CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 745, 4 December 1908, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[BY ELBOIBIC TBLEOBAIH C'TI'THIOHT.] [PEB PBKSB ASSOCIATION.} AEROPLANES AS INSTRUMENTS OF WAR. London, December 3. Sir Hiram Maxim, in the course of a speech, asserted that the aeroplane was certain to become a very important- military weapon, as it would enable an attacking force to bombard towns from a great distance. It meant revolutionising warfare, on a. scale equal to that resulting from the invention of gunpowder. MORE PENNY POSTAGE. London, Deember 3. The penny postage for letters between Germany and the United States starts from January next. BOER WAR MEMORIALS. Pretoria, Deember 3. A memorial to Commandant Sheepers and his companions who were shot as rebels during the Boer War,_ was unveiled at Graff lemet. Ex-President Steyn sent a message delating that if Commandant Sheepers had done anything conflicting with the laws, he had only obeyed the instructions of his superiors, but, added the ex-presi-dent, "I am not aware that anything conflicting with the laivs wa& done." IN GERMAN WEST AFRICA. London, Deember 3. Hostile tribes attacked a patrol of German troops in the Cameroons, killing four 'including an officer), and wounding ten. EMPEROR OF CHINA CROWNED. Pekin, Deember 3. Puyi was crowned Emperor of China at the Royal Palace to-day. The coronation was attended with great ceremony, and Puyi toddled to the throne without assistance, and received the kow-tows of the princes and officials. THE GERMAN CONSTITUTION. Berlin, December 3. The Reichstag debated various motions for reforming the Imperial Constitution in the matter of Ministerial responsibility, the motions being presented by the Centre, Radicals, Social Democrats and Poles. Herr von Bethmann Hollweg (Secretary of State for the Interior), in Prince von Bueiow's absence, explained that the federated Governments were unable to adopt a definite attitude before being allowed an opportunity of considering the Reichstag's definite de•cisions. Speeches indicated a wide liUvergence of views. The debate was adjourned. THE PERSIAN CRISIS. Temeran, December 8. The Shah disclaims the responsibility for the placarding in Teheran of i lie proclamation refusing a Constitution. He promises to a-.lhere to the pledges he had already given. (Received December 4, 8 a.m.) A MARRED CELEBRATION. Vienna, December 3. The joyous celebration of the Eniperor Francis Josef's jubilee wasover-t-louded by the fact that 4 were killed and 106 injured while witnessing ilio illuminations. 43 of the Emjieror's grandchildren gave a fairy play. At Schonbrunn, after mass at the Uathedral, the Emperor received congratulations from princes, ambassadors, and officials. Finally a brilliant performance was given at the ..pera house. AMERICA AND JAPAN. Pekin, December 3. The Chinese Foreign _ Council has approved of the American-Japanese agreement. BREAKING THE BANK. I New York, December 3. I Burglars dynamited the vault oi It he National Bank at Pepperill, id Mfclassachussetts, and motored awaj ■ith £3000. F A DEADLY TYPHOON. I Tokio, December 3. K A typhoon at Hatsu Island, Japan, I a recked 35 boats and drowned 350 I Japanese fishermen.