THE UNITED STATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 17

THE UNITED STATES.

FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS. NEW YORK, May 3. The authorities estimate that the Mississippi flood rendered 50,000 people homeless. It inundated 6000 square miles of fertile land, and caused 12.000,000 dollars worth of damage to property. TORNADO IN TEXAS. NEW YORK, May 5. At Austin, Texas, a tornado killed 10 persons anil injured 50, and caused damage to the extent of 500,000 dollars. FIERCE FIGHT WITH POLICE. NEW YORK, May 4. At Cantonj Ohio, two men were killed ana five seriously wounded—two probably fatally—in a gun battle between a band of desperadoes and the police and citizens) A posse of gunmen kidnapped the policemen who were attempting to arrest them for violation of the .motor-speed law. The desperadoes were” coming to Canton to aid in the escape of a notorious bank robber called “Oklahomo Slim,” who is in prison at Canton. The latter’s cell bars were found sawn through. The desperadoes bound and gagged the policemen and brought them to a deserted farmhouse. They were followed by a farce of police, a battle ensuing. After one of their number had been killed, the remaining gunmen deserted the farmhouse, when a running fight ensued, but they escaped. LEAP FROM SKYSCRAPER, NEW YORK, April 30. Airs Rose Grainger, mother of Mr Percy Grainger, leaped from the 18-stqrey Aeolian building, in the busiest street in New York, and was instantly killed. The police believe that Mrs Grainger ended her life because she was suffering from a painful stomach ailment. She had come to visit the office of her son’s concert tour. The headquarters manageress, Mrs Sawyer, stated that Mrs Grainger rested on the couch, and complained of stomachal pains. She asked the manageress to go to a chemist’s, but when the latter returned she found the room empty. Hundreds of people saw the leap. Mrs Grainger was 60 years old. Her son is on a Los Angelos concert tour. [Mr Percy Grainger, the famous composer, is an Australian by birth. He toured New Zealand a number of years ago with Ada Crossley.] SOLDIERS ON THE RHINE. The War Department has ordered .a delay in the sailing of portion of the American troops on the Rhine until June 17. The Administration is seriously considering keeping part of the American army of occupation in Germany beyond the date set for its return. Orders have been issued

holding back the contingent which was due to sail in May. It is understood that the Allies and the Germans believe that the presence of the Americans on the Rhine will greatly tend to stabilise conditions and reduce friction amongst the various elements involved. SIR JOHN SALAIOND’S VIEWS. SYDNEY, May 4. Sir John Salmond expressed the opinion that Prohibition in the United States had come to stay. At any rate, he said, America would never revert to the saloon, though some light wines and beers might eventually be allowed. There was a good deal of bootlegging, but it seemed quite feasible that the younger generation might grow up without cultivating a taste for alcohol. There was liquor of a sort to be bought in America. Sir John Salmond said that, speaking generally, prohibition was being enforced in America and with generally beneficial results. Of course, a great deal of illicit liquor was being imported and manufactured, but it was an expensive luxury which few could afford. A certain amount of wood aloohol was being consumed with disastrous results to the consumers, who were mostly addicted to alcohol. MISCELLANEOUS. The Senate passed unanimously a resolution, moved by Senator Lodge, favouring the establishment of Palestine as a national home for the Jews. Following its passage through the House and the Senate, the Immigration Restriction Bill extending, the 3 per cent, limitation until 1925 has been sent to the President for signature. Senator Borah, in a speech jn the Senate, urging the deportation of General Semenoff, reiterated the charges made in the recent hearings before the courts. He also charged Mr Boris Bakhmeteff, the

Ambassador appointed by the Kerensky Government, with breaking faith with the American Government by investing for hia personal part of the 187,000,000 dollars loaned to him by the American Treasury. The Supreme Court has ruled that the portion of the Californian Alien Land Law is unconstitutional which forbids aliens who are ineligible for citizenship to act a 3 guardians for the agricultural lands of their American-born children. Air Henry P. Davison, who died following an operation for removal of a tumour on the brain, was a partner of Mr J. P. Morgan and headed the American Red Cross work during the war. At Kirvin (Texas) three negroes were burned to death at the same stake by a mob of 500 men. The negroes were alleged to be implicated in an assault on a young white girl. Mr Mellon, appearing before the House Banking Committee, urged an extension for anotheE year of the War Finance Corporation, which makes loans to farmers. He declared that the financial position was rapidly improving and was well on the way to .normal conditions, especially regarding agriculture and industry.