HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1931.
UNPRECEDENTED IN BRITISH NAVAL
HISTORY.
ATLANTIC FLEET EARLY GENERAL
UNREST.
DUE TO REDUCED RATES IN
NAVAL PAY.
SHIPS INVOLVED ORDERED TO HOME
PORTS.
[THROUGH" REUTER'S AGENCY)];
London, September: 15.
› A⠀⠀statement" izmed by the Admiralty" declared (that in the Senior Omcer of the Atlantic Fleet has reported that the promul gation of reduced rates in Naval pay has led to unrest" among a proportion of the lower ratings/wheel.
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"In consequense, of this the cffcar daamed it desirable to mas- pend the programme of exercises of the Fleet and recall ships to harbour while investigations were made into the representations of hardship, occasioned by certain onts in pay in order that these may be reported for the consideration of the Board of Admiralty !!
Details of reductions in pay, which led to "mreat" in the Atlantis Flost, wars given in Admiralty Fleet Saturday and ware to operate from October 1.
RATINGS REFUSE DUTöre issued on,
· Loxbox, September 14.
Reports from Invergordon show that the greatest grievance is - in connection, with the cut-in, the separation allowances). It is alleged the result is that an able seaman's wife, will get 13/- instead of 26 weekly, 2
The Evening News" says protests against the cuts were made at the sailors' meetings at Invergordon and that ratings réfused duty yesterday after the usual morning task of cleaning the ship. Jnstead of obeying the signal to weigh anchor, they gave three cheers for the King and sat astrido the anchor cables, This hap pened in all ships. "The men then settled down to entertain. ments. This conduct was repeated to-day, meanwhile, stokers ceased raising steam and all work was suspended pending the Admiralty's decision, which is expected later to-day..
In the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain stated that the Atlantic Fleet ships had been' ordered to proceed, to their ́.
· home ports at once where the Commander-in-Chiefs and Admiralty representatives will farestidate the classes of cases which are sileged to be involving the hardship.
The Government has authorised the Admiralty to proposa alleviatory measures.
QUESTIONS IN COMMONS.
Dr Sir “Austen Chamberlain's - Naval announcement was greeted by ' prolonged Labour cheeri, and Ministerialist taunts. At the con clusion of his reply he was subjected to a volley of questions into which Mr. MacDonald was drawn,
Sir Aurten declined to accept the suggestion that the men were not able to represent their own cases adequately and ke thought Parliamentary" authorisation was unnecessary in regard to any adjustments which might be "desirable...
The ex-First Lord, Mr. Alexander, in an enquiry from Mr. “ MacDonald if revision would now happen over all cuts, evoked the reply that the general rule applied in block cuts by all depart meats, and it had been that the burden of adjusting such savings was a matter for the department's own internal arrangement,
The Speaker refused an application to adļours" the House to discuss the abandonment of Ficct exercises, A POTE
Further Labour attempts to keep the discussion going failed.
GOOD-HUMOURED PROTEST.
LONDON, Sept. 10.
The officer who arrived from. Invergordon when interviewed. by Router's representative sald: The situation is not serious, but It is unprecedented as occurring in the British Navy.
"The proposed cuts are-tienv.". ler than for any other of the Services or the Civil Service, amounting in many cases to twenty-five per cent., while no other class is asked to accept ⠀ cuts, of "more than" diteen..per
cent,
** All the men are making the protest in a good humoured way, which is typical of the Navy, and such action, though unprecedented, is the only way the men can express their feel..
Between the officers and men -feeling is very good, Mean...
while, discipline is being main. tained."
"ADMIRALTY CONFERENCE.
LATER.
There have been rapid detek: lopments to day in the situation created by the promulgation of reduced rates in Naval pay.
A conference was held at the Admiralty, this morning between -the First Lord; Sir Austinë".
Chamberlain,, and. Rear-Admiral. Cólvia (H.M.S; Nelson); Chlef of Staff Tomkinson (who is re.... maining at Invergordon), Sir Charles Madden, First Sea Lörd, and other members of the Board
Rear Admiral Colvin explain ed Ike prodire position:at Inver- gordon and a statement may be Muted later, minu
Reports
from... · · Invergordon- state that all ships are lying at their customary anchorages, and moorings in the Cromarty Firth... Drills and duties comprising the daily programme of ships in har bour are being carried out as usual, as is also the routine of shore duties, such as the collec tion of mails and stores.
No libertymen (ratings who are granted shore leave), how. ever, are allowed to leave the "ship.
SIXTEEN SHIPS INVOLVED.
LATER.. The number of ships involved is sixteen, including H.M.S; Hood, the | Flagship, the monster battleships,
H.M:S. Nelson and Rodney.
الا
ELECTION PROBABLE.
MR. SNOWDEN OPPOSED TO EMERGENCY
SIR
TARIFF
JOHN SIMON EXPLAINS THE
THREAT TO STERLING.
(REUTER, AND BRITISH WIRELESS.}
Ryany, Sept. 16,7) The Budget resolution increasing the Income Tax by sixpence to 6
in the pound was adopted by the, House of Commons last night with out a division.
.ju
TOKYO ROCKED BY EARTHQUAKE
NO DAMAGE AS YET REPORTED.
[THROUGH RKUTKE'S AGENCY. ]
TOKYO, Sept. 10 Tokyo and the surrounding dia- tricts were rocked by a severo; earthquake at 9.45 p.m.
So far no damage has been re- ported.
EXTENSION OF HOOVER PLAN?
WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT IS A "COMPLETE FABRICATION
[RBUTER'S AMERICAN, SERVIC
AFTERMATH OF FLOODS.
HANKOW A CITY OF STENCH AND MUD.
[THROUGH, REUTER'S AGENCY.]
HANZOW, Sept. 16. The watermark to-day dropped! below 13ft, but there. a rapid current swirling the water from the streets to the river.
The higher parts of the city are now only ankle deep, and most of!| the shops in the Native City have re-opened.
When the water rocodes thick black alime covers everything and the stench is unbearable.
Yesterday the weather suddenly turned, cold and the refugees in the exposed camps were shivering.
A committea, has been formed to distribute padded clothes..
YANGTSZE FLOOD.
CHINA'S CIVIL WARD
FIRST HEAVY CLASH YESTERDAY
(From Qur, Own Correspondent.;
CANTON, Sept. 10,
The first heavy, "clash in the Canton Nanking war occurred to day in the vicinity of Hengshow in southern Hunan as the Southern forces advanced in an attempt to storm the city, according to a mili. tary ¿communiqué from Hunan re ceived here to day... The Southern faroes in their march north through Hunan met with practically no resistance until they approached Hengchow to-day. They captured Chenchow, Reagyang, Yungchow and other towns of little or no military importance in rapid succes- sion Apparently the Naoking
authoritler bad decided to abandon everything south of Hengchow in an attempt to line their enemy into a trap
The advance troops of the South-
I hope the Government "will, without a moment's delay, convene
New Youx, Supt. 15 mot powerful conference which The New Turk Evening Post says it is possible to bring together to that the Advisory Council of the open up a grand inquest into the Federal Reserve Board has recom laws of the abstraction of gold andmended President Hoover to on- the consequent fall in prices," nounce immediately the readiness
On the subject of tariffa, Mr. Ruany, Sept. 15. William Graham said that i Bri-war debis moratorium to three of the United States to extend the The discussion in the House of-tain adopted n tariff policy, other years, on even five years, has Commons to-day of the Budget countries, by forcing up the barriers 16 is learned that Mr. Andrew AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC ern combination under Colonel Chen resolutions was opened by Mr. against British goods, would do Mellon, the Secretary of the Tren William Graham, and important more damage to her than she toury Department, favours the exten- spescher" followed from Mr. Win them. ston Churchill and Sir John Simon. Both Mr. Graham and Mr. Chur- chill dealt with the decline in world commodity prices and discussed the question of Britain's adverse trade balance in the light of a possible Aggravation of the world depression by a further sterilisa tion of gold reserves."
"Mr. Graham said that unless, com- modity prices could be raised all over the world, they must look for ward to a winter in which, in the lending industrial countries of Europe, and America, there would be not less than thirty million people dependent on public assist. ance and a situation might develop in Gorany, and other parts of Europe and even in the United States, which would make the maio. tenance of the present monetary system impossible,
Mr. Churchill who described the essence of the gold standard as the security for a stable return for the wages of labour, said, the artificial and abnormal distribution of gold in the last few years had created a new position, What would hap pen, he naked, if the ceaseless fall of prices which had been going on for the last three years went on for the next fivet.
A Gold Conference. Unless all the countries of the world," he said, "can either utilise gold for the function it has hitherto discharged, or can devise some new index of exchange, the continued fall of prices, and the destruction of credit will reduce civilisation in a short time to a breakdown and to ferocious barbarison.
(Continued "on"next Column.)
Tariff Demand,
LONDON, Sept. 15. Mr. Winston Churchill when sug gesting that an international con ference be called to deal with the gold question, said that as an out, come, some form of final quietus might be administered to the pay ment of reparations and war debts.
Mr. Churchill concluded his speech with an appeal for a declaration by a majority of the House of Commons upon the princ eiple of the immediate protection of industry and agriculture,
Inconsistency..
The Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital has asked us to publish the following appeal:-
In view of the seriousness of the food disaster in North China which has affected more than ten pro
sion of the Hoover Moratorium Plan to a period of three years.
It is also understood that at a conference with bankers last night, President Hoover consulted them with regard to the necessity for extending credit for the benoit of domestic and foreign interests, and also regarding wave and means in vinces, leaving the surviving mil which the enormous gold stocks of lions in a most pitiful and wretch the United States may be employedly destitute state, this Hospital ed without undue inflation,
Denial by Secretary.
has appropriated a sum of $30,000
Teh Kia are reported to have ar rived on the outskirts of Hongehow and are engaging the enemy forces, Other detachmente of the Canton Government are closely following up
General Attack Ordered.
CENTRAL PRESS.j
SIMCANTON, |, Sept. 10
General Pe Chung Hồi, Kwang
from the surplus of the Flood Resi leader, and General Tang Sheng The anxiety of the authorities to of Fund for remittance to the Chi a Cadton commander, have prevent premature reports of the affected areas for rebel through ordered a general attack on Heng. extension of the Hoover Plan from channels which command the ut being cinculated is shown by the. RUGBY, Sept. 15.)||
most confidence, and the present fact that one of the President's Directors have personally contri: Churchill of inconsistency in seek-clared that the Evening Post's re Relief Fund that has been in Sir Norman Angell accused Mr. secretaries, when questioned, debated what they could towards the ing a perpetuation of economic port was a complete fabrication." nationalism by tariffs, and at the.
stituted. But, as the areas affected same time advocating concerted
serious, we are afraid that unless are extensive and the disaster most international action to secure the
stabilisation of gold,
A Threat,
Sir John Simou referred to the growing conviction that the balang ng of the budget was only a part of the problem f
The position of British currency in relation to external trade bad to be faced because the increasing adverse balance of trade, unless it wore checked, would constitute a threat to sterling more serious than a temporary budget deficit....
said Sir John, if the country puts The position is plainly this," itself in a position, for any length visible and invisible exports added of time, in which. it is unable. together to settle the balance of traile, manifestly there would be on offer a larger amount of sterling representing our purchases than there would be of foreign curren cies representing their dealings with us, and the inevitable conse quences must be that sterling would strain from which the vigour and be exposed to the same kind of energy, of the Government has just
At the offices of the. Commander in Chief at Plymouth last night it was reported that there were no signs of any dissatisfaction amcanved it. the personnel of the ships in port. Officers at Plymouth addressed dealing with the situation, Sir John After examining possible' ways of the men explaining the position and the need for economy and the ratings, apparently, nccepted the cuts without demur.
The Senior Officer is: Rear-Ad- miral Wilfrei Tomkinson who was posted Rear-Admiral Commanding. the Battle Cruiser Squadron an April, 1831, when Sir, Michael Hodges, Commanmander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, went on sick leave,
the
Atlantic Fleet manœuvros were arranged to begin on September 22 in the North Bea, and were 10 include demonstrations of latest methods of naval warfare. H.M.S. Nolenn, Rodney, Hocd, Repulso and Warspite are among the units of the Fleet..
There is thus greatest reticence in official quarters over the affatr.
PROTEST MEETINGS.
The conditions at Chatham depot that meetings pretesting against It is reported from Invergordan are normal, sailors are allowed the
cuts in pay were held on Sunday
said he was forced to the conclusion only remedy at hand "It was only that an emergency tariff was the a negative and a partial measure, but it was essential..
Mr. Snowden Bays No.
LONDON, Sept. 15. the debate, said the discussion of Mr. Philip Snowden, replying to the gold standard and the analysis of Britain's trade position had been barren of practical suggestions for remedies; /*
As for tariffs, if the purpose was prevent imports so as to redress have to be prohibitive, the trade balance, the tariff would There could be no such thing as bad showed that tariffs, once intro: an emergency tariff Experience duced, lasted for years.
He reminded the House that a
shipping industry heavy blow to the already hard-hit restriction of imports would be a
conferenca on the gold question. Tthere were an international low are the Grevesmen, wo fald question,
usual leave and there is no sign of and Monday by hundreds of men disentiefaction or troubleA
Nowapapors with delais regard-on shore leave,
shore leave ing Invergordan are road most eagerly and the news is evidently yesterday,
*nahore
It is stated that the men
aro
causing considerable surprise among awaiting the return of the Officer naval ratings.
Everything is normal at Ports who flow to Londen, yesterday mouth, where leave in also granted with the news of the proteste,
na usual, but there is considerable Three hundred, and seventy-five
participate. We The general debate on the Bud get then concluded and discussion of the details will begin to-morrow. General Election,
K
extending the moratorium had not He added that the question of heen referred to say conferences
and that no such move is contem plated by the White House.
In spite of the denial, however, good deal of truth is believed to underlie the report
WEATHER REPORT,
Yesterday's weather report, forecast and ramaiks, issued by. the Royal Observatory at 5 1.m., stated:
The anti-cyclone is now cen tral to the north of Tokyo, A trough of low pressure, extends from Cochin China to Gum. A depresalon appears to be form- ing to the south-west of the Paraccis,
Local Forecast:-E. moderate; fine to cloudy.
PARKER CRAMER'S
PLANE FOUND.
PICKED UP BY BRITISH TRAWLER.
"[THROUGH REUTEL'® AGENCY.]
New York, Sept, 16 The British trawler Lord Tren, while proceeding to White. Son: picked up seaplane wreckage which has been identified as the Bellanca monoplane, in which Parker Cramer and his mechanic, Pacquette," were flying to Europe. við, Greenland and disappeared.
ATLANTIC FLYERS. LITTLE HOPE FOR
FRUITLESS SEARCHES BY: "PLANES AND SHIPS.
[REUTER'S AMERICAN SERVICE
NEW YORK, Sept. 15. Although coastguard cutters and planes are still searching for Jahansen and Costa Vic, the MOBSTS, Wily Rody, Christian Atlantic flyers, hope for their niets An early general election is roIt is just possible that they have
has practically been abandoned
LONDON, Sept. 18
dissatisfaction among the lower seamen of the battleship Iron Duke arded as much more likely in view made a landing in some inacces-
· ratings,
NINEPENCE TO A SHILLING
A DAY A
at Rosyth aro reported to have: signed a petition against the cuts, Mr Spawden's speech in the PREMIER'S TALK WITH MEN.
House of Commons yesterday even ing, which it is generally felt dis- It is stated that when Mr. played at attitude to tariffa which The cuts for Naval ratinza Ramany MeoDonald visited Parts must tend, more and more, to force range from ninepence to a shill-month during the week-end to seo ing a day un de
nu early elnotion of the tariff, issue. the Behneider lace from the air- The Atlantic Fleet is based on eraft carrier Courageous, belong possible for the Government to con It is calculated that it should be Portland, but contrary to the ing to the Atlantio Fleet, he talkclude its Parliamentary business in usual custom all ships of the ed to the men of the lower decks the week beginning September 23, Feat, after Bummer leave at in regard to the cuts and explain or at the very latest in the follow their home port went to Beattied the financial position of the ing week
dra waters with Invergordon their country, and naked them to passAu election would, therefore, be principal base, Instead of reassem on the information to their hip possible carly in November.
mates.The man thanked him for
bling at Portland...
Continued on next Volumn):
his friendly talk
new register of electors comes force on October 15,
sible part of the Canadian coast and are unable to communicato with the outside world.
THE LINDBERGHS CAL PLANS.
[THYUUGH REUTER'S. ÄGENOT.]
OBAL'Sept: 10.
Lindbergh will hop_off"
Weather permitting Col and Mr.
for Jukuoka, where they, will stay overnight before Aying direct Nanking
**
chow and have ordered the city to be taken within five days. If the Nanking troops, who are holding forced to retire to Tochow, in north the city, surrender they will be Hunan.
very large sum of money is sub- scribed nothing much ean bera achieved. We therefore most II
earnestly appeal to the public to give what they can, Donations. which will be duly acknowledged,
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.
should be forwarded to this Hos- MATSUDAIRA ORDERED TO pital which will remit them to the affected areas without delay.
Directors of Tung Wan Hospital Ngan Shing Kwan, Chairman: W. N. Thomas Tam, Principal Direc tor; and Chan Lim Pak, Principal Director.
RETURN TO JAPAN.
[THROUGH BRUTER'S. ADENOY.
TOKYO, Sept. 14... Advisory Board of Tung Wah Mr. Mataudoirs has been ordered, Hospital:Shon-son Chow, RH to return to Japan prior to bend Kotewall, Tao Seen Wan, Robert ing the Japanese Delegation to the Ho Tung. Li Yau Tour, Wong Disarmament: Conference. Kwong Tin Li Po Kwai, and Lo Cheung, Shiu
He is expected to leave for Japan ta' shortly, tuid Siberia;.
Fine Generally, Wind &.E. Some showers later:
THE OBSERVATORY. WEATHER REPORTS CANNOT ALWAYS BE RELIED UPON BUT
WE CAN GUARANTEE
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