oil from coal had been discovered there would he no need of Government assistance. No commercially practical process had yet been evolved, but tho trade procures were improving tremendously. Jlie.ro would possibly bo some unemployment in tho temporary maecion which would result from cheapened production, hut it might mean the beginning of a ro- % 1 Tlio debate was adjourned.—Australian Press Association, ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL OBREGON tcral sentenced to death Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. •MEXICO CITY, November 9. Crowds thronged the streets _in tho vicinitv of the courthouse awaiting the verdict in tho Obrepon murder. The iuw was put for an hour and forty minutes—Australian Press Association. SAN ANGEL, November A Torn I was sentenced to death I Mother Concepcion Acevccla Delalata to imprisonment for twenty years.—Australian Press Association-D mted service. TO VISIT HOLY LAND PRINCE DF WALES

Pr<!“s Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, November 9, The ‘ Guardian ’ says that the Prince of Wales contemplates visiting Palestine in 1930. . His Iloval Highness is due at Cape Town on December 28. and is desirous of describing to his brother (the Duke of Gloucester) the Boer War battlefields. which he closely studied on his last visit.— United Service, AVIATION SEAPLANE SPEEDS BERN AUDI MAKING TESTS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ROME, November S. Major Di Bernard!, in his congratulations to Flight-lieutenant Greig, stated that ho expected that a speed of 372 miles an hour would be reached. He is now carrying out tests at Lake Varese, and ‘hopes to establish another record before the Cup Race. —Australian Press Association. SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RANGOON, November 9. The Spirit of Australia has arrived at Victoria Point.—Australian Press Association. BRITISH SERVICE ELANBS. A VISIT TO MANILA. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MANILA, November 9. Four British planes, commanded by Flight-commander Cave-Brown-Cavc, who recently visited Australia, arrived here to-day' for a stay of seven days. They were welcomed officially by tho Governor-General. Australian Press Association,

BRITISH ARTISTS THE BERENGARIA EXPERIMENT (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. H.UGIIY, November 8. On his return to Southampton from Now York tins afternoon by tlio Bcrengaria, Sir Martin Conway, chairman of the committee that was responsible for tho British artists’ exhibition on board that vessel, stated that tho show had been remarkably Mmccssl ul, and approximately onc-third of the oOU pictures exhibited had boon sold. A similar show will bo organised next year. .EMPEBOR HIROHITO GDSIOHATIOrI PREPARATIONS PICTURF.SfIUE CEREMONIES Frev. Asscmdioa-By eiegrauli-Copyright TUKIO, November b. 'I Im city is profusely decorated in Inmmir of i,;-nn>rrow's most, important can-monies. and princes, nobles, diplomat-. and ivpiesenlalives of other rulers have gathered to witness the coronation ccivmoiiy. \e.slerday the Emperor and the Empress participated in a rchear.-al oi the enthronement. Australian Press Association. BISHOP OF LONDON

A DEFIANT ATTITUDE RESERVATION PERMITTED Press Association—-By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 8. Tim ‘ Daily Express ’ states that although the rubrics permitting reservation ol 1 the Sacrament were the duet reason for the House of Commons rejecting the new Prayer Book, tho Bishop of London has sent a letter to 160 incumbents of churches where reservation is practised (out of a total of 62U churches in tho diocese) announcing that ho will permit reservation as in the past. The decision of tho Bishop’s Conference, following the second rejection, was to take tho new book as the mai.dard, but to consult the clergy of the synods. The London Synod rejected tho proposal to permit reservation as under the now book. The bishop’s letter, therefore, defies both the synod and ’ tho House of commons. —Australian Press Association. SHIPPING AND TRADE CANADIAN LUMBER INDUSTRY MINISTER MAKING INQUIRIES J?r«6j Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MONTREAL, November 9. An Ottawa despatch to the ‘ Gazette’ says:—“The Minister Trade (Mr Malcolm) will leave for Vancouver next week to examine tho possibilities of a. direct steamship service between Western Canada and Australia and New Zealand. Ho will also examine the advisability of subsidising a service to tho west coast of South America. It is believed that trade with these countries will bo substantially increased, and the British Columbia lumber merchants feel that they could secure a larger share of Australian business if tho Canadian National Steamships would restore tho direct service formerly given between Vancouver and the Antipodes, especially as there is a possibility of the trade agreement between Canada and Australia being extended. At the present time lumber interests in Washington, Oregon, and California States have an advantage over, tho British Columbia lumbermen by reason of the better steamship service and the Australian tariff, which favours tho redwood of California against British Columbia cedar.” —Australian Press AssociationUnited Service.

TELEPHONE DEVELOPMENTS UHMISTAKCS GALLS PERSON-TO-PERSON SERVICE (British Official Wireless.) Frees Association—'By Telegraph-Copyright KUGBY, November 8. Negotiations are proceeding between the General Post Office and the telephone administrations of eighteen European countries with which Groat Britain is iu telephonic communication, for the purpose of establishing a per-sou-to-persoa service,, The advantages

of such a service arc already available to subscribers, whether in America or Europe, who use the transatlantic telephone system li moans that in the case where a subscriber desires direct communication with another subscriber the telephone operators will, if the necessary information is given them, endeavour to find the person wanted if he should not be at his own address when the call is made r rievi'i pineJit ot the transatlantic service it is not unusual for several countries in Europe to be searched for a particular subscriber wanted on the American side, and similarly tho telephone, system is used throughout America, if necessary, to secure n response to a European call. The charge is calculated only from the time that tho conversation actually begins between die two subscribers. At the present time there arc about .‘I,OOO calls made every day between London and tho Continent, and the number is rapidly increasing. SOLDIER COMRADES SWORD PLAY FOLLOWS ARGUMENT ONE WOUNDED, ANOTHER ARRESTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 9. Wli.u is believed to have been a duel with cavalry swords occurred at Darlihciinrst this afternoon, and resulted in William Gibbs being treated in hospilal for wounds in the band. Later the police arrested a man who has been charged with inflicting the injury. Tho parlies are uii-.ommuriieative. They are said to be old soldier comrades. They had an argument and sword play followed One denies tho duel, and'tho other says it was a fair fight. POLITICAL LABOUR COMMENT GH REGENT EVENTS iK MELBOURNE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 8. The ‘ Daily Telegraph,’_ in an editonalj expresses tlie opinion that the scones in the Victorian Parliament aio likely to damage still further the already cheerless prospects of poitical Labour in the Federal genera! cleetion.—Australian Press Association. THE KOTOR AGE VEHICLES 111 BRITAIN {British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, November 8. Official figures show that last year there was one motor vehicle lor every twenty-three people in Great Britain, and one driving license for every nineteen. During 1927 1,89&,500 motor vehicles were in use, compared with 1,729,000 in the previous year. RUMANIAN GOVERNMENT PEASANTS’ LEADER TO FORM CABINET Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright, BUCHAREST, November 9. M Titulescu has decided to recommend the Regency to appoint M. Manui Prime Minister. M. Titulescu has satisfied himself that it is impossible tor him personally to form a Cabinet, with or without the Peasants’ Party, sufficiently strong to inspire the confidence of foreign bankers. —Australian Tress Association-United Sendee. FRENCH CHAMBER STORMY SCENES SOCIALISTS AfID COMMUNISTS COME TO BLOWS Press Association— By Telegraph-Copyright. PARIS, November 8. The Chamber of Deputies, in tho absence of the Government, stormily debated the right of two Alsatian members, MM. Rickeiiu and Rosse, to sit, as thev had been condemned to lose their civil rights. Resolution after resolution was presented, there was incredible uproar, necessitating suspension of the sitting, while the Socialists and the Communists fought and tore each other’s neckties, A vote was taken after tho resumption, and it was decided by 220 votes to 39 that tho Alsatians should not be allowed to take their seats.—United Service.

INSTRUCTIONAL FILMS BRITISH ENTERPRISE Prcw Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON ? November 8. A studio for British instructional films at Sehvyn Garden City was opened to-day by Mr Amc.ry. It is regarded as the most complete and compact in the world. One thousand guests saw elaborate equipment, by which the H> iudustrv’ hopes to capture tho world s markets.—Australian Press Association,