HONGKONG DAILY: PRESS
NO WHOLESALE RECALL OF BRITISH SHIPS
Pointed Hint To Italy, Says Informed Quarters
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LONDON May 2 (Reuter)-It is understood that the Govern- ment's Mediterranean precautions will not entail any wholesale recall or diversion of British ships.
sh.
Each vessel's case will be considered on its merits, bearing in mind the special needs of its cargo and the political situation
at the time of the proposed journey,
in the case of ships procesaing | retent tone of the press and from Britain to the East and Far political speakers is not in accord East. and not carrying large with the spirit of the Anglo- amounts of cargoes for Mediter Italian gentlemen's agreement. ranean ports, there is no doubt Nevertheless, it is. considered that substantial diversions via unfortunate that the deterioration the Cape will occur. Even if they in the attitude of the Italian press carry a proportion of cargo for should come just when the Anglo- ports like Naples, and Marseilles. Italian trade talks are promising such goods may be transhipped by to bear fruit. non-British vessels.
One of the specifc agreements HINT TO ITALY
it which progress was being made Regarding the political aspect of would provide for the. construc- thu decision. Reuter learns tntion of shipping tonnage, for "authoritative quarters that it is a Britain in Italy in exchange tor pointed bint to Italy that the coal.
Italy's Fleet Is Bottled That's Why She Wont Fight
LONDON, May 2 (Reuter)-The Bucharest "Semnain had an interesting leader yesterday, maintaining that the country's neutrality is threatened not only military but economically and by propaganda.
+7
"The economic blockade may constitute yesterday the deck- sive and final factor in totalitarian warfare, the sumer of raw materials."
ITALY AND THE WAR
NO SUDDEN TURN
IS EXPECTED
great con
re-
The Calro "Almokattam," ferring to Italy, says: "She knows that by joining Germany she will be the loser in the event of vic- tory or defeat. This makes her hesitate to make up her mind, es- pecially since the Allied North Sea victories have effected changes in the situation and in the naval forces in the Mediterranean."
FLEET "BOTTLED" ROME, May 1 (Reuter)--Signor Mussolini today received Mr. Wu-The Waidist periodical. "Alsho Bam Phillips, United States Am-Ala" outlines the reasons why bassador, whose call is reported to Italy will not fight: Her feet is bottled up in the Adriatic: Tripoli is hemmed in by the French Algiers, and Morocco and by the English and Egyptians in West Egypt: It is easy to cut off com- munications with her African Em- coast is very pire; the Italian vulnerable to a sea attack; the
have been prompted by the inter- national situation.
Nothing is
known of
what
transpired at the interview, but according to American circies. the Impression may be derived from it that no sudden change will be
CHAMBERLAIN'S STATEMENT ON
NORWAY
Continued From Fase 1
constantly being practiced in em- barkation and disembarkation. I was evident that some act of ag- gresalon was in contemplation but these forces were equally avail-
able for attack. upon Finland, Sweden. Norway. Holland or this country, and it'was impossible to tell beforehand where the blow would fall.
NO WARNING "If we had known that Denmark and Norway were to be the victims we could not have prevented what had happened without the co-- Operation of those countries. But
would save them they took no pre- in the belief that their neutrality
cautions and they gave us no warning of attack which Indeed they never suspected
"It will remembered that in the early days of April the British Government decided could no longer tolerate the con- that they tinued use of Norwegian territorial waters as long as the communica- tion wrench, by which Germany could obtain constant suppiles of iron ore and other contraband, and they decided on April 8 that mine- fields would be laid at three points without Norwegian
CABLES
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1940. -PAGE 7
Another Nasty Jar For LAND COMMUNICATION
Shanghai Markets: Further Slump In Dollar
SHANGHAI, May 2 (Reuter)-The local markets received another nasty jar to their equilibris today in the shape of a further stump in the local dollar at the opening this morning, After a long period of comparative quietude this sudden sharp drop gave a correspond- ing sharp upward movement to all other markets with gold bars touching a new all-time high.
a!
Reflecting the drop in the local
CUT BY CHINESE
Japanese Marines Fail To Effect Landing.
CHUNGKING, May 2 (Central)-Chinese troops have cat land communication between Wahu and Nanking and are effee- tively harassing Japanese ships in the Yangtze River by shelling, according to reports
14
Japanese marthes attempting to land at a point near Wuhu to reinforce their hard-pressed. comrades were beaten back to their warships on April 28. Further upriver
Likewise, all stocks in the local, steadying exchanges. Towards Stock Exchange surged at the noon the quotation was listed at opening but later eased on the $6.390.. a drop of $310 from the improvement in exchanges.
opening. With the further drop in exi
from Wuhu, captured Huangtushan, north-east- changes the question exercising all dollar, declines from 55 to 85 cents sharp aghting for the possession of Liyang. But later the Chinese business minds and others is when, were recorded in the Chinese do- sands of Japanese are arriving in succeeded in recapturing the point.
of Tsingyang continues. Thou- launched a and where, is the upward March mestic bond market. prices of necessary commodities going to end?
M
counter-attack and
the outskirts for the offensive. Trading in the yarn, märket was
The Japanese attack near Thing. strong and active and was induced
The Japanese occupying Nanling, was also repulsed with losses, by general buying and bullishness north-east of Tsingyang, are sur- Chinese units attacked Wuchow. on account of the easiness in ex-rounded, Sanlitien, a small town well-known
silk-producing town change. Gains from $70 to $80
south-west of Nanling, has been were registered while the turnover
recaptured by the Chinese, amounted to 1,000 bales.
The market opened at 1-1/8d and 5-31/32 US Dollars for Cash urder the presumption that there would be sellers as usual for ready delivery at 4-1:8 but, as this was not realised, the exchange rates slumped to
- CONSIDERABLE DELAY 3-1/4d, and 5-11/16) U.S. respectively, before any busl-
As the result of the drop in ex- ness was done.
changes, considerable delay was Well-informed circles Selleve experienced at the opening of the that, as in the past, the local dol-Stock Exchange owing to the dif- lar will again be allowed to End ficulty of fixing prices at the its own level. Owing to the heavy opening auction of the market. over-bought position considerable Leaders of old favourites jumped profit-taking immediately appear- from $2 to $10 in a session of most territorialed and more is likely to be seen active truding. Later, with imm.... Rates see-sawed continually but provement in exchanges, profit- always in the upward direction taking appeared and gains were and this lasted until mid-morning (pared when the highest rates of 3-1/2d. and 5-3/32 US. were registered.
After this period conditions turned quiet.
waters which would force this traffic out on to the high seas where it could be intercepted.
"It was a curious change that this date, April 8. should be decided upon by His Majesty's Government for this minor operation should have coincided almost exactly with that chosen by the enemy to in- vade Norway and Denmark.”
Mr. Chamberlain recounted the naval events which followed the receipt of information on April 7 that a large German Naval force was moving towards and along the west coast of Norway.
Mr. Chamberlain retold the battle of the Renown and the Scharn- barst and the first Narvik naval action, and then continued: "In view of the obscurity of the situa- tion in central Norway and the importance of Narvik, military forces, which
we had promptly assembled. sailed direct for the Narvik area, arriving there
on April 15.
our first
SUCCESSFUL ATTACK. "In the meantime, the very suc-
made in the Italian atti.ude re- English and French navies are far! Cesstu; naval attack on April 13
garding non-belligerence the next few days.
within
The British Charge d'Affaires, Sir Noel Charles, and Count Clano, had a prolonged meeting today which is stated to have been cor- dial and informative.
British circles express the opinion that the British decision "to divert ships from the Mediter- ranean reflects ΠΟ change in Anglo-Itallan relations, nor any change of attitude in regard to questions of common interest to the two countries.
Although the full implications of Britain's announcement are only imperfectly understood as yet by the Italians, it undoubtedly
stronger."
The Stockholm "Afton Bladet" weighs up the "pros and cons of a British large-scale landing in Norway and considers that such a landing must come shortly if the Allied position in Norway is to be saved. The greatest Allled ad- vantage is that the German fleet is not dangerous.
ITALY AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
LONDON, May 2 Under instructions Tuesday night on the closing of the Mediterranean to British
(Reuter) Issued
On
completely destroyed the enemy's naval forces at that port and made it unnecessary to utllise; for i the capture of Narvik, all the forces originally earmarked for that operation.
"In deciding upon our fur- ther action, the objectives we had in view were, firstly, to give all support and assistance in our power to the Norwe- gians: secondly, to resist or delay the German advance from the south; and thirdly, to facilitate the rescue and of the Norwegiań protection King and Government.
"It was obvious that these ob
In the exchanges, while it is im- possible to report the lowest rates at which business was done to the highly excited state of the market WIDE FLUCTUATIONS it is known business was transact It is felt that while the Ex-ed at 3-3/32 for May and, shortly change Market is in the process of afterwards. quotations became finding its own level, wide and fairly general at 3-1/4 and 4-3/4 erratic fluctuations may be seen for Cash.. The first real sellers of and, eventually, more or less rest- any size appeared for May delivery ing around 8-1/4d. tof the time at 3-1/8 and 4-9/16- being,
The afternoon markets were
on, the south back of the Taihu Lake, recently, inflicting consider-. able losses
TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT
In south-east Shansi, the Chi- On the Klangsu-Chektang, bor- nese are continuing their "clean der regions, the Japanese have up" operations against remnant commenced simultar.ecus offen- Japanese near Tsincheng and sive, on the Chinese positions near Yangcheng. A Japanese unit fore- Thing and Lyang
ing its way out of the Chinese. Under a terrific artillery bar- cordon around Tuncherg. was in- rage the Japanese attacked and tercepted at Lanchechen.
Chinese Advancing In Two Columns On The Right
CHUNGKING, May 2 (Reuter-The operations., involved the Japanese push into South Shans! are believed to be on, a scale seldom previously witnessed in the fighting in North China
-
The Japanese front is said to extend from a point south- west of Shansi, near the Shan si, border, to a point southwest of Shans, approaching the Hon an border,
bases at Hukwan, Changtze and
As the Japanese forces, with"; ----
Changchih advanced southward, JAPANESE PLANS In sympathy with the drop in generally quiet, The exchanges reaching Ching Chen, the Chinese
FOR SIX BIG CITIES
exchange, gold bars-opened at a closed at 3-3/8d, and 4-15/16 0.3. new all-time record of $6,500 for Cash, 3-1/4d. and 4-3/4 U.S. which is up $972 from yesterday. for May. Gold bars were at $6,485 Subsequent movements, however, and bonds from 20 to 55 cents were downward influenced by the down."
Chinese Students Deplore
German Terrorism
The English Clab, the Political Science Club" and the Economics Society of Canton University have jointly sent a message to the World Students' Association,
right wing at Lingchwan is said to have advanced in two columns. One column heading for the north- east, towards the Japanese base, is said to have reached Yingchen on April 28, while another Chinese column is stated to have advanced to the west, in the direction of Ghingchen.
In South
Anh wel. after the Japanese had captured Tsingyang, they continued to push to the south, towards Linyangcheng
be
HEAVY SHELLING
N
I
Curbing Public Consumption
Special to H.K. Daily Press TOKYO, May 2 (Havas)-The Government's policy of aiming gradually to curb public consump
LI
Chinese forces are now said to tion is at present being concen
advancing in A northerly trated on the amusement and en- direction, towards Tungling, ontertainment centres in" Tokyo, The message reads as follows: The recent victories in Hunan the south bank of the Yangtzo Osaka. Kyoto! Kobe, Nagoya and "In modern Chinese history, the and Kwangtung has strengthened River, above Wohn
Yokohama. celebration of May 4 is of great the belief of the Chinese people
The supply of commodities in- significance. May 4 was proclaim-that final victory will be ours.
cluding such necessities as rice, ed by the Chinese National Gov-Many schools and universities
bean, paste, sugar, charcoal, mat- ernment as 'a' Youth Day and is have sent their delegates to the
ches and miscellaneous cereals celebrated throughout the land. front. and the students have OF CHINGAN
will be restricted to teahouses-and restaurants in the gay quarters in "On May 4, 1919 some students done their best to raise funds to demanded the dismissal of several replenish the war chest.
CHUNGKING, May 2 (Reuter) the six big cities under a plan diplomats who had turned traitor.
Heavy tighting is said to be now being discussed by the Home "We are aware of the fact that continuing in an area north-west Ministry. Industry Ministry and They opposed secret diplomacy the Nazis have startled the world of Nanchang. In an manipulated by selfish politicians by plunging Europe
attack on the Price. Fixing Committee. into War. Chingan on The movement resulted in
April 27, Japanese an This resort to force as an instru artillery is reported to have fired
SPENDING MORE effective boycott 'against a forelan ment of national polfes has over 1,000 shells into the small
Special to HK. Daily Press what is more im- never country and.
been countenanced by
SHANGHAI, May 2 Havast portant,
which part of the the Chinese students. The reign of Japanese forces entered the town The local Japanese community
It accomplished
town, after
Served to bring home to them the shipping, all merchant ships sall-jectives could most" speedily be thorough awakening of the masses, terror set up by the Nazi Army and engaged the Chinese in street! have been spending
seriousness of the position.
MEDITERRANEAN
IS CLOSED
ing between Britain and the Far East must go via the Cape of Good Hope.
This means an extra 5,000 miles In the case or ships going to Bombay but only an extra .300 miles in the case of ships going to Australia
attained if it was possible to cap-
ture Trondheim, and we resolved, to make the effort (cheers).
"I cannot, today, give any de- tails of the fighting which has taken place on both fronts since
increasing
For the first time in history, poll-should tical dissension was swept away peace-loving people. We firmly
be condemned by all fighting.
large sums monthly on geisha, en- After bloody hand-to-hand tertainers according to a recent by the rising tide of patriotism,
believe that force. Is the most tighting for three days, the Chi-Japanese Consular Police report. CHINA MUST WIN
potent power to combat force nese are stated to have once more The rise is attributed to Improved and that the victory of the Allies gained complete control of the financial conditions among Jap
come soon, making the world town on April 29, according to anese residents. safe for democracy.
Chinese field dispatches" reaching
During the rst three months of "We Chinese students fully sup- here.
the present year 350,000 yen was
particulars of
CAIRO, May 2 (Reuter)-Ship ping companies at Fort Sald and Suez have been advised that Bri- tish ships are being diverted via Official circles here sincerely the Cape route. British Naval hope that the measure will only.
port the cause 0: justice and Heavy fighting la said to be spent as against 200,000 yen f authorities here state that British be of a temporary nature but Tea-
"I cannot yet give the House righteousness. We invite the sta- still progressing in the vicinity of the corresponding period last year. shipping within the Mediterranean lise that it is necessary at, the
casualties of our dents of all Democracies to foln Fengst where the Japanese are is not affected by the Govern-moment in view of the Italian
forces sustained in various opera-hands with US to combat the launching vigorous counter- ment's measures.
tlons but I have some reason to attitude both of responsible Minis- Until three days ago homeward ters and the Italian prese.
believe they have not been heavy British shipping, north of Aden, It may be recalled" that when
in proportion to the scale of opera- were allowed to proceed into the war broke out Italy's position was
tions.
Mediterranean but since then Bri- uncertain and the Admiralty or tish ships in the Red Sea have dered the Mediterranean closed been requested to sa!l for» Britain The order was revoked "yla the Cape.
afterwards.
"Our war of resistance wil the landing took place. All that enter its third year in July 1940 can be said at present is that our troops fought with gallantry and determination and inflicted heavy lasses upon the enemy.
"Nevertheless the Allied forces in these regions were faced, as we had realised they would be, with serious difficulties: Foremost among these was the fact that available aerodromes were already in enemy hands. The use of fight- er aircraft was thus largely denied to us. In the circumstances. It be- came evident to us some days ago that it would be impossible, owing ito German local af superiority, to land artillery and tanks necessary to
Mr. Anthony Eden Says We enable our troops to withstand the
Must Not Waste Time
LONDON. May 2 (Renter)—Referring to the fact that. Herr· von Ribbentrop has assured the world that Britain and Norway had plotted an act of war, Mr. Anthony Eden said: “So fan- tastic a fairy tale would obtain credence from no one who has knowledge of the facts or of Norwegian life, and policy. AJI Norwegian history and tradition dubs Ribbentrop a liar.
"Only the unhappy German be no peace for anyone until the people will believe this Nazi dis- whole Norwegian people again tortion of the truth. There can enjoy their freedom under their
own King, in their own land."
Emphasising the Alles superior resources Mr. "Eden said: 'It is not enough to be content" with the existence of these resources and to repeat that time is on our side. Time has been harnessed « "We have to marshal
WAR PROFITS, TO BE TAXED THE HAGUE, May 2 (Reuter) The Premier, "Jonkheer de Greer. is introducing a Bill in ment to tax war profits at the sources rapidly and vigorously rate of 25 per cent in the case of Nothing less than the greatest. private Individuals and 40 per effort of which the British people cent in the case of companies from are capable is enough to secure January 1, 1939.
victory."
Parlia
our re
enemy drive from the south.
MUST ABANDON.
"Although in the face of over- whelming difficulties of the situa tion, it had not been possible to capture the town, I am satisfied that the balance lies up to the pre- sent, with the Allied forces."
HEAVY LOSSES-
aggressors.
attacks.
Agriculturist Spends Months Combatting
Three Malaria
MR. FRANK DICKINSON, PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE AT WEST CHINA UNIÓN UNIVERSITY, CHENGTU, has a "nose for good Mr. Chamberlain said the Ger farm land.” When he visited the malaria-affected" districts in Ton- man' expectation of a walk-over in nan Province, he immediately "smelled out" the vast stretches of fer- Norway had been frustrated and tile soil that can be reclaimed there from the streams, ponds and after three weeks of war, where ditches. heavy losses had been sustained by
THEORY TESTED
SILVER DEPOSITS
IN TIENTSIN LONDON,
May 2 (Reuter) '--
In the House of Commons», to- day, Mr. Noel Baker asked "the" |Prime Minister whether he could assure the House that the Gov- ernment would agree to no дем arrangement concerning the silver deposits in the banks of the In- ternational Concession in Tieh- tain without the consent of China. Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secre- tary for Foreign Affairs, in reply.
"Accordingly, we decided last week that we must abandon any idea of taking Trondheim from the enemy on the sea, land and His interest in good farm land in support of the malaria preven-sald that he presumed that Mr. the south and we, therefore, with in the air, Norway was not con- this case was shared by health ex-tionlats, set to work draining the Noel Baker referred to the silver drew our troops from that areaquered while considerable supplies perts. Chinese and foreign, engag-water-soaked soil. In most cases deposited in a Chinese bank in and transferred them elsewhere, of ore, which Germany formerly ed in the task of malaria control the drainage was done by using the British Concession in Tien- The operation of withdrawal in the obtained from Narvik, had been in Yunnan. For once the land is bamboo.
csin. The Government had gon- face of the enemy is one which Indefinitely suspended,
reclaimed, mosquitoes, agents of For three months, Mr. Dickinson sulted the Chinese Government has already been recognised as During the period of just over the malignant malaria epidemic.was kept busy with this soil-at all material stages of the ne- among the delicate and difficult three weeks German Naval losser will be eliminated.
drainage task working on the felds gotiations on this subject and military opérations but, In the amounted to a serious figure. They
with farmers and labourers from were continuing to do so present instance, we have been included two capital ships dam- This theory was tested at Loi-morning till night. A stretch of more fortunate. Thanks to power- aged and certainly three or four wing, one of the worst malaria- land three quarters of a mile long fuk Naval forces and the deter- cruisers sunk, eleven destroyers infested regions in Yunnan near in the Lowing district has thus
sunk and Ave U-boats sunk in the Burma torder. There Mr. been reclaimed,» addition to 30 transports and Dickinson, with the approval and PROGRESS OF 'CENTRAL atoreships sunk or scuttled:
Cases of malaria attacks In Lot- wing, according to Mr. Dickson,
Mr. Campbell, of Messra. Butter- have already been reduced by, al most 50 per cent. This progress in field and Swire, has made a report malarla control, he said, goes to to the police that Mr. Cummings NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuter) the credit of Chinese health au- Alexander William Duff, ship's en- de France thorities who are aided by two gineer, left the company's hostel for an un-American experts: Dra. L. L W at Kowloon Dock on Apr. 3
liams, and EL. J. Buch.
and has not since been seen.
mination and skilful disposition of General Paget, in command of the British land forces in the area, backed by the splendid courage of the troops, we have now ̈with- drawn the whole of our forces from Aandalsnes under the very noses of German planes without, as far as I am aware, losing a single man in the operation. (Cheers).
SECRET TRIP
The losses sustained by the Royal Navy in the same period were four destroyers. three sub- marines, one sloop, five trawlers Five other warships were damaged The French liner by nir attack and one storeship sailed this evening also sunk by a U-boat torpedo,
known destination.
EUROPEAN MISSING