BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Reuter Telegrams.] TURKISH DIVORCE. CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 13. A new civil code superseding the Moslem divorce laws abolishes a husband's potter to divorce without recourse to the law courts. It prohibits polygamy, declares second marriages null and permits divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. ANTI-SOVIET PARTY. LONDON, December 13. The “ Times ” Riga correspondent says an official Moscow announcement confirms the recent reports of a strong anti-Soviet feeling in AVliite Russia centred at Minsk, where the Soviet’s political police are stated to have arrested seven lenders of a conspiracy allegedly aimed at overthrowing the Soviet Government in White Russia, and the establishment of an lndepes-**'* dent Republic. RUGBY WIRELESS STATION. LONDON, December 13.

One of the great advantages of the Rugby service will be the fact that steamers on the Australian and New Zealand run will no longer lie dependent on news through the German station at Nation, which has hitherto out-distanced I.cvfield by one thousand miles. The head of the Post Office Radio Department states the Rugby transmission will soon he a public service. Wireless will then supersede the cable for ordinary communications around the world. NEW FRENCH CRISIS. PARIS. Dec. 13. France is again nearing a political i risis, which threatens to sweep aside • lie present- party factions in a vast, general upheaval. The slump in the Irane has sent a shiver of anxiety throughout the country. The press is appealing to Jhe President and to Parliament to stop the rot. Such a variety of papers as “Le Matin.” “Echo do Partis,” “Ffigaro,” and “Le Temps,” all of which are opposed to the Left Parties, have dropped their usual party bitterness, and are fervently appealing for the formation of ■i Cabinet resembling M. Clemenceau’s of war time, to inspire the nation with confidence.”

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent- says: “Five years of illusion and the future fate of finanial facts have produced a situation which only a Government witll the country’s complete confidence can tackle; hut this is precisely what is ’aching. There i.s no lack of confidence in AI. Briand. but there is a feeling that the power is really in the hands of the Left Party caucuses.” CHINESE FIGHTING. PEKIN. December 13. The international train was caught in a battle at Yangtsun. The pnssensengers. including women and children, took refuge under the carriages. Nine British, including Colonel and Mrs Haslohurst. twenty Americans, prominent Japanese, also four League of Nations’ Commissioners, who were visiting Manchuria in connection with plague prevention, were on the train. It appears a Kuominchiin armoured train followed the international train *o Yangstun where it landed one thousand infantry. The artillery began shelling Lichinglin’s forces across the rive r. The Legations have vigorously protested against a breach of the Boxer Protocol which is involved. It is understood arrangements are being, made to send a relief train from Tientsin. The Japanese include Mochizuki. leader of the Kensja Party and liiouye, I’a i lia menla rv under-secretarv. A ONE-MAN TANK. LONDON. Dec. 13.

'The " Daily Telegraph’s” military critic reveals an important military invention by Major Martel, of the Royal Engineers, who served with a Tank Corps during the war. This consists of a one-man tank which has astonishing agility. Major Martel eoneeived the idea at the beginning of 1025. Tie built a trial machine in his own garage during his spare time. The Morris Motor Company is now constructing; three machines, one one-man tank, and two two-men tanks. They are constructed mainly of ordinary car conv nonents, costing £4OO each. The machine was tested in a remarkable way. H was embarked aboard a naval launch fitted with a sloping ramp attached to the stern. The launch ran inshore as far as possible, anchored and lot down the ramp, whereon the one-man tank “ waded ” ashore on to a mud-shingle bench triumphantly.

The critic adds:—The success of this amphibious operation opens up a wide vista. Those remembering trie Gallipoli landing can only mourn its birthdate has been 1925, instead of 1915. The machine is only four feet wide and eight feet long and nine feet high. It can go almost anywhere that it is possible to pad; an animal—through woods and along hill tracks, and over soft marshy ground, whereon the pressure is only two pounds to the sqnuro inch. ALLEGED SI IAKKSPKARRAN MANUSCRIPTS. LONDON. December 13. 'The "Daily Chronicle" states: Investigators do not substantiate Mr Rogers’ amazing claims. An examination of the ground in the Marquis of Northampton’s Warwickshire estate, whore the alleged manuscripts of Shakepearc's plays have been found, show no trace of excavations, and the gardener ridicules the possibility of midnight digging. A British museum authority’s report alleged that the Shakespearean signatures in Rogers’ books are forgeries. The " Daily Chronicle ” has recalled that Mr Rogers disc •overed a number ol old pictures formerly, and sold them lor £I2OO, hut their real value was later found to he onlv £2O.

PONIES IN MINES. LONDON, December 13. Nearly one thousand influential citi- 1 zens. including Mr Bernard Shaw, Messrs J. |{ dynes, M.P., T. P. O’Connor. M.P., Colonel Applin, M.P., and General Cockorill, MP., have petitioned the Coal Commission urging on the ground of humanity, that it : should make a close examination of tho possibility of substituting mechanical for pony haulage in the coal mines. ITALIAN WAR DEBT . ROME. Dec. 13. The voluntary subscriptions raised by the Italians to pay the national debt to America have passed ninety million lira. TURKS TALKING TIGHT. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) vXGOR \, Dec. 13. The newspapers bitterly attack England. The official Government organ declares that Turkey will win Mosul by bayonets and not through the League of Nations’ mediation. SEEKING RUSSIAN AID. PARIS, Dec. 13. Tewfik Bey is visiting Paris, it is lielicved with a view of discussing with M. Tehiteherin a secret agreement- entailing Rttssja!) help in the event of wgr.