NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 49

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE CRUISER CANBERRA. LONDON, September 10. [The cruiser Canberra is sailing for Invergoorgon on October 5 to join the Atlantic fleet in the Channel. PRINCE GEORGE. NEW YORK, September 12. A message from Hollywood states that Prince George was the guest of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford to-day at Santa Barbara. TRADE OF BRITAIN. LONDON, September 12. Tlie British trade returns for August show that the imports increased by £7,584,000 and the exports by £2,806,000. The re-exports decreased by £36,000. CANADA AND RUSSIA. OTTAWA, September 11The Trades and Labour Congress of Canada, sitting at Toronto, rejected a resolution favouring the resumption of trade relations by the Dominion with Russia.

BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED. RUGBY, September 11. Unemployment in Great Britain continues to increase, and m September 3 the total number of unemployed was 1,324,700, being 4673 more than a week before and 250,000 more than a year ago. BRITISH ELECTIONS. OTTAWA, September 13. Mr Ramsay MacDonald sailed from Quebec to-day. He said that as soon as he was back in England he would plunge into the political fight, and prepare for the election next year, adding, “ The results will be very good for us.” MOTOR TRANSPORT. LONDON, September 10. Under Royal Air Force official observation, a heavily-laden motor lorry travelled from London to Beaconsfield and back, a journey of 50 miles, using a new German motor engine with non-inflammable crude oil instead of petrol, which- is claimed to revolutionise motor transport.

IRISH REPUBLICANS. LONDON, September 13. A company has been formed in Dubiin to publish morning and evening Sunday newspapers to support Republicanism. It has given Mr De Valera the managing directorship, with unusual powers of absolute control over the editorial staff and policy, and he is not subject to re-election to the directorate. | EMPIRE GROCERY PRODUCTS. . LONDON, September 15. The Empire Marketing Board has engaged 2000 square feet at the Grocers’ Exhibition at Islington, which is to open on September 22. The display of Empire grocery products will include Australian and New Zealand dried, bottled, canned, and fresh fruits, and AustralianWines.

ANTI-WAR PACT. SHANGHAI, September 15. The Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs has telegraphed to the United States legation at Peking asking Washington to be notified of China’s adherence to the anti-war pact and the appointment of Dr Alfred Sze, Minister at Washington, as China’s representative empowered to sign. BARON LOWENSTEIN. PARIS, September 10. Medical experts declare that they found no trace of poison in Baron Lowenstein’s organs. Death was due to a fall. His injuries showed that he was alive v hen he struck the water. The state of the heart and kidneys indicated possibly that he was subject to attacks of giddiness, which might have caused an accidental fall. THE MAURETANIA. RUGBY, September 12. A new speed record for Atlantic liners was set up yesterday, when the Cunarder Mauretania completed her voyage from New York to Plymouth in 5 days 6min. The official time from New York to Eddystone Light was 4 days 23hrs lOmin. This is the third record that the Mauretania has set up within the past three months.

BASUTO CHIEF DEAD. CAPETOWN, September 12. Chief Jonathan, grandson of the great Basuto chief Moshess, died at the age of 83. His funeral, with European rites, was attended by thousands of natives. Jonathan throughout his life was a supporter of the British Government. During the 1880 rebellion he made a notable night raid and saved the lives of Europeans at Hlotse. He also heavily defeated recalcitrants in 1884. CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. VANCOUVER, September 11. The parliamentary representatives of Australia expressed the view that an extension of trade with Canada was likely if certain adjustments were made to bring the balance of trade nearer equality. The New Zealand representatives stated that the friendships formed during the tour would have the practical result of more business between the two countries. THE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK. LONDON, September 15. A distressed outlook faces the international situation, declared Mr Philip Snowden in a speech at Accrington. “ I do not think the outlook has ever been as black since the last shot of the war was fired. Terrible things have happened at Geneva this week, the speeches of M. Briand and Lord Cushendun show that while statesmen may have peace on their lips they have war within their hearts.”

LATE LORD ROTHERHAM. LONDON, September 11. Once in possession" of an income of £25,000 a year, the late Lord Rother-

ham left estate valued at £lO. Formerly a captain of industry in Lancashire, chairman of the Spinners’ Association, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, banker and financier, he got into difficulties when the post-war slump came in London. In the hope of retrieving his fortunes he speculated heavily and lost everything. He borrowed from moneylenders, and failed for £llB,OOO. AUSTRALIAN BUTTER. MONTREAL, September 10. A message from Edmonton states that Sir William Glasgow (Australia), when interviewed, declared that Canadian farmers appeared unnecessarily alarmed over the shipments of Australian butter. The Australian product was placed on the Canadian market at a time when the butter production of that' country was at its lowest point. He also pointed out that the value' of Canadian products imported by- Australia were at present four times the amount of Australian goods purchased by Canada.

GOLD FOR AMERICA. LONDON, September 15. The discount market is not greatly perturbed by news of the shipment of £502,000 worth of gold bars to New York as such exports have been long expected. It is rumoured from America that this is only the first of a series of shipments likely to aggregate £5,000,000, but the Bank of England’s position is very strong, its gold stock being £25,500,000 higher than a year ago, so the loss of £5,000,000 can be borne with equanimity, though it must necessarily keep bill rates firm and possibly entail an increase in the bank rate.

NEW ZEALAND ARTIST. LONDON, September 13. Sir Henry Barwell (Agent-General for South Australia) opened the largest oneman exhibition of pictures since the war at Burlington Galleries. Thev are the work of Mr J. F. Scott, a New* Zealander and ex-official artist, in the Australian Infantry Force. There are 200 paintings, many of Australian landscapes, South Australia predominating. There are also a number of striking portraits of famous men in Europe. Mr Scott, who is a son of the late Mr David Scott, began his career in the School of Art, in Dunedin. Two of his paintings may be seen in th e gallery at Logan Park. BRITISH EMIGRATION. RUGBY, September 12. The British and Canadian Governments have arranged to provide assisted passages from Great Britain to Canada for the wives and families of industrial workers in the Dominion. The only dependents to whom such assistance has hitherto been granted have been those of settlers working on the land. Others have had to pay the full £l5 steamship fare. Under the new arrangement adults will pay £3 15s, which will cover the third-class steamship fare together with railway fare in Canada. " -Children under 17 will travel free for the whole distance from the port of embarkation to tie end of the- railway ' journey to Canada. The scheme is meant to-apply to the wives and children of men who

sailed from the United Kingdom before June 6 this year, and are satisfactorily settled in the dominion. DUSTY WHISKERS. VANCOUVER, September 14. At Nashville Henry Warner, a farmer, is suing Floyd Hanson, inventor, because Hanson’s vacuum cleaner for chin whiskers went on the rampage during a demonstration. The machine is designed to remove cement dust and grit from the beards of workmen, thus preventing razors from becoming dull too quickly. Hanson was doing well until Warner’s beard became entangled in the suction fan, and before Hanson could reduce the power a handful of whiskers and a couple of square inches of Warner's skin disappeared up the intake. THE BRAEMAR GAMES. LONDON, September 14. Thirty thousand H'ghlanders acclaimed the King at the vast natural amphi theatre at the opening of the Braemar Games. The King wore.' a Balmoral bonnet and kilt, with a Stuart tartan p.aid thrown over his shoulder. The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York, and Rudyard Kipling, who is the guest of the King, were also present. The Balmoral Highlanders, their Lochaber axes gleaming in the sun as they lay aslant their broad shoulders, led the parade to the sounding on bagpipes of “ Donald Dhu,” that ancient rousing song of the hills, which in olden times summoned’ the clansmen to the council.

ENGLISH DIVORCE COURT. LONDON, September 15. The list of Michaelmas divorces shows that the cases for 1928 exceed 5400. They have almost doubled since the new Act, censoring the publication of details was passed in 1926, when 2973 cases were heard for the year. Women petitioners outnumber men by two to one. The divorce lawyers attribute the alarming increase to the fact that prior to 1926 women preferred to suffer anything before they would face the publicity of the newspapers, but the increase is also due to many young women not attempting to make the best of their married lives. They quarrel with their husbands on-the most trivial matters. Most of the cases are undefended, and occupy 10 minutes in the High Court or 18 minutes in the Assize Courts. « WONDERS OF WIRELESS. LONDON, "September 10.

Fashion photographs from London, Vienna, Paris and Madrid, photographs of finishes of important races, illustrations of children’s stories, and snapshots of missing and wanted people from Scotland Yard are among the British Broadcasting Corporation picture broadcasts for next month. Listeners will hear the announcer say, “We are going to broadcast a picture of a big fire in London to-night.” He then merely disconnects the loud speaker and connects with the fultograph,* a small box costing £l5, with a revolving cylinder over which travels lengths of sensitised paper. A platinum-tipped needle traverses the paper, while line by line, dot by dot, a picture five by four inches appears complete within three and a-half minutes, and may be torn off the roll.

EMPIRE LAND SETTLEMENT. VANCOUVER, September 15. Speaking at the Canadian Club, Lord Lovat (chairman of the Oversea Settlement Committee) said he was going to Australia and New Zealand to discuss the same land settlement scheme as had been discussed across Canada. His duty was to see how men could best be placed. He believed he would receive the same hearty ’ co-operation in the Antipode's as he had received in Canada, for there was a real feeling that the Old Country stood for a good deal still. The returning 118 Australian and Scottish delegates will spend two days here prior to sailing for home. A big programme of entertainment is being providing, including a civic luncheon. PROBLEMS OF FINANCE. GENEVA, September 15. When the budget of the International Labour Office came up, Mr W. A. Baillieu, the Commonwealth representative, raised a laugh by remarking that he had been told that M. Albert Thomas was the most fearsome man on the League, but his looks rather suggested that he was made up of sympathy and simplemindedness. This was Australia’s only chance to .raise her voice on the Labour Office budget, in which all new expenditure should be scrutinised just the same as the other League activities. The Australian Government was facing deficits, and while sympathing with the aims and objects of the League he felt it should elhulate the sacrifices Australia was making for the sake of economy. Even in national development work it was time for keeping all expenditure within reasonable limits.

DICTATES OF FASHION. LONDON, September 13. “Fat plumping exercises”/- are becoming the rage, according to the fashion dictators and restaurant proprietors, who deny the insinuations that it is a case merely of a wish being father to the thought. The restaurateurs assert that they already notice that girls no longer ask for “ slim-making ” black coffee and lemon squashes in the forenoon, but demand sundaes, cream chocolates, and pastries. Everybody knows that the fashion experts started the ball rolling when they decreed ampler curves, but food experts point out that hipless and chestless figures inside the new fashions can produce only frights. Without plumpness new frocks resemble washing hung out on the clothes line. It is stated that doctors altruistically support the new fashions on the ground that self-starvation in the interests of boyish figures has been undermining the health of the rising generation. YOUTH OF RUSSIA. LONDON, September 10. The Daily Chronicle says that Russia is suffering from an epidemic of secret societies, and the Bolshevist dictators are fighting hard against a widespread revolt of the youth of the country against the Soviet regime. This fact is disclosed by an official statement in the Bolshevist newspapers which asserts that the higher schools and universities are hotbeds of anti-Bolshevist conspiracy. The Central Government is seriously alarmed by the failure to create a second generation of Communists in Russia. Many students were recently arrested at Archangel. Secret newspapers discovered in Odessa were publishing violent anti-Bolshevist articles. Official opinion is also disturbed by the fact that the works of Lenin are scarcely read in the public libraries in Russia. “Russia’s youth is-in revolt,” com eludes the official statement.

MECHANICAL MEN. LONDON, September 15. • "London’s population has-been increased by two Robots displaying a startling ability to move and talk. One is named Eric, and will to-day open a model engineering exhibition at London, making a speech suitable to the occasion. Eric is six foot of steel, in which wireless mechanism is concealed. Eric not only moves his head and arms at the words of command, but he can differentiate between drinks. Asked whether he preferred ginger ale or double Scotch he replied, “ Double Scotch.” The inventor offers Robots similar to Eric for £l5O. The other Robot, named Ronald, is mystifying audiences at Queen’s Hall. The creator is Captain Roberts, who invented a wireless torpedo. He makes Ronald come to life by means of an electric torch which plays upon the steel body, which then moves and converses at the inventor’s will. - DICKENS CONTROVERSY. LONDON, September 11. The publication by Mr Ralph Strauss of a book on Charles Dickens has given fresh impetus to the Dickens controversy. Mr Strauss, ■who is a director of Chapman and Hall, describes “ This Sode of Idolatry ” as an odious, cowardly novel. Nevertheless, Mr Strauss himself presents a portrait which is far from agreeable. The book describes Dickens as a man of flamboyant, theatrical temperament, with a full share of egoism and what in his own age would be called frailties, but which people to-day regard with more tolerant eyes. Victorian public opinion forced upon Dickens a saintly character he was ill-fitted to bear. “ Kate Dickens .got on

her husband's nerve. She had borne I*l children, and her good looks had gone. About this dine a letter came from Maria Beadnell, Dickens's love, but in 22 years the little dark beau y had grown into a plump matron. As a result of the meeting there was no romance, and Dickens for the second time went his way. Meanwhile the domestic unhappi-nc'-s continued, and it was so great that the novelist told ‘T cannot wr : to.’ ** ".•viewers considei tiiat Mr Strauss's bo.zk emphasises the necessity for a complete authorised biography. CAPTURED BY TURKS. LONDON", September 15. Colonel T. W. White, of Melbourne, has published a remarkablue “ Odyssey of an Australian Airman,” to which English newspapers are giving prominence. It tells the story of Colonel White’s captivity with the Turks and details a horrifying series of cruelties inflicted on prisoners of war, based on Colonel White’s own diaries, written on tiny sheets 2s. inches by 3 inches, and concealed in the the soles of his shoes, the pith of his helmet, and other curious receptacles. Of 14,000 British and Indian prisoners in Turkey, Colonel White estimates that 11,000 died of the horrors on the march from Kut, which equalled those of the Black Hole of Calcutta. Two hundred and forty-nine prisoners at Mosul were thrust into a single cell in January, 1916. On another stage of the journey 40 prisoners were confined in a room 10 feet square, thiee dying. The Turkish guards often withheld food and water from the emaciated prisoners, who were without money to bribe them. Colonel White escaped from Constantinople during the confusion following a railway collision, which enabled lr’ n to make a dash for liberty. Friendly Greeks hid Colonel White in a cupboard until he was able to stow away on a Russian ship going to Odessa.

CONSPIRING CONSTABLES. LONDON, September 14; After the close of a three days’ trial at the Old Bailey, J. W. Clayton and C. V. Stevens, metropolitan constables, were sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment each for conspiring to bring a false charge against Helen Adele, aged 21 years, also with wilful corrupt'per juryin support of the charge. The case for the prosecution, supported by many- witnesses, was to the effect that last July Adele resented the attentions of Clayton in a taxicab in a garage at Islington, where she sometimes used to sleep, also that when she threatened to inform the sergeant, Clayton and Stevens, who were accustomed to visit the garage while they were supposed to be on night duty, arrested her on a charge of using insulting words and lx .aviour. The charge was dismissed at the Police Court, after which the constables were arrested at the instigation -of the public prosecutor. in view of the recent police disclosures there has been considerable interest in the case. Sir Henry Curtis Bennett, in defending the accused, declared that if the condition of affairs in the metropolitan police force was sue’ as had been suggested, the case was worse than any anti-police f’ tic had ever suggested. It was alleged that the police were perjurers and that they left their beats at any time for anything, also that they had got the public into such a state that nobody would eare to say them nay. He lengthily dealt with the character of the witnesses, describing them as a gang from a garage. Adele had said in evidence that she thought that policemen in uniform could do as they liked. Sir Henry Bennett added that if that was the position in the police force it was quite time something should be done. „

Mr Justice Humphreys declared that it was a serious case, and that the men had disgraced’ their uniforms. Stevens collapsed.

OBITUARY. LONDON, September 9. The death is announced of Count Brockdorff Rantzau, German Ambassador to the Soviet. He died suddenly in Berlin. It is recalled that ue was the first German Foreign Secretary after the war, and headed the delegati n to Paris. He refused to sign the Ponce Treaty, and returned to Germany, where he resigned. LONDON, September 10. The death is announced o’ Major P. P. Kenyon Slaney, a member of the House of Commons, aged 32. His health was continually affected-owing to his being gassed in the war. LONDON, September 11. The death is announced of Sir Edward Ward. Sir Edward Ward, who was 75 years of age, entered the army in 1874, and saw active service in the Sudan and Ashanti and'Ll the South African campaign. He was mentioned several times in despatches. From 1901 to 1914 he was Permanent Under-Secretary of State . at the War Office. He was Directorgeneral of -Voluntary Organisations and chairman of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. LONDON, September 12. The death is announced of Mr Howard Talbot. Mr Howard Talbot, composer and conductor, was born in New York. He was educated at King’s 'College, London, and received his musical education at the Royal College of Music, under Sir Herbert Parry, Sir Frederick Bridge and Dr F, K, Gladstone. His first opera,

“ Wapping Old Stairs,” was written in 1894 Subsequent works included “ The Arcadians ” (part composer), “ A Lucky Miss,” “ A Mixed Grill,” “Mr Manhatten,” and “ High Jinks ” (part composer). He conducted at Daly’s, The Alelphe, The Prince of Wales, and other theatres since 1200. RUGBY, September 12. Colonel Sir Edward Ward, Permanent Under-secretary of State for War from 1900 to 1914, died suddenly in Paris yesterday; aged\74. He made a great reputation during the South African War, and Sir George White, after the siege of Ladysmith, -described him as “ the greatest supply of wisdom since Moses.” At the War Office he was responsible for carrying out far-reach-ing reforms before the Great War, during which, although over age, he held several important positions.