HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1936.
LONDON'S FAMOUS AMUSEMENT
PARK DESTROYED
CRYSTAL PALACE ENDS IN SMOKE
Twisted Mass Of Metal
And Melted Glass
4:
London, December 1. The Crystal Palace, London's famous amusement park, centre' of music and band festivals, sports meetings, great fireworks dis- plays and holiday excursions was totally destroyed last night by the most spectacular fire seen in Britain, for many years, The vast glass bullding standing on Sydenham Hill towered to a height of 550 feet above sea level and in clear weather could be seen from eight Counties. Last night's blase was visible over a much wider area. Passengers on an incoming Dutch airliner when off Margate saw the glare and those on Croydon-bound
plane from France had the fire in view when over mid-Channel. The fire started at about eight o'clock and the flames spread so rapidly that firemen early abandoned all hope of preserving the central structure and fought to save the great water towers on the north and south sides of the bullding. Their work was hampered by the immensity of the crowds which flocked into the neighbourhood. All roads converging on the Palace were densely. packed and even fire engines were hemmed In.
Houses and one hotel near the south tower, which is 202 feet high. were evacuated and the bulldings at the foot of the tower were blown up with dynamite. The danger to the vast crowds of, spectators who were with difficulty forced back by mounted police continued, and in the end it was found necessary to relieve pressure by throwing a cordon of 3.600 police around the whole area. Ultimately the towers were saved add there was no loss of life, but several fremen suffered injuries..
DUKE'S INTEREST Among the spectators at the fire was the Duke of Kent who, after attending to an engagement in the West End, motored to Crystal Polace just before midnight and remained until three in the morn- Ing. displaying keen interest in the work of the fire-fighters.
The Duke was provided with a pair of thigh-boots and helmet and examined all operations at close quarters. Before leaving he took refreshment in company with the firemen at a coffee stall provided for them.
This morning twenty fire engines and 100 Aremen were still at work... damping down the burnt out ruins, but all risk of the spread of the fire was over.
Only a twisted mass
of metal and melted glass now re- mains of the 1,400 feet long build- ing.
EARLY HISTORY The damage has been estimated at about two million pounds.
The Crystal Palace was first erected in Hyde Park to house the great exhibition of 1851. It was rebuilt at Sydenham with con- siderable additions in 1854' and at once became London's chief place of resort.
Its musical festival were famous and for thirty years Saturday concerts have been held at the Palace. Just before the War, the Palace became national property and one of its earliest uses during the War was when it became as H.M.S. President, second training ground of the Royal Naval Reserve.
British Wireless,
THRILLING FIGHT
London, Dec. 1. Twenty are engines and hundreds of firemen were still working at 8 a.m. on the burnt out ruins of the Crystal Palace. Only a twisted mass of metal and melted glass remains of the 1,400 feet long building and theatre concert hall, including the £9,000 organ which is an unre- cognisable maża.
At noon to-day the fire was en- tirely put out and only the two towers remain undamaged.
The fire brigade officially stated that 81 pumps were used to ex- tinguish the conflagration, while 380 Bremen took part in the thrill ing fight on the flames, and for tunately four of them were only slightly burnt.—
Router's Rullefin Service
EARLIER REPORT
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London, Nov. 30. London's famous Crystal Palace is gone and with it treasures of science and art-in a swiftly mov- Ing, all-devouring fre, whose. fierce heat could be felt half a mile away. Police have ordered the evacua- tion of houses around the Crystal Palace, endangered by the enor- mous blaze, and from the roofs of which firemen are working in short spells, staggering down to the ground when relieved, and back from the scorching Inferno. Streams of molten glass now in the gutters.
At 10.10 p.m. the thousands of spectators could see two of the Palace towers standing. The reat of the stricture was in ruins.
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The Are spread with astonishing rapidity, consuming the wooden fears and window frames. Within | twenty minutes of the outbreak the centre part of the bullding, includ- ing the roof of the famous West transept. crashed. The fall was audible a mile away.
Within an hour both North and South towers of the Palace were left standing and it was apparent, then. that the whole structure doomed.
w'as
The Crystal Palace orchestra was rehearsing, at 7.30 when a girl em- ployee of the Palace told the musicians that a small fre had broken out. It was not dangerous she said, but in five minutes fames burst in upon the musicians, who had a very narrow escape.
A large section of London's popu- lation flocked to the scene, blocking the roads and impeding the fre engines, which responded to re- peated calls numbers
In unprecedented
Among other things, the cradle of television, the whole Baird Tele- vision Apparatus. worth many thousands of pounds, was destroyed.
LONDON VIEWS
LAST SHOW
Towers Stand Like Funeral Torches
London, Dec. 1.
MEETING OF LEAGUE
Spanish Government Requisition
Honu Kanz Daily Press" Special)
Londoa, Dec. 1.
The League Council meeting to discuss the Spanish Government's appeal will probably be held in the The Crystal Palace, renowned middle of next week, according to for lis areworks displays, gave | the "Times" December 10ʻla said London last night its most majes, įto be the probable date.
tic and last show from all viewed | . It is believed that in course of by Reuter. At midnight the pa- Tuesday the British Government lace of glass was transformed into will answer the telegram of the a palace of fire, on the north and Secretary-General of the League. south or which the two famous presumably in the affirmative, al- 300-foot towers stood like two great though it shares the opinion of black funeral torches' with smoke other Governments, that the ap- belching from them.
peal of the Spanish Reds 13 useless.-
Hundreds and thousands of Londoners and people in the Home Counties watched the conflagra- tion far into the night. Indeed no vantage point was left untenanted within a mile of the scene and the traffic jam was two miles long
Trasnegan" Mega Service,
DATE FIXED
London, Dec. 1.
The League Council meeting on the Spanish situation will be held
on the main road and neighbourat Genevs on December 10. Mr. hood.
Anthony Eden' will attend.-- Henter.
Among the spectators was the Duke of Kent who arrived on the scene at midnight and stayed for three hours. When the great dome crashed the roar was audible for miles and it seemed like the Palace's final salute to the citizens who revelled within its mirrored wali..
over
PRESIDENT BUSY'
London, Nov. 30.
That the League of Nations will agree to
hold an extraordinary
HELP TO AVERT CATASTROPHE
OF WAR
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
MADRID STILL HOLDS OUT
Fierce Attack By Insurgents
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Valencia. Deci L.
session in accordance with the A ferce insurgent attack yester- Red Spanish Government's re-day against the position's held by quest is now considered extreme- the international volunteers was
In west Madrid the militia claim-
Seven passengers aboard a planely nilkely in political quarters officially declared to have been re-
the Channel returning to here. The Chilian Ambassador in pulsed. England after many years in India London, Mr. Edwards, who also sighted the furnace glow of Lon-holds the post of League Presidented to be still holding Pozuelo.
at the moment, called on the For- don's skyline when seventy miles
eign Office as well as at the va- away.
rious Embassica, in order to certain whether December 7 or 14 should be proposed as date of the meeting of the League Council. It is believed here that the latter date will ultimately be agreed
The Palace was London's play- ground for eighty-dve years and its destruction removes a land- mark which has held many happy memories in thousands of homes abroad as a many national func- tions were held in its halls since 1851. Their enumeration reads like a summary of Victorian his- tory, recalling, among other things. the names of the tight-rope walk- er Blondin, and Preacher Spur- goon
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"I AM HEARTBROKEN" Its general manager, Sir Henry Buckland, declared: "I am heart- broken. There can never be an- other Crystal Palace." The damage must
the neighbourhood.of £1,500,000 and,
be im
upon
Although the British Govern- ment is not opposed on principle to the holding of an extraordinary sesalon of the Council, the view is held here that the discussion of the Spanish situation at the pre- sent moment is not likely to pro- duce any satisfactory results.- Traniocean News Service.
•
BRITISH VIEW
London, Nov. 30. The League of Nations Secret- arlat has on Monday been official
Six government planes bombed insurgent headquarters at Sala- manca, attacking two aerodromes and captured Pozuelo, the militia losing a hundred killed, two tanks and other equipment.- Beuter's Bulletin Service,
ARMISTICE PROPOSAL
Lisbon, Nov. 30. The offer to negotiate for the terms of an armistice was made by the Red General in Madrid, Mlaja, to Genera! Varela in Tole do, according to a message sent out from Lisbon. The Red Army leader made the offer to evacuate the capital during the period of the armistice, but this was de- clined by Franco. who demands unconditional" surrender. More
Eight miles away, Members of the though fully insured, much hasly informed; that in the opinion message from Beville, stating that
House of Commons watched the fire from the terraces. The windows of the House of Parliament reflected the ruddy glow of fire.- Reuter
BRITISH TRADE
WITH YUGOSLAVIA
"Hong Kong Daily Pres" Special)
London, Dec. I.
That a trade agreement between Britain and Yugoslavia was signed on November 27 was announced in the House of Commons on Monday night. The
chief provisions. di
this treaty envisage the issue of Import permits for certain British goods Into Yugoslavia that had previously been limited by a quota. so that their import in the last few months had seriously declined The extent of the permits new to be issued, will depend upon the „amount of goods Yugoslavia can export to England. Representa tives of the British Government expressed the hope that British exports to Yugoslavia would now Improve considerably. Transocean News Service
GENERAL FAUPEL
WELCOMED
Balamanca, Nov. 30. All Nationalist papers in Spain publish articles, heartily welcoming The Gaceta Regional" stresses General Faupel on the arrival here.
that General Faupel has a wide knowledge of Spain, and eulogises the activity displayed by him in Fouth America. The paper "el planto" pays a warm tribute to Faupel, the soldier and diplomat, while the Salamanca organ of the Fascist party, "Falango" stresser: In a statement issued, how gladly the first comed Transoccan News Service.
ambassador
wel-
FRENCH SUBMARINE
LAUNCHED.
"Hong Kong Daily Press Special
Cherbourg, Dec. 1.
been lost which cannot be re- placed, including the Handel festi- yal music script. The Baird tele vision research laboratories were destroyed. though the main pro- duction department escaped- Reuter.
ITALIANS IN THE BELEARICS
Question In Commons
of the British Government a con- vocation of the League. Council for discussing the Spanish situa-. tion at the present moment would only tend to complicate matters. Transocean. News Service.
FRENCH SUPPORT
FOR LEAGUE...
Societies Join Forces
probability, la lent this news by a
General Mlaja has been removed from his post for having proposed an armistice.— franipcean Nemi Service.
INSURGENT DENIAL
Talavera, Nov. 30. Indulgent headquarters catego- nicully denied to-day that General Franco had proposed an armistice to the Government at Valencia.- Router,
RUSSIAN OFFICERS
FOR SPAIN.
Gibraltar, Nov. 30, A general and 100 Russian rellably reported to
("Hong Kang Daily Press" Special)
Paris, Dec. 1. The three French Societies, whose aim it is to recruit support for the League of Nations, have officers are decided to join forces and amal-have arrived at Malaga gamate, Senator
have taken over the full command of the militia" there.
Paul Boncour, permanent representative of France to the League of Nations, has agreed to accept the chair-
4:
and to
It is also reported that 20 tr motored air craft, believed to be
Russian, are expected at Malaga
this week.
London, Nov; 30,” Replying to an interpellation in the House of Commons, as to whe- ther British Consular agents on the Balearic Islands are instructed to report immediately if Italian troops are present on the Islands, Mr. Anthony Eden declared that the British Consul in Palma had communicated certain information manship. concerning conditions on the islands, which constituted a vio-meeting held at Bourges, M. Paul In the first combined recruiting lation, of
the "Non-Intervention Boncour apoke eloquently on the.
The Public Prosecutor of Malagu, weaknesses of the League" as con- who escaped thence aboard HMS. Mr. Eden then admitted that he stituted hitherto, and demanded Ardent disguised as a coal heaver were Italian Volunteers in Mal-
termined to ensure peace by the told the story. lorca. but added that the British application of the principles of the Government did not intead
to League of Nations must all work Mr. take any steps in the matter, since together to give collective security Legionaries of Non-Spanish na- tionallties were also fighting in various parts of the Spanish main- land- Transocean News Service.
Pact."
CONFIDENCE IN NEW
WORLD REPUBLICS
Roosevelt's Formula At Peace Conference
Buenos Aires, December 1.
Confidence that the Republies of the New World could help the Old World to avert the catastrophe of war was expressed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in opening the Pan-American Peace Conference.
President Roosevelt began by saying that the "American family of nations" launched a straight discussion of contem- porary war psychosis, not hesitating in condemning certain world forces, although he did not specify any nationality, and proceed. ed: "I am profoundly convinced that straight people everywhere wish to live in peace with one another and still the leaders and governments resort to war.
Truly if the genius of mankind that invented the weapons, of death cannot discover the meanS for preserving peace, civilisation as we know it lives for an evil day. but we cannot accept a defeatist attitude.
"Pence could not be had by mere asking and is only obtainable by hard painstaking effort. You who are assembled here carry the hopes of millions in other les fortunate lands Beyond the ocean we see contiments drawn asunder by old hatreds and new fanatacism. We hear the demand for injustice and inequality to be corrected by resorting
the sword, not by "reason or peaceful justice, but new markets can be achieved only by conquest..
of
to
ARMAMENT EMPLOYMENT
GREAT WELCOME TO ROOSEVELT
Buenos Aires. Nov. 30. Throngs estimated at half a mil- lion gathered to-day to welcome President F. D Roosevelt of the United Statea, who will open the Pan-American Peace Conference TC-MOITOW.
A United States official, broad- casting, said the conference would be a meeting of twenty-one friendly nations which would discuss what they must do if an epidemic of WHI breaks out In the Old World. They will, as well, make sure thah war will not break out in the Western Hemisphere--- Reuter,
MEDICINE SENT BY AIR
New York To South Africa
In Twelve
(“flong Kong Daily Fread Special)
London, Dec. 1.
"We know that vast armaments are rising on every side and the work being created by them em- ploys millions of men and women. It is natural to conclude, however. that such is false employment, building no permanent structures and creating no consumers. We know the nations gulity of these follies will inevitably face the.
A hospital in Pretoria urgently day either when the weapons needed a medicine which was only
destructions
be must
used to be obtained in New York. The against neighbours or the unsound medicine' was ordered, and urgent, economy like a house of eards will y confirmed by telephone. In New fall apart.
In either case, even York it was placed on the afrship though America is not involved in Hindenburg, and from Berlin by war, we must suffer too.
plane to Croydon, where it caught "The madness of a great war the regular Imperial AlzwaPE, TUD elsewhere would threaten our good to South Africa." The Dock Was in a hundred ways. Can we, Redelivered at Pretoria 12 days after publics, help
the Old World to it had been ordered, and in that avert the catastrophe impending? time had travelled 18,000 Yes, I am confident we can.
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. "Firstly it our duty to prevent future war among ourselves which
We
it
inetres.-
Tranioccan Vejos Service.
can best achieve through { ·WORLD LANGUAGE” strengthening the
processes of constitutional democratic govern-
WANTED
re-
ment so that our people, unlike **Hong Kong Dally Press" Speciali those of many nations ilving
London, Dec. 1. under other forms of government, The Senate of the Australian can and will insist on their in-commonwealth has passed a tention to live in peace. Thus solution inviting King Edward to will democratic government be justified throughout the world.
"Bimultaneously we must "make clear that we stand shoulder to
summon World Conference ta deal with the question of creating. a "World Language," with' the ob ject of fulthering the cause of tu-. shoulder so that others driven by ternational peace, according to war; madness OF land
hunger press reports here. The auther of seeking to make aggression the resolution is Senator Kacar.. against us will and the hemis- they Abbott, who is destined phere prepared to consult to-with "Esperanto" and wants aft gether for mutual safety.
entirely new language to be in- vented.-- of conditions Perniorena News · Service,
"Secondly we should strive to prevent creation giving rise to war. Lack of social and political Justice within the
was aware of the fact that there i that those powers which were de- | after swimming out from shore. borders of any nation was always
FRENCH ARMY MEN
a famer foundation.—- Tranmeran News' Service
ANTINAZI RIOT IN NEW YORK
Washington, Dec. 1. DUE TO RETIRE
Fifty people, including a girl and several negroes, were arrested when Hong Kong Dalty Prena" Special the police disbanded an anti-Nazi
Paris, Dec. 1.
demonstration in front of the French General Staff are contem-
Considerable changes in the German Embassy last evening. The demonstrators were protesting plated in the new year. No fewer against alleged, German Interven- than 28 Generals of Divisions and i tion in Spain- high military officials reach the Reuter. age limit, and will he pensioned. Among them are 5 Army Corps leaders. Besides these, the well- known one-armed Governor dr Paris. General Gourand wilt retire. On the other hand it is striking that no member of the Supreme
FRENCH PLANE UNDER FIRE
Paris, Nov. 30. The French plane from Toulouse
over Alicante, was shot at by the Spanish Reds. The plane was for ced to land at Alicante, as it waN struck Fassengers continued. their fight in another plane Transocean News Service.
The most modern submarine of Defence Council will retire, al- France, the Quecksent, of 1.380 though two members, namely to Dakar in West Africa, passing tons displacement. was launched General Gilotte, an Inspector Monday. The vessel, which has a General of the Colonial Forces, and speed of 20 knots on the surface the Chief of the General Star, and 10 knots when submerged, Colsot, have already passed the age carries 11 torpedo firing tubes- lumitin Tennancean Newa Seraser,
Transocean News Service.
On his arrival here he visited
Grice Scarlet Pimpernel," who has saved Hutchison, so-called
many persons from the war-ridden Spanish town.
the cause for concern," he as- serted.
TRADE BARRIERS Condemnng trade barriers, Pre- sident Roosevelt declared it was no accident that the nations which carried the process furthest were An perial bombardment of
those proclaiming the loudest that Algeciras this morning resulted in they required war as an instru ruany townspeople seeking refugement of polley. It was no accident i Gibraltar....
Heuter.
1
EXECUTION REPORT
DENIED
Nationalist Accusation Of Malice
Salamanca, Nov. 30.
The assertion of the Valencia Government, that the son of the Red Premier, Caballero has been shot by the Nationalist Govern- meat, is most emphatically denied by the Nationalist Government's broadcasting station here in a message which points out that such audacious reports are merely spread by the Red Government to cause doubt in the National Army's "sense of justice."- Fransocean. Xius Service
be self-
اراد
INVITING. TRAVEL AGENCY
"Hong Kong Badly Prese" specia}}
London, Dec. 1. In describing the recently re- built premises of the Hamburg- America Line in London, the
Moming. Fost" writes. travel agencies in town. There is "This is one of the most inviting that the attempts to sufficient led falling standards for certainly hardly another travel their people and ever increasing agency which so well fails its loss in democratic ideal in the mad task of stimulating international race to pile armament on arms-
interest and understanding. First- ment. It was" no accident that
rate pictures, well-drilled staff and because of these suicidal policies instant information make it a and suffering attending them pleasure to deal with this com many of their people believed with any." despair that the price of war was
Transocean Nawi Borgire. less than "the price of peace..
DOWAGER RANEE OF SARAWAK
Death In London
London, Dec. 1.
HOPE OF THE WORLD Democracy was still the hope of the world and if we continue its successful application
the Americas it will spread to supersede other methods which seem to most of us to run counter to ideals of human liberty and. The death is arinounced of the progress. The President conclud-Dowager Ranee df Bkjavak, mother ed with an invocation of religious of the present Raja, Sir Charles faith. "In that faith and spirit Brooks. The Dowager Rapse ved we will have peace over the West- for many years in Barawak, But in ern World, and also with God's recent years she has been living in help we offer hope to our brethren Regent Purk, London, where she
passed away at the age of BÉ Renter's Bulletin Service.
overseas."
Reuter,
ין