NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 44

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE PRINCE OF WALES'S 'HOME-

COMING. A heavv downpour marred the* splendour of the Prince of Wales's reception at Portsmouth and London on his return from America. Four hundred unemployed participated in a demonstration at Portsmouth. The Prince received a deputation of three of them. Ho cordially shook hands with the m n, and said: "I will do my very best. I appreciate your coming to me." Iteplyjng *to the oiticial welcome, the Prince said: "It has been a delightful and most valuable experience, which will influence my whole life. I return greatly impressed with the value of constant personal intercourse between this country and the New World." C'ardiucila and Compions, members of the Black Hand Bandits-, have confessed to 12 murders in the South Side, which is Chicago's underworld. The victims were killed when they attempted to frustrate robberies. The police have secured an amazing confession from Thomas Enrico, .who acted as advance agent for the robberies. A former leader of the gang was recently slain because ho "double-crossed his pals." Sixteen detectives, armed with rifles, captured Compions after they had seized his residence. Members of the band have confessed to 200 crimes. They conducted a regular crime college. Professor Einstein, concluding an abstruse article in The Times, says that his comments are calculated to cheer up the devoted Newtonians, whose confidence has recently been shaken. While the basic principle of his new theory of gravitation diverges from Sir Isaao Newton's, both theories in their practical application agree so closely. that it is- difficult to find cases in which the actual differences coidd be subjected to observation. Newton's clear, wide ideals will forever retain their significance as the foundation ' on which our modern conceptions of physics are built. The Times, in an editorial, says: "The new conception makes. little difference 'to tho practical world. The laws of physics have become much complicated, but wo may measure out our land and believe our clocks as 'we did before the emergence of Einstein." CONGO RAILWAY ACCIDENT. Details Of the disaster to the Smithsonian Expedition in the Belgian Congo show that their train was telescop?d by a runaway truck. The deaths are: Dr Armstrong (not Shantz) and Mr Stowell. The party were en route to search for bronto saurus, a prehistoric monster allegedly existent in the Congo. PREHISTORIC BRONTO-SAURUS. News has been received from Elizabeth* ville apparently corroborating the existence of a prehistoric monster bronto-saurw for which the Smithsonian Institute expedition was searching. A Belgian hunter. M. Gapelle, who returned from the interior of tho Congo, states that he followed a strange spoor for 12 miles and sighted a beast which was certainly of the rhinoceros order. It had large scales reaching far down, a very thick kangaroo-like tail- horned snout, and hump on its back. Ho fired shots at the monster, which threw up its head and disappeared into the swamp. FIFTY-FOUR PEOPLE PERISH. Fire destroyed n wooden shed near Vienna in which 108 C-- "ho-Slovak labourers were asleep. Fifty-four perished and 12 were seriously injured- The fire was caused through an explosion of petrol. The New -Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Swakopmund. another liner, 1 was found to be on fire at the docks. The fire has been extinguished. It was apparently due to spontaneous combustion. The careo c insisted entirely of copra, of which all hr* 500 tons was discharged before the out! k. About 220 tons were totally destroyed. The prompt extinction was due to the lucky chance that two floating fire engines which had been working on the Prinz Hubertus were still in the dock, and able to start a few minutes after the "outbreak was reported. ARSENAL TO RAILWAY WORKSHOP. Mr Lloyd George visited Woolwich Arsenal and conferred with experts, with a view to developing the arsenal as a railwav centre to meet the world's shortage ill rollinsr.'stock.: Orders have been received for 100 locomotives and 2500 waggons. It is also nronosed to make 6.000.000 war medals 10.000 milk cans, telephone apparatus, and coinage plant. Tin* Prime Minister said: "Clear out* the shells; we will never want them again." Private firms are already protesting against the proposal to build railway waggons at Woolwich Arsenal. One firm declares it could deliver 200 daily if ordered. LADY CASHIER'S LAPSE. \ A* curious story of extravagance was told at the Manchester Assizes. Mary Brady, a young cashier in a shipping firm, was charged with defrauding her employers of £2.3.000. of which only £B4OO has been recovered. She lived a brief career like a millionairess, wearing expensive furs, entertaining troops of friends, and gambling heavily. Her personal display aroused the firm's suspicions, and led to. her detection. Brady admitted defrauding her employers of £JO 000. nnd was sentenced to one year's imprisonment.

THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE. Major-general Davidson publishes a letter urging the Government to establish immediately a joint Imperial staff. He says that tho matter brooks no delay in view of tho unknown possibilities of air and submarine developments and other serious matters affecting the whole of the loosely linkcd-up Empire. He urges the co-ordina-tion of the dominions and Britain in a common policy of defence on more comprehensive lines .jthan Lord Jellicoe's present attempt. GREAT FINANCIAL BOOM. An extraordinary rush of capital is creating one of the most striking revivals of financial activity. The flotation during last month exceeds £37,000.000, mostly new issues, which are over-subscribed. It is interesting to note that to-day's issue alone, totalling £5,000.000. coincides with the distribution of £57.000.000 in dividends from war loans. It is important to remember that owing to the complete interruption of progress of ordinary private enterprise during war-time, it was inevitable that on the removal of Government restrictions capital issues would result in a rush to obtain capital. HOUSING In order to deal with the housing famine Mr Lloyd George is calling a conference of trades unions. Ha will appeal for the relaxation of all restrictions in connection with building-, particularly bricklaying. He also desires that 200,000 more will .be employed in building. The Government will spend £15,000,000 during the coming year in building 100,000 houses. - , WHEAT FAMINE. Whea.fc in Johannesburg fetched 50s a bag of 2001 b, which is a record. The position is regarded with anxiety owing to the shortage through the drought. It is hoped that Australia will be able to release supplies shortly. It is estimated that the Canadian wheat crop will total 1b8,892,000 bushels. ASSISTING IMMIGRATION. The Government has decided to grant free passages to the dominions to ex-servico men from India or other stations outside Europe. This will be done under tho overseas settlement scheme, provided the overseas Government approve. The Australian authorities have authorised the Home Government to grant free third class passages to any Australian soldiers who have taken ■ out- their discharge at Home and may desire to return to Australia. A similar privilege will be extended to their wives. SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE. The Marquis of Conygham is co-respon-dent in a society divorce case in which Sir Hume Campbell, baronet, is petitioner. The latter in November, 1014,' married an Australian girl named Bessie Tobin, but has not lived with his wife since January, 1918. The case was not defended. The address of petitioner and his wife was given as Galway. GERMAN DYE TRUST. The German Dye Trust, consisting of the seven principal dye-making firms, has decided to. doub'i?. its capital, which now stands at 1,002.000,000 marks, with a view to penetrating the markets of the world on an unprecedented scale. GENERAL ITEMS. The French municipal elections indicate another Clemenceau triumph. The Spanish Cabinet resigned after discussing the military situation, but subsequently decided to remain in office. " One hundred and twenty-thx- tho'smd divorce suits are listed in Paris courts. Mr H- W. Foster, Parliamentary secretary to the War Office, has resigned owing to ill.-health. He is to a baron^v. A sirgle diamond at a London auction sale realised £7300. The price is understood to be a record. The Duke of .Portland is shipping Carbine's sskeleton to Melbourne by the' Palma this week. The United States has exported more than 253 million dollars' worth of goods to Belgium since the armistice. The Department of Labour announces th-nt Alexander Berkman will be deported from America. Emma Goldman will also be deported, probably to Russia. A great earthquake at Soma (50 north-east of Smvrna) and Dalikassa (?1 destroyed seven villages, and many people were killed.

A terrific gale in Great Britain and North France wrecked the telephones and telegraphs. Th" Gorman flag was seen on the Thames for the first time since the war on a merchantman -'unloading cargo at. a London wharf.

The Felton Bequest purchased for Australia Turner's famous picture of Walton Br : dge, painted in WO T t .**•»* formerly sold at Christie's ,/or about £SOOO. " Food riots led to blopdv conflicts at Philipnnpolis. many beirvr killed and wounded. Th r -re wore also riots at Plevna. The. Auckland Electric T-ramway Company s divisible profit is £41.276. and the year's dividend isls per share. The amount carried forward is £9776.

It is officially announced that the Suez Canal dues for ballasted shins have been reduced 6 francs 33 centimes, thus restoring the pre-war concession of 2 francs 60 cents, while the due on loaded ships will remain at 8 fra.ncs 50 cents. "Pussyfoot" Johnson, an American ai>tisaloon league, organiser, who h.v? V»i •jvrj-jvq in Ensrland, had. an eye injured when "raerged" by,.students. The eye. has b<>en removed. ;!,.'. .'.<

The British Government has invested £250.000 in a private beet sugar arrowing company established at Kelham (Nottinghamshire), and also guarantees investors a return of 5 per cent, upon the capital invested

The French scientists, MM. _ Bloch and Abrahams, are using an electric apparatus emitting electric sparks, capable of 500 exposurec per serond. Thev successfully took a picture of the course «f a revolver bullet. The British OKitie* is considering three schemes for an Empire jvirpless system • First, erect'on snd management by > the Government; second, license to private enterprise with State co-operation under Stflte control. : The Quebec correspondent of the New York Times states that it is announced that the Government will borrow 5,000.000 dollars, which will be spent over a period of five years for colonisation purposes. The Evening Standard states that it is probable that General Birdwood will be appointed to the command of the Southern

army in India, and that General Rawlinson will succeed General Sir G. C. Monro as Commander-in-Chief in India. The conference over the double income tax has concluded. Its findings will be submitted to the Royal Commission on income tax, whoso extended decision i« shortly to be made public. There is little doubt that the Home authorities will likely concede much relief on double tax.