CABLE NEWS

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 4218, 15 February 1921, Page 2

CABLE NEWS

•/By Electric Tt-ifgraph—-Copyrig (Aust.-N.Z. Cable /b,Hcciauoii.) GENERAL SMUTS. London, February 13. The Times correspondent at Capetown pays a striking tribute to General Smuts. He says: 'His marvellous energy, brilliance, and devotion in personally conducting the campaign was mainly responsible for its success. Never in the history of South African politics has the personality of a single individual counted so much. 'Hie other two important factors which contributed to the Secessionist debacle, were: First, the desire of the Englishspeaking community to meet the Dutch-speaking people in a great and joint effort to obliterate racialism; secondly, the conviction of the same elements of the utter fatuity of Republicanism, and the realisation by the Dutch of the economic, defensive, and financial advantages of a partnership in the Commonwealth." THE MANCHESTER FIRES. London, February 13. Eight incendiary outbreaks arc reported from the -Manchester district. In one case the nightwatchman at the chemical works in Holt-town suddenly found himself facink three revolvers. He turned and lied, and six shots rang out, but, he escaped. Armed men also seized the nightwatehjmnn at the Premier Rubber AVorks, .and kept him a quarter of an hour I with a revolver against his neck. J while the rest of the gang collected ibags of rubber, which they sel ablaw. ! None of the Manchester fires -were serious, and were put out quickly . London, July ,13, The incendiaries in one case in Manchester intimidated the' watchman, who eventually escaped amid a shower of shots and gave the alarm. Two suspects were arrested. DAME MELBA'S ILLNESS. Nice, February 13. Inquiry at the Hermitage' Hole! elicits the fact that Dame Melba's illness is now not regarded as serious. It | is hoped that she will soon be able to | leave her bedroom.