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FRANCIS WU'S STUDIO GLOUCESTER ARCADE
CHINA ME MAIL
No. 33848.
ESTABLISHED FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
HONG KONG, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1947,
PIRATES SEIZE DUTCH SHIP NEAR H.K.
Six Passengers Kidnapped:
Arsenal Of
First Direct H.K.-Sydney Ship Looted Air Link
The first direct air link between
and Hong Kong Sydney was made yesterday Afternoon when a Cathay Pacific aircraft teff Kai Tak airport on the first of what Is to be a onee-monthly flight servler.
The aircraft, a D.C.3 type 21-spot 'plane, took off at 3 nan, and is expected, to be in Sydney touruw afternorm.
Stops will be made at Maria, Mortal, Darwin neid C) neurry,
Among the passengers on beard was Mr. A.J. R. Moss, Director at Ciel Air Ser vices
A Company spokesman suld yesterday that it is hoped the number of fights between Hong Kong and Sydney will be inertased,
The single Fare_at_present from the Culeny is $2.200,
Previous
to M. udny's in- augurat Night persons wish- ing in reach Sydney by alr from Hong Kong had to first make the trip to Singapore and wait further transpart th-ge for Australia.
Central Trust Of China Here
The Central. Trust of China, an affiliate of the Central Bank of China.] re-opened for business in Hong Kong yesterday or the ground floor of Ped- der Building.
More Than $2m. Stolen
Eyewitness's Vivid Story
South China's internationally-known Bias Bay pirates made their first post-war "kill" on Sunday afternoon when they seized control of the 4,500-ton Dutch linar, ́“Van Heutsz” enroute from Hong Kong to Swatow.
Six first-class passengers were kidnapped and more than two million dollars in money and personal belongings taken away from 2,300 cabin and steerage passengers at the point of revolvers and light machine-guns.
The pirates, about 25 in number, are
believed to have boarded the "Van Heuts" in Hong Kong harbour, They seized control of the vessel four hours after It had salled. They were in control of the ship for more than 15 hours and ransacked the ship's arsenal,
They later commandeere; two, peared and was also detained in junks and forced the enplain
d other ailleers and crew to secompany them to shore in life brats.
The piracy occurred west of Chilang Paint, some 80 miles from Hong Kong in the vicinity of the infamous Bias Bay pirates pre-war fair..
The Van Hrutsz" orginally eneried 16 anti-pirney guards but these were dispensed with on this voyage.
"The
pirates must Bave known," said the Captain rue fully yesterday.
Eyewitness
the cabin.
"One of the robbers started to take off my rings, when an- other presumably the leader came in and ordered the rings to be returned to me.
"I was then ordered to open the safe in the Captain's cabin, "Ipuinted to my rank. This they evidently understood and did not insist.
"They then started to ransack eabins of the Captain Chief En- gineer and 4th Olcer.
"Later the piraten ordered the Chief Officer to the bridge.
Called Out "The Third Officer M.A.
Captain, incidentally, karn, told the "China Mail" | was locked up in his own cabin. thus at about 4.00 p.m. on Sun-
"He was called out and asked day, when near Bins Bay, heto produce more ammunition, was on the bridge talking to
Neder-
the 4th Officer about piracies in pre-war days when the Bay was the pirates' haust.
Before he had finished talk. held them up at pistol point and fing two men came up the bridge, ordered them into the corridor where the officers' cabins were.
men came on to the bridge.
Five minutes later about 11
The Chief Engineer (Mr. J.V.K. Klavein), „unaware of what was going on. came out of his cabin and was also held up and ordered into the corridor."
"We were
"Under orders from the Cap- ********
Exiled Siamese Government Talks In H.K.?
Bangkok, Dec. 15. According to unconfirmed re-
ports, Luang Arthakiel, former Foreign Minister under the Phil- bun Songram Cabinet, has suc-
"Unable to attract the junks tre pirates ordered the quarter= | master swing to port.
"A little later the piratsa or- diered the quartermaste. to swing the ship back to star- brand
Junks Appear
" was ordered back to the' earn. While in the cabin, I could hear junks coming along- side.
While all this was going on some of the men attempted to the safe of the Chief open Officer,
"They repeatedly asked for the key. The key however, had beer, taken away by the first batch of pirates.
"They started, to hack at the safe. They broke the lock and the handle. -
"At this stage, another pirate came in with the key. But with out the handie, It was impossi-, ble
toples
Price: 20 Cents.
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also Anything and Everything -
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Excellent Service.
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9, D'Agullar 81.
Tel. 21433
Kowloon "Big 3" Hold
Wharf
Repairs
Repairs and replacements are being made to the Public Fler, adjoining the Star Ferry Wharf at Kowloon.
Yesterday, divers were sent down to made a thorough in- spection of the underwater portion of the structure.
Here is shown one of the divers preparing for the des- cent.-China Mall Photo.
to open the safe. After PALESTINE CLASHES:
several attempts to break it open, they abandoned the safe
"The only indication we had that the pirates had left was when the Chief Engineer opened our door and we were informed that The Captain, Chief Officer and some members of the crew had gone in a row boat with the pirates.
was seen.
Frontier Legion Truck Bombed
Jerusalem, Dec. 15. bomb was thrown into a Trans-Jordan Frontier Forces truck entering Jerusalem near Wallah Hospital today, injuring at least two aboard. Two Frontier Force's trucks Two troops riding in the trucks when shots were fired at them. were passing the Jewish quarter opened fire.
The largest corern of its kind in China, the Central Trust un
"Shortly afterwards the Cap-A dertakes all kinds of business
tain and the crew who went connected with banking, trust, re-
told to keep our cessfully fled to Hong Kong with him returned in the row mikismees, insurance, transport hands up. We were marched to where he is engaged in discus-bont. No sign of the motor bont allon and general trading. the 4th Officer's cahin and or- suns with other Siamese diplo
Ilong Members of
Kong'a dered to sit down, "said Mr. Pats for the formations of an
"From the Captain the pirates [exile Siamese Government. making and commercial com- Nederkourn.
Among the tiplomats taking part took HK$2,350 and iniacei- munity called A
and the in the negotiations in Hong Kong islaneous articles. The Chief Om- stream throughout the day to 2nd Officer were already there. Sanguan Tularak, Siamese Arbana cer lost a pair of binoculars.
Central News,
enciless
"The Chief Officer
tender their good wishes to Mr. A guard was posted outside the far to Chinn, the reports added. The 2nd Officer also lost a pair Loan Ordinance
"Two boys, who was also un aware of what was happening brought us our usual tea,
C.K. Chang (Chairman of the cabin. Board of Directors), Mr. R. C. Wu (Managing Director and General Manager) and Mr. T. II. Mai Manager of the Hang Kong Offlce).
**********
of binoculars and a watch, The
****** 3rd and 4th Officer were, not
robbed,
"Tre Chief Engineer lost a re- volver and an empty aultense.l
When they entered the cabin tain, I unlocked the ammunition tecker, key to which was kept they almost threw everything down.
They were ordered to put the BRITISH TOBACCO |ten down and were imprisoned
in the same cabin.
CHIEF DEAD
London, Dec. 15.
Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen, Chairman of the British American Tobacco Company for 21 years, died yesterday at his hunt at Sunningdale Park out. side London following a heart attack.
He was 27-United Press,
"The pirates asked for the ship's firearms, The Captain had no alternative but to obey.
They took the whole lot, com- prising Tommy guns, rifles and pistels.
by him:
"AL about 8.00 p.m. the pirates ordered
two boys to bring us sandwiches and coffee.
"At about midnight I was or
dered out of the cabin to drop
anchor.
"All the time I was guarded by two pirates.
"After the anchor was drop- "The 5th Engineer then apped I was escorted back to the
2 SHIPS AFIRE, ONE SINKING IN W. INDIES
New York, Dec. 15.
Two ships were today reported afire in the Dutch West Indies after a collision, and an ocean- going salvage tug, owned by a New York firm, was reported sinking in the British West In- dies in SOS messages received by the Coast Guard.
7
Twa unidentified oil tankers Lifeboats were seen being were reported to be burning lowered from one ship, the San after colliding off Caracas Bay, Eliseo messaged. Curacao, Dutch West Indies.
A British vessel, the motorship San Elisco, rudlved that she was standing by and attempting to ret her small boats to aid the burning ahlps.
ON OTHER PAGES
Pagr Two
Police Pension "Amtendiment. Allen Case
0 Page Three
EntPage:Five
Jon World's Rice Prospects.
Page Eight AN
Boviet Devalues Roulite.
Wes Bhipping.
Sporting
Air Jammed··
The air jammed with distress calls and relays in the orca, clouding positive identification of
cabin.
From the 5th Engineer the pirates tauk a gramaphone and some rectirda.
"I reckon that the total loot of money, jewellery and per- sonal property would be in the vicinity of nearly 2 million dollars.
the "I recognised one of pirates as a Singapore passen- ger.”
Captain's Story
"At about 3.30 am. I was Captain Klass Albertus Vlick, again ordered out to raise an- master of the "Van Heutaz" cher.
sald.
"The ship was thon driven
"The ship carried 70 cabin further to the coast. A motor and 1,600 deck passengers. life-boat was lowered by the!
pirates as an emergency men
sure.
"At about 5.30 a.m. I was called out to get ready to drop anchor. Before this, the pirates had been trying
get
to
"At about 4 p.m. on Sunday, the boat was at Bias Bay,
"When I looked out of the window I saw the 4th Officer with his hands up.
"I went out and saw
five or six men on the bridge. As cach
off the ship by calling to junke white man approached,, he was stopped and ordered to a cabin. (Continued on Page 4)
by means of the ship's mega- phones.
"Six-Months" Blanket Import Licences
Read For 3rd
Time Tomorrow
The Loan Ordinance is to have its second and third readings at tomorrow's meeting of Legislative Coun-.' ell.
Measures up for first read- ing are a measure authorising new Interment fees in Chi nesć cemeteries,
an ordin- ance authorising specini re- gisters of deaths previously reglatered but lost during the occupation, and the Police Force (Retirement of Certain Officers) Ordinance,
Crucial Crisis Talks
London, Dec. 15.
The Western delegations held crucial meetings in advance of today's session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
The British Foreign Secretary (Mr. Bevin) also consulted with Prime Minister Attlee about the Big Four 'crisis after a meeting of the Bri- tish Cabinet.
The United States Secretary of State (Mr. Marshall), conferred with his delegation and top ad- visors.
Its assumed that Soviet For eign Minister Molotov had some long talks with the Kremlin over the week-end to determine Soviet policy.
Meanwhile, the United States, Britain and France waited anxi nurly to hear whether M. Molo- tov is going to let the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting break up.
M. Marshall,
will
probably
who accept responsibility
Strike
Pickets
Stop Bus
There was no develop-
for ment in the bus strike on
celling the session a failure if
to
Russiu refuses change her the Island, which enter- postition, is understood to bed its fifth day, yester- hoping for the best but preparing day.
for the worst.
Denial
A few hours before today's crucial meeting at 3.30 p.m. tto
No further attempt was made to bring lerries over from Kow- Ioon.
The Interview which the Chair-
formally and categorically denied man of the Motor Drivers Asso M. Molotov'a charges that theciation and representatives of Americons were reaping millions the strikers had with the Com- In profits out of Germany.
missioner of Labour yesterday He stated that "not one penny" morning was not
m connection
of profit has secrused to the Unit-with the strike but with a com- ed States from its administration plaint the Commissioner had re-. of Germany.
ceived of Intimidation on the part of all the Western of the strikers. Delegates Powers dgreed that today's ses.
It appears sion will determine whether this bus, which was being taken for that on Sunday n service will collapse quickly or overhaul, was stopped by strike 20 on in further efforts to reach pickets on the road, and ordered arcommodation between the East to be driven back to the shed. und West on Germany."
"They recognised the perfor
that
M. Molitor could
one of his about-faces and give the meeting another leate on life. Admittedly, however, the pos- sibility is slight after his bitter
SHANGHAI PILOTS STRIKE ENDED
Shanghal. Dec. 15.
and angry attack on the West at The Shanghai pilota strike, the last meeting on Friday.
which began 18 days over a dis-
The possibility of a quicic col-pute with the Maritime Customs lapse was sufficient to have par-un revised pilotage tariffs, end- lation officials of the American ed this afternoon when all delegation worried about how striking pilots were given now it neccessary-to
the Bureau of get American contracts by persconel book home before
Shipping and Navigation of the Christmas.
Ministry of Communications.
In future, pilots will be under the control of the Bureau instead of the Customs
originally.
Mr. Marshall's final decision The hand grenades were will be made after he Ands out thrown into the second trucks, whether M. Molotov has changed: Injuring two soldiers.
his mind after the two-day "cool- Earlier, Arab soldiers of King ing of" week-end. Abdulla's Пегсе Trans-Jordan He was reliably reported to
in Palestine Arnly.
for police feel that, if M. Molotov will net duty.
were reported officially to change, his demand for $10,000. have killed 14 Jews and wound 000.000 reparations, the Ameri- ed 15 others when they machine- cans have nothing more to talk gunned n. bus Aviv on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Jewish leaders in Jerusalem have called upon the Palestine Government in order the immediate evacuation from Palestine of Gli Trans-Jcfdan Arab Legion troops.
convoy near
Tel
The Arab, Legion forces, which are officered by Britons, are on loan to the Palestine Government for police duty in Holy Land. A spokesman for Hagana de. clared that "failure of the Bri tish to evacuate these · foreign troeps will be considered a Bri- tish provocation against the Jew- lah defense forces," -- Associated Press.
CANTON SILENT ABOUT KOWLOON EVICTIONS
Canton, Dec. 15,'-
There was no official reaction here on the Kowloon
walled city eviction issue in Hong Kong. The Kwangtung Assembly closed,ties over the Kowloon City inue, says ta 10-day session without expressing Central News. any formal opinion on the matter.
Mr. Kwok is scheduled to By to The Government and Kuomintang Hong Kong today to resume nego authorities did not make an officialtations with the Hong Kong Govern- statement, preferring to lez the Central authorities deal with the
malter.
“Editorial 'opinion" was in ̋svinpathy with, the Chinese residents in The walled city.
The
ment:
The Weather
Pressure remains,high over China and
A small depression 'sentred font south
east of Bhanghai is expected to move
ENE and deependent.
Forecast)----Moderate" or freali englarly
the ships and detalle of their firms have hitherto been required to take out,, the Imports and * In order to minimise the number of unport Hoences which condition, the Coast Guard said. Exports Department are prepared to Issue, in future, blanket The tug Killerrig, of the licences covering a firm's requirements for six months in those Merritt-Chapman. and Scott cares where the firm providing its own foreign exchange.
Kuond "Chungshan' Jih-Pan", official Japan and low to the 'nozih-east of Japan, Corporation of New York, was
paper, said: "This is the reported aground, "Alling up". It is felt that this procedure should therefore ask the shipping our attempt to evict the Chinese." and being abandoned by the crow will meet the convenience of Im company to endorse on his were bere recently to seek official A deputation of Kowloon residents In lifeboats one mile off. Moran porting firms and will eliminats Heence each shipment, in respect support in their contention that the Point, Jamales. -
a large amount of clerical work of a delivery order being issued, city is Chinese territory and that the The crew was estimated at 40 necesaltated by separate licences and note the licence number on British authorities in Hong Kong or more, IA PAR DA.
for each consignment, and the Import declaration when the have no right to evict then-A-Bussbina: 6.4 hours.
Whore such blanket licencas declaration — la 1led with the cipted Pres.--- are fasued, an importer, will not Import and Exports Department,
1
The Coast Guard cutter, Sare brush, one of several ships, hend-
be able to surrender fila copy to Blanket licences will not be
:*#
winds, cloudy with alighi driazie at first becoming fair
Yesterday's Weather:-- mimum 41.9 dez: Fah Maximum: 72.7 dem, Pah
„Balnfally_÷Trace, no Tolul, alneo - Jan, 1—
·2840,2 men.m10287. Inn, as against un Kwok Here Today alimverman of·2125,9] mm/m83,70 fan).
A Reading at Shanghal, Dec. 15.
(1) #Ma
ing for the tugboat, was expect, ed to reach her this morning, the ship owner on taking delivery Issued where, official exchange,
Matritt-Chapman and Scott, nor attach the duplicate to his is required nor, in respect of those Mr. T. W. Kwok, the Spreial Com are at m.8.1.1010.0 1015.1 18.3. the Const Guard said, dispatched Import declaration since the commodities which are under misioner of the Foreign Ministry for Wel, Humidity a launch from Kingston Heonico will be required for ad-world allocation. Die Kwangtung and "Kwangsi, arrived in Dew Point- Jamales, to the tug-Aasociated disional shipments. MORE TEAM The above procedure will take Shanahat from Nanking yesterday Wind Direction, Fross
The holder of a blanket liceous (effect immediately. SEMANARISH PITs reporting to the Central authoris, Wind Farm,
5%
-- 61. deg. F.
about.-United Press.
..
-The new contracts are for five years and include an uption of re- newal for another similar term. They also include provisions for a revision
of pilatace tariff-the case of the recent dispute from time to time. pituts, most of them British-Reuter, The strike, just ended. Involved 22
GRAND SALE OF
THE SEASON
Quality
HUNTERS
ALWAYS COME BACK
TO
CHINA BUILDING.
KEENSEN Co. VANCO CỔ, 33 QUEEN'S ROAD C. JITSING Co.
33A' QUEEN'S ROAD C.