THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 7, 1940.
MUSSOLINI SILENT: NO MOVE YET MADE
(SPECIAL TO" CHINA MAIL "')
ROME, TO-DAY. RUMOURS THAT SIGNOR MUSSOLINI WOULD AN- NOUNCE ITALY'S ENTRY INTO THE WAR IN A PUBLIC SPEECH YESTERDAY WERE FALSI-
FIED BY EVENTS. IL DUCE DID NOT MAKE
ANY SPEECH AT ALL.
Nothing has yet occurred in the political domain to supply any indication regarding military inter- vention by Italy..
Political circles have the impression things may still drag on and that several days may elapse before Italy takes the final step.
U-BOAT ATROCITY OFF OSTEND
London, To-day.
Details of the Nazi ma- chine-gunning of men, wo- men and children who were struggling in the water were told yesterday by one of the very few survivors of the 689- ton steamship Abukir which was sunk by a torpedo about an hour and a half after leaving Ostend on May 27.
:
The ship left port with about 200 passengers, including a large number of refugees of whom forty to fifty were women, and some children.
While in Ostend the ship had been subjected to continual bombing but had not been hit and these attacks continued until she was some way out to sea when they. suddenly ceased.
Those on board thought they were clear of danger but in fact the Abukir. had reached the area in which a U- boat was: operating.
Two torpedoes were fired, both of which missed.
A little later the submarine was seen to surface and the Abukir's cap- tain tried to ram her but the ship's speed of only eight knots was slow.
too
Sank In Seconds The U-boat fired two more tor- pedoes one' of which hit the Abukir amidships. 'She broke in two and sank in less than a minute.
Many air force planes were flying over Rome all day yesterday, while
the black-out has been increased and many streets are now lighted with only blue lights. Havas.
Impressed By U.S.? Signor Gayda; writing in yesterday's "Giornale d'Italia," makes an appeal to the United States to stay out of European affairs.
He says: "If the United States does Intervene, one cannot see why a European power should not do the same in favour of an American nation in conflict with the United States.
"The United States cannot consider herself burdened with a divine mis- sion which authorises her to decide the life and destinies of other con-
tinents."-Reuter.
Italians Homeward Bound
VATICAN PREPARES FOR WORST
Vatican City, To-day.
Apartments are being pre-
CONTE BIANCAMANO'S ORDERS
Panama, To-day. The Italian liner "Conte Blancamano" is reported to have receiv- ed orders yesterday to re- main in port at Balboa until further notice. Reuter.
THE DAILY DOWN POUR
pared at the Palace Santa Marta for the French Ambas- sador and the British Minis-
Heavy showers falling since ter in conformity with the 5 a.m. to-day brought the Pope's decision to offer hospi- total rainfall between 10 a.m. tality to the representatives | yesterday and 9 a.m. to-day at the Holy-See of nations to 2.425 inches. with which Italy might even- tually be at war.
All measures have been taken for a total black-out of Vatican City.
The great vault of the 15th Century Tower of Pope Nicholas V, near St. Peter's, has been cleared of its con- tents so that it can be used as an air raid shelter. An
armoured room in
the tower is arranged as a strong room for Church treasure.-Reuter.
"U.S. ALREADY AT WAR"
Washington, To-day.
:
The heaviest fall was experienced between 8 a.m. and 7 a.m, to-day when almost an inch and a half was regis- tered, the Royal Observatory record- ing 1.380 inches.
Between 10 a.m: and 11a.m. yester- day, 0.030 inches was registered after which no rain fell until 2 ain. this morning.
The hourly rainfall recorded by the Royal Observatory was as follows:
3.a.m. 0.060 inch.
4. a.m. 0.005 inch.
5 a.m. 0.060 inch.
6 a.m, 0.400 inch.
7 a.m. 1.380 inches.
8 a.m. 0.290 inch,
9 a.m. 0,200 inch,
Speaking in the Senate yesterday, on them for supplying war materials said: Senator Pepper said Hitler was to the Allles, Senator Pepper Jerusalem,. To-day.. "already at war" with the United "It would not change the situation here
very much at all. States.
Replying to a Senator who asked "Hitler is already at war with us. what would be the position of the He has his Fifth Column in the United United States if Hitler' declared war' States. That is intervention.”—Reuter,
The Italian steamer Galate left Haifa | yesterday carrying 150 Italian pas- sengers, most of them women and children.
An Italian air liner falled to arrive. here yesterday; it is stated the com- pany is not accepting further bookings to Palestine.-Reuter.
ALLIED PURCHASES
IN AMERICA-
New York, To-day.. Secretary of Treasury. Henry Mor- genthau stated yesterday that the Anglo-French purchasing board had formally requested to be allowed to buy surplus Great War army stocks.
The request had been passed on to the War Department.
The Second Officer was carried down Mr. Morgenthau added the Allies' for with the ship but was released by the original purchasing programme list when she settled on the sea bot-planes and aero engines had been com~
tom.
pleted.
When he reached the surface he He had already discussed with the found the sea swept by a searchlight| Allied representatives a new buying and Immediately machineguns start- | plan.
ed firing at the helpless people strug-
gling in the water.
A few of these managed to cling to
a large piece of wreckage; among them were French and Belgian girls.
This handful constituted the sole survivors. They were picked up by a British destroyer about six hours later. British Wireless."
MATCHES AND SUGAR RATIONED IN JAPAN
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA-MAIL”) Tokyo, To-day.
The much discussed system of tic- kets for the distribution of sugar and matches in the capital and Osaka is to be enforced from to-day. It is re- called that the system was establish
Reuter.
ANTI-CHOLERA CAMPAIGN
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA-MAIL") SHANGHAI, TO-DAY. IN A DRIVE TO PREVENT: THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IS BE- ING PUSHED AHEAD IN BOTH THE FOREIGN AREAS AND JAPANESE OCCUPIED TERRITORY,
Special vaccination units have been placed at all bridges leading into Hongkew and are giving shots to all
ed at the beginning of the month in those unable to some vaccination
the four next largest cities in Japan Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe and Yoko- hama Havas:
certificates.
Five hundred were vaccinated at the bridges on the first day. Havas.
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