Overseas News and Items

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19990, 5 November 1927, Page 14 (Supplement)

Overseas News and Items

THE NEW ITALY MUSSOLINI AS UGUIST SPEECH IN FOUR LANGUAGES ROME, Oct; 21. An interesting and picturesque scene was enacted in the hall of the Horatii and the Curiatii of the Roman Capitolium when the Congress for the Scientific Organisation of Labour ■was closed. Moro than 1,000 delegates, from forty different nations, were assembled in the hall—once frequented by Roman senators —and listened to the speech of Signor Mussolini, which he delivered in four languages —Italian, English, French, and German. Signor Mussolini acted the virtuoso wnth smiling geniality. He considered himself an apostle of the scientific organisation of Labour, and said: “1 have been one of your pioneers in applying your principles to State administration and to unity of command and direction, and in Die saving of the forces of energy. You will see the happy results in the different regions of Italy, and will find that many old notions may need to be revised and corrected or entirely abandoned, because, side by side with the Italy of the ancients and the Remo of several thousand years of history, you will find a new Italy, modern Italy, agricultural Italy, industrial Italy, and an Italy with flourishng shipyards; for, in spite ofi many difficulties, we have acquired a foremost place in industry. We feel that the crisis which afflicts all countries will be brilliantly overcome by us.” Signor Mussolini was warmly cheered by the delegates, many of whom had learnt to give the Fascist and Roman salute. DEER CHANNEL SWIMMER HARD PRESSED BY HOUNDS diLath near Boulogne PARIS, Oct. 21. The only hind known to have attempted to swim the Channel is dead. It was about two and a-half years ago, when Channel swimmers were less numerous than they are now, that the attempt was made. The hind had been hard pressed by a pack of hounds in Kent, and was at last brought to bay on the seashore. Then to the surprise of her pursuers she took to the water and headed for France. With no launch to accompany her, and no gramophone to beguile the hours, the deer stuck to it for several miles, until she was picked up by a fishing boat from Etaples. Then ensued a dispute between the owner of tho hind in England and the owner of the fishing boat as to who should keep the animal. In the end she was sold ,to one M. Bosino, the owner of a garage at Le Touquet. That was the end of her wanderings. After that she lived in a largo park, where many English visitors came to See her. But her Channel swim was too much for her, or perhaps she pined for her home in Kent. At any rate she sickened recently, and, in spite of the care of the “vets.” summoned to attend her, she died. A DESPERATE RUFFIAN AUSTRIA’S SUPER-BANDIT 72 CRIMES IN SIX MONTHS. VIENNA, Oct. 21. Charged with committing no fewer than seventy-two crimes ranging from murder to petty thefts, Martin Leoian, 27 years ohd?, has been sentenced to death at Olmutz. Despite his youth. Lccian had long been known as a hardened criminal, who was the terror of whole districts in Moravia. The long catalogue oi offences brought against him hntb all been carried out in the six months between his escape from gaol in October, 1926, and his arrest in March, 1927. Lecittn was a desperate character who never hesitated to use his firearms whenever he was in a tight place. His appearance did not at all resemble that of the typical bandit. ’ Lccian last October broke out of his cell, scrambled over a high wall, aihd: escaped uniftjured amidst a hail of bullets from the prison guards. He took refuge at the house of a woman friend, who furnished him with a change (5i clothing and even procured him a set of burglar’s tools and four revolvers hnd cartridges. First he broke into a soap factory at Prerau, shot anf! woundadi the director, and threatened to kill his wife. Then, joined by an accomplice, he carried out a series of robberies in various parts of Moravia. Challenged once by a gendarme on the road, Lccian pretended not to hear, and then suddenly turned; and shot at the wounding him severely. Later Lecian broke into a shop at Iglau, where he encountered a night watchman. Without a moment’s hesitation he drew his revolver and fired nine shots, leaving tho watchman dying in a great pool of blood. A week later he broke into a photographer’s studio in Kojetein. Tho owner pursued him through the streets, when Lecian turned and; fired, wounding him JyHis second murder was committed on March 8 at Ostrau, when he shot a gendarme Who had tried to arrest him as a.suspicious character. The dying officer tried to use his revolver, but it dropped from his hand. A few hours later, at midnight, Lecian encountered four gendarmes, who called upon him to surrend.'er. His answer was a shot from his revolver. The o/fleers fired in return, but Lecian managed to escape into the forest.

Joined by twt> new accomplices, Lccian next carried out a number of robberies in Maehrisch-Qstrau, Standing, and Troppau. His last crime was committed at Reutiscfoen, where he robbed a shop and wounded a watchman

BERLIN “CAT BURGLARS £lOO,OOO IN 63 ROBBERIES “QUITE THE GENTLEMAN** BERLIN, Oct. 18. When Germany’s “king of cat burg« lars,” Fritz Wald by name, made his appearance before a Berlin court, it was stated in evidence against him that booty to the total value of 2,000,000 marks (£100,000) had rewarded the efforts of his deft fingers and still defter toes. When asked by the Bench whether he would admit sixtythree robberies charged against him, he replied indifferently that it might be three of four more or less, but ho would not challenge the figure. If not a king, Wald was at any rate a Raffles. It was in full evening dress, or, at least, dinner jacket, that he crawled along cornices to get access to incautiously open bed-room windows in the Park-Janes of Berlin and Hambourg. He disdained the use of violence, and was even courteous and considerate so far as the exigencies of his profession allowed. To the protests of a lady who awoko to find him stowing away the jewellery on het dressing-table, he replied by disgorging the plunder and retiring backwards through tho window by which he had entered, With a low bow and an apology for having disturbed her rest. When he was off duty his gallantry made many conquests in dancing halls and even in “society.” Few cavaliere could be so profuse as he in gifts of valuable jewellery. Two of his Victims shared the dock with him. One of them, the divorced wife of a wealthy merchant, (‘introduced him into the best circles of Hamburg.” Wald was not verj chivalrous towards her, for he told th< Court that she was an incorrigible lint and very historical. To the other lady at his side, the divorced wife of an hotel manager arid his companion on many motor tours, he was more polite. Indeed, he said he would have married her “if she had not beeri ho terribly unpunetuaL M ABYSSINIAN RAIDS KENYA NATIVES ATTACKED BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROTESTS LONDON, Oct. 21. A few months ago Abyssinian regulars attacked the supply column Of a British caravan in a bonder district, killing its headmen and causing other casualties among the British Somalis. In reply to British representations, the Abyssinian Government promised an inquiry and redress for the outrages. But, so far, its profession of good will would not appear to have led to any very concrete results. In the light of what precedes, it is •disquieting to le.lrn from the British authorities in Kenya that on Jone 24 last a band of some forty or fifty armed Abyssinians (whose status is not clearly defined;) raided Kenya territory in the Marsbit district, and indulged in sheepstealing at the expense of the native population. The raiders were, however, met and at once engaged by a British police patrol at Bagaga, suffering a ross of four killed and a number of Wounded. On the British side one constable was shot tdead while three wore wouridod. The Abyssinians then beat a prompt retreat to their own territory, taking with them tho rifle and equipment of the dead constable and one baggage camel. In tho absence of Sir Edward Grigg, tho Acting-Governor of Kenya at ones •dispatched ta largo body of constabm lary to search the Northern Horr area for any further trace of the raiders. The British Minister at Addjs Ababa, has been instructed to protest tb tho Abyssinian Government against this further incident, and it is hoped that this time suitable measures will bo taken by that Government without undue delay. The local authorities in tho Abyssinian frontier district would appear to be distinctly lax. GREYHOUND RACING IN CHINA NEXT SHANGHAI AND HONG KONG. LONDON, Oct. 81. The new sport of greyhound racing m about to extend to the Far East, China being t'he latest country to take measures for the opening of a racing track and the acquisition of the most approved methods of conducting the sport. A syndicate, consisting of influential business people in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and other cities, has recently been formed for the purpose of acquiring a license from the British Greyhound Racing Association to operate their patents. This right has been granted to the syndicate, and it now only remains for a company to be formed—if dlls step has not already been takoti— and for a site to be selected for the track. An official of the Greyhound Boeing Association states that it was understood operations would- begin in Shanghai in the immediate future, and probably extend to Hong Kong. The rare course will be worked in precisely the same manner as tho track at the WfiUo City. It is anticipated that the sport will arouse as keen an interest among the native population in the East as ft has excited in the cities of the W?sl, and the military element in Hhtinghai may be counted on to give a warm welcome to this latest form Of facecourse competition. It is not known whether the promoters of the Chinese company will breed their own dogs, or obtain them from England or some other country.