J
AI NIPPON
ASAHI
BEER
LAGER-BEER
SPECIALLY BE WED
WERY
COMPANY
JAPAN
TOKYO.
ASAHI BEER
A Refreshing and
Invigorating Beverage. The very brand for all
occasions.
MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, LTD.-—~~"
Business Manager.
China" Mail
ABLISHED
1845
No. 27,434 HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1930.
DISASTROUS FIRE IN KNOCK
KENNEDY TOWN
SPECTACULAR SCENE IN EARLY MORNING
THREE
LIVES LOST
DELAY IN SUMMONING FIRE
BRIGADE
A fire which resulted in three people being killed and two others severely injured, broke out soon after 1.30 o'clock this morning at 12, Smithfield, Kennedy Town.
The fire, fanned by an easterly wind, spread very rapidly from the ground floor, where it originated, to the three floors above. Some valuable minutes were wasted before the alarm was sent through to the Fire Station, but the engine from the Kennedy Town Sub-Station turned out immediately, and its crew did all they could to prevent the flames spreading to the neighbouring houses.
In the meantime assistance was summoned from the Central Fire Station, where the call was received at 1.36 a.m., and all avail-
able engines were promptly turned out and arrived at the scene of
the fire in less than ten minutes.
FLAMES
SHOOT 20 FEET UP
By this time, however, the flames had reached the top floor and were shooting fully 20 feet into the air, according to a Portuguese living one street away from the burning house. He commented that it was fortunate for him and his family that the wind was blow ing east, otherwise he might be homeless now!
+
A Joss Paper Shop According to information that China Mall representative gathered by a visit to the scene of the fire, the outbreak originated
in the front part of the ground floor, used as a Chinese josa paper shop, the contents of which fed the flames well.
The cause of the outbreak was. impossible to discover as all the people connected with the shop claimed that they were asleep at the time and were awakened by smoke. They gave the alarm by shouting to the inmates of the upper floors, but in the confusion no one thought of summoning the firemen or even blowing a Police
This whistle.
eventually done by someone living in an op- posite house.
Was
Cut Off by Flames The inmates of the first and second floors managed to escape into the street immediately after the alarm was given, but only a few of those on the top floor suc ceeded in getting out before the flames shot up the staircase and thus eut off the only means. Those who were thus cut off were a Chinese woman, the wife of a coal coolie, who was away at work in Wanchai, her two-year-old baby boy, girl of 12, another girl of 16, and a boy, age not ascertain ed. They are said to be all mem- bers of one family, who occupied a cubicle in the front part. of the top floor.
A Veritable Death Trap When they got to the top of the stairs and found the flames shoot- ing up, they dashed into the kit
TO-DAY'S DOLLAR. — The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day was 1/5 9/16.
PRICE $3.00 Per Month.
Supreinte Court
Dalute Eyeglasses N. LAZARUS
Ophthalmic Optician
13, Queen's Rond Central,
OUT HONG KONG ELECTRIC IS IT WAR IN COLLISION IN A TO KEEP OUT
FOR LABOUR
DEFEAT BY TORIES ON COAL MINES BILL
CRIES OF "RESIGN". MR. BALDWIN & VOTE OF CENSURE
London, Yesterday.
COMPANY
INCREASED RETURN TO SHAREHOLDERS
AMALGAMATION QUESTION
INDIA?
FOG
REGULAR ARMY SENT STORY OF MASTER OF THE
ANKING TO BARODA
The forty-first ordinary yearly MARCH TO THESEA meeting of shareholders was held at the Company's offices, P. & 0.
Building, this morning.
Mr. C. G. S. Mackie (Chairman of Directors) presided, and was sup-
In the House of Commons to-day ported by Sir Robert Ho Tung,
the Government were
on
GANDHI EXHORTS MASSES TO REBEL
Poona, Yesterday.
The Eleventh Sikh Regiment (the
MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY
An enquiry was held at the Marine Court this morning into the circumstances surrounding the collision between. the 8.8 Tanda, of the Eastern and Australian S.S. Co., and the s.s. Anking, of the China Navigation Co.
OF EUROPE
U.S. DISLIKES A LOCARNO PACT ·
“BARGAINING ”
FEAR OF TOO MANY OBLIGATIONS
London, Yesterday. American conference circles con- Comdr. G. F. Hole (Harbour firm the report that there is no defeated Kt, the Hon. Sir Shouson Chow, Indian Regular Army), is leaving
Master) sat as Stipendiary Magis vestige of * possibility of the the Conservative amendment Kt., Mr. T. E. Pearce, Mr. B. D. F. for Baroda on March 17, to relieve trate with the following asses- United States participating in any to the Coal Bill, opposing the levy Beith and Mr. J. F. Warren, (Directhe Fourth Bombay Grenadiers, sors:-Lleut.-Comdr. L. G. Adding-form of a Blediterranean Locarno, an output in order to facilitate the tors), Mr. F. R. Marsh (Manager) (the Indian Territorial Force), re-ton (H.M.S. Tamar), A. H. Stewart to guarantee French security na and Mr. J. D. Butcher (Deputy cruited from Baroda, which is dis- (master of the Haining), D. quid pro quo for a reduction of export of coal.
Manager).
The division resulted:
For Amendment Against
282
274
8
Shareholders
banding. It is noteworthy that were represented by Mesars Tong Kim-kwong, T. N. Baroda is on the direct route of Chau, F. L. Brown, J. H. Taggart, 'Gandhi's civil disobedience volun- W. J. Stokes, Paul Lauder (repre, teers' march to the sea. Members senting Union Insurance Society of
Majority The defeat of the Government Canton Ltd.), V. D. Sorby, C. B. Riggs, Tong Hin-pong, P. E. Barker, was greeted by a storm of cheering J. T. Bagram, Leung Fat-tin, Fung from the Opposition, Conservatives Kong-un, Leung Yan-pa, L. E. their order Ozorio, O. F. Ribeiro, Ip Fook, frantically waving
W. F. Simmons, G. H. Fotta, Wong papers and shouting "resign."
Replying to Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Ping-sun, Chau Seng-choo, Frank Mr. Ramsay MacDonald sald that A. J. David), Lo Chung-kue, Chen Austin (representing A. David &
L. J.
he did not regard the amendment. as an essential change and asked Quan-ting. To Tso-hing, the committee to proceed with the Davies, A. J. Edgar, F. M. Ellis,
Bill.
Mr. MacDonald added that Mr. Baldwin would have the
oppor-
and Lo Kai-wing.
The Chairman's Speech The Manager having read the the wall opposite the back kitchentunity two days hence to move a notice convening the meeting, the
He would be very Chairman said:- window suggested that she had vote of censure.
her glad to accommodate Mr. Baldwin The report and statement of ac- jumped wide and smashed face against the opposite wall be-should he make his vote of censure counts for the year ended December fore hitting the yard, by which general, and then the Government 31, 1929, have been in your hands for the prescribed perlod and with time she was probably dead. The would accept the decision.
to evidently crushed baby was
Loud Labour cheers greeted the your permission we will take them
to 242 the as read. death by the other two children rejection by 272 votes falling on top of it and its mother. Liberal amendment to the Coal Bill The two children who were on top
FORCES IN SHANGHAI
Britain Has No Idea Of Reducing Them
London, Yesterday.
Lefevre (master of the Benreoch) French tonnage. Apart from the and A. M. Frame (master of the bargaining character of such an ar Taiping).
rangement, they feel that if the
Mr. F. C. Jenkin and Mr. H. G. United States signed a consultative Sheldon, instructed by Mr. G. G. pact they might morally be bound N. Tinson, appeared for Capt. E. to do more than merely consult Pilcher, master of the s.s. Tanda, Should France be threatened with
War. Mr. E. A. Davidson was for the
Feeling is so strong on the master of the Anking, Capt. R. matter that the delegation would Ritchie.
forgo the Five Power treaty alto-
consultative obligation.
Britain Holds Same View
It is understood that the British
At the outset of the proceed-gether rather than enter into such ings, Mr. Jenkin informed the Court that Capt. Pilcher of the Tando, was ill with meningitis, hold an opinion similar to the and he could not give hla evi- United States as regards a Mediter dence until he felt better.
Comdr. Hole suggested that the of a consultative pact narrows the ranean Locarno, The ruling out Anking side of the story might be Conference down to reducing the heard first, as it really did not French figures. The First Com. make any difference as to which mittee (the whole of the Conference alde gave their version first.
Anking case was then
In the House of Commons to- day at question time Mr. Tom Shaw Baid that at present
there was no intention
The reducing the forces at
taken. Shanghai, but he was unable to speak for the future.-Reuter
of
Captain Ritchie's Evidence
mesting was in private), decided to exclude the existing special ships from global tonnage figures, not finally, but for the period of any
In his evidence, Capt. R. Ritchie treaty that the Conference may said that he held an Extra Mas- | produce..---Router, ter's ticket, registered in London.
The net profit, after providing for
of the Fourth Bombay Grenadiers
he
in the Committee stage in the House depreciation, is 81,730,754.43, and do not belong to hereditary military of the heap were still alive, but of Commons, proposing that the ex-with the sum of 607,151.69 brought classes. even then it was seen that there port of coal be freed of all re-forward from last account we have
The force of British army in was little hope of the girl surviv-strictions of output, in connection 1,827.866.12 for appropriation and India was 60,228, and of the Indian
was fractured. with which the possibility of a with this we propose:- ing, as her skull
She died in the Government Civil Government defeat was eavisaged. to pay
The after admission.
Hospital soon
Reuter.
Conservative amendment,
a dividend of $2.50 per share' ab-
.$1,125,000.00 to place to reserve, ..$ 600,000.00 to carry forward to next
account,
$ 102,886.12
BIAS BAY PIRACIES
Suppression Plans By Canton Havy
a central levy and sorbing, The boy, Ah Hun, is now lying dealing with unconscious at the hospital, amendment, was backed by Liberals, and his condi- who abstained last week from op- severely injured, tion is considered serious.
posing the sale and export of coal mare cheaply than the same coal Hanging to a Shutter As the rescuer entered the yard, for bunkering in England, which is still to be discussed. The Govern- he heard a voice calling to him from above, and looking up, hement defeat is still a possibility. saw the 15-year-old girl, Choi Tsz- sheung, hanging on to a shutter outside the window of the top floor kitchen. This brave girl had stayed in the house as long as she could, hoping to be rescued, Mr. Hoare, Superintendent of the and then was driven out of the Cosmopolitan Dock, yesterday re- window by the flames and bung on moved to the Kwong Wah Hospital to the shutter for dear life. As a Chinese youth named Kwong Bun soon as he saw the girl, the res- (17), who was injured in an ac- cuer called out to her not to jumpcident at the dock.
FALL INTO BUNKER
but to hang on a little longer The lad, who is an apprentice whilst he fetched the jumping fitter, accidentally fell into a bunk- er of the 8.8. Andrea which was sheet.
| undergoing overhaul at the dock. Flames Reach Shatter When he returned with the He is stated to have sustained jumping sheet the girl was still "general injuries" and is in a seri- hanging on, but before the sheet ous condition. could be placed in position, the flames reached the shutter and in her fright the girl let go and fell
The whole house was
completely
public telephone, followed immediately into the yard. She was severely after by a call from the Sand Street injured on the left side, her arm are alarm post. There were altogether being broken in several places, four engines at the fire, two from the and she too is now in the Govern- Kennery Town Sub-station and two meat Civil Hospital in a very from Central. Later, in answer to a dis- critical condition.
trict call, the firefloat also turned out.
Immediately on arrival, the firemen burned out, and considerable damage, got to work with water frem the sea. the extent of which has not yet been and it was not until about half an hour done. The house, later that water was turned on from the ascertained, was which with five others in the same row mains. But for the fact that the house chen and thus got into a verit-form a block belonging to the same was situated near the sen this lack of -able death trap. Then, when the
owner, is insured with the British In-water from the mains might have re- Blames reached the kitchen, they surance Company of which Messrs. sulted in a bigger conflagration. must have Amped into the back Jardine, Mathoron and Co., Ltd., are Brought Under Control yard in terror. No one saw four the agents. The block is covered to the of the five unfortunate people jump, and it is surmised that they must have done so at a fairly early
stage of the fire,
·
Canton, Yesterday. Interviewed, Chan Ting, Chief of Staff of the 4th, Squa- dron, and concurrently member of the Committee for the sup- pression of pirates, stated that Admiral Chan Chak was very
anxious to clean out the nest at Bias Bay and that after careful study and deliberation among the commanders of the larger gunboats, plans had been drawn up to deal effec- tively with the pirate question. It was intended at first to seek the co-operation of Hong Kong, but as the gunboats are suff- cient for the purpose the Can- ton Government will undertake the task alone When the time arrives; the expedition will be put in the hands of a special ofleer for the suppression of pirates. Canion News Agency.
Army, 167,562.]
Gandhi's Final Exhortation
Ahmedabad, Yesterday.
French Tonnage
On the morning of February 26,
Rugby, Yesterday. was proceeding from Hong The Experts of Great Britain and There was France with Amerien observers at Kong to Swatow. dense fog at 1.32 a.m. His course their meeting this morning. prior to that time was N. 75 E. analysed the tonnage statement pre True and the speed varied. He sented to the French case and
left
Hong Kong at 5 p.m. on agreed upon certain figures as A February 25. At 1.32 a.m. the basis for discussion. These figures following day, his approximate were reported to the heads of the
and this- position was 115 E. Lat., 22.26 N. delegations concerned Long. He then slowed down the evening Mr. Alexander, Monsieur Addressing a meeting on the eve engines; and he was on the bridge Dumesnil, the Chiefs of British and of the civil disobedience march at the time with the second officer French Admiralties and the Ameri- Gandhi suggested that the civil dia.
can observers, together with experts obedients, in addition to manufac-
of the three Powers, will meet at turing salt in defiance of the Salt
the House of Commons to continue Laws, also remove salt without pay-
the discussion on the basis of these ing duty on it, and also distributo
figures. This morning also. M. the salt so manufactured or re-
Brland and Signor Grand had a moved. The courageous could re-
conversation which leated some fuse to pay taxes, he exhorted.
time.
The people of Gujerat would con- tinue the programme, marching to Jalalpur, in order to recover salt from the sea and thus uphold the doctorine of civil disobedience. Even if he and his party were ar- rested, he asked the Indian people to preserve pence and carry out the Congress Working Committee's in- structions. He concluded by say Ing that would not they be defeated Ke until they gave up the truth. prayed "for the success of the bat. tie beginning to-morrow."
From Surat a number of Con- gress workers has gone to Dandi, fa Jalapur, to prepare for the arri val of the civil disobedients.
Mill Strike
Calcutta, Yesterday. Thirty-five thousand mill bands aro atriking in the Titaghur area. Several policemen and strikers were injured in a fracas following atrikers storming the pelice station. -Reuter.
ed
FRESH AND FAIR
To-day's weather report from the Royal Observatory states: The anti-cyclone has weaken- ed and is central near Tokyo.
A depression is central to the N.E, of Formosa,
Fresh north winds prevail along the south east of China and over the north China Sea. Forecast - North winds; frech, fair,
Rainfall Rainfall to 10 a.m. to-day, 0.08. Rainfall since Janu- ary 1, 5.01 inches against an average of 3.94 Inches.
Temperature and Humidity
The temperature and humidi- ty at certain specified centres this morning at 6 o'clock
were:
Temp. Humid. Hong Kong ... 54
88 Macao
48
92
Pratas Island
65
89
Manila
73
76
54
100
51
94
3B
100
Shanghai
46
97
Amoy Swatow
Chefoo
knots. He was
the
Newspapers state this evening that the American delegation have reached the conclusion that the United States would be unable to accept any consultative pact as a means of facilitating the reduction of the French tonnage figures, the feeling of the delegation being that such a pact would entail more obligations than appear on the face of it, and that the United States Senate would not ratify any such proposal.
A protracted meeting took place to-night In the Prime Minister's rooma at the House of Commons.
Considerable Progress
At a meeting of the heads of the delegations to-night, considerable progress was made. Mr. Alexander reported verbally on the progress of the First Committee, stating that agreement in substance had been reached regarding special and exompt clasees of vessels, and that, apart from the question of sub- marines the greater amount of business referred to the First Com- mitteo had now been or would short- ly be laid before the heads of the delegations, who will meet again on Thursday. British Wireless Ser- vice.
Significant
Paris, Yesterday.
Ahmedabad, Later. Mahatina. Gandhl, headed by a
Fog Signals Heard The amount of the dividend is pioneer band of civil resisters, left
At about 1.83 or 184 a.m. he $187,500 more than last year as the to-day on his 100 mille march to
heard fog signals, and he reduc- As soon as water was available on bonus shares of 1928 now rank the Gulf of Cambay Router. extent of $00,000, or $15,000 per house, the mains, eight deliveries were used equally with the older shares. I (The State of Baroda was carved his speed to about four or five
The house to the right of the burned on the fire, completely surrounding the
called to will consider this in- out of the remains of bridge at about 1.20 a.m. and the M. Pietri, the Minister of the building, belonging to the same owner, burning building, and then the flames hope you sustained some damage by water, whilst were rapidly brought under control, creased return estisfactory.
the Moghul Empire under Sival speed then was about 11 kucts. Colonies, and M. Philippe Berthelot some of the doors and windows were The "all clear" signal was given at 5 As soon as he arrived on the scorched by the flames.
Bigger Profits
and then under the Peshwar, and The signal he heard was one long the Secretary General of the Foreign jam, and most of the appliances were
is interlaced with territory in The proat or working exceeded
blast, but not very distinct. The Office, have left for London to attend scone, one of the rescuers went The property to the left of the gutted then withdrawn, but up to nearly noon that for 1928 by $68,268 in spite of
Gujarat and Kathiawar. The round the house but saw no signs house, and separated from it by a nar-one engine was still standing by and the fact that a considerable reduc-
Galkwar Pilail acquired a portion sound was heard at his port bow, the Naval Conference. This is the first of any life on any of the floorsrow lane, escaped the flames because of squad of firemen were engaged in re-tion was made in our charges for
The ship was going slow andcasion M. Berthelot has attended the of Gujarat in 1721. The indu-
conference. It is significant that he of the house. It was not until he the fact that the wind was blowing moving the debris.
ance of the British as Suzerain he was continually sounding his will attend at the moment M. Briand entered the back yard, that he front to the back of the deemed house cast, which swept the flames from the
Wit has raised the political aspect of the power throughout the year.. Cause of the Tragedy
dates from 1780. The Gaekwar, fog signals, from 1.20 a.m. We have set aside an additional
on hearing' the problem-Router. found four bodies lying in a heap. Excellent Brigade Work
The tragedy connected with the fire
Malhar Rao, Installed in 1871, ness added that These were Ah Sze (surname
was due to the fact that it had a $68,044, making a total of 8548,608,
was deposed in 1875 for mis- first signal he altered his courge
neas then sounded two long blasts unknown), the coal coolie's wifeed strong pressure of water within means
Besides this, the fireman who obtain-wooden staircase, which was the only for depreciation which leaves us
government, and in 1881 the one point to starboard.. with her baby strapped to her five minutes, did excellent work in con- git on the same site and then there excess of that for the previous escape. In 1922 a fire broke with a nett prefit of $26,901 in
The second blast came to him and the other ship replied in the widow of Khandi Rao adopted na back, both dead. They were un-fining the flames to bouse No. 12. They was lows of Ute for the same reason, Frar.
heir, the present ruler, a descen- more distinct and appeared to have same way. The fignal was for derneath Ah Mul, the twelve-year could not have done anything to the and when bor buildings were put up
dant of the founder of the family. ap altered bearing, witness then the ship to stop.
It burning bouso, because the flames which wooden stairs were again put in
The arca la 8,185 square miles; stopped his engines at once,
Continuing witness said that im-. had spread surprisingly rapidly," had a
mediately after, he saw the lights - A Kowloon Scare-
the population. 2,126,522. Baroda was at 1.85 am, aga
Witness added that after he of the other ship-two masts and, strong hold from top to bottom within
City, the capital, has a popula tion of 91,178. The ruler is H. had stopped his engines, his ship one green lights very close, about Hi Maharaja Bir Sayaji Rao Gaek- was still sending out signals of 30 to 60 feet, away from his port war, born in 1889. There in an one long blast each The other bow. The other ship's course was Execullys Council of four minis- ship was using her whistle in the somewhere about S.W, and was tors, and a Legislative Coun- same way, and appeared to be coming of an pbluse angle. The cil of 27 members, 10 being closing in
speed of the other ship was two to
The output fọi 1929 was thirty old girl, and the small boy, Ah
two million unity and the number Huh. From the position of the
of consumers has Increased by 795 bodles It is concluded that The
At about 11.20 this morning, som to over, 80,500. To some extent the a matter of mianten, Uld excitement, was caused near the Kow-
woman with her baby must have The Hon. Mr. E. P. C. Wolfe, C.H.G., Loon Magistracy," when the blowing of returns for 1929 were adversely jumped first and the other two Chief of the Fire Brigade, was early Police Wattles from the attention of affected, by the bright and sunny children after and, on account of on the moans and immediately after ar- langs Crowd of Chinese in the vidnity Spring and the exceptionally the marrow confines of the yard, rival, personally took charge of opers of the Laudati. Marker in the view cool Bummer but there are cigns the latter had landed on top of the thousand Shortly after two frs engines arrived, that we un lllll maintaining a woman, and but goodTENEN COficial. Reports but the bike was only, a invial na wady, and sanaactory rate of ta- ensere Baby Crushed to Death *94
mcial report of the fre, famed being in the chimney of 40, Temple essed output,
The woman'■'. face was badly by the Central Fire Station, Hrabra thất Strach, thơ Gaming smashed and # upisan ef blood on the call was received at: 186 mm, bo minor nature,
(Continued in Page 6.)
elected, The Government of At about 1.38 or 1.89 a.m. the three knots. India is represented by a Reald quartermaster reported that the onthe resides at Baroda.]
WIL- ship had no steering way.
(Continued on Page 4.)