THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 22, 1937.
Italian Destroyers And Submarines Are Waging War On Spain,
But
WHERE IS OUR NAVY?
Q
UITE recently, a Spanish tanker, the Campeador, was making her way through the Mediterranean from Rumania to a Spanish Re- publican port.
She had reached that part of this sea which Italy now dominates the comparatively narrow waters be- tween Sicily and the African coast. Here two Italian destroyers, one of them the Saetta, began to follow her. When night fell they attacked without warning.
de Three torpedoes struck the fenceless ship and then two shells. She was soon ablaze,
There was no time to launch her boats. On the crew as they swam for their lives, the Italians turned first their searchlights and then their machine-guns.
2
Two sailors were rescued by British ship. This is their story.
If a German submarine had been guilty of such a cowardly attack during the Great War our Press and our propaganda, with perfect justice, would have blazed into, merciless wrath.
With rare exceptions, the German much U-boats behaved with as humanity as the conditions of their ruthless job allowed.
These Italian vessels, however, were surface-boats that could have given warning, arrested the Cam- peador, and in any case rescued the crew. Instead they slaughtered the survivors as they swam.
And all the while the Power that
In point of fact, this piracy is The answer is simple enough. This the British Navy, perhaps its most
the perfectly indiscriminate A Danish Italian army is, after all, operating glorious duty, was to act as
ship, with an innocent cargo, carry- on Spanish soil under Franco's flag, police of the high seas.
Not much of our elaborate civili- ing a neutral observer, was sunk and, nominally at least, under his control! But Italian warships are sation would be left if this law without warning or mercy by sea- waging war under their own flag disappeared. We should relapse into planes somewhere south of Barce far outside Spanish waters.
the centuries when piracy was daily event in Mediterranean waters; and every merchantman carried a
not
a
lona.
The list which you will find in recent "Manchester Guardian,” contains ships of many nationalities, British and French, Greek and even
C
NAVY'S PROUD DUTY What is at stake, then, is merely the rights of the Spanish Government or (shall we say?) the guns. 9.
In every case the procedure was obligations by which Italy is still Those days, as we scan our news, Italian. bound as a member of the League papers, are on us again. But the
the old Barbary pirates, whose exploits the summary frightfulness of of Nations.
pirate, who attacks without warning and sinks at sight
By H. N. Brailsford
(Written prior to the conclusion of the Nyon Arrangement).
ADMIRALTY WARNING
To be sure, the British Admiralty has issued a warning. Its order now are to attack any submarine that assails a British ship.
This is something, but not very much. A British ship suddenly at- tacked by a submarine has small
•
It would be useless, I agree, to we used to read in the pages of chance to send out a call for help. use arguments based on those con- Defoe, had nothing more formidable. The submarine can do its deed of than brass cannon on the poops of darkness and dive again into safety siderations to our Government. ·
It is, rather, the order and peace sailing ships. The pirates of to-day long before a British warship can
their
come to the rescue. of the high seas. That is a matter have their submarines and
Nor are we maintaining the order that concerns even the most Tory hydroplanes.
"Does it matter," a Tory might and peace of the seas so long as we Government
There is or there was-such a ask, "so long as they only attack confine our indignation to wrongs
We 'Red' vessels?" Even that matters suffered by British ships. thing as the law of the
Civilisation requires that the seas used to be taught in those far-off The law of the sea protects flags of days of innocence when we went to every colour, even the Soviet en- shall be safe for all. It is as much school, that one of the duties
acted in this way is not at war with THE the Spanish Republic. Its ambas-
sador sits as a neutral on
Plymouth's Committee.
Lord
HIGH SEAS WARFARE. This, moreover, is not a unique case. Another Spanish tanker and
2 cargo steamer were sunk by an
sea.
of sign.
WORLD GOES BY By “ULYSSES’
Y In Parenthesis," in the
"Why not?"
can't
"Well for one thing you divide it by four, and if you could what's the use?”
unknown submarine off Gallipoli, B North China. Daily News." 1,500 miles from the Spanish coasts. He came up to us in the club the It is doubtful whether Franco has other evening, with the fixed look
Then gently disengaging his grip any submarines at all; at most he in his eye you know the sort of may have reconditioned one small thing: the look which the
on our coat, and avoiding the fixity submarine belonging to the Republic, spokesman assumes when he is go- of his eye we knocked one back. Just which he disabled and captured. Cer-ling to put over a particularly fast to keep our spirits up. tainly he has none capable of cruis one and grabbing us by the lapel
ing to the Turkish Straits.
It is a reasonable guess, then, that of our coat started:---
this submarine, like the destroyer, was an Italian vessel.
REACHING THE LIMIT
"Have you heard...."
official
“Don't, please don't tell us," we pleaded. Don't make our blood It would be useless for us to ad- lcurdle any more." dress our remonstrances to the Fas- cist Dictators. But here is a case for some very pointed questions to the British Government.
"But you don't know what I am going to say.”
Camouflage
*
are
a crime, as much an act of piracy, that a submarine or a destroyer should sink a Spanish ship off Tunis or the Dardanelles as it would be if a group of rebel Spaniards were to attack a party of "Red" Spaniards in Piccadilly Circus.
Long before there was a Lea gue of Nations there existed col To repress lective security at sea. piracy was every Power's duty, whe ther the victims were its own citizens for another's.
STARVATION THREAT You and I may care profoundly about another aspect of this busi- Such piracy is designed to
im Spain and the enslavement of its bring about the defeat of democracy working class.
ness
Its purpose is to deprive the Re public of oil and food On sea- borne supplies it depends entirely for its oil the main material of vic- tory--and largely for wheat
Much interest is caused out in of Chinese the country by the sight
We do not expect the British soldiers walking about with a branch Government to share our concern of bamboo above their heads. And on that score, but we do expect the "Oh, yes. I do."
quite a few have come to us mur-first maritime Power in the world "Well what is it then, if you're muring something about those two to feel some respect for order and Dun- law at sea. We are rattling into fellows Birnam Wood and Parliament is not sitting, and our so smart?"
on barbarism while it sues for Musso- "I know. The big push going sinane, neither of whom rulers are shooting grouse; none the less the Labour Party might, even to start to-morrow. You have got our calling list, chiefly because their lini's friendship-
What, then, should be demand? in September, find a way of speaking it on the best authority. Indeed behaviour gave our dear old friend
right out of the horse's mouth." Macbeth the "woollies." Stranger Convoys have been suggested. That its mind.
useful if the thing were There are limits of tolerable ab- "Well, it isn't exactly that. That still are the lorries decorated in the would be u
international co-operation, to same way. This is said to be ex-done surdity even in that tasteless form big push I know definitely is
or cellent camouflage designed to wreck so that the warships of all the honest entertainment—a diplomatic start to-morrow, but believe it
not, the Japanese boast that they the morale of the enemy. Aviators, neutrals would protect merchantmen It is not tolerable that the Bri- will have at least one-hundred-and-looking down, and seeing a large carrying innocent cargoes under any
sized bush prancing down the mid- of their flags. tish and French Governments should sixty-two aeroplanes in the air.” continue to treat as a fellow-neutral
farce.
a Power whose warships sink. Spanish vessels at sight on the high
seas
dle of a road, have been known to Again, the order for protection "You don't say.”
Yes. One-hundred-and-sixty-two." turn their machines round and head should be general, so that a Danish
I should worry. Seems to for home, swearing to keep off sake or French ship may call on a Bri
tish warship for aid against the me they couldn't be in a better place for the rest of their lives
pirates. than in the air”
“But fancy one-hundred-and-sixty-
A letter to "In Parenthesis.” Dear TP5
The reader may smile and ask me
But nothing will serve until the why I should expect the British
Government uses another language The time has Government to be moved by these two!"
"Are you sure of your fact" What is this daily report about towards Mussolini. naval brutalities, when it displayed
Absolutely, of man. I've got a Launching a fierce counter-offen- come to require from it that it shall no audible indignation as Italian
that one reads in the papers? forbid further lawlessness. armies, that may number anything friend whose arah's first cousin sive up to 80,000 men, landed on Spanish works in an egg factory, and she Does this refer to a boat or ship? soil and went into battle under their says it is bound to come to-morrow. generals with the Duce's public You know I don't like that number.”
Neither do I”
OWN
Corporal Punishment.
May be a ship statesmanship. What a Hull of a question!I. P.
Let it wind up the contemptible London Committee and restore to the Spanish Government the rights it filched from it a year ago.
THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 22, 1937.
BIG BATTLE
Pag
PENDING
Elaborate Chinese Defence Scheme At Paotingfu
JAPANESE NOW FACE SERIOUS DEFENCE
SHANGHAI, TO-DAY.
ANOTHER BIG BATTLE APPEARS TO BE IMPENDING IN NORTH CHINA.
-ADMIRALTY-
OFFICIALS FOR
SPECIAL TOUR
London, To-day.
It is understood that the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. Duff Cooper, and other Admiralty officials, are shortly proceeding on a Mediterranean cruise in the Ad- miralty, yacht Enchantress
It is expected that Gibraltar, Malta, Alexandria and Haifa will
-Reuter
The Chinese have prepared elaborate en- trenchments cleverly concealed among woods and millet fields around Paotingfu, which the Japanese be among the places to be visited. heavily bombed yesterday morning preparatory to a general attack, for which the Japanese have formed up on a twelve-mile front north of Paoting- fu.
The coming battle will be a decisive test of
SEAMEN'S
strength, as the Japanese army prepares for a fur-AIMS AGAINST Peiping-Hankow and Tientsin-Pukow Railway AGGRESSORS
ther drive against the Chinese positions along the
zones.
•
The Japanese successes hitherto have been
--
should
SIR LAURENCE GUILLEMARD'S BOOK RECALLED
LONDON, TO-DAY, SURPRISE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY AN ANNOUNCEMENT. BY THE FIRM OF PUBLISHER MESSRS. METHUEN AND "CO., RECALLING COPIES OF A NEW BOOK, TRIVIAL. POND RE- CORDS," BY SIR LAURENCE GUILLEMARD, A FORMER GOV- ERNOR OF THE STRAITS SE TLEMENTS.
The book was to have been releas- ed for sale on September 23.
It contains reminiscences of the administrative service, and a num- ber of reviews have already appear- ed in the press.
The publishers have made no statement giving reasons for ・the recall Reuter
Paris, To-day Italian Naval "continue efforts against aggressors Men In Serious
Tunis Clash
gained at the expense of lightly-armed Chinese Seamen's organisations troops, of which only four divisions belong to the Central Government.
Hostilities are expected to enter a new phase when Nanking throws aeroplanes, tanks and heavy artil- lery into the fray.
The main defence line stretches between the railways five miles
BIG CLASH
COMING IN
south of Paotingfu and Tsangchow. SHANGHAI
-Renter.
JAPANESE CLAIM
3
Rome, To-day.
in Europe and the Far East,” de- clares a resolution passed by the International Conference of Sea- men's Organisations yesterday, which is affiliated to the Interna- A denial that Italian midship- tional Federation of Transport men were responsible for a re- Workers.
cent clash in Tunis, has been The resolution also pays tribute made in Rome.
to the efforts of seamen to "hinder The clash occurred when about and prevent transports destined by 50 midshipmen of two Italian na- the rebels for Spanish ports.” - val training ships, came into con- Nine European countries are reflict with members of the "League
of the "T
Reuter.
presented at the Conference, inchid-for Human Rights. Shanghai, To-day. A Chinese spokesman stated this ing Britain, France and Spain. Tokyo, To-day. Advancing along the Peiping-morning that, the Japanese are wait- Hankow Railway, the Japanese ing for re-inforcements from Japan, have occupied the fortified town of on the arrival of which, they are
Hrushoi, says a Japanese claim. likely to launch their fourth attempt SEARCH FOR
Trans-Ocean.
NANKING WATCHES
CLOSELY
No Illusions Felt
Nanking, To-day.
to cut the Chinese lines along the Lotien-Liuhang front.
The Chinese have received
in-
structions, added the official, to hold
the section at all costs, and the troops are being strongly re-inforc ed by Nanking, where it is sidered that the collapse of the Chinese defence on the Lotien-Lin-
con-
|
MISSING YACHT ABANDONED
New York, To-day. After a week's search American
Chinese public opinion is follow-hang front might effect the morale coastguards have abandoned the ing with the keenest interest the of the Chinese troops fighting else-search for the Endeavour I, Mr. T. 0.
where in Shanghai. meeting of the Advisory Committee set up in 1933 by the League of Na- tions to study the Sino-Japanese
"We are prepared," concluded the spokesman, "for any attack by the Japanese, who will, undoubtedly, conflict, although no illusions are [bring their air and naval forces into entertained concerning the efficiency action in launching their attack” of the aid which the committee may be able to render.
Political circles point out that nothing could be gained by merely branding Japan as the aggressor. Trans-Ocean.
LORRY DRIVER
CHARGED
Li Fon, driver of the lorry dic
was involved in the fatal
on Island Road, was this morning
JAPANESE LOSSES
The Chinese claim that since the Shanghai hostilities broke out on August 13 last, the Japanese suffer-
M. Sopwith's yacht, which broke away from the steam yacht while being towed to England Newport, Rhode Island.
The coastguards say they are: tisfied that the yacht is nowher off the Americ
and mu either have for
weathered the storm and land-Reuter.
to Eng
It is now stated that the trouble. followed distribution among the sailors of anti-Fascist pamphlets and statements insulting to Italy.
Three midshipmen were wounded and one member of the League killed
RECEPTION CANCELLED
By order of the French Resident- General, a reception which was to have been given in honour of the Italian-Admiral and his officers. Thas been cancelled
Several Italian sailors and mid-
shipmen were arrested, and the two training ships later left the harbour. Trans-Ocean.-
MR. EDEN'S GENEVA OFFER
London, To-day. important speech deliver- the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, before the League Assembly, forms the sub- ject of editorials in most of the London
ed a loss of over 20,000 troops killed PARIS REPORTS on newspapers.
and wounded, which does not include pilots.
The majority of the casualties oc- curred on the Woosung front. ¡Our Own Correspondent.
The Daily Telegraph," "eferring
TANGANYIKA. Eden's statement that an
REVOLT
agreement between Britain and the United States would offer the best prospects stabilisation
Paris, To-day nomic conditions throughout the Several newspapers in Paris yes-world, stresses that such co-opera- terday carried sensational reports tion must under no circumstances
charged before Mr. W. Schofield at DR, SCHACHT of a native revolt in Tanganyika, be realised at the expense of the
RUMOURS.
the former German African colony Empire's policy of preferential the Central Magistracy with
now under British mandate. tariffs, or to the detriment of driving the lorry, without
The natives are said to have de Dominion interests. due care and caution and with hav-
Berlin, To-day, ing an excess, number of persons
fied the authorities and to, have Regarding the question of the supply of raw materials, the paper in the lorry. One woman was killed Press reports of the impending blown up several coffee depots. and three seriously injured.
resignation of the Reichsbank Presi Police reinforcements, it is stat-topines that the day will doubtless The case was adjourned for a dent and Minister of Economy, Dred, are being rushed to the area, came when discussion on the sub- week. Defendant was allowed bail Hjalmar Schacht, are denied in while hundreds of arrests have al-ject will be opened with Germany.
ready been made
$250.
Berl
Trans Ocean
Trans-Ocean
Trans-Ocean.