NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 47

NEWS BY CABLE.

| THE SAMOA TIMES. SUVA, February 4. Mr Alport Barker, proprietor of the Fiji Tinies, has purchased a controlling interest in the Samoa Tinies. * NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL. LONDON, February 5. Lord and Lady Bledisloe arrived at Sandringham, and the King bestowed on Lord Bledisloe the insignia of the Grand Cress of St. Michael and St George. : DEATH OF CENTENARIAN. 1 RIGA, February 6. Mrs Anna Kreisler died at the age of 129. She attributed her longevity to a diet of raw herrings dipped in weak black Coffee. — SHANGHAI HIGH COURT. I SHANGHAI. February 5. It was announced to-day that the British delegates have been authorised to sign a draft agreement regarding the Shanghai High Court. I RAZOR SLASHER SENTENCED LONDON, February 4. Albert Hooker, a middle-aged man, who was convicted of wounding Constable Malone with a razor, has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with ten strokes of the cat o’ nine tails. i FOUR SETS OE TWINS. NEW YORK, February 5. A report from Indianopolis states that Mr and Mrs Harvey Clark are the parents of twin girls, and three other sets of twins (all boys). They were born within 45 months. ’ BRITAIN AND EGYPT. CAIRO. February 6. The Chamber of Deputies passed a resolution, with four dissentients, granting Cabinet a mandate to negotiate a treaty with -Great Britain on the basis of the British proposals.

COMMUNISTS IN JAVA. WELTEVREDEN, February 9. A group of native Communists interned at Digoel camp, South New Guinea, escaped over the Fly River, in Papua territory. Others were driven back. < FIRE ON OIL STEAMER. ' SYDNEY, February 5. It is reported from Sourabaya (Java) that fire damaged the oil tanker Anatina, the engine and boiler rooms suffering particularly. The vessel left Fremantle on January 18. LATE MR ANDREW FISHER. LONDON, February 7. Mr Ramsay MacDonald unveiled a granite obelisk as a memorial to the late Mr Andrew Fisher, at Hampstead Cemetery. It was erected by friends of the former Australian Labour Prime Minister. TOWEL LEFT IN WOUND. OTTAWA, February 3. A report from Edmonton states that the physicians have been exonerated in the case of the death of Mrs Ruth Alsen through a towel being left in a wound when it was sewn up. A nurse admitted having failed to cheek the towels. SPEED RACING CAR. LONDON, February 5. The Daily News says that in order to further Australian interest in British ear products Lord Wakefield has consented to Sir Henry Segrave’s Golden Arrow touring Australia this year. It will afterwards be permanently exhibited in the South Kensington Museum. BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY. LONDON, February 3. The motor industry reports an improvement, production now being 20 per cent, higher than for the same period last year, and some lines arc even higher, notably ■ light cars. Others are feeling the uncertainty arising from budget possi bilitics. SIR A. CONAN DOYLE. LONDON. February 4. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has practically lieen confined to bis room for the past two months. He strained his heart during a campaign in Scandinavia, and Spiritualists throughout the world daily offer special prayers for restoration of hie health. P. AND O. COMPANY. SYDNEY, February G. The P. and O. Company has decided to make Brisbane its terminal port of cal for royal Mail liners as from December next. The vessels will remain in Sydney for six, instead of twelve, days. Orient liners hav ’ 2en calling at Brisbane for 20 years.

WONDERS OF WIRELESS. NEW YORK. February 4. A Schenectady’ message states that a radio programme was broadcast by Station W2 XAF to Sydney, where station VK2 ME returned it to Schenectady, where it was again broadcast over

to station WGY, and thus American listeners heard their own programme in one-eighth of a second after starting a round trip of 24,000 miles. INDIAN RAILWAY STRIKE. DELHI, February 5. The long-expected strike on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, where the union is much under Bolshevist control, began yesterday. The areas principally affected are Bombay and suburbs, where the workshops are idle. The local and through services are being maintained with difficulty. IMPER I AL CON FER EN ( E. Arrangements have been completed for holding the next Imperial Conference in London in October. The Imperial Economic Conference v ill be held in London simultaneously. The Home Government desired the latter conference to be held earlier, but some of the dominions poi.'ted <nt the inconvenience of summoning two conferences at different periods. OPIUM MANUFACTURE. LONDON, February 8. The Advisory Opium Committee at Geneva unanimously adopted a plan to limit the manufacture of narcotics, by which each country will estimate its re quirements for medical and scientific purposes. Quotas will then be allocated to the manufacturing countries by mutual agreements between the manufacturers i ami the < ■overnments. CRIME IN AMERICA. WASHINGTON, February G. President Hoover announced that “ at my urgent request ” Major-general Crosby, of the United States Army, will, on March 21, assume command of the police and allied services in the district of Columbia as “a guarantee to official and unofficial residents, and to the nation at large that the capitol of the nation will be free of organised crime.” (OLDS AND INFLUENZA. LONDON, February 7. Basing his ease upon the reports of the Ministry of Health that the effect of common colds and influenza cost Britain 7,000,090 working days per annum, eight leading industrialists and business men, headed by Lords Blyth and \\ akefield, have issued a statement urging the employers to spread a knowledge of preventives and to ensure the medical supervision of their workers. SHIPPING FREIGHTS. MELBOURNE. February 6.

Reports have been received from Lon don indicating that the overseas shipping companies trading with Australia are about to increase their freights. This action is contemplated because they fear heavy losses through the decline of im ports to Australia following the recent tariff increases, the loss of outward wool cargoes, the suspension of migration to Australia, and the general depression. MISS MURIEL STARR. SYDNEY, February 7. Members of the theatrical profession in Australia, like the professional musicians, have been severely hit by the talkies, and the majority are unable to pay their way. An outstanding instance of the bad times was revealed to-day. when Miss Muriel Starr voluntarily sequestrated her estate. Her liabilities are £.3900. . She is a noted actress who formerly received a very high salary. FLOODS IN TANGANYIKA. CAPETOWN, February 4. Reports from Tanganyika state that the worst Hoods within living memory have created an alarming position. Lake Gombo is rising rapidly, and a temporary bridge replacing one that was washed away is already submerged. The good.traffic up country has been suspended for the last four weeks, and consequently there is a shortage of supplies. The position must affect the Prince of Wales’s trip. ( A N ADI AN B ROADI ASTS. OTTAWA, February 5. The Minister of Marine (Mr P. J. A Cardin) introduced a Bill in the House of Commons for the purpose of nationalising radio broadcasting in Canada There will be a series of super-stations erected at the Government's expense for the encouragement of better Canadian programmes, with British and Australian hook-ups rather than those from the United States, whose wireless now Hoods the Dominion’s air. SPANISH QUEEN MOTHER. MADRID, February 7. The anniversary of the Queen Mother’s death was made the occasion of an amnesty under which artillery officers have not only been pardoned but reappointed to their old ranks and posts. Professors and students have been rehabilitated, and officials and civilians suffering 'rom the consequences of rebellion, sedition, and political offences have been reinstated. Exiles have been allowed to return to their homes. It has been decided to turn the Union Patriotiea into a political party and to submit candidates at the elections.

IIATRY GROUP CRASH. LONDON, February 5. The Evening Standard publishes a telegram from the Italian Government in reply to the Standard's message to Signor Mussolini that the British public is excited over the possibility of Gialdini escaping punishment. Italy will willingly arrest Gialdini if Britain supplies the necessary reasons. There is no right of asylum for criminals, and if the charges are warranted Gialdini will be tried in Italy. DIVORCED PERSONS' REMARRIAGE. LONDON, February 8. The Bishop of St. Edmunsbury and Ipswich (Dr Whittingham) in a communication to the diocese regarding remarriage of divorced persons, declared that the innocent party is entitled to be remarried in church, but he was not prepared to say that in no case ought a person against whom a decree nisi is issued to be married in church. This viewpoint is at variance with the pronouncements of his fellow bishops and is calculated to cause a controversy. REVISED PRAYER BOOK. DELHI, February 2. The Indian Episcopal Synod, meeting at Calcutta, adopted a new constitution, canons, and rules for the church, and adopted a resolution requesting the Government to appoint March 1 as the date for the legal severance of 4 he Church of India, Burma, and Ceylon from the Church of England. The synod further decided to permit the churches to use the revised Prayer Book except the controversial parts of the communion service. BEAM WIRELESS. LONDON, February .3. In the House of Commons, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in reply to a question, said that the Postmaster-general had not refused to use beam wireless for overseas telephony. On the contrary, a Cabinet Committee was considering the subject. Mr Howard-Bury: Is it not a fact that the Imperial beam has been neglected and allowance made to an American company, prejudicing Empire communications seriously? Mr MacDonald: I understand that is inaccurate, but the question should be addressed to the Postmaster-general. PARTY WARFARE. RIO JANEIRO. February 7.

Vice-President Mello Vianna went to Monte Carlos, in the State of Alinasgeraes, to heal the party warfare in connection with the pending presidential election. He gave a banquet to the principal citizens, and had just made the leading speech of the evening when his enemies opened tire from the rear of the hall. Vianna himself was wounded, and five were killed, ineluding Raphael Cleury, the \ ice-President's secretary. Doila Bella, a well-known engineer and sportsman, of Rio Janeiro, was also killed.

AIR SPEED RECORD. RUGBY, February (>. An attempt will be made shortly in this country to break the present air speed record of .357.7 miles per hour created by Squadron-leader Orlebar at Calshot last September. The new attempt will be made in a Gloster-Napier (5 machine, which was built for the Schneider trophy race, but did not participate owing to trouble with the petrol feeding system. This difficulty has now been solved, and the builders of the machine and the engineers are confident of its ability to set up a new speed record. The attempt will be made at Felixstowe. DUSSELDORF MURDERER. ’ BERLIN, February 8. Renewed alarm prevails at Dusseldorf owing to the reported reappearance of “ The Ripper.” A woman who lives in the neighbourhood of where the crimes were committed was going shopping, and she allowed her four-year-old girl to walk a street ahead of her. When the mother reached the street she saw the child arm in arm with a man walking in the direction of the waste ground which was the scene of the last murders. She called out, and the man ran and succeeded in mounting a tram which was passing. The mother’s descriptit ’ tallies with the police description of “The Ripper.” BRITISH BY-ELECTION. LONDON, February 7. The Sheffield by-election, which was necessitated by Mr Arthur Ponsonby's elevation to the peerage, resulted as follows: — F. Marshall (Lab.) .. .. 11.54.3 Hamar Russell (Con.) .. 8.012 W. A. Lambert (Lib.) .. 3.650 J. Murphy (Com.) 1,084 The last-named will forfeit his de posit. The voting at the general election was as follows:—A. I’onsonby (Lab.) 20.277. R. I. Monev (Con.) 9828. W. A. Lambert (Lib.) 6(512. FREE STATE CENSUS. LONDON, February 4. The Irish Free State census figures which have just been issued, reveal that the country possesses the world’s highest percentage of bachelors, and there is a marked tendency to late marriages. n e tween the ages of 20 and 30 the per eentage of bachelors is SO, and between 30 and 35 it is 62. The next highest

known percentage of bachelors is in Sweden, where the percentage of bachelors between 25 and 30 is 04. The corresponding figures in England and Wales are 45, and in America 35. The returns also show that one out of every four women who remain in the Free State never marries. FORGED SOVIET NOTES. BERLIN, February 8. There was a surprising end to the Karunidze trial, the three defendant® being acquitted by the order of the court and the proceedings against the remain der have been abandoned. It was de elared that the defendants were actuated by unselfish political motives and were entitled to the amnesty granted to political prisoners on the occasion of Presi dent Hindenburg’s eightieth birthday. Ihe public prosecutor is asking for a retrial. The newspapers express amazement, and ask whether political elements in Germany are at liberty to counterfeit currency for the purpose of overturning the Government. ( HIEF JUSTICE TAFT RESIGNS. WASHINGTON. February .3. Chief Justice Taft resigned on' Monday. The condition of his health is believed to be the cause. President Hoover has nominated Mr Charles Evans Hughes to succeed Chief Justice Taft. Mr W. 11. Taft is 72 years of age. He was President of the United States from 1999 till 1913. He was secretary for War from 1904 to 1908 in Mr Roosevelt’s Cabinet. Among other positions held by Mr Taft were those of Civil Governor of the Philippines and Governor of Cuba. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921. Mr Hughes is a former Secretary of State. EXECUTIONS IN RUSSIA. RIGA, February 3. The greatest massacre of officers since the early days of the Soviet revolution is reported. T) e Ogpr carried out a mass execution of all the remaining ex-naval officers —amounting to several hundred—who had not entered the Soviet service, although they remained in Russia. The victims were shot various prison camps, where they had beer confined since last year. The relatives appealed to their coreligionists at Riga to hold requiems, which arc not permitted in Russia. Accordingly the Orthodox Russian Church is organising a great service to-morrow. MOSCOW, February 4. The Sox iet denies the reported wholesale shooting of ex-naval officers. ( HANGING FASHIONS. LONDON. February 4. An exhibition of fashions in the leading houses confirms the forecast that a dress revolution is taking place. The rigid straight line is definitely gone, with a complete revival of ornamental side Howers, laces, and ribbons. Even the fans of our grandmothers are reappearing. Large bouquets, harmonising with the dress, are prominent. The boyish tailor-made costume is swept J aside by an enveloping robe heavily tucked and frilled. Incidentally, skirts are much longer.

This complete reversal is causing uneasiness in London, where the fashion artists are urging war against Paris dictation. liven medical men and hygienists are urging London women in the interests of their health, not to submit to the Paris onslaught.

ATROCITEES IN RUSSIA. LONDON, February 4. The Christian Protest Movement has received a letter from a Russian Orthodo . bishop endorsing the campaign against religious persecution in Russia and instancing cruelties inflicted on Russian priests, including Father Nectarius, belonging to Moscow. lie was beaten and dragged by his feet, and his arms and legs were broken. Wooden nails were driven into his head and temples. Molten lead was poured into his mouth in derision of the Eucharist. Finally he was flung into a cauldron of boiling water. Nicodemus, Bishop of Belgorod, was arrested at Christmas time. lie was beaten and stripped and led out naked into the snow’ and water poured over him until he was a pillar of ice. Andronicius, Archbishop of Perm, was dragged through the streets of the city. His eyes were poked out and his cheeks cut away, causing many of his flock to become insane through terror. CANADIAN TARIFF. VANCOUVER, February 6. A message from Regina states that disbelief that increased tariffs, as advocated by the Conservatives, would solve the problems of Canada or eliminate seasonal difficulties with unemployment, was expressed in an address there tonight by the Minister of Finance (Mr Dunning). Experience in other countries proved conclusively the fallacy of the idea, he said, quoting the United States and Australia, the former having 3.999.999 unemployed and the latter 159.999.

He stated: “Canada, with a more moderate tariff, has much less unemployment than the United States or Australia. The Liberal policy of adjustments up or down, depending upon a study of all the factors involved, and having regard only to the interests of the Canadian people, is surely the best policy for the country at the present time. The best proof of the soundness of the policy is the tremendous strides Canada has made in the past eight years.”

AMERICAN "TALKIES.” ■SYDNEY, February 9. The inroads made by the “talkies” on the legitimate stage continue. Last night the curtain was rung down finally on a drama in one city theatre, with Richard Bellairs, an Australian actor, pleading for his life in the final scene. 1 hen it rose to display Mr Bellairs in real life making an appeal that Australia s own actors should be given a chance. He denounced tlfb American talkies ” in strong terms, and the small audience applauded. The speaker said that people were patronising canned ” drama to the detriment of their own fellow citizens, who were trying to give them clean entertainment. Several shows had been closed, throwing hundreds of men and women out of employment. It is not that Australian plays were no good, as some which were unable to get a hearing here were having long runs abroad. dumping OF food products. RUGBY’, February 3. Tn the House of Commons the Prime Alinister (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) was asked whether he would introduce immediate legislation to stop the dumping of food products in this country below the cost of production in the countries of origin through the machinery of Government subsidies. '1 he Prime Minister said that the Government was a party to the International Convention for abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions, and action of the kind suggested would be in opposition to this-. The question had been very seriously considered, and the first obstacles to action of the class suggested were treaties and agreements, which would have to be denounced. It certainly was a subject that would have to be carefully and thoroughly examined, aim the Government hail come to the conclusion that the first place for raising it was at Geneva. PRISONER'S LEAP TO DEATH. LONDON. February 3. Fear of the "cat o’ nine tails” led James Spiers, who was sentenced on Friday to 10 years’ penal servitude and 15 strokes of the “ cat ” for a brutal attempt to rob a city cashier, to leap over a banister and fall headlong 25 feet to the stone tloo’- of Wandsworth Prison. He died a few minutes after being sent to hospital. Spiers was being h d to the triangle when he broke away in the I presence of officials and visiting justices. Tire Daily Express uses the incident as an argument for abolition of this form of puni.'-iim -nt. February 5. The jury returned a verdiet at the inquest on Spiers that he committed suicide during temporary insanity brought on by the thought of a long term of imprisonment. No fault rested with the prison officials. The widow gave evidence that --he saw Spiers at the Central Criminal Court after the sentence. He said: “Never mind; I cannot possibly get that time.” She asked: “What about the flogging?” And he replied: “I don’t mind that. It is the 19 years to which I object.” LEGISLATORS QUARREL.

CAPETOWN, February 7

Senator Boydell (e.x-AI inister of Labour) knocked out Mr Marwick (member for Illovo, Natal). Both had attended a meeting of the Empire Parliamentary Association, and were leaving the committee room at noon, when Mr Boydell stopped Mr Marwick in the corridor and demanded an apology, referring to criticisms made in Parliament on Mr Boydell's administration of a sugar estate on which a “ poor white ” experiment had failed. Air Marwick refused to apologise and attempted to brush past Mr Boydell, who hit him in the face. Mr Marwick replied with a blow between the eyes. Mr Boydell drew back and administered a knock-out. Air Marwick fell heavily and was unconscious for half a hour. When the House met the Leader of the Opposition, amid tense silence, raised the incident as a question of privilege. The Speaker suggested that a Select Committee should co-operate with the Senate. The Prime Minister accepted this proposal, whereupon notice was given for Alon day. EARLY AUSTRALIAN RECORDS. LONDON, February 6. Mr J. B. Morrett, of Melbourne, while searching in a London cellar, discovered a large dust-covered leather case in which were letters patent dated 1847 from the Archbishop of Canterbury creating Dr Charles Perry the first Bishop of Melbourne. Three perfectly-preserved parchments, beautifully adorned, proclaim: “That the town of Melbourne shall henceforth be a city, and be called the city of Alelbonrne. The Cathedral Church shall be called at St. James’s. A huge brown wax, slightly qhipped privy seal, depicting Queen Victoria enthroned, is attached to the parchments.

The fact that an office cleaner at the Inland Revenue Department is a keen stamp collector brought to light a missing link in Ta mania’s philatelic history. Among a litter of waste paper the cleaner discovered an old and discoloured letter with the sketch of a stamp. lie took it to the vice-president of the Royal Philatelic Society, who identified it a» the design of Tasmania's first London printed stamp sent by the Governor of Tasmania in 1853 to the Colonial Secretary (the Duke of Newcastle).

PRESS ATTACKS RESENTED. LONDON, February 8. The Daily News discloses that after his Coliseum speech on February 5, Mr Baldwin took the opportunity at a semiprivate Conservative dinner to make a slashing retort to the anti-Baldwin campaign which Lord Rothermere is conducting in the Daily Mail. The former Prime Minister declared that he did not i desire the Daily Mail’s support, nor would he give up the Conservative leadership. The newspaper attacks were personal and unfair. As for Lord llothermere’s reputation for efficiency it was Lord Northcliffe who made the Daily Mail. Lord Rothermere muddled his job as Air Minister in 1917-18, and he resigned because an attack on his administration was pending. Probably he would not have got the post except for Lord Northcliffe’s influence. On being interviewed by the Daily News, Lord Rothermere said he had just returned from America, and had no knowledge of what Mr Baldwin said, and was not concerned with what he said. “Mr Baldwin is a completely incompetent person, who, by the accident of post-war polities, fluked his way into high office.”

monument to war heroes

RUGBY, February 3.

Mr Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary) has 'ddressed a letter to Sir lan Malcolm, one of the three British directors of the Suez Canal Company in Paris, informing him that arrangements are being made for his Majesty's ship Caledon to proceed to Isinailia to be present at the unveiling of the monument which the Suez Canal Company has erected there in commemoration of the services and sacrifices of the Allied forces during the Great War for the defence of Egypt and the protection of the Suez Canal. Mr Henderson expressed, on behalf of the British Government, the hope that this monument may perpetuate for al' time not only the gallantry of the officers and the men to whose memory it is dedicated, but also the gratitude of those upou whose behalf the supreme sacrifice was made. I SMALT A, February 4. A distinguished gathering of representatives of the Allies attended the unveiling of the war memorial by Marquis Devogue, chairman of the Canal Company, who paid a tribute to the exploits of the warships and troops, including the New Zealanders and Australians. THE WHEAL SLUMP. NEW YORK, February 7. It is estimated that during the last six months the potential wealth of the farmers has been reduced by approximately 395,000,000 dollars as' the result of the slump in wheat. The proposed entry of the Farm Board in the weakened national and international markets is said to be an unprecedented peace time action by the Federal Government toward attempted control of raw foodstuffs for the benefit of the producers. Any losses that might occur in the process would lie repaid from a revolving fund of 500,000,000 dollars appropriated by Congress last June amt equalised from the profits of the board during the more favourable seasons. The chairman (Mr Legge) described the process as what “ might be termed an extraordinary or emergency operation, whereby, because of a large surplus of any commodity, there would be bought and taken off the market some considerable part of the tonnage in order to relieve the pressure, and carrying the product until some future date in the nope that there would be a more favourable opportunity of disposing of it.” GAS IN WARFARE. LONDON, February 3. “ Dreadful as it is, gas is far more humane than high explosives. It caused less temporary and permanent suffering in proportion to the military results of the war,” said Dr Herbert Levinstein (president of the Society of Chemical Industry). Criticising the “illusory character " of treaties regarding gas warfare. he declared that the Geneva protocol enabled the use of smoke screens and perhaps tear gas and poison fumes. He contended that the limitation of naval armaments increased the importlance of the chemical arm, and pointed out that methods of using gas could quickly he adopted, including large stocks of gas in cylinders, which would be immediately available in all countries where the alkali in dv.stry existed. These could be thrown out from aircraft, tanks, armoured cars, ami other vehicles. He urged that the War Office should keep in close contact with chemical research. ’The improvisation of chemical war material might be vital to our existence.

Dr Levinstein added: “It is therefore satisfactory to know that the British chemical industry emerged from the war stronger and greater in capacity, production, and research.” IT ELD FOR RANSOM. SHANGHAI, February 6. Three members of the China Inland Mission—Misses E. Cajander, E. E. Ingiuan, and A. A. Hedengren—all Finns, were captured by brigands in the Kiangse province on February 3, while travelling by boat between Changsha and Kian. Particulars are not available, but it is believed that the ladies are being held for ransom. Miss Cajander has been in China for 32 years, and the others for over 20. (Misses Cajander and Ingman suffered recently a similar experience. When the

city of Yunghsin was looted a few weeks ago, in order that they might escape capture Chinese sympathisers hid them by building them into a hole in a wall. Misses Cajander, Ingman, and Hedengren were members of the Finland Free Mission Society, which is one of the Continental organisations which are associated with the China Inland Mission, and have the advantages of all the latter body's facilities in China. Miss Cajander joined the society in 1898, being sent to the Yuanchow district. Miss Hedengren commenced her career as a missionary in 1909 in the Yungfeng province, and Miss Ingman has been associated with tiie work in China since 1903.

ALLEGED MURDER. LONDON. February S. Laurence Griffin, a Free State postman, disappeared at Stradbally, County Galway, on Christmas Night, and a police search for the body in the neighbourhood of a mine shaft was unsuccessful. A sensational allegation that Griffin was sewn up in a blanket while he was still alive and thrown over a bridge or down the mine shaft was made by the State Prosecutor in Waterford Police Court, when ten inhabitants of Stradbally, ineluding Thomas Cashin, a school teacher. Edmund Morrissey, a labourer, Patrick Whelan, an hotelkeeper, his wife, son, and daughter. and two civic guards were charged with murdering Griffin and conspiring to dispose of his body. The prosecution asserted that the missing man was knocked down by Cashin during a quarrel in an hotel bar, and hit his head on a stove, after which he neither moved nor spoke. The injured man, while still living, was sewn up in a blanket which was brought by (Mrs Whelan, placed in Cashin‘s car. and disposed of. There were a number of persons present, but no one thought of sending for a doctor. The thought uppermost in all minds was that they must get rid of Griffin. The accused pleaded not guilty, and were remanded.

WAR BOOKS COX DEAINF.D. LONDON, February 3. (Major John Hay Beith (better known as lan Hay. the novelist), addressing a congregation of men at Coventry Cathedral, made a spirited protest against books which belittle the soldier It was said, he remarked, that a proper hatred of war had recently developed, but the natural reprobation of war was being allowed to obscure people's judg ment to such an extent that they were inclined to transfer the horror of war itself to the men who fought. The soldier suffered more ups and downs in the popular esteem than any other man He could not help feeling being unneces sarily belittled at present —indeed, insulted. “ We are submerged by a flood of socalled war books which depict the men > who fought for us in the late war. For I the most part they are depicted as brutes and beasts, living like pigs and dying like dogs. Some of these books were conceived in dirt and published for the profit that the dirt would bring. The most admirable thing in the British soldier is his unconquerable cheerfulness in the utmost squalor and discomfort, even in the face of death itself. In order to express a genuine horror of war it is sometimes said to be a representative picture of the British soldiers when one is depicted as keeping up his courage by drink. The would-be realists overlook the soldier’s desire that he should not be printed in the blackest of colours.” SPANISH POLITICS. MADRID, February 3. A rousing welcome was given to the released artillery officers and men, who were imprisoned a year ago for a revolt against General de Rivera. All the students have resumed a peaceful life, and the whole city is tranquil under General Berenguor’s programme of restoring full constitutional liberty. “Spiritual peace and material trani quility for all Spaniards by a complete welding of the past and the future, without abrupt changes, and keeping everything the dictatorship left in its constructive policy, are the chief aims of the Government.” said General Beren guer, when addressing the captains-gene-ral. “I believe that Spain lias entered a path which will lead quickly to a splendid renaissance.” PARIS. February 5. ( Don Orte Cacasset (leader of the Spanish Liberal exiles), on the eve of going to Spain, predicted the establishment of a republic. He said: “General Berenguer cannot last more than a few months. It is a ‘ Save the King ’ Cabinet, without a single representative of a vital party. The nation is waiting '.o sec whether, as feared, the dictatorship is to be restored. If so, a revolution will follow. If General Primo de Rivera had not resigned a revolution would have broken out from Cadiz. The garrisons had pledged their support, likewise the navy and the flying corps.” He stated that he was returning to test the genuineness of the political amnesty. COM M U NIST PROP AG AN DA. RUGBY, February 3. A number of questions were put to M< Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary) in the House of Commons this afternoon about Communist propaganda in this country. Mr Henderson restated the Government’s position. The Government, he said, was firmly determined not to be rushed into any hasty judgment in these matters. Should causes of serious complaint arise, the Government would

not hesitate to take the House into its confidence, but it must in the first instance be the judge as to auy action which might be expedient or necessary to safeguard the interests of the country. Mr Henderson was asked if he had denied a statement which appeared in Isvcstia (the organ of the Soviet Government) that it was futile to expect any change in the Comintern’s activity as a result of the Anglo-Soviet agreement, and if it was not a fact that from the moment the treaty was signed the terms of it had been flagrantly broken. Mr Henderson said he had denied nothing. Sir Austen Chamberlain (formerly Foreign Secretary) recalled that on a previous occasion Mr Henderson had said that he had made representations to the Soviet Ambassador about propaganda by the Third International, and that Mr Henderson had then stated that he had not asked for an answer. Sir Austen Chamberlain asked whether an answer had now been given by the Soviet Ambassador. Mr Henderson replied that there were occasions Mien the public interest demanded silence. COAL MIXES BILL. RUGBY, February 5. The Coal Mines Bill was considered by the House of Commons last night, and it was announced that the Government had decided to adopt the Liberals’ proposal to postpone Part I of the Bill, which includes the proposed marketing scheme. Mr Baldwin protested against the Government’s action in not affording the opportunity of longer notice of the proposed change resulting from the arrangement between the Government and the Liberal Party. Mr Lloyd George said the proposal was logical, and it was in accordance with tradition to discuss first supply and then ways and means. 'The motion to postpone consideration of Part I of the Bill was carried by 276 to 131. LONDON, February G. The House of Commons, in committee on the Coal (Mines Bill, discussed the reduction of the working Jay to seven and a-half hours. The debate primarily ranged round Mr Robert Horne's amendment, substituting for a rigid seven and a-half hours’ day a spread-over of 90 hours per fortnight. This, coupled with an early start on Saturday, would enable the miners to work a full shift, and yet be at liberty on Saturdays for football, dog racing, and other sports. (Mr Horne argued that the compresing of the hours into 11 days in a fortnight would be a great advantage to the industry, whereas a seven and a-half hours day would cost an additional Is 6d a ton.

Mr Vernon Hartshorn and other Labour members opposed the amendment, which was rejected by 292 votes to 197. CABLES AND WIRELESS. LONDON, February 5. As the result of negotiations between Imperial Communications', Ltd., and Amalgamated Wireless, an agreement has been reached, pending final approval, for assimilating the cable and wireless rates, subject to higher rates for urgent messages. This brings the cable charges roughly down to the wireless levels. Representations will be made to the Australian Post Office about landline charges. Imperial Communications has renewed its offer to the British Post Office to use beam wireless telephony to Australia, and its offer to abide by a comparative test with the Post Office, with independent arbitration. MELBOURNE, February 6. The Director of Postal Services (Mr H. P. Brown) to-day said that he had no information confirming the cabled statement of to-day that Imperial Com munications and Amalgamated Wirelcs* had reached an agreement for assimilating cable and wireless rates, thereby reducing cable charges down to wireless levels. Mr Brown added that the message seemed to him very wide of the mark. There was no actual agreement, and the whole matter was still in the hands of the Commonwealth Government. Ko finality had been reached in co-ordina-tion of the services, but lengthy discussions had taken place and tentative schemes proposed, but all these lacked the ratification of the Government. Mr Brown pointed out that the important question of tariffs was in the hands or an Imperial Advisory Committee, and he had no knowledge of any action being taken by it.

WORLD'S SHIPBUILDING

RUGBY, February 5. A comprehensive survey of the world's shipbuilding is contained in the annual summary of Lloyd's Register. The gross tonnage of sea going steel and iron steamships and motor ships in all countries last June was nearly G 3,000,000, an increase of over 20,000,000 tons, or nearly 50 per cent., on the figure in June, 1914. Last year a tonnage of over 1,500,000 was launched in Great Britain and Ireland alone. This was nearly 300,000 tons more than the combined output of the rest of tiie world, and 54.5 per cent, of the total, as compared with 53. G per cent, in each of the two previous years. At the end of last year the tonnage under construction throughout the world was 423,000 tons more than in December, 1928, and of this increase the respective shares of Great Britain and Ireland and of the rest of the world were 317.000

and 176,000 tons. As compared with Great Britain and Ireland’s production of over 1,500,000 tons last year, the outputs of the other principal shipbuilding countries were:—Germany 249,000 tons, Holland 188,000, Japan 1G4.000, the United States 126.000, Denmark 111,000, and Sweden 107,000. Over 17 pel cent, of Britain’s total output was for owners living abroad. "’his figure shows an increase on the previous year. The general conclusion drawn from the figures is that the shipbuilding outlook is brighter than in recent years. The work which has just been begun has not only reached a high level, but it more than replaces the tonnage launched. Nevertheless, the capacity of the British yards still largely exceeds the demand. This is due to the wholesale manner in which they were extended during the war and the severe restrictions of naval work since its end.

DANGEROUS DRIVING. LONDON, February 7. Several cricketers appeared at the Marlborough Street Police Court, when -Mrs Chapman, the wife of the test captain and sister of Lowry, the New Zealand cricketer, was summoned for dangerous driving. Mr AL D. Lyon, the Somerset batsman defended the accused. A policeman gave evidence that defendant drove down Langham place at a speed of from 15 to 20 miles per hour. She did not slacken speed, and collided with a car at the crossing. When told she would l>e summoned, she said: “I suppose it will lie a fiver. I am a stranger in London, and am not used to driving here." Cross-examined, witness would not admit that the speed was only eight miles per hour. Defendant, giving evidence, said she was driving her husband and a friend. She did not see the policeman owing to the monument. She then jammed on the brakes immediately. The magistrate suggested that she ought to have gone slower. Defendant replied: If I had gone quicker I would have got through. Chapman, giving evidence, estimated the speed at 10 miles per hour. He narrated that when he told the policeman his name he asked “A. P. F.? ” Witness replied in the affirmative. The policeman then said: “That makes the case worse. You ought to plead the menu ment as an excuse; it lias caused a lot of trouble.” Witness added that he had since visited the spot, and it was impossible to see the policeman at night time owing to the monument. The magistrate expressed the opinion that the presence of the monument only necessitated greater caution, and he lined the defendant £7, with £3 costs. Iler license was also suspended for six weeks.

' MURDERED BY BANDITS. SHANGHAI, February 0

What is regarded as conclusive evidence of the murder at the hands of bandits of Mr D. F. Pike, an Australian missionary, who had been attached to the China Inland Mission since 1902, was discovered by another missionary (Mr Crofts), who conducted a lengthy search in territory in the vicinity of Kweichow, which is infested by jobbers. The search resulted in the finding of Ml - Pike's horse and saddle in the possession of a bandit gang, who were arrested by the authorities. Mr Crofts reported that the same gang confessed to participating in the capture of Mr Pike, but denied knowledge of his whereabouts. Search led Mr Crofts to a village in precipitous gorges, where a Moslem woman reported seeing a foreigner standing in the midst of a band of robbers in the market place of Chingshan, with his hands tied. He was bareheaded, and was preaching the Gospel in fluent Chinese. The people wished to assist the stranger, but were afraid of the bandits, who later carried their victim off. Continued search resulted in the finding of the villagers, who described Mr Pike's death. Still preaching the Gospel, he was taken to a lonely rock overlooking a rushing torrent and shot through the heart, his body falling into the river. The authorities deny the story. Air Pike, who was a native of Tasmania, was a married man with a family. He received his training for missionary work at the Adelaide Training Home under the Rev. Lockhart Alorton, and Ke went io China with the China Inland Alission in 1902. Airs Pike also took up the work in the following year. He was stationed at Onshun, in the Kweichow district. Since news of I his death came to hand, it is stated that I Air Pike's son and daughter have volun i teered as missionaries in their father's i place, and they hope to he among the 200 that have been called for by the mission.

ANTI GOD RUSSI AN CAMPAIGN. ROME, February 8. The Popo, in a letter to Cardinal Ompili, condemns the sacrilegious wickedness perpetrated in Russia against God and against the souls of men, and he invites the bishops and Catholics throughout the world to pray for the cessation of moral and material destruction of religions constituting one-sixth of those in the globe. He announces that he will celebrate mass of atonement. propitiation, and reparation at St. Peters on March 19. He deplores the fact that the Soviet is perverting the youth and contaminating their souls

with all sorts of vices, thus destroying the intelligence of human nature. He adds that had the nations assembled at the Genoa Conference in 1922 acceded to his request to agree to insist on religious freedom in Russia it would have spared many evils. The material interests which prevented such a 1 espouse would have been better served if the governments had respected the interests of God.

The Pope denounced the burning of hundreds of churches, the suppression of Sunday, and public acts of sacrilege, swh as mock religious processions and spitting on the Cross. <( , LONDON, February 7. “ Foreigners are often amazed at the passivity with which Russians bear the Soviet s outrageous insults on religion, but to judge fairly one must remember the constant espionage and terrorism, including executions which average five a day, to which they are subjected,” said the former Prime Alinister, AL Kerensky, in a speech at Oxford. Everyone was solely dependent on the Government, which is the only employer, and auy expressiors of religious convictions meant unemployment, withdrawal of the ration card, and speedy death from starvation. The Red Army's officers and soldiers were in an even more unenviable position. In pursuance of the policy of making the army a nursery of Atheism the men were subjected continually to spying openly and secretly. These persecutions were tending to unite the population in common hatred of the dictatorship. MISSING RUSSIAN REFUGEE. BARIS. Februarj- 3. The Russian refugees’ newspaper, Renaissance, is offering £BOO for information regarding the recent kidnapping of General Koutepoff. It is said that eyewitnesses mention that a woman in a fur coat acted as decoy, but according to the Petit I’arisien the police are satisfied that a woman was not connected with the affair. " MOSCOW, February 3. M. Dovgalevsky has notified the French Government that General Koutepoff’s supporters are planning a raid on the Soviet Embassy, with the object of causing a Franco-Russian rupture. The Soviet Press bitterly protests against the hostility of the French newspaper comments arising from the Koutepoff affair. LONDON, February 5. An official message from Aloscow hints that General Koutepoff, fearing displacement, went to South America, taking a considerable sum of the Alonarehist funds for safe keeping. Meanwhile. AL Dovgalevsky, the Soviet Alinister in Paris, has twice appealed to the authorities to protect the Embassy against a raid by White Russians. The police dec’are that there are no grounds for expecting a laid, but they quickly strengthened the guard. Another report says that General Koutepoff is hiding in Switzerland. PARIS, February 5. ’Die police speedily falsified the Aloscow suggestion that General Koutepoff took a huge sum of money to South America. It is established that the whole of the White Russians’ fund is safe in the hands of General Koutepoff’s successor (General Aliller). Three thousand volunteer Whites are searching Paris for the grey limousine in which it is believed that a bogus policeman kidnapped General Koutepoff. February 8.

The first important piece of evidence in the complicated search for General Koutepoff has been provided by an hotelkeeper at the Chateau Renard, 70 miles south of Paris. A mud covered limousine corresponding to that used stopped outside the hotel, and the chauffeur, who was fatigued, entered and asked for a double glass of rum. It was noticed that three men crouched inside the car and particular attention was paid to a huge sack, bulky enough to contain a Ixxly, which was lying beside the chauffeur's feet. Shortly after its departure a led taxi passed at great speed.

Ihe police believe that the body may have been taken for disposal in the marshy lakes at Alelleroy, towards which the chauffeur asked direction.