CABLE AND WIRELESS
NEWS.
*(BAITIAN WURSLESS SERVICE.)
AIR MAIL...
THE NEW ROUTES TO BE OPENED.
Rcusy. April 15th.
The General Post Office announces that
on Monday next the following Air-Mail
THE HONGKONG ~ DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, APRIL 17TH, 1926
MUSSOLINI IN AFRICA. LEAVES FOR ITALY IN BATTLE- SHIP "CAVOUR."
1
TRIPOLI, April 16th. Signor Mussolini embarked on the
battleship Cavour for home, after attend -Routes will
be re-opened-London- ing with the Duke of Apulia, the opening of the Colonial agricultural Hamburg-Copenhagen-Malino.
Congress, and lunching with the officers of the garrison, reviewing the Eritrean troops and visiting the Jewish quarter.
FREEDOM OF LONDON. TO BE CONFERRED ON LORD READING.
||
RUGBY, April 15th.
At a meeting of the Corporation of the City of London, it was decided to confer the freedom of the City on Lord Reading in recognition of his distinguished ser vices as Viceroy of India.
1.
NEW HOUSES. BRITAIN'S REMARKABLE BUILD-
ING RECORD SINCE WAR.
Reasy, April 15th. Speaking at the opening of the Building Exhibition at Olympia. Sir Kingsley Wood, Health, said that according to the latest figures the total number of new housca provided in this country since the war up to March 1st, was 602,724. This was a really remarkable record, exceeded by no country in the world. No fewer than 374,418 had been built by private enter prise. Last year "the largest number of houses ever built in one year in this coun- try were constructed. They numbered 139,020, of which 126,936 were built by private enterprise. They looked forward to an even better record next year.
WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION.
Under-secretary for
HOW WASHINGTON CONVENTION HAS HIT VICKERS.
RUGBY, April 15th.
The small amount of warship construc- tion in this country has had a serious effect upon such arms as Vickers.
WU PEI FU AND THE KUOMINCHUN,
ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER DEMANDED,
[TEXOVOR REUTER'S ADENOT.]
A DÁNGEROUS ABUSE. TO CAPTURE PEKING. SHIPPING CONFERENCE AND DISTRESS SIGNALS.
LONDON, April 13th The International Shipping Conference has adopted a resolution dealing with matters affecting the safety of life at se The resolution noted with pleasure that Britain would shortly call a diplomatic conference to revise the Convention in
this connection, and also noted with alarm the increasing practice of sending out distress signals unwarrantably. The resolution called on all Governments.ta co-operate immediately in checking this. dangerous abuse.
A resolution was adopted in favour of an international plan for the avoidance
HANXOW, April 14th.'
The conference at Headquarters last evening decided to treat with the Kno- minchun under no other conditions than absolute unconditional surrender.
A telegram was subsequently received by Marshal Wu Rei Fu from Marshal Chang Tao Lin stating that General La Chung Lin's invitation was an endeavour
· MISSIONARIES CURSED TO:
THEIR FACES.
CHINESE CHRISTIAN'S ORDEAL
AT KUEILIN.
A missionary nt Kueilin (Kwangsi- province) writing to the NC. Dosly News says: --
A-KIDNAPPED COMPRADORE.
DEMAND FOR $300,000 RANSOM. POLICE STORY OF BATTLE IN SHANGHAI NATIVE OITY.
Detailed testimony in connection with the Ewo compradore kidnapping case was heard by Mr. C. E. Whitamore (British
The unrest and agitation in China which Assessor) and Magistrate Zau, at the Mixed Court, last week, when eight men, has been sweeping through. the sad with: described as natives of Shaolising, and relentless fores bas in recent months two women were charged with the kid- turned against the Christian Church, napping of Sung Nyohsan and a Chinese and missionaries and Chinese Christians chauffeur and holding them for ransom,alike have been called to suffer, and some- with being members of an organized gang times even life itself has been threatened. of armed robbers and kidnappers, with Such an experience recently befoll a the wounding of Yui Ping Ching, son-in-Chinese Christian in the City of Kueilin. law of the Ewo compradore, the
This man a few months ago assisted attempt- ed murder of a Chinese police constables Messrs. Crobb and Church in their at the New World, the murder of a Sikh tudies of the Chinese language. police trooper, numerous armed robberies and attempted armed robberies, and with being undesirables who were a menace to the
INSULTS. BY STUDENTS.
of all double taxation, and stress was by the Kuominchun to create bad bian mence and good order of the Settle large, educational ceatre, met to com-
AMUNDSEN'S AIRSHIP.
HELBINOFORE, April 16th,
also laid on the necessity and difficulties The airship Forge landed at Gatchina.of compiling different returns. 38 miles south of Leningrad, at 7.30 this
evening.
ARRIVAL AT LENINGRAD.
LENINGRAD, April 16th. The Jorge landed in darkness assisted
IMMUNITY, FOR "STATE-OWNED, VESSELS, M. Louis Franck in reporting on the recent Brussels Diplomatic Maritimo Conference, at which he presided, refer- red inter alia to the discussion on the
between himself (Chang), and Wa Pei Fu. and further stating that the capture of Peking and the destruction of Bolshevism were absolutely assured.
Marshal Wu Pei Fa replied that he had already on several occasions made it
On March 12th the students in Kucilin,
memorate the anniversary of the death of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. About one thou- Supt. Vanghan appeared for the prestad students paraded the city carrying
T. Bryan appeared for the defence. secation and Messrs W. S. Fleming and
banners and treamers "on which were In the course of his outline of the case
written Bolshevisk slogans of a revolu Supt. Vaaghan mentioned that the sixth tionary nature. After parading the city. accused had made a statement admitting Mission Compound. Here the parading the crowd marched into the Baptist that he had shot Sung's son-in-law, that students cried out, Down with Imperi- he had attempted to murder the Chinese police constable and that he had murder- alism-destroy the Christian Church.
The Christian girls were called by name, ed the Sikh trooper.
saying that they were the dogs of the foreigners and some were even pelted with stones. The missionaries were car He was reviled He reviled-not again," they patiently bore the insult.
by searchlights. The bandred soldiers immunity of State-owned shipping from perfectly clear that he had no intentionMr. Sung, it having been circulated ined to their faces, but remembering "when"
of the Red Army towed the dirigible to the bangar.
Representatives of the Soviet Govern meat, and the Academy of Science and foreign consuls. delegates of various bodies, and a crowd of peasants bad awaited the arrival since the early morn ing, while a squadron of Soviet aero- planes had ceaselessly patrolled the horizon, and the anxiety was increased by failure to establish wireless communi cation, owing to unfavourable meteoro- logical conditions. Aeronauts explained that the delay was due to losing bearings in fog,
THE SPANISH AIRMEN.
DELRI, April 16th., The Spanish airmen have arrived at Agra."
SOVIET DECREE. RUSSIA AND TERRITORY WHICH
MIGHT BE DISCOVERED.
MoscoTM April 16th.
The Central Executis. Committee of
Presiding at the annual meeting of the Company Mr. Douglas Vickers said it appeared that their armour plating plant the Soviet Government have issued a in Sheffield would be almost closed down decres declaring they will be the for the year. The small cruisers allowed Soviet territory all lands and islands by the Washington Convention carried hitherto discovered and discovered in the very little armour plate, and as far as future in the region situated in the could be seen the total requirement of North Aretic Ocean along the north the country would not keep one plant even half employed. There were five such plants in the country,
GAS MANTLES, AGREEMENT AGAINST INTER NATIONAL COMPETITION.
Rcosy, April 15th.
The Board of Trade states that it is
coast of Russia to the North Pole, except those at present recognised by the Soviet as part of the territory of any other
country.
·SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOUR."
MR. THOMAS'S "ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT.
LONDON, April 15th. informed that on agreement has been There was a recrudescence of uproar made between the Gas Mantle Trade in the House of Commons to-night, which Association, representing most of the British manufacturers, and the German culminated in Mr. J. H. Thomas an- Gas Mantle Convention and certain asnouncing his intention to move a vote of sociated manufacturers, in other coun tries.
censure on the Deputy Speaker.
claims in respect of collisions and other wise and also freedom from seizure and
Private owners objected and arrest. urged a uniform law if States were en- gaged in commercial shipping. He stat ed that an agreement was reached as Brussels to which the Japanese delegates did not subscribe pending a communica- tion from their Government. The text of the Treaty was, shortly to be issued and he could not divalge the details, but he assured the Conference that nothing therein conflicted with the views of any Admiralty or hindered any country in
the event of war.
LOWIE FREEBOARD.
The International Shipping Conference has adopted a resolution in favour of a lower
for United freeboard
States tankers in accordance with American
desires.
The report on this matter recommended
13 per cent reduction in freeboard. The American delegate. Mr. James Kennedy, said owners recognized that
each vessel should be dealt with on its inerits.
сод-
Sir Kenneth Anderson (Britain) said that the British Government was sidering the revision of the existing load line regulations.
2
Mr. Robert Hands (United States) un“ derstood that the House of Representa tives would shortly provide for new ro gulations which would affect all ships sailing from America.
..
LEAGUE INVESTIGATION. GERMANY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE COMMITTEE.
GENEVA, April 15th. The League of Nations' Secretariat bes received a German Note agreeing to participate in the Committee to stady the composition of the League Council and the method of its election, reserving freedom of decision as regarda entry into the League.
1
BAGHDAD FLOODS.
BREACH IN BANK OF TIGRIS NOW REPAIRED.
BAGHDAD, April 16th. The capital is no longer endangered, as the breach in the bank of the Tigria has been repaired by a thousand men dropping thousands of sand bags into the river from barges.
.'
FOOTBALL "AT HOME.
LONDON, April 15th. In the third division (north) of the English League, Halifax defeated Wigan
The Government applied the closure Under the terms of the agreement, to a Labourite motion opposing the Gov- ernment's proposai to transfer a surplus German manufacturers and associated of £1,100,000 from the services of the concerns will not sell mantles in the Insurance Fund to the Treasury, against United Kingdom and other parts of the which the Opposition displayed much British Empire, while British makers feeling. Mr. Thomas beatedly accused will not sell to, the Continent of Europe the Government of scandalous behaviour. and the United States of America. An excited discussion on points of proce-by two goals to all. There are also arrangements in respect of dure ensued, after which Mr. Thomas other markets.
solemnly stated that he proposed to take the necessary steps to ask the House to exprees an opinion on the Speaker's "partial and biassed conduct,' after which
the matter was temporarily dropped.
The agreement is for five years.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
ENGINEERING CRISIS: EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS FAIL TO AGREE.
LONDON, April 15th. An engineering crisis is threatened, the conference of Engineering Employers and Trade Unions on the cational demand for a pound weekly wage increase having failed to reach an agreement.
The Trade Unions are now considering the question of authorising a strike ballot in London and districts.
THE LOW FRANC.
LONDON, April 15th. The French franc has marked a new low record to-day, closing most weak at 144.
REASO35 FOR THE FALL
THE ECONOMY, BILL
LONDON, April 16th. After a good tempered all-night sitting, in which Mr. Churchill and Mr. Thomas led the opposing sides, the Commons rose at 7-15 this morning, after passing clause nine of the Economy-Bill.
Discussion on the Bill was adjourned until Monday.
DOES
SECRET
Pi
·BILLIARDS AT HOME.
LONDON, April 10th. Playing at Thurstons in the Empire Billiards Championship, Earlam (Eng- land) 2,000 beat McCluney (North Ireland) 879.
(REUTER'S AMERICAN SERVICE
"EASTWOOD FIRED ON." U.S. OFFICIALS FIND CHARGE FOUNDATIONLESS,
WASHINGTON, April 16th. The Treasury Department have lound. the charge that the cutter Seneca fred on the schooner Eastwand without founda tion.
Officials stated that they had informa tion that for over a year the Eastwood hovered off the coast, obviously intending to land liquor in the United States.
·· VALUABLE BIBLE. GENEROUS GIFT TO THE VALE UNIVERSITY.
whatever of treating with the Kuomin chun neither had he vouchsafed an answer to Lu Chung Lin's telegram.
Orders have been issued to the troops to move on and capture Peking.
KUOMINCHUN EVACUATING
is
Det-Sgt. James Douglas said, that he had received word of the abduction of the usual way. On March 7th, the first nensed was arrested in Woosung Rond aad brought to the station. Witness and a Chinese gulrinspector questioned accus- ed, who admitted knowing something of Sung's abduction. The police, acting on his statements, rounded up five others, and witness was told that the sixth accus ed. whom he arrested, was one of the principals in the kidnapping. After lengthy interrogation the sixth accused said that he would tell witness all about the affair, which he did, telling him of the place where the abduction had taken place and a house in the Chinese city where Sung and the chauffeur were be
detained.
PEKING.
PERINO, April 16th. Kdominchun troops are streaming to wards Feking from the direction of Tunging
#5
It is understood that a general evacua- tion is being carried out to-night.
The control of the Capital will be handed over to the police acting in operation with a citizens committee. headed by General Wang Shib Chen (who has been the leading spirit in the Peace
movement).
CHIEF EXECUTIVE RETURNS” TO HIS PALACE,
LATER. The Kuominchun forces, have evacuated the city, and Chinese Allied troops have
taken over control.
Tuan Chi Jui, who recently took refuge in the Legation Quarter, has returned to the Presidential Palace and resumed the
fonctions of his office.
Tiso Kun, the ex-President who was recently released from confinement by the
now gone to Kuominchun, bas
the Legation Quarter.
"HOME BREW EXPERT. SENATOR REED'S DEMONSTRATION TÓ PROHIBITION ENQUIRY.
WASHINGTON, April 15th. All sorts of stills, corn, sugar and flavouring extracts used in the manufac ture of bootleg. hootch " figured in the Prohibition Committee room to-day, where Senator Reed ocularly, demonstrat ed plain and fancy whisky making.
In the meantime, prohibition is the main subject of dehate in both House of Congress.
MET WITH A VOLLEY OF FIRE... Plain Clothes Constable Campbell, on-witness's instructions, collected all the steel vests he could and they, together with a big squad, went to the Chinese City and informed the native police of their discoveries and plans. The sixth accused, who was with them, was ques
CHINESE CHRISTIAN'S ORDEAL. The Chinese Christian in question, how ever, seems to have been less patient, and be was set on by the mob who struck him with their fists and with stones and brick- bats, the latter cutting an ugly gash from which the blood spurted profusely. The man was then bound with ropes and with blood streaming down his face was led off to the City square where he was tied to a post amid the hoots and jeers of the frenzied throng. Meanwhile, the authori- ties had been notified of what was happening, and urged to rescue the un- fortunate captive, but they were either. powerless or afraid to interfere. After hours of insult and suffering gradually the mocking crowd began to diaperse, and when the throng had grown smaller soldiers came and rescued the prisoner. The man was taken to the yamin where he was kept all night.
The crowd considered this was interfer
tioned at length and an escort was suping with their rights, and soon the rabble
plied:
They then went to a house in an alley. the sixth accused. Arriving there wit way which was pointed out to them by ness divided the squad into two parties, taking charge of one bimself and plas ing the other under P. C. Campbell. There was only one citrance. Led by the sixth accused, they tried to go upstairs but were met by a volley of fire. This was returned but the squad had to retire owing to the position they were in, witness then ordered the place to be sur rounded. Every time they tried to get in, they were driven back by a hail of bullets and any attempt to get aear fail- ed. Witness ordered that fire should be kept up from every available point and, about an hour or so later, the house was silent. They then rushed the place Witness searched the bottom part of the. house but found nothing. Campbell, who was upstairs, found two men, one of whom had died. The other had little life left. Both wera in possession of pistols, Witness then searched the back room and found Sung and the chauffeur. He ordered a search of the roof, personally climbing up to arrange his men as he feared that some kidnappers might be up there
again assembled, and going to the yamen to them. This demand was complied demanded the prisoner to be handed back
with, and the unfortunate victim with rollen face and hair dishevelled was once more given over to the mób.
" TREATED AS A CRIMINAL He was again bound, and with his uecusation written on paper and fastened to his back he was led through the streets by the howling mob like a criminal being led to execution. As he was hustled along the streets his tormentors called. out to the people en route, Come see the way we treat the Christians, and the others." way ere long we will deal with the
When because of fatigue he lagged in his gait he was kicked and pounded and made to walk faster. He was aghin taken to the city square where he was once more tied to the dreaded post. Strings of fire-crackers were then secured and set off at his feet, while the sparks flew in his haggard face and burned his skin. Some of the more cruel in the crowd wanted to burn him, while others suggested the branding irons.
Finally it was decided to tattoo him
Just about this time, there was a lot of the checks with the two words Foreign slave," and this was done by shooting from various places and witness the use of mails and needles. After the noticed volunteers of all descriptions and
tattooing was completed he was released Chinese police emptying their rifles at as a marked man. Where he is now we the place. There were more than 100 of do not know. The last we heard of him them and their firing was very danger he was fecing for his life. He had called he had to shout out to them to desist. ous, bath to witness and his men, and at one of our Mission stations where one of our missionaries had dressed "bia A woman then came to witness and told swollen forehead. He had succeeded in him that one of the rabbers was inside scraping away the tatiooed marks until her kitchen. They went to get him and they were hardly visible, and was hoping another #ght took place. The man was to reach some distant friends where be well armed and had a considerable could find shelter and be kept and cared amount of ammunition and apare for. magazines. Firing was exchanged for
some 40 minutes but eventually this man was killed by a rifle shot fired by Con- signed by the prisoners after they had stable Campbell. His body was riddled been cautioned in the usual way. with bullets but be kept firing until the very last.
Senator Borah, startled the Senate by an impassioned plea for the maintenance
COMPRADORE'S TESTIMONY. of the present law unnmended, and Sera-
Sung Nyoh Son, compradore "of the tors broke tradition by applauding
Ewo Cotton Mill, told the Court that. Senator Borah's assertion that the whole
PARTY UNDER CROSS FIRE.
about 9 am on February 8th he had left movement for the modification of the law During this period the party was con his house at 21, Myburgh Road, accom was engineered by the opponents of re-siderably handicapped. The members panied by his son and two sons-in-law. form who, despairing of the repeal of were between cross fire and witness They had entered his car when three men prohibition, were now seeking to nullify shouted himself hoarse to stop the Chi- armed with pistols approach them and and sterilise its terms, while professing nese volunteers from firing. About 60 held them up. They forced open the door to respect it, a
bullets lodged over his own head and the of witness's car and pulled him to the lives of their own men were very much ground, forcing him into another car in danger, for they, too, narrowly and drove away to West Gate. All the escaped being hit. With three men shot, time they pointed a pistol at him. As the place was carefully searched and the car started, he heard a shot but did. several pistols were found, many spare not know what had happened as he could: parts, considerable ammunition and, not see behind him. When the car ar nurperous empty cartridge cases. Half rived at its destination, the kidnappers, an hour after the conclusion of the fight one on each side, and another behind, ing, which had lasted for about three forced him to enter a house in silence. hiding on a neighbousing roof. hours, the two women were arrested while They took him upstairs to a back room and he never left that room until his re- lease. He was continually guarded days and night,
VOLCANIC ACTIVITÝ.
SPECTACULAR ERUPTION IN. SANDWICH ISLANDS..
NEW YORK, April 15th. A message from Hilo Sandwich Islands, says that the volcano Marna Las spectacularly erupted last night, streams of lava descended twelve, thousand feet from the crater and flowing towards the forest and villages in the Kau district The flow illuminated the entire island and was visible by ships at sea.
LAND" BOOM. CANADIAN MAYOR AND TOO MUCH AMERICANISM.
-RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY.
NOT CONTAIN NEUTRALITY CLAUSES..
LONDON, April 18th. It is understood from a trustworthy source that there is no truth in the report that the impending Russo-German Treaty will contain any secret neutrality clauses. The German Government has PARIS, April 16th. been most frank about the negotiations. The fresh fall of the franc, despite the since they were instituted and has given
NEW HAVEN, April 16th apparent improvement in the financial the British Government very definite Through a gift from Mra, Harkness, instan situation, is causing uneasiness, and is assurances that the Treaty is primarily Yale University have acquired the Melk. attributed to the sales of French francs economic and not in conflict with the copy of the Gutenberg Eible, which was abroad, especially in Belgium and Italy Locarno treaties of the Covenant of the recently auctioned for $106,000. for the maintenance of their own cur League. rencies, and also "in Holland for un- It is believed that the Soviet ie | ULS. PRESIDENT - INDISPOSED, known rea80DS. ·
* considerably disappointed, that it is un- False reports in regard to the de able to persuade Germany to give the monstration of the Civil Servants in Treaty Za political complexion, and Paris circulated in Central Europe are Soviet ciroles are now trying to magnify also blamed.
the importance of the Treaty.
WASHINGTON, April 15th. President Coolidge has so attack of mild indigestion and has cancelled to,
day's engagements..
Oma, April 15th A small land boom has started at Bridgeburg, Ontario, as the result of work beginning on the Buffalo-Fort Eris bridge, but the Mayor has held up opera- tions strongly objecting to, the naming at new streets after American Presidents He says this is impressing Americaniza tion about one mile and a half too far
west.
The seventh accused, continued witness, kidnapping and he was charged also was one who had taken part in the actual
Witness said that $300,000 was the with the attempted murder of each mem- amount, asked for his ransom, and he ber of the raiding squad. He was arrest told his coptors that he did not have such ed by the Chinese police and handed over an amount and could not pay it, but to witness after the municipal police had he was told to write a letter for the sum withdrawn, He had hidden under a bed mentioned. Witness was not threatened, and was wounded in the hand and the but he was well treated He identified leg. Although witness had seen five the three dead men as they were his pistols and a considerable quantity of guards and the men who had abducted live ammunition, only two pistola and The next witness, Tui Ping
him. 17 rounds of ammunition came into his possession. The three men shot dead is son-in-law of the previous witness, toid the city were not known to the police. the Court of how he had been shot at There was an inquest held by the Chinese the time when Sung was taken prisoner Magistrate and it was found that they in Myburgh Road, Witness saw the in- were shot by the raiding party, in self cident and tried to jump out of the car. delence.
but he was struck by a bullet in the body and he fell to the ground.
The chauffeur also gave evidence, after which the bearing was adjourned.
Witness produced statements which, he said, had voluntarily been made and "(Continued on next Column.)
Ching, a