IMPERIAL CABLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 6

IMPERIAL CABLE

ITS RESTORATION URGED. Piwa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) Mr Andrew Fisher and Sir Thomas Mackenzie had an interview with Mr Illingworfch (Postmaster-general), pointing out the urgency of restoring the so-called Imperial cable service across the Atlantic, •which was interrupted for some months, as necessary to facilitate the speedier despatch of Australian and New Zealand soldiers' deferred messages which would secure them remittances. The delay in the Pacific route was almost entirely due to the Atlantic congestion. The Imperial cable belonged to Germany, and a British cruiser cut it near Farjal, in the Azores, -within four hours of the declaration of war. Later the cable -was mended, and connected with Nova Scotia and the British Isles. France took over the other German Atlantic cable, but thus far had not attempted to use it. Business men in France and England demanded that the two cables should be retained permanently, thus eliminating German control of the Atlantic cables. The matter has been referred to the Peace Conference. —A. and N.Z. Cable.