HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1936.
CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN BATTLESHIP TO WITHSTAND AIR MENACE
Secret Tests Carried Out
In Britain
Admiralty Disclosures
London, February 12.
lo
The First Lord of the Admiralty, Viscount Monsell, disclosed in the House of Commons 'ast night that secret tests have been carried out
In 'nvestigation of the menace of aircraft to bat- tleships. His statement was made däring & brief debate which he declined the proposal for appointment of a Royal Commission to enquire into equipment and control of fight'ng forces in view of the proposed increased expenditure upon them. Referring to the existing machinery, for reviewing defence problems, Viscount Monse sald that during the past four years one hundred and twenty meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Defence had been held and the Committee of Imperial Defence and its sub-committees have held over eight hundred and eighty meetings.
1.
As to the relative value of air bombers and battleships, he said no nation was showing the slight- est sign of doing way with capital ship of which seven were at pre- sent being built in Europe. four of them being the largest allowèd under the Washington Treaty.
Information was thereby available foi construction of the modern battleship—British Wireless.
OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTIONS
London, Feb. 12, While Britain is about to face an expenditure of
for $300,000,600 defence purposes, Reuter corre-
Singapore; The Colony decided to give the Imperial Government an additional $500,000 for Imperial Defence. This is the third such gift in addition to the annual fixed contribution of $4,000,000.
The Government did not under-spondents report the following: rate the immense offensive power of aircraft, but a modern battle- ship' could discharge about 1.000 sheils weighing nearly one ton in one and a half hours and it was bullt to withstand such attack
Aerial bombing had merely brought the question of the te- arrangement of defences to the forefront.
The authorities were more than sailshed with the
progress made with anti-aircraft guns.
Experiments carried out had en! abled them to make adequate pro- tection for battleships against air menace bath' as regards anti-air craft guns and huli construction!
CANADA CUTS DOWN EXPENSES
Ottawa, Feb. 11. Estimates. of expenditure tabled by the new Liberal Government here, under the Prime Ministership of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie King show a net reduction of oyer $12,000,000 in consequence of drastic economies.
The public works expenditure alone has been reduced by nearly 88,000,000.
Employment re'ief and social insurance charges have been re- duced to a minimum. by nearly '82.000.000.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has also been compelled to reduce expenses, together with the civil branch of the firing service, total of 81.494000 having been cut from the budget.
Я
The subsidy to the Canadian- Australasian Line, however, will be increased by $100,000.- Heuter
DAME LAURA KNIGHT HONOURED
was
London, Feb. 12. Dame Laura Knight hanoured by the Royal Academy in being elected a Royal Academi-"' cian. She is a well-known painter and her pictures of circus life are renowned throughout the world.→ Reuters Bulletin Bervice.
14
OTHER ELECTIONS
Suva: It is believed that Fiji Will vote a special grant of £10,000 for defence in addition to the annual grant of £5,000.
Ottawa: An increase of $1,500,000 | for the Canadian Air Force and civil aviation is included in the estimates.
Melbourne: The estimates for 1536-37 provide a large scale of im- provements in all fighting Services estimated to cost, £7,000,000.- Reuter's Bulletin Service
THANKS FOR RESCUE OF EXPLORERS
London, Feb. 11. On instructions from his Goy- ernment, the United States Charge. d'Affaires has" assured the Foreign Secretary of the sincere gratitude of his Government for the efforts of His Majesty's Governments' in " the United Kingdom, in the Com- mo-nwealth of Australia New Zealand, on behalf lost American explorers, Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr. Hollick Kenyon, who were rescued in the Antarctic by the Royal Research Ship Discovery II
and In of the
RECOVERY IN
BRITAIN
Bright Outlook In Present Year
London, Feb. 13
British recovery may be more vigorously assisted in the present year by the growing revival of International trude, says J. Henry Schroder's Quarterly Review, pointing out that Britain by no means is the only country pulling out her feet from the mire and with the Dominion), Colonies and several South American Republics obtaining better prices, their staple products in the British in- dustry should find a freer market overseas
Ras Nasiba, Ethiopian army chief in the southern front who is credited with a victory
FRANCO-SOVIET ETHIOPIAN OFFENSIVE
PACT
Germany May Lodge | Protest
London, Feb 11:
IN OGADEN
Italians Surprised By
Creeping Warriors
[Special to the "Hong Kong Daily Press; (Copyright.)),
1
von
The possible effect of the ratifica-" tion of a Franco-Russian defensive pact upon Franco-German rela- ons viewed" calmly in London, where official circles attach con- siderable importance to the assur ances given by Baron Neurath, the German Foreign Min- ister, to Mr. Anthony Eden, the British Foreign Secretary,' that Germany valued the Treaty:
Locarno
Moreover in the realm of inter- GOODWILL TOUR demaised zone in the Rhineland
national finance it is possible to detect many signs of improvement in the direction of treer commper. cial intercourse and arrangements whereby international payments may be facilitated. »
Schroder's, by implication. rule out early International stabilisa- tion, as apart from the immense obstacle presented "by the uncer- tainty surrounding the United States currency and trade policy. British Industrialists will be hard to persuade that the return of a system involving the possibilities of a high bank rate will be bene- ficial to themselves" and the country Henter,
bhááhaar present-Barth feathe SILVER MARKET
J
+
(From Our Own Correspondent).
London, Feb. 12. London Silver prices to-day were down 1/18 for "Spot" and 3/16 for "Forward" as follow:-
Feb. 11. Feb. 12. Spot................19-3/4 19-11/16 Forward 19-13/16 19-5/8
Saturday trading on the Silver Market recommences in London as from February 15.
COLD SNAP IN BRITAIN
Fourteen Deaths Reported
יי
London, Feb. 12. Cold weather continues through out the British Isles, but cond'-
many
to
The Charge d'Affaires said the effective work of those on board the Discovery was deeply aptions generally owing to the ces- preciated in the United States. sation of winds
are The generous assistance given to than yesterday
less severe which in the airmen by the British
parts, was the coldest February similarly acknowledged. Grahamland Expedition was day for seven years.
Fourteen deaths attributed severity of the cold were reported. At several places, including the Thames estuary, teer formed at the water's edge, which is a rare oc currence round the British coasts. At Shoeburyness a thick crust of ice which formed as the tide receded covered about one mile of the foreshore.- British Wireless.
The Discovery II is expected at Melbourne on Friday. She will resume her scientific work after leaving "Melbourne or about March 2 British Wireless.
on
NEW GOVERNOR OF BURMA
Comdr. Cochane Appointed
London, Feb. 11. Commander" the Hon. Archibald The first woman to be appoint-Douglas Cochrane, member for
London, Feb,' 12...
ed a Royal Academician since 1769, Dumbartonshire in the House of Dame Laura Knight, painter, Commons and a strong unton Gov- who has been associated with the ernment supporter, has been ap- Academy since 1927. The only painted Governor of Burma, other women Royal" Academicians were two foundation members of the Institution which was founded
in 1769.
Arthur George Walker, sculptor, and Henry Rushbury, engraver, have also been elected Royal Academicians British Wireles
CANADIAN SUBSIDY TO SHIPPING.
Ottawa, Feb. 12. · The Government has decided to Increase the mail subsidy for the Cùnadian-Australia Steamship Line from $200,000 to $300,000. The President of the Canadian, Pacific Railway, who is part owner of the Line which runs from Canada to Australia and New Zealand said at the last annual meeting that un- less the Governments of the Dominions give more financial as sistance the Line will have to susperid' service. — Renter's Bulletin Service,
BRITISH. INTERESTS IN NORTH CHINA
Careful Watch Kept
www.
li
London, Feb. 12.
!
OF R. A. F.
No German occupation of the
by German troops is feared, at any rate during the next few monthe
Some quarters, however, bellava that Germany w lodge a protest the ground that it is an infringe ment of the spirit of the Locarno Treaty.."
Addis Ababa, February 12. The first reports of the Aby:sinian victory in the Ogaden offensive for the rellet of Sidamo province and the Gertro Valley, where the remnants of Ras Desta's defeated army are hard pressed, are now reaching the capital
+
An official communique announces that the Abyssinian troope in Oraden were led personally by Ras Nasibu and the former. Turkish Genera, Wehih Paha retook the Italian positions at. Curati after a desperate struggle In which both sides lost heavily. Supplementary reports from Harar state that the Italians have built ap strong entrenchments between Harrad git and Cura, these two places which are 23 miles apart being extreme- ly important because of their wells, water-holes and springs.
Flying Boats Leave the ground that ovat pact on the high scrub enabling them to of chieftains and their retainers
For Manila
Manila. Feb, 12. The three giant R.AF. flying boats, commanded, by Air Commo- dore 8. W. Smith and manned by twenty-five officers and men, are not expected in Manila until to morrow. They have been delayed at Kuching, Sarawak, by bad weather.
They left Singapore Monday. expecting to reach Manila in three hops and as many days, touching at Kuching and Kudat, British North Borneo. But they were compelled to spend yesterday at Kuching, and are taking off for Kudat to-day.
Meanwhite, in the House of Lords, Baron Strabolgi, former Lieut-Commander His Majesty's Navy, urged a full inquiry into the organisation and equipment and control of the fighting forces specially in view of the proposed Increase of expenditure on defence weapons.
Viscount Monsell, First Lore or the Admiralty. replied. He said the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy had lately participated in a great number of large scale ex- periments with a view to enabling their adequate preparation against the possibility of invasion by air.
Both guns and hull construction
The Abyssinian attack on this ed at the Ethiopian Army's north- region came as a total surprise, ern headquarters when Kundreds creep up close and unobserved to from surrounding districts laid the. cut their way through the Italian whole of their wealth in gold and wire entanglements.
silver ornaments at tire feet of A desperate man-to-man strug-their Emperor, Haile Selassie, gle began which ended in complete victory for the Abyssinians.
On the North front the Abys- sinians have made all preparations
for an attack on the Italians on the Makale sector. Transocean News Service.
ITALIAN GOLD
The gifts included beautiful hand-wrought metai-ware, costly trappings for horses and mules and coins of all descriptions, as well as
bar metal.
The many donors delivered" a striking testimony of their loyalty to the Emperor Heuter..
OIL EMBARGO QUESTION
Rome, Feb. 12. No less than two tons of gold- a quarter of the quantity which
Geneva, Feb. II. was contributed by the country The Committee of experts who ding rings were collected as a re- effect of an all embargo against population-and 8,000 golden wed-have been studying the possible sult of the recent appeal made by Italy, have decided that effective the Fascist Party to the rank and sanctions in this commodity cannot fuses to participate, it is learned file of the Italian people for help be applied if the United States re-
paign.- Transocean" Necs Service.
„CHIEFTAIN'S SACRIFICE
Dessive, Feb. 11. An impressive scene was witness-
After & stay of two or three days have been subjected to exhaustive in financing the Abyssinian cam
in Manila they will take off for Hong Kong and Amoy and Shang- hal, and will eventually fly to Kagoshiria and Tokyo.
texte with a view to discovering their strength.
"In the Admiralty's opinion we have now, by these experiments, adequate information for the con- struction of modern battleships."
On their return fight they wil follow the same route as far as Hong Kong." but then will run to said Viscount Monsell, Kamranh Bay and Cochin China. ] Heuter, The total length of the round fight is about 7,000 miles.
Out of respect to the memory of King George, no social events are planned In Manila" during the aviators visit. but the usual courtesies will be extended.-
The RAF flying boats have now Feft Kuching, the R.A.F. attacke 'n Shanghai announced to-day- -Beuter.
A later Reuter report says the flying boats arrived in Kudat, B. N. Borneo, from Kuching at 3
P
PAN-AMERICAN COMBINE
To Allay Danger From Japan
New York, Feb. 12. Plans for a multi-lateral treaty of all American nations exclusive of Canada are behind the pro- posed. Pan-American conference
CHAMMBER DEWATE
Paris, Feb. 11..
ITALIAN AIR RAIDS
The debate on the Franco-So-Special to the "Hong Kong Dally.
viet Russian mutual assistance pact Was adjourned on Tuesday, tu Thursday, after the rightwing de- putles had subjected the proposed pact to sharp criticism.
The Chamber on a whole seerned in no particular hurry to proceed with the ratification, and at this juncture it is impossible to tell whether the debate will be ended on Thursday. Transocean News Service,
BRITAIN AGAIN THE TARGET
Violent Attack By Italian Paper
[Speelal to the "Hong Kong" Daily Press' (Copyright).]
Rome, Feb. 12. – un which President Roosevelt has the opportunity for the publication The newspaper "Tevere" seizes written the Latin American Go of the latest Italian eraments according to the Wash-
Iist of ington correspondent of the "New especially violent attacks on Eng
casualties, to break out into York Times."
land
The correspondent says that a
"The name for every man killed treaty emanating from such a ir the war on the Italian ride. The Foreign Secretary, in a writ-conference might jointly arm stands for, an English bullet, every ten answer to a question in the adhesion to the Monroe Doctrine Italian bereavement meaning in- House of Commons, said that no
and thus satisfy a body of Con-creased profit for England, since special steps have
gress opinion which is apprehen- Abyssinia had received from her 90% far been
sive of Japanese filtration to means to "enable her to resist the Alakka, California", and South advance of civilisation". America.
He was appointed following the expression of the Burmese Govern- ment's desire to have a man of necessary for protection of Batish Parliamentary experience as Gover- interests in North China. The nor in view of the forthcoming con- | altuation was being carefully stiutional changes in that coun- | watched- try
Acuter.
Commander. Cochrane is the. second son of the Baron Cochrane of Cults. He served throughout the Great War and won the D.B.O. with bar, having beer mentioned three times in" despatcnes.
He is married to the only daugh- ter of Baron Cornwallis.- Reuter,
SHIPPING SUBSIDY
London, Feb. 11. A resolution was passed in the House of Commons this afternoon for the continuance of the 22,000,- 000 subsidy to British tramp ship ping during 1936. The resolution was carried be 205 votes to 134 Reuter
Reuter.
EGYPT AND SUEZ CANAL
CHINA QUESTION IN COMMONS
Paris, Feb. 12.
London, Feb. 12.
Repeating the assertion that the Chief Adviser to the Negus is the Englishman, Major Holt, the paper stresses that if a balance were drawn up of his activities, "Abys- sinia: would show
munitions supplies on one column and pounds on the other. These pounds however, were boiled with blood-the blood of the yaliant youth of proletarian Italy, which had been exploited by its egoistic
Despatches from Cairo assert that the Egyptian Government is In the House of Commons to-day, negotiating with the Suez Canal Mr. J. W. Banfield (Labour) asked Company concerning Egypt's repre-whether the Nine-Power policy was friends. sentation on the board of directors, in any way affected by the recent "Who can say, how many lives which is at present composed of declaration of Mr. Hirota that would have been saved, if the 20 Frenchmen, 10 Englishmen and China must abandon definitely her Abyssinians had not been supplied one. Dutchman.
policy of playing one foreign nation with the most modem death deal- Egypt is said to have demanded against another, and if so whether ing weapons? some further concessions such as a Britain recently made representa- preferential rank for Egyptian tions to China against adoption of vessels passing through the Suez such a policy...
Canál, as well as the appointment Mr. Eden replied that he had no of Egyptians to several of the information of the declaration Company's administrative postamentioned. Transocean News Bermee
Reiter.
The words "all munitions come trom England and the worda
honoured themselves in the service treacherous whitemen, who di
of savages" would have to be kept in mind:
neotron Navn: Servici
Press" (Copyright):]
Addis Ababa, Feb. 12. Every rainless interval is being utilised by the Italians to bomb cities and villages. In view of the fact however, that the Emperor had ordered trenchies and dugoats to be erected in all villages, the casualties in these last cases were not great-
Trdnancean News Service..
...
AIR LINER REPORTED MISSING
in reliable quarters.
However, the, embargo would be successful if the United States limited her exports of oil to Italy to the normal quantity.-- fenteria
LEITH-ROSS SAILS FOR SOUTH
li.
Shinghal, Feb, 12. Bir Frederick Leith-Ross, the British economic apert who has been some months China study- ing the financial situation, parti- cularly the, currency problems of the country, left for Hong Kong..
yuan and is expected to return to
Sir Frederick salted by the Tat
Shanghai by about the end of the month after visiting Canton as well as Hong Kong- Reuter.
communication from the plane since yesterday afternoon; `-
Faris, Feb. 11...
It is learned from Brazil that Deep anxiety is felt for the trans- Air France patrol boats, capable Atlantic seaplane, Ville de Buenos of thirty knots, continuously em- Aires, which is many hours over-ployed on the route of the Atlantic due at Dakar.
airliners in order to maintain wire-- The big plane was on her way less communication with mail. to" the African port from Brazil, planes, are now scouring the south with a crew of five and one passen- Atlantic for the missing machine- ger. There has been no wireless! Reuter.
GAS FIRES
PROVIDE
Fireside
Comfort
WITH CONVENIENCE AND CLEANLINESS.
Gas Fires Fixed for $5. Annual Rental
$5.
Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd. Showrooms **** Gloucester Bldg.
246: