Fage 24
ACQUITAL IN SEVERN
LEIGH CASE
TWENTY-THREE MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE BRI- TISH S.S. SEVERN LEIGH WERE DISCHARGED THIS MORN- ING AT THE MARINE COURT, ON BEING FOUND NOT GUIL- TY OF DISOBEYING THE LAWFUL COMMANDS OF THE MAS- TER, CAPTAIN. A. E. FORD ON SEPTEMBER 10.
PROSECUTION PLEA
Mr. King, addressing the Harbour Master, said that the question to be decided was whether the action.
of defendants had impeded the navi- gation of the ship. The letter of
it
was
their The Captain and
OWN
ན་
[given undue prominence, but it was clear that when defendants con- sidered that they were asked to risk hardships not contemplated though they were willing to take that risk for their own country or a country with which they were in
other rights.
ΠΟ
It had to be frankly acknowledg ed that it was a difficult position for the captaiu. There was doubt that a serious problem arose and he had to face it but because the
a difficult position arose it was not in-right to lay the blame on defen-
THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 20, 1937.
SPANISH
ARMISTICE PROPOSED-
AT GENEVA
Geneva, To-day.
The Norwegian Foreign Minis- ter, Mr. H. Koht, who followed the Egyptian Foreign Minister in the debate. in the League Assembly on Saturday, suggested that the League should propose an armis- tice to the warring parties in Spain, in order to permit organis- ation of a referendum concerning the future constitution of the country.--Trans-Ocean.
LARGE AREA BOMBED
Shanghai, To-day.
Beside Nanking, a large num-
2
September 6, signed by all except sympathy- they were entitled to Hollingsworth, saying that they con- sidered themselves in a "War Zone" and asking for an increase or that] they be paid off-held up, the ship The Captain cabled home and was informed that the demands were not justifable. On September 8, Captain found the crew still sistent and on the following day, dants. as there might be causes beber of Japanese planes flying in
book
different directions made made the entry in the log
yond their control. which he read to the crew, which It is known that passenger, ves-series of bombing raids on sever- made mention that if the men per-sels take regular routes as do alsojal cities in Chekiang and Kiang- sisted they would be prosecuted-cargo vessels with large and in-su yesterday including Soochow Some said that they did not hear fluential interests in the Far East. Kasen and Kahsing.
are officers They invariably made railway sta- that part read and if that was so, On these ships, there
considerable experience of tions their particular objectives of fault. with
extent, Chief conditions in this country. They attack, and to a certain
able to sense any ab-damage has been done to property entry are often
normal position and they have the land tracks. Scores of casualties The discharge of cargo was com-constant advice of agents with occurred among non-combatants. pleted on September 9 and the ship whom they are in constant touch Hua Nan. was ready for sea on morning of for information and facilities-
PREVIOUS CASE But a tramp vessel finds itself in the following day. The captain went
Referring to Mr. King's remarks ashore after reading the log entry different ports by accident of char and it was suggested that he told ter and he felt this point was im-on impeding the progress of the the crew he would be sailing at portant for His Worship's con- ship he said that there nothing in
sideration.
that defendants' action to show MEN'S FEELINGS
their desire was to prevent the The captain had said that it was ship from moving. The men believ- not the business of the men toed that risks they were taking were know where they were going. If greater than when they originally they did know it was by accident. signed on and felt justified.
Even with wireless the situation In the captain's view the men had in the outside world is a mystery been guilty of a breach of discipto a ship, like this:
the Officer had sworn that the
was read to the crew.
noon.
The attitude of the crew was un- changed. Had it been, the Chief Officer knew where the captain was to be found.
CAPTAIN'S VIEW
Mr. Strellett then quoted several similar incidents and ruling from authorities particularly mentioning
line and should be punished, and Imagine what the men felt after the case in which a British ship, consideration given to his position and on their return to find every-with a British
crew, left Cardiff on the ship.
thing pointing to a condition of with coal and arrived in Hong Mr. King suggested that the hostilities. It was not necessary Kong. Russia was then at Severn Leigh journeying from Hong for them to be bombed, attacked with Japan. The crew was ordered Kong to Japan was in no danger or captured to describe events 25 to proceed with the coal to a Ja» of capture. The most the Japanese unusual
had done was to request ships for Defendants were under the con- their names. The bombing of the trol of a Japanese concern. The President Hoover was an isolated ship was now in Hong Kong and occurrence and took place miles when they would ever got back to British waters was THO con- from the scene of hostilities.
Mr. King referred to the clause cern of the
They stilt
contract and
crew.
}
panese naval base and refused
war
Action was taken against the men and they were sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment. They were sent home as distressed seamen. But in the appeal court their ac-
in the articlés providing that all had four months to go with the tion was upheld and compensation increases or decreases in wages,
were serving Ja paid to them in full.
COURT'S DECISION- under special circumstances, would panese interests and it was natural be dealt with by the National Mari-to assume that these interests In giving judgment, the Harbour satisfied that time. Board
could be best served in this part of Master said he was Matthews knew of this 25, in the world. They had no means of the letter had been respectfully evidence, he said that while serving knowing anything until they read and properly delivered and the men were correct. He felt that the cap- in Spanish waters he had had a papers in British ports. bonus..
The men delayed six days before tain could have given the crew an- OTHER MASTERS
making a protest and on the sixth other chance if he had gone on the If the men went unpunished there day thinking their information was bridge and signified he was sail- was nothing to stop others from correct, formed the opinion that ing, as from his experience men holding up a ship and making huge the time had come to move. They often do the opposite to what they demands, secure in the knowledge considered there was time for a say in cases like this. that they would not be punished. reply to be obtained. The men Addressing defendants, he advised He asked that, for the protection of made their demands. There was no them that though they were dis- the master and all other masters of doubt that there was a question, charged, they were to obey every law-1 ships in this area, the defendants and one which they might be right ful order of the master. The captain be sent to prison as they had ignored on. On September 10, the men had asked for a prison sentence as all proper ways of obtaining an were told the matter had been re- he had said that discipline was not increase. In the case of Holling-ferred home and even then the possible but he hoped all would go Was some back to work and that the question sworth, though he did not sign the captain admits there letter, he was present when the log misunderstanding among the men of their bonus would be properly entry was read and told the captain but he allowed it to go on. represented to the proper quarters, that he wanted to be associated with
the men.
In conclusion, Mr. King said the men had been guilty of unjustifiable
EPIC STORY OF CHINESE HEROISM
(Continued from Page 1)
conduct and in the interests of dis-new units, owing to the severe losses suffered in cipline, should be punished.
DEFENCE ARGUMENT -
the three unsuccessful attempts to penetrate the
STOP PRESS
TEL. 20022 or 33993
was
Shanghai, To-day. The first Japanese admission that submarines are operating along the China coast made by a Japanese naval spokesman, who said that sub- marines are now participating in the blockade control scheme although no submarine yet has stopped or fired on any ship or otherwise actively shown it- self.
Commenting on Consular re- presentations to Admiral Hase- gawa, the spokesman said: "We cannot assume responsibility for foreign lives or foreign proper- ty if the warning to leave Nan- king by noon to-morrow is dis- regarded.
Ambassador of 2 The "friendly Power" had been ask- ed to communicate the warn- those ing to the nationals of countries not diplomatically re- presented: Renter.
NEWS FLASHES
ROYAL TYPEWRITERS HAVE HAD TO FIGHT THEIR WAY-TO- THE TOP BY DEFEATING ALL -COMPETITION IN SALES AND SPEED, AND ARE TO-DAY-THE --WORLD'S NO. 1 TYPEW TERS.
Printed and Published for the Pro-
Ltd., by GORDON CADE BURNET, et Sa, Wyndham Street, Victoria Hong Kong
Mr. Strellett for the defence, new Chinese lines at the week-end along the Lo-prietors, The Newspaper Enterprise said the political aspect had been tien- Liuhang sector. Reuter.