BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 24 October 1912, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

BY ELEOTBIO TEI/EQBAPH CUPVKIGIii . PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. APPOINTMENTS.' London, October 23. Sir A. Spicer has been appointed chairman of the Marconi Contract Committee. Mr Charles Roberts has been apl>ointed chairman of the committee to inquire into the Putumayo atrocities.' CZAR'S HEIR CAUSING ANXIETY (Received October 24, 8.5 a.m.) Dpsala, October 23. The Tsarevitch's higu temperature and rapid pulse are causing acute public anxiety. St. Petersburg, October 23. The Czarevitch's condition is serious. Prayers for his recovery are being offered in many towns. COUNTRY LIFE COMMISSION. (Received October 24, 8.5 a.m.) London, October 23. At the instigation oi : Premier Asquith, the House of Commons is considering the appointment of a' Royal Commission to enquire into the economic development and improvement of conditions of life in agricultural districts, along the lines of Mr Roosevelt's Country Life Commission of August, 1908. INSURANCE BENEFITS. (Received October 24, 9.55 a.m.) London, October 23. In the House of Commons, the Hon. D. Lloyd George said the Government was increasing the medical benefit under the Insurance Act, including drugs, to 8s 3d, an additional annual outlay of £1,(350,----000. THE STARVING UNEMPLOYED. (Received October 24, 9.55 a.m.) London, October 23. Five thousand unemployed in West Ham, as an aftermath of the dockers strikes, including many women and children, are starving. FOOT AND MOUTH.

London, October 23. The outbreak of food and mouth disease at Mullingar, in the county of Westmeath in Ireland, is spreading. ADDRESS OF HOMAGE (TO THE " DIVINE " SARA. (Received Oct. 24, 11.10 a.m.) London, Oct. 23. An address of British homage, with 200,000 signatures', has been presented to Sara Bernhardt, the great .French actress. WRECK OF THE NICARAGUA. Washington, Oct. 23. Reports, at first denied, but now established, state that the steamer Nicaragua has been wrecked, during a storm south, of Corpus Christi. Six persons were) but sfcven, who were adrift, wero rescued by a life-boat. They were in a state of exhaustion, having bejen two jQays without food. THE BRITISH NAVY.

The Imperial Maritime League has protested against the Government's reported intention to sent to the Mediterranean eight battleships composing the third battle squadron of the first fleet, " leaving us in absolute inferiority in tho _ Home waters, should the German. Navy exercise the initiative." The League adds: "Allowing the admitted necessity to deduct , twenty-five per cent, from the instantly ready fleet at Germany's selected and our average moment, we will be unable, after the despatch of the third squadron, to confront Germany's twenty-five battle vessels with more than nineteen ; and in fullymauned destroyejrs ready for war, allowing the same deduction, wo aro 51 to Germany's 66. Britain was never in such a plight for centuries."