NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3438, 3 February 1920, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE VATICAN ALARMED. The Vatican is receiving alarming reports of the attitude of the Ozecho-Slovak priests towards the Church of Rome. Three thousand Bohemian priest 9 recently seceded, and the movement is spreading in Poland and Jugo-Slovakia, where priest clubs are being formed. Priest club& are also forming in Croatia. INTERESTING DISCOVERY. Professor Zuntz claims to have secured a considerably inoreased growth of his hair by taking a horn substance made digestible. By sydrolysis experiments on sheep ho was led to expect that the treatment would increase the yield of wool, possibly by 75 per cent. CRIMES IN ENGLAND. Owing to the prevalence of crimes of violence in England and Wales, where last week 50 deaths from violence occurred, the police authorities are discussing the reintroduction of the cat-o'-nine tails. They admit that publio opinion does not favour the step except in cases of diabolical outrage. ATTEMPT TO WRECK A TRAIN. The Simplon-Orient express narrowly escaped disaster near Verona. Tubes of high explosives similar to those used in war time to demolish entanglements which had been nlaced on the lines exploded a few seconds prematurely. Four sleeping cars were derailed, but no passengers were killed. IMPERIAL CLUB WANTED. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Now Zealand High Commissioner, interviewed regarding the establishment of a great Imperial Club, which the Prince of Wales said yesterday that he was very keen about, says it would cost £1,000,000 or more. At present the High Commissioners and Agents-general try to do the best they can for overseas visitors, but their powers and facilities are limited. The colonial and Imperial Institutes and other organisations are doing splendid work, but a club is wanted for the reception and accommodation of overseas folk, where they could meet each other and also the English men and women who axe interested in Imperial affairs, and where they would be able to offer hospitality to friends. The club should give simple, inexpensive receptions for those it is desirahle to establish connections with. It should be a central institution where overseas visitors and British traders could readily come together. FRENCH POLITICS. Opposition to the new Cabinet is increasing daily. The deputies are asking that their salaries be increased from 15,000 to 30,000 francs M. Poincare denies the report that he will probably join the Millerand Cabinet. M. Millerand had an unpromising reception in the Chamber. The vote of confidence was' carried by 272 votes to 23, but 240 deputies refrained from voting. The debate was stormy and confused. M. Daudet, a son of the novelist, accused the Minister of the Interior of being a traitor and an associate of Malvy. . It is considered that the situation of M. Millerand's Cabinet has greatly improved, consequent on the Chamber adopting a vote of contidenca by 510 to 62 after the Premier had jjiveh. an exposition _ of the Governments general policy, which aims to establish harmor.y. encourage production, and avoid class strife TRIBUTE TO SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE. A meeting of the Western Counties' Association at Risley paid a warm tribute to Sir Thomas Mackenzie's efforts, which made New Zealand's products a household word. The meeting hoped that Sir Thomas Mackenzie would be kept in England for many years. ■Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in replying, said the present time was a critical one for the Dominion's produce, and most delicate handling was essential in the future, both for re-establishing old markets and securing new ones. Sir Thomas complimented Avonmouth upon its accommodation for holding foodstuffs, which, he said,, was not surpassed in any part of the country. CANADA'S TRADE. During 1019 Canadian imports were valued at 941,000,000d01, and exports at 1 294,000,000d01. The countries with which the Canadian export trade grew include Australia to the extent of 2,250,000dol; New Zealand, 2,775,000d01, and the United States 21,504,000dol; and China 2,000,000d01. SHIPPING CASUALTIES. The American transport Powhattan has been docked. The crew are safe. The American oil tank steamer Lieleros broke in two on the voyage from Cuba, and sank off the coast of Floriday. The captain and' 22 of the crew are missing. Eighteen men were rescued. The survivors were picked up by the steamer Ozette. The former Austrian cruiser Novara sprang a leak while cruising with other French warships towards Brindisi, where she sank. Her crew were saved. UNREST IN EGYPT. A man posing as a photographer threw a bomb at a motor car containing the Minister of Public Works. The Minister was unhurt, hut the car was shattered. No arrest has yet been made. _ The Daily Express Cairo correspondent states that Egyptians attacked the Indian troops at Tanta. Fighting ensued, 20 Egyptians being killed and 50 wounded. EXTREMISTS IN AMERICA. The United States Secretary for Labour (Mr Wilson) has ruled that members of the

Communist Party of America will be subject to deportation. Judge Palmer states that approximately 3000 of the 3600 aliens' taken throughout the United States in raids will probably be deported as members of the Communist Party. M. Martens (Soviet Ambassador) , states that he has received word from Petrograd that Berkman, Goldman, and other deportees were received with acclaim. They will spend two weeks at Petrograd, and will then proceed to Moscow. GENERAL ITEMS. Lever Bros, are acquiring tho whole of the ordinary shares in the Niger Company at 130 s. The Duke of Connaught is appealing to English Masons to subscribe £1,000,000 to provide a central home in London for tho craft. Spotted typhus is raging in Esthonia, causing 6300 of General Yudenitch's troops to return to Russia, Others have gone to the Lettish front. Backed by the Government, the Huddersfield Dyes Company has sent a delegation, to Germany to purchase £2,000,000 worth of dyes. De Rougemont is making a remarkable recovery after his operation. He entertains his fellow-patients with stories of adventure in Asia and Australia. German East Africa has been provisionally renamed Tanganyika Territory. It is reported that Princess Mary will visit Copenhagen, Christiania, and Stockholm on a six weeks' tour during the summer. The South African Government Commission on meat supply recommended the suspension of the duty on imported meats and fats until the effects of the drought are over. It is announced that the Armour Company's 1919 gross sales totalled 1,038,000,000 dollars of which 14,098.506 dollars' represent net income. Tho Inter-state Commerce Commission reported that the Government deficit on United States railway operations in 1919 amounted to 300,000,000 dollars. The United States Senate passed a Bill appropriating 6,500,000 dollars for the purpose of stimulating the teaching of English among aliens and illiterates. The London Tubes and Omnibus Combine estimates that its loss in the coming year will be £1.600,00 at the present rate of fares. The combine desires the Government to take control eimilar to that of the railways. The British Board of Agriculture has proposed to hop growers that they_ should establish voluntary control over the industry for 10 years, as an alternative to the proposed extension of Government control for five years. The Canadian Government has lifted the embargo on the export of newsprint paper with the Fort Francis mills, which agreed to fill the Canadian newsprint orders. A committee, including Lord Burnham, Lord Sydenham, Sir Percy Scott, .Mr Andrew Fisher, and prominent scientists, has been appointed to organise Cope's Antarctio expedition. ' The oil companies have been advised that President Carranza has granted permission to 46 American oil companies to resume drilling operations in "Mexico, pending a settlement of the entire oil controversy. The Rhodes Trustees announce that owing to the increased cost of living £SOO a year is no longer sufficient to cover the expenses. The holders of scholarships must therefor© be prepared to contribute £SO annually. It is understood that representatives of the United States, Britain, France, and Japan in Peking have been authorised to proceed with negotiations with the Chinese Foreign Office for a grant to China of an emergency loan of £5,000,000. Devonshire House has been suggested for, a Commemoration Club for the dominions' visitors. It is hoped that £1,000,000 will be given by a single donor, or alternatively, subscribed by a wealthy patriot representing each dominion. The King has contributed £IOO to a fund which, it is hoped will reach £30,000 to ensure worthy British representation at the O'lympio Games. The American State _ Department announces that it has' been informed that the export of Canadian newsprint paper from the Port Francis mill to the United States has been resumed. Japan exported during December 29,362.697d0l worth of goods to the United States, through the port of New York. This is the highest figure reached by any nation. Britain coming next with 26.783.346d0l worth. Tho British Board of Trade has decided to allot further space for the export of Australian apples. .The amount has not yet been settled. The Minister of Food is negotiating for the purchase of about 3000 tons of Dutch butter. Advices from Nairobi state that on January 23, a Somali platoon in Northern Jubuland mutinied and murdered the commander, Lieutenant Dawson Smith, and then deserted and fled to Somaliland. Maior Lloyd George, interviewed regarding English purchases of American steel, said: "These are now considerably reduced owing to the lack of supply and the unfavourable rate of exchange. _ Japan if buying large quantities of steel in Scotland, mainly for shipbuilding."