LATE MAIL NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1919, Page 4

LATE MAIL NEWS.

UNDERSEA SECRETS

London, April 19

The Admiralty put on record their appreciation of the satisfactory manner in which the boom defence barrage service carried out its ardu - ous duties during the war.

The boom defence service was responsible for defences against submarine and surface attack.at the principal, anchorages used by llie Navy. In the early days it was urgently necessary to improvise defences, and their duties grew enormously with the development of the subma'iue menace. One example of dangeious enterprises undertaken was the laying of the barrage across the Straits of Dover. Effective barrages were made and important navigable channels denied to the enemy by the sinking of prepared ships, the depositing of heavy structures, and the erection of obstructions of a permanent character, all these operations calling for a high degree of skill and seamanship. The work of dismantling the defences is not less arduous. The salving ot a vast quantity of valuable material necessitates delaying the demobilisation of many who have strong claims for early release.

AN UNSPEAKABLE HUN

Berlin, April 20

The population continues to be u problem in contradictions. One young ex-.ifficer with the Iron Cross asked me to-day how to get a Press agent in the U-S. for the purpose of exploiting Udet, the “ ace,’' who proposes to tour the States with the Fokker machine in which he claims to have shot down 61 Allied airmen.

He wa- surprised at my suggestion that perhaps the U.S. might not enjoy the spectacle. He sai i Udet hoped to join the American Army as a flying instructor.

A LIFE SENTENCE

New York, April 20

The circuit court at Kalamazoo, Michigan, has imposed the- penalty of solitary confinement for life on a 15 years old boy, George Bird, found guilty of murder. Bird, with another man, aged 20, pleaded guilty to killing a druggist in his shop for the purpose of robbery. The court inflicted solitary life imprisonment on both defendants. The crime was committed last Friday night. The druggist’s body, with a score of bruises and a handkerchief soaked with chloroform over his face, was found in front of his cash register, which had been rifled. In their confession the prisoners said that they watched the clerks leave the shop, and obtained entrance by rapping on the door. After Mattison, the druggist, had locked up and started to count his cash they killed him, as they feared lie would identify them as burglars.

EPSOM ON THE RHINE

Cologne, May 4.

A successful two days’ London divisional race meeting was opened to-day on an excellent course improvised on a German military, training ground at Kalk, near Cologne. Among the spectators, who numbered hundreds of officers, including a few French and Belgians, and thousands of men, was general Sir William Robertson, Commancler-iu-Chief of the Rhine Army. The grand stand, on which the Union Jack was flying, was formed by the mound of a disused fort or magazine, surrounded by old trenches and one or two wire entanglements, and com minded a view of practically the whole course.

There were seven races in all three five-furlong scurries, three steeplechases of about two miles over fairly stiff fences, and the great race of the day, the Cologne Derby, a flat race of about a mile. For this last (catch-weights, list 71b, open to officers of the Allied Annies) there was the enormous number of 79 entries, about 50 of whom faced the starter. The first and second were Major Bather, R.F.A., and Colonel Hodgius, A.Y.C.

BURGLARY BY MOTOR OAR.

London, May 4.

Thefts of motor-cars—accomplished by the simple process of cranking up, jumping in the car. and driving off—have been reported in increasing numbers lately. Coincident with this is a rise in the number of shop and house burglaries in which motor cars are believed to have played a part. There was such a case at Aldershot in the early hours yesterday. Mr Phillips, a jeweller and pawnbroker, in High-street, had his shop window smashed and about £IOO worth of gold rings taken. A motor car was seen outside at about 12,20 a.m , and the police believe the thieves drove up in it, stole the rings, and were gone in five minutes. They left a screw spanner, evidently used to smash the window. Blood found on the trays in the window and on the pavement indicates that one thief cut himself.

PENAL SERVITUDE AT 80,

London, May 4 Joseph Humbert Ferrua, SO, an Italian doctor, of Shepherd’s Rush, at the Central Criminal Court yesterday was charged with the murder of a married woman named Florence Jane Hall, the wife of a Canadian soldier, and with performing illegal operations on Mrs Hall. There were further charges of performing illegal operations on Marjorie Fuller and Elsio Crumb. Forma, bout with age ami with flowing grey hair and a > white beard, pleaded not guilty, Air Whiteley, prosecuting,, said Ferrua bad lived the last twenty years in England. Forma eventually withdrew lu's pica and pleaded guilty to manslaughter,

Detective-Inspector Ferrier said Ferrua had been suspected for 13 years of carrying on these practices. He served with the French Red Cross in 1870 and 1871, had travelled in Peru and Brazil, and had also served as lieutenant under Garibaldi.

So far as he (the witness) knew he did not possess aiiy medical degree and had not been placed on tlie Medical Register, hut he described himself as a doctor of medicine. He was associated with the principal French and Italian Anarchists in tbe metropolis, and was expelled from France in 1897 on account of bis extreme political tendencies.

Mr Justice Avory said but for Ferrua’s age lie would have passed a much heavier sentence. He ordered him to be sent to penal servitude fur five years.

200- MILES AIR SPEED LIMIT

London, May 4. Major-General Seely, Vice-Presi-dent of the Air Council, said yesterday that the Government experts can see their way to 200 miles per hour with the present type ;of aeroplane, but lor greater air speeds some type altogether _ different is needed, with super-engines and new materials to withstand the strain.

“It is possible,” said General Seely, “that the most extreme speeds, after all, will be found on land and not in the air. We have attained certain speed and climbing ability— now we want Hying to be made safe, certain, and convenient. The Government has ear-marked for aviation. A large sum will be spent by the Air Ministry* in experiment and research along the lines indicated. We are experimenting with very big machines, but until aeroplanes can land at low speeds in confined spaces flying will never be really safe. We have not yet had an automatic stabiliser that we are quite satisfied with.”

SHORT-SLEEVE FASHION

London, May 4

If the short-sleeved frock for out-of-door wear achieves the bid for favour that it is making the expense of long gloves will be added to the cost of the summer outfit. Inquiries made in the shops yesterday prove that such gloves are obtainable in the prettiest pastel shades, mauve and blue, gold and rose-petal pink. They are of the once popular and always becoming mousquetaire shape and in the 16-button length and “ ruckle ” on the arms. They cost in suede and glace kid from about 13s to 15s a pair. In their sleeveless frocks women dance without gloves. If they decide to wear them they can buy suede and glace gloves of 20-buttou length at £1 a pair. Short-length fabric gloves for the country at 8s nd a pair imitate the washable chamois and doeskin kinds which before the war cost half that price. In Paris wrist-length gloves are worn with short-sleeved frocks, but when with warmer weather the capes that protect the arms are cast aside longer gloves wiil probably be chosen.