Around The Warld—

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1949, Page 5

Around The Warld —

Rocket Rises 250 Miles A two-stage experimental rocket n«s been fired 250 miles above the earth at the White Sands (New Mexico) proving o-round This was officially announced °oday.— New York. February 25.

Communist Drive In Hyderabad The Minister of State (Mr Sinha) told the Legislative Assembly that Communist arrests in Hyderabad since the Government’s “police action” last September, numbered 3932. —London, February 26.

Flying - boat’s Record Load • The huge four-engined United States Navy flying-boat Caroline Mars carried .he ‘world-record number of 222 persons today on a flight from San Diego, California, to Alameda. Earlier today .he flying-boat carried 207 Naval peronnel from Alameda.—New York, February 26.

American Forces Abroad The United States Army has announced plans to double its Alaskan forces and maintain its troop strength tn the Far East at the level of a year ago. The Army forces in Europe W’,ll be reduced slightly. Then strength in Alaska will be 13,200 troops, and in the Pacific (chiefly Hawaii) 7000.—New York, February 25.

Persian Editors Imprisoned Sentences ranging from five years’ hard labour to one year’s imprisonment were imposed by a Persian military :nurt on five Persian newspaper editors for “vilifying the Royal Family, the Government, and the Army.” It was aleged that thev thus became accessories before the fact in the recent attempt on the Shah’s life.—Teheran, February 26. Atomic Energy Control

The Federation of American scientists has urged the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission to give the fullest consideration to the Russian suggestion that an international atomic control plan might be set up simultaneously with the destruction of present stocks of atomic weapons. “Perhaps this is not a major step towards agreement, but it is an essential step,” said the federation— Washington, February 26.

Mysterious Disease The Royal Canadian Mounted Police oday set a quarantine patrol around a ’0 000 square mile tract of Canada’s Northland. This is to prevent the spread of a mysterious disease, which aas killed four persons in-the trading post settlement of Chesterfield Inlet on he shore of Hudson "Bay. The disease ;auses rapid. and severe paralysis. It s suspected of being of virus origin. Both whites and Eskimos have been attacked by the disease. —Ottawa, Feb•uary 26.

U.S. Consumption Of Wool United States domestic wool producion dropped from nearly 500,000.00'01b it the start of the war to about 159,000,0001 b this year, as a result of severe winter weather in the western States, said the president of the Bosun Wool Association (Mr J. G. Wright). Consumption last year in the United States was nearly 1.000,000,0001 b. To cover fully the needs of the consuming public, woollen imports would have to be between )00,000,0001b and 700,000,0001 b a year, he said. —New York, February 26.

Aiding Backward Countries The Assistant-Secretary of State (Mr .Villard Thorp), in a formal resolution, :oday asked the United Nations to prepare by July a concrete programme for implementing President Truman’s "bold new programme” for aiding under-developed countries, and to find means of financing it. Mr Thorp emphasised that “the bulk of the capital 'or economic development has to come from the people (of the participating jountries) themselves.” —New York, February 25.

Shipbuilding Plan For Bombay A £2,000,000 scheme to turn Bombay into the largest shipbuilding centre in tndia, capable of constructing 10 vessels at a time of up to 15,000 tons each, has been submitted to the Government jf India by the Bombay Port Trust Authorities. Bombay will become the principal ship building centre of India if the scheme is accepted. The proposed shipyard to be built at Trombay, 15 miles north-east of Bombay city, would have 10 slipways and two fittingout basins, with room for expansion if necessary.—Reuter. Trial Of-ltalian

Reuter’s Rome correspondent that the Court trying the former Italian Chief of Staff, Field-Marshal Graziani on charges of collaboration and cruelty to local populations, has declared itself incompetent, and has ordered the case ,o be transferred to a military tribunal. I’he trial was well into its fifth month, f the military tribunal decides to hear ,he case, the trial will be reheard. Otherwise the case will be referred to he Supreme Court.—London, February 36.

Manoeuvres In Caribbean

The United States Navy will put its atomic defences to their biggest test tomorrow in manoeuvres in the Caribbean. A two-engined Neptune bomber .vill try to bring off a simulated atomic air burst over carriers and other warships making for an amphibious assault on Vieques Island, oiTThe southeast coast of Puerto Rico. The Nep,une has been announced as a type of aeroplane the Navy, would use to carry atomic bombs in the event of war. The Navy’s current manoeuvres are the argest in its peace-time history. Naval ifficers sav that they have planned an extended cruising formation that would a.old losses from atomic bombing to a maximum of one ship.—San Juan Puerto Rico), February 26.

World Health Body Thirty-four of the 58 member countries have asked the United Nations World Health Organisation for help in the first quarter of 1949. They will share the total allocation of £179,000, according to figures before the organisation’s executive board. The largest allocation of £53,000 will go to 16 countries in the European region—seven of them behind the Iron Curtain. The money will be spent on health fel!cwships," demonstration teams, and advisory work .over a wide -range of diseases. It was disclosed that only 65 per cent, of the £1,215,000 owing from member governments in 1948 had been paid. Thirty-eight governments," including Russia, France and China, had • still paid nothing. Britain and the I United States had both paid in full — Geneva, February 25.