CABLE BREVITIES BRITISH AMBASSADOR PREFERS BASEBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1946, Page 4

CABLE BREVITIES BRITISH AMBASSADOR PREFERS BASEBALL

The new British Ambassador to Washington (Lord Inverchapel) startled English cricketing circles when he said: “Cricket is the dullest game ever invented. I prefer baseball.” Informed of this, Sir Pelham (“Plum”) Warner said: “The man is talking balderdash. Where was he educated?” When the interviewer said, “Privately—not at a public school,” Sir Pelham Warner commented: “That explains it.” I think a British ambassador might consider British sporting as well as diplomatic interests,” added Sir Pelham Warner. “Anyway, any knight who has just become a lord might do well to ponder over his elevation watching cricket at Ldrd’s before saying that he prefers the American variety of rounders.”

War Orphans for South Africa. The Minister of the Interior (Mr. C. F. Clarkson) told the Assembly that the Government was prepared to admit 5000 war orphans from Europe, of whom 400 would be Jewish.—Cape Town, May 29.

Death of English Peer. The death has occurred of the ninth Lord Suffield, aged ‘B4 years, who succeeded to the title last June after the death of a distant kinsman, the eighth baron. He worked for many years as a clerk.—London, May 29. Clashes in Indonesia.

Reuter’s correspondent in Batavia reports that British troops have begun a large-scale clearing action in the Medan region of Java following repeated clashes between patrols and Indonesian extremists. — London, May 28.

Fighting in Manchuria. Chinese Government troops have captured Kirin, east of the Manchurian capital, Changchun, according to the Government’s Central News Agency, which added that order was restored after the Government troops entered in the wake of the Communists. —Nanking, May 29. Prisoners-cf-War in Australia.

“Prisoners-of-war in Australia still awaiting repatriation total 18,721, including 1566 Germans, 17,010 Italians, and 145 Japanese,” said the Minister of the Army (Mr. F. M. Forde). “Attempts are being made to secure shipping space - for their repatriation. 3 ’ —Canberra, May 28.

Arrests in Belgrade About 250 of the congregation who heard the Bishop of Hereford preach in Belgrade Cathedral on May 26 have been arrested,’ says the Belgrade correspondent of the Daily Mail. “Many others who crowded outside the cathedral during the service were also arrested. The Bishop has left by air for Naples.”—London, May 28. Detectives Raid Ship.

Detectives to-day visited the American freighter Lilian Wald berthed at “Woollomooloo and took possession of two semi-automatic service, rifles and 1300 rounds of ammunition. The raid was the sequel to the seizure on Tuesday night of a sub-machine-gun and a service pistol.—Sydney, May 29.

Sunday Cinema Poll Torquay voted by 10,548 to 4462 in .’favour of the opening of Sunday cinemas. A Baptist minister, one of those who in church throughout Saturday night and in the streets yesterday, prayed for a vote for the closing of cinemas, said that apathy had lost the fight. Hundreds of opponents of Sunday opening had not bothered to vote. —London, May 28.

Nervous Disorders ' Neuro-psychiatric disorders caused 750,000 American soldiers to be sent to hospital,” said Brigadier-General William Meninger, head of the United States psychiatric service. He added that 500,000 men had been discharged from the Army and approximately 1,875,000 had been rejected for personality disturbances. Only 7 per cent of those sent to hospital were the most serious types of mental disorders. —Chicago, May 28.

Sports Ban Lifted in Berlin. The Berlin radio has announced that the Allied Kommandatura has lifted the ban on rowing, sailing, swimming, gymnastics, and cycling. The formation of sports clubs is still not permitted, while boxing, heavy athletics, jiu-jitsu, and ski-ing remain banned. The Berlin Municipality is responsible for seeing that Fascist elements do not abuse the new privileges.—London, May 28.

illiteracy in U.S. Dr. Stella Centre, director of the New York University’s reading clinic, said the latest figures issued by the Federal Bureau of Educationu stated that 10,000,000 adults in the United States could not read or write. It was estimated that 20 per cent, to 33 1-3 per cent, of boys and girls at elemenetary and high schools failed to achieve the reading standards appropriate to their classes. —New York, May 29.

Australian V.C. Married. Mr. A. R. Cutler, the first Australian artilleryman to win the V.C. in the war, was married in Sydney last night to Miss Helen Morris, of Bellevue Hill. The bride, who is a daughter of Mrs. D. E. Morris, was recently demobilised from the A.W.A.S., in which she served for nearly four years. The couple will leave shortly for Wellington, where Mr?' Cutler will take up his appointment as Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand. —Sydney, May 28.

War-time Taxation. The war-time companies tax will not be abolished when the National ; Security Act expires at the end of the year. The Treasury takes the view that Australia will remain at war until the final peace treaty is signed or a proclamation issued terminating the state of war. Even when the war-time company tax does end, the readjustment of company taxation may reimpose as much as the present burden of the special tax.—Canberra, May 29.

Light Diet Slims British M.P. The Falstaffian Labour member of the House of Commons, Major W. F. Vernon, has been for a month living on a “Continental diet,” of under 1000 calories daily and has lost over a stone' in weight. Major Vernon now weighs 13st 4-llbs. In a broadcast to America he described his experiences in experimenting to discover a light diet and then talked of the needs of fam-ine-sticken Europe. Major Vernon told newspapermen: “I am still feeling all-right, but I have decided to raise the calorific value of my diet from just .over 800 to 900. After all, we are having a pretty busy time in Parliament just now and I don’t want to miss any of it.”—London, May 28.

Italian Cabinet and King Disagree. “The first clash between King Umberto and the Italian Government occurred when King Umberto refused to sign an amnesty decree in the form to which it had been whittled down by the Government,” says the Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. “King Umberto wanted a five-year reduction, especially of political sentences. The Cabinet wanted to defer any major amnesty till after the elec-’ tions.”—-London, May 28. New South Wales Railways. A searching inquiry into the management and conduct of the New

South Wales Railway Department has been demanded by the Australian Railway and Union State Council. If the Commissioner of Railways (Mr. J. T. Hartigan) refuses to hold an inquiry, the union will approach the State Government. A report by the State Council disclosed that railway revenue for the nine months ended March 31 had fallen by £689,277. The estimated profit for the year was £160,000. The average daily shortage of trucks amounted to 1200, which meant that the department could meet an average of 71 per cent, of its orders.—Sydney, May 29.<

New Canadian Flag. An ambassador’s right to freedom. ofTspeech has become an issue following a statement by the British Ambassador to Washington (Lord Inverchapel) at Halifax that he Hoped the Union. Jack would be incorporated in the new Canadian national flag.' Mr. Bona Arsenault, in the House of Commons, disputed the right of any Britisher on Canadian soil to express any ideas about the Canadian flag. He said it was a matter which concerned Canadians only. An unidentified voice in the House added: “Let him mind his own business.”—Ottawa, May 29.