NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 26 December 1924

26 DECEMBER 1924

A meeting of the French Cabinet approved a memorandum from M. Herriot expressing the opinion that it was impossible to evacuate the Cologne zone by January 10.

The Paris Eclair publishes an account of M. Herriot’s conversations with Mr Ramsay MacDonald at Chequers in the summer, when the French Premier emphasised the dangers which threatened France on her eastern frontier.

Mr Bruce, the Australian Prime Minister, has informed the Imperial Government that it would be difficult for him to attend a special meeting of the Imperial Conference in March to discuss the Geneva Protocol, and he has suggested that the matter could be settled by cable. A similar view is understood to be held by the Canadian Government.

A fire broke out at a Christmas entertain- ment in a school at Hobart, Oklahoma, U.S.A., and 40 persons lost their lives.

A terrible air disaster occurred near the Croydon Aerodrome. The Instone air liner DH 34 had just left with seven passengers and the pilot on board, when it was seen to be in difficulties, and then it crashed. On reaching the ground it burst into flames, and everyone on board perished.

In an American aviation accident four men of the Naval Air Service lost their lives.

M. Otto Ballon, a well-known Latvian air- man, has been killed at Buenos Ayres.

The Pope, amid scenes of solemnity and splendour, opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s, Rome, to signify the opening of the Holy Year.

On January 1, Oslo, the ancient name of Christiania, is to be revived.