BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13836, 23 February 1909, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

'• Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright THE FUND. ROME, Feb. 21. King Menelik of Abyssinia has sent ; 30,000 Abyssinian dollars "to the Italian earthquake fund.. ';. THE • FRENCH.: NAVY. PARIS, Feb. 21. The French Minister of Finance refuses to agree to : the Minister of -Marine's naval credits to expend a million francs, alleging that the .scheme contains the germ of a new programme which the Treasury caunot finance. He also alleges that the naval accounts are faulty. THE BATTLESHIP FLEET. NEW YORK, Feb. 21. Elaborate preparations are being made to welcome the •American sqiiaclron at Hampton Roads. A fleet of excursion vessels,: wliich :wi)l charge exorbitant prices, is going put to meet the battleship fleet. / Received 12.55 a.m., Feb. 23rd. , NEW:YORK, Feb. 22. Admiral Sperry's . squadron 'is off Virginia. The fleet vi'as reviewed today—Washington's birthday. ; A GREAT FORTUNE. ;.-'.' ..LONDON, Feb. 21. , Mr Samuel- Roebuck, a wine manufacturer in .Brooklyn, and a reputed millionaire, has left £500,000 to his daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Bird, who is the wife of a small baker in Northampton. ' Roebuck deserted mother ;and ■ child fifty years ago. ''Received 12.55 a.pi:, Feb. 23rd. "'.. THE SANTIAGO" MYSTERY. LONDON, Feb. 22. Reuter's Santiago correspondent reports that investigation led to ex-traordinary-revelations, and the pu"blic prosecutor came to the conclusion that Beckert' invited, Bodman to the Chancellory to sign documents. The fact that Herr "Welbeek accompanied Bodman saved Bddrifari's life. It is alleged that Beckert intended, to. shoot Bpdman, and - leave a'' revolver ; beside the body, suggesting suicide, owing to:the defalcation of It is also alleged that in view of compelling the, conclusion that ,the porter's body was his own, Beckert; extracted two teeth from the rriouth-.of .the'.corpse.