The World We Live In

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 14, 5 January 1934, Page 7

The World We Live In

Week’s News in a Nutshell Thursday, December 28.—The Lagny disaster, when the second of two Paris-Strasbourg expresses crashed at high speed into the first, killing 220 passengers and injuring 300, has focussed public attention in France on repeated accidents on its railways and a great national outcry demands a drastic overhaul of the system. Japan inaugurates direct monthly shipments of Japanese goods to West Africa, which includes cotton, silk goods, bicycles, metalware, beer, and other goods. IfMany deaths are reported from the United States owing to severe cold snap.

Friday, December 29. Russia’s grain crops prove 21 percent, in excess of 1932 figures. Ninety percent.

of the total output was contributed by the collective State farms. Saturday, December 30.—President Roosevelt offers a three-point programme for world peace : (1) “Let every nation agree to eliminate over a short period of years and by progressive steps every weapon of offence in its possession and create no additional weapons of offence ; (2) “A simple declaration that no nation will permit any of its armed forces to cross its own borders into the territory of another nation ; (3) “Every nation without exception enter into the agreement by solemn obligation.” If Sweeping order issued by United States Government requiring delivery of all gold in the United States, with five exemptions—Gold bullion held under Federal licence ; Gold coin having a recognised value to collec-

tors ; Unmelted scrap gold and gold not exceediifg 100 dollars in value in the hands of any one person, and gold in fabrication for industrial, professional or ornamental use ; Gold coin, gold bullion and gold certificates owned by the Federal Reserve Banks or the Reconstruction Finance Corporation ; Gold bullion and foreign gold coin now in the Philippine Islands, Hawaii and other possession of the United States.

Tuesday, January 2.—An Imperial Airways liner erased in Flanders, 8 passengers, the pilot, and the wireless operator are killed. ffThe Premier of Rumania, Dr. Jon Duca, is assassinated by a student. jfM Litvinoff, Russian Foreign Commissar, states that the programme for the second five years’ plan, beginning on January 19, after a year’s delay, aims at increasing production by 1937 two and a-half times compared with 1932, or nine-fold that of pre-war days. It is hoped to complete the Volga-L'on canal in 1937 to enable the north to exchange timber for coal and grain from the Don.

Wednesday, January 3.—Dense fog covers 8000 square miles of Britain causes derailment of train, 20 people being injured ; cancellation of Air Servies, slowing down of transport services, and many minor mishaps. 1f23 people drowned in Los Angeles and neighbourhood owing to terrific rain storm flooding highways and washing away bridges. If Good progress made in Anglo-Soviet negotiations for conclusion of a new temporary trade agreement.

France Puts Autobus on Rails France sees the locomotive and automobile end an old rivalry by merging into each other. The State Railways places an order for 250 railbuses, or automobiles that run on rails, to be delivered during 1934. The rail-bus has shown its entire practicability on a regular run between Paris and Deauville, covering the 138 miles in two hours and three minutes, 35 minutes faster than the express

trains. Using the nefa vehicle between towns and beached has brought it into instant popularity he family auto in some sections nthilfij itself badly neglected. * * * ■

Uruguay Shortly to Have Monopoly of Gasoline Trade An absolute state monopoly of gasoline will shortly be established in Uruguay, completing the already vigorous capture of the petrol market by the State of Industrial Enterprise, “ANCAP.” The measure will deliver the final blow to the now greatly weakened United States and British oil companies and, it is forecast, assure almost an exclusive market to Russian oil.

Manchu Army Gets ‘Patriotic Pigeonry’ The Kwantung Army is planning to establish at Kungchuling, . o r Hsinking, the largest pigeonry, or dovecote centre, in the Orient. The army possesses more than 800 trained carrier pigeons, which have give efficient service during the militar operations, throughout Manchuria. A number of additional pigeons, d. 1 ated by patriotic individuals and os in Japan, have recently arrive., in Manchuria. They ate called “patr ot doves.”

Clean Press Advocated When the South China Pressmen Association recently held its secot <1 annual meeting in Canton, members of the Canton Government dwelt at length on the importance and responsibility of journalists to enlighten the mass of the Chinese people, to constructively direct public opinion, and to co-operate with the Government in the enforcement of its threeyear plan. Mr. Cheung Yuen-fung director of the Municipal Bureau of Social Affairs, advised the newspaper men not to publish sensational items that appeal to the baser instincts.

The only thing needed for international harmony is a little more practice in playing second fiddle.