THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 25, 1939.
Ranpura Protest Filed By Sir Percy Noble
A very
strong protest has been filed with the Japanese authorities by Admiral Sir Percy Noble, the Commander- in-Chief, who is still on board H.M.S. Birmingham at Amoy, naval circles revealed to the "China Mail" this morning.
Sir Percy Noble, it is under- stood, heard about the stop- ping of the British liner by a Japanese cruiser off Waglan yesterday as soon as the local authorities did, H.M.S. Birm- ingham picking up the P. and O. captain's radio message to Hong Kong.
After receiving and studying the captain's report, the Bri- tish Commander-in-Chief filed a protest which he has inform- ed the local naval authorities was "very strong."
Despite reports that where from two
any- shots to a
salvo had been fired across the bows of the Ranpura, naval circles strongly denied this morning that any shots had been fired. A blank cartridge was fired by the Japanese cruiser, it was admitted, but this was merely to attract the attention of the British liner.
The effect of the firing of the blank cartridge was that glasses would then be trained on the warship from the Ran- pura's bridge, and the flag- signal message to halt would then be seen.
SHIPPING CIRCLES INDIGNANT
vessel even half the size of the Aramis and Ranpura.
NUISANCE TACTICS
It is suggested in some quarters that the Japanese naval authorities know this and that they have pho- tographs of every ship which comes near the China Coast; the reason for such stoppages are, it is sug gested, obvious-"they're just get- ting a kick out of making a so-and- so nuisance of themselves, having little else to do," as one shipping man indelicately but forcibly ex- pressed himself to the "China Mail" this morning.
Aramis Held Up Outside HongKong
A SECOND holding up
of a foreign ocean- going vessel by the Jap- anese yesterday, has now been reported.
a
Following the boarding of the P. and O. liner Ranpura, French report (quoted by Reuter from Shanghai) says that a Local business and shipping cir- Japanese destroyer took similar cles are indignant over the stop-action against the Messageries ping of both the Ranpura and the Maritimes vessel Aramis. Aramis near Hong Kong yesterday. The destroyer forced the It is pointed out that the sole French liner, which was bound reason, from an official point
for Shanghai from Hong Kong, of view, why the Japanese naval au-
miles from Hong to stop 17 thorities have been tacitly
given Kong. permission to stop Third Power A party was sent on board the ships is to enable them to examine Aramis and examined the ship's the papers of such ships and de- papers, and then left, after which termine whether or not they are, the Aramis continued the voy- in fact, bona fide Third Party ves-age to Shanghai. sels and not Chinese vessels bought or mortgaged to foreign shipping firms to prevent their being seized by the Japanese.
EASILY RECOGNISED
NO AID REQUESTED
Although the Aramis promptly notified both Shanghai and Hong Kong when she was stopped by the In the case of ships such as the Japanese destroyer, her master did Ranpura and the Aramis, this does not request any assistance, and so, the "China Mail" not apply, local shipping circles none was sent, point out. Both ships are well-was informed this morning. She known visitors to the China Coast later signalled that she was con- from Europe and are certainly no
tinuing her voyage to Shanghai,
So far as can be determined from strangers to Japanese warships which have been plying the China the brief messages received here from the French liner, she stopped Coast since July,
in response to a Japanese destroy- They are not coastal vessels er's signal some 17 miles from' hastily transferred to a neutral Hong Kong. No mention is made flag, and anyone but a Japanese na-in her messages of any warning val officer would realise that im- shot or blank cartridge having mediately he saw them, shipping been fired. She was boarded, it iş men point out; no Chinese steam-understood, and her papers were ship company has ever owned a examined, after which she
1997.
"NIKS"
allowed to proceed.
was
PROTEST EXPECTED
While no protest has yet been filed over the holding up of the Aramia; the "China. „Mail”: authori- tatively learnai that....at protest, couched in strong terms...will be laid before the Japanese authori ties:Whether this will be through the office of the General Manager for the Far East, or through the French naval and military authori tidenin – Shanghai — or, indeed, through both could not be den termined.
في
Page
QUEENS
DAILY AT 2:30-5:15·7:20&9:30 TEL.31453
TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW Seething Drama of Youth Embattled Against A `World Where Every Hand Is Turned Against Them!
BOY SLAVES
with
ANNE SHIRLEY
RKO RADIO
Picture
ROGER DANIEL JAMES MCCALLION
ALAN BAXTER
DRAMATIC DYNAMITEI Terror of Turpentine Camps1.Road-boys In raw, stark trap of seething backwoods
bondage1
Are thesa Tomorrow's
Public
Enemies?
PANDRO S. BERMAN in Charge of Production. Produced and Directed by P. J. Wolfen. 3r... Play by Albert Bein and Ben Orkow.
ADDED!
Latest
MARCH
The World's Unsolved Problem
Victims of Aggression & Persecution !
OF TIME "REFUGEES, TO-DAY & TO-MORROW”
SATURDAY
M.G.M. Picture ■
4 SHOWS DAILY 2.30 - 20 720-9.30
JEANETTE MacDONALD
•
NELSON EDDY
in "SWEETHEARTS
""
MAJESTIC
THEATRE
NATHAN ROAD KOWLOON
TOL 37222
(MATINEES 20‹ - 30‹ ° EVENINGS 20, 30c:50c70)
TO-DAY, ONE DAY ONEZAS
RETURN SHOWING BY SPECIAL REQUEST !
ROBERT
TAYLOR
MARGARET
SULLAVAN
FRANCHOT
TONE
A GREAT BOOK MADE INTO A
GREATER
PICTURE!
YOUNG THREE
ROBERT
COMRADES
FRANK DORZAGE. Production
#1 Metro Goldwyn Mayer nevuse
TO-MORROW AND SATURDAY
The Year's Finest Cast In The Year's Most Daring Romance!
JOAN CRAWFORD MARGARET SULLAVAN MELVYN DOUGLAS
•
"THE SHINING HOUR"
DAILY AT
2:30
520
720
920
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture.
STAR
TO-DAY ONLY
HANKOW ROAD KOWLOON TEL: $7795
LOONATIC... CROONATIC COMEDY MUSICAL!
Rah Rahl It's
START CHEERING
JIMMY DURANTE - WALTER CONNOITY » BAN PEHRY - CHARLES SJAHRESI • PHOFENSOR QUIZ GERTRUDE NÚ SEN · RAYMOND WALBURN - OR THREE SERQGES » BRODERIER CRAWFORD HAL LEROY • JOHNNY GREE# 300EHIN ORCHESTRA • Story by Cyrus bead • Noteru play by Hurone Sufen, Richard & Worses. Philip Kapp • ilates te{ba Menna Rowell » A COLUMBJA PICTURE.
TO- "MORROW
JANE WITHERS in
RASCALS