N LAZARUS
Hong Kong's (air Exfupens upsio
Matabilehed Ovar Porty Thera.
Manager's-Ralph & Gasper, Blagostared
Optometrial Milenaria),
The
Hongkong Telegraph.
FOUNDED 41081
No. 22.034
LATEST PIRACY SENSATION.
-###-+EA-R MONDAY, JANUARY
6,000-TON STRAITS STEAMER
SEIZED.
SEANG
BEE” FOUR DAYS" IN PIRATE HANDS.
FIVE MEN KIDNAPPED.
To the long list of piracies committed by the notorious gang of outlaws whose headquarters are in the Bias Bay distrlet must be added yet another, the s.s. Seang Bee being the latest victim.
The Seang Bee is a British steamer, running between the Chin Coast and Rangoon, and it was while on her way from Singapore to Hongkong, with passengers, mails and general cargo, that she Was seized by pirates travelling as passengers. She was, alto- gether, in the pirates' hands for four days.
It was on Thursday morning that the pirates took control of the ship, whilst the officers were at breakfast, and, as in many other cases, the steamer was taken to Bias Bay. En route, the officers were kept. under strict armed guard.
In all, no fewer than 100 pirates took part in the affair, and practically all the passengers, numbering over 700, were robbed of money and valuables, whilst the ship's captain was taken ashore but was later allowed to return, five Chinese passengers, however, being held in custody. No cargo was taken, nor were the mails seriously interferred with. There was no violence perpetrated.
A conservative estimate of the value of the pirates, booty, places it at over $100,000.
The Scang Bec is commanded by Captain Cotton, and has British officers. After being released by the pirates, the vessel 'was, brought into Hongkong, arriving here early this afternoon.
CANTON TO PAY, OFF STRIKERS.
REPORT OF A LUMP SUM VOTE.
SUPPORT, PROVING
DIFFICULT.
CHINA CRISIS.
IS BRITISH OFFER ACCEPTABLE?
MORE YANGTSZE UNREST.
So far, the text of the now British proposals to Chinn have
PER ANNUM
31, 1927. A#A† SINGLE COFY 15 CENTS
ARTISTIC CAUTO
PAINTING
THE DRAGO+ HITOR GAR Co, Ltd.
CHINESE NEW YEAR SWATOW STILL UNSETTLED.
CRIME.
"FOUR CASES OF ROBBERY REPORTED.
WEEK-END LOSSES.
A noteworthy feature revealed not been released for publication, by this morning's report of crime but a Chinese message from Canton during the week-end is the large suggests that the Nationalists number of robberies. may not agree to the conversion of the British Concessiona International Settlements, an com-
According to a Canton report the Provincial Treasury, on in structions from the Government, has decided to pay put a sum of $100,000 to the so-called Hongkong strikere, with a view to bringing to an end the lung-continued Go-plete Chinese control is desired. vernment support.
This development follows a re- cently-reported plan by which the Government was to pay from the new surtaxes a sum of $100 to ench striker, on identification by his name and photo. at the head- quarters of the Strike Committee. So far, however, the strikers have only been granted $10 each.
it is said that the Government wants to set all the strikers off its hands without delay, as the pro- visioning of those who are left is providing a financial drain, whilst landlords object to continuing to give these men quarters for which they receive no payment.
Into
There are further reports of un- rest in the Yangtze zone and Japan ese women and children at Chin Aha Are standing by ready for
evacuation.
BRITISH OFFER OPPOSED!
In an armed robbery at No. 338, Des Voeux Road West, on Sat- urday, a man, alleged to be the leader of the gang because he held a chopper, the only weapon with which the robbers wore
armed and also because he had a key with which he was on the point of open ing the safe of the shop before be ing disturbed by the unexpected i return of a foki, was arrested at
|BOYCOTT AND ANTI-BOYCOTT MOVES "IN EVIDENCE.
FOREIGN PROTECTION.
Conditions in Swatow are still very unsettled, according to news to hand from the Telegraph's correspondent there.
....Whilst anti-British agitators are endeavouring: to create trouble in connection with the Foochow incidenta, the Chee Seng "Union has sent a circular letter to merchants containg official
instructions ordering the cessation of the anti-British boycott.
Coincident with these developments, the Douglas Company agents have received letters from the Seamen's Union threatening. a boycott of its steamers.
The Chinese authorities have Issued Instructions for the pro- tection of foreign lives and property.
A Chinese report from Canton Water Street after a long chase. day fast, our correspondent says: the Nationalist Government, order-
The man was charged before Mr. R. E. Lindsell this morning, and re- manded.
say's a telegram has been received. from Hankow to the effect that ir the negotiations betwen Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Eugene Chen, the latter, on instructions from the Three contractors coglies, who British Government, offered the were returning to their matshed surrender of the Concessions at at Stubbs Road, were waylaid by Haukow and Klukiang on condi-footpads near Tytam Tuk Reser tion that they be converted lato voir, and one of them was relieved International Settlements, but of a sum of $35.
Armed robbers also entered No. 77, High Street by means of the usual ruse of having a New Year present to deliver, and the credu- lous widow who lived on the premises was robbed of money and jewellery amounting to $219.
meant that they had to reduce that Mr. Chen insisted on the Con-
speed..
The Captain had his double bar- relled gun taken from him by one
of the pirates, who, unable to put it together, threw it overboard. The Captain complained to the No. 1, who immediately paid him $200 to buy another one.
Capt. Cotton spoke of the pitiful scene on board when five of the passengers were taken ashore by the pirates. The families aboard were crying bitterly. 11e was or dered to accompany the pirates
The Stäng Bee, which is one of The master was allowed to re- the largest steamers to be pirateľ turn with the ship's boats, and within recent years, had reached, later the Seang Bee was cuabled to a. paint about "720 miles from proceed. to Hongkong under her ashore, and, having no option, had Hongkong on 'Thursday morning, own steam. The steamer curried to go fh one of the boats. Two when shots were heard from diabout 1,500 tons of cargo, and and a half hours later, he was al- ferent points of the vessel, and about 250 bags of mail, but neither lowed to return to the ship. Four armed men rushed into the saloon were interfered with.
boats were used in taking the where the officers off duty were
pirates and their loot away! breakfasting. Shots were "fired]
CHIEF OFFICERS STORY Into the roof of the 'saloon," and the oicers roughly scized and
SYSTEMATIC LOOTING OF mustered on the, deck.
WIRELESS OUT OF ACTION.
4
+
CAPTAIN'S ACCOUNT.
CONSIDERATE PIRATE CHIEF.
Capt. E. M. Cotton, the master
of the Seang Bee, interviewed 27
a Telegraph representative, stated
In
cessions being turned completely over to Chinese control.
Another Canton report says that news received from Kiukiang shows that the situation there is quiet, and that, in the absence of British authorities, the Khomin tung Government has arginted
General Ching Chin, cominander of the 6th Army Corps, to place the Concession under military control until a final settlement has been reached in the negotiations between Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Eugene Chen. A Committes is now functioning in control of the Concession, as at Hankow.
An
HANKOW QUIET..
FEAR OF LABOUR UNREST.
Hankow, Jan. 30. Hankow. remalna quiet.. Italian vessel arrived to-day load- ed with Chinese troops, It is conversation with Mr. feared that labour unrest will de
Naval Wireless,
PASSENGERS...
From Lantau Island, news has also been received of an armed robbery at a disused Mission Building, situated on n-peak above the Tung Chung Police Station. A contractor was living in the building, and on the night of the 27th instant, he was visited by armed robbers, and victimised to the extent of $375.
Writing under date of Thurs-Chen," who, as representative of
ed the anti-British boycott to bu The local situation is at the brought to an end on October, 10th.. moment most difficult and it is 1926. Since then Mr. Chen has on
Consul General at Canton that almost impossible to say how mat- several occasions informed H.B.M. ters will develop. On the one similar orders have been given ba hand, we have the anti-British the whole territory under the agitators, re-inforced by students Nationalist Government.
'In spite of this assurance from Amoy and Fooclow, doing their utmost to stir up trouble and threatening letters are still being distributed in Swatow instructing exhibiting "photos" of babies said merchants not to land cargo by to have been killed by foreign mis British ships and at the end of sionaries at Fouchow. This move a month the boycott still appeara ment, as a matter of fact, does not to be in force. appear to be meeting with the auccess the instigators anticipated, but nevertheless the movement is there and may yet be the cause of much trouble.
ORDER AGAİNST BOYCOTT.
DEFINITE INSTRUCTIONS..
I must therefore request you to
bring the matter to the notice of your Government with a view to definitely bringing the boycotť to an end. I shall thereupon bo On the other hand, we have the pleased to hear from the Commis Chee Seng Union, which is com- sioner of Foreign Affairs that he posed of the employees of the can affirm that British ships can charterers and shippers' hongs and land and ship cargo in Swatow which has been responsible for without difficulty." continuing the boycott of British "Telegram received by the Coms. steamers, distributing copies of the missioner for Foreign Affairs from following letter to all interested in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs shipping in order to convince mer-December 27th, 1926. chants that the boycott of British
The Chinese Republican Govern- IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS. shipping is definitely at an end and ment cannot prohibit their people that cargo may now come and go from having free speech but they forbid them to gather together in "We beg to inform you that this crowds and to threaten traders
TWO FIRES.
A small fire broke out in a
freely!
.)
Meanwhile other pirates had that the attack was made at 9.15 McNeil, the Chief Officer, a Tele-velop after Chinese New Year, grocery shop at Cheungchau, dur- Union is in receipt of Order No dealing in British goods or ahlp taken charge of the wireless on the morning of Thursday, graph representative was told that operating room, which they put January, 27th, whilst the officerse (Mr. McNeil) was at breakfast out of action by severing sever dfwere, at breakfast. A
on Thursday when the attack was of the wires.
pirales rushed into the aaloon, made, the first warning being the The stamer was in pirate con-shouting, firing blank shots all sound of revolver shots.
neers
dozen
The
KIUKIANG AGITATION.
ing the week-end, resulting in damage amounting to $50.
Playing with a burning piece of firewood, a small boy set alight a pile of dried grass in a hut at Pun trict. The child ran out of the
and the consequent instructions shop and so escaped injuries, but received from the Ministry of British goods or British ships and found their home burnt down. when its parents returned they Foreign Affairs at Canton
to report any offences against "Letter from the British Consu: these orders." to the Commissioner for Foreign This Union has therefore been orderd by the Chief of Police not.
1969, from the Chief of Police, Mrping cargo by British ships. Ho covering a copy of Order
"The Commissioner for Foreiga Affairs thereupon ofdered the No, 167, from the Swatow Commis sione: for Foreign Affairs calling.
Chief of Police to carry out these letter received by the latter office workers from threatening those f our attention to the following institute a boycott against the
Klukiang, Jan. 30. Labour agitators have been in trol until nearly four o'clock this lover the place and threatening to saloon was immediately filled with terfering with the Customs launch, Tau village, in the Pingshan dls: from the British Consul at Swatow the public doing business, with morning, the pirates never relax shoot anyone who did not hold up ander armed guard, while the rehas decided to close down.
pimtes, all officers being placed and the Commissioner of Castoma ing vigilance. Even the engi-his hand. The attack was so sud-
were marched to
maining pirates devoted their their den that no effort was mad at attention to the passengers, who not yet been opened.-Naval Wire
The godtowns on the bulk have watches under armed guard resistance and the offices and pas- throughout the whole of the voy-sengers submitted to being search.numbered 750. There was no per less. age to Bias Bay.
HORA violence, but merely ' sys-
TROUBLE, AT WANUSIEN. tematic looting of all passengers their own rooms, one by one, each armed with revolvers.
Later they were all taken to the pirates, all of whom were
Wanasień. Jan. 38.
being in eharge of 1wo
Trouble is being experienced in The ship's arms were all com- pirates and there revolvers wer mandeered, excepting, those in the getting coal supplies. The. Chi- turning from. Singapore to China taken from the officers who pos-mail room. rirates became awarenese contractor has been placed sessed them. The officers were of these on Tuesday afternoon, under arrest by the local authorl-
Pirates went thoroughly through the effects of the whole of the passengers and crew. There were 750 passengers on
beard all re-
for the New Year Festival.
HUGE HAUL.
ed.
mat
COMMANDEELED, BOATS, -
Ichang, Jan. 10, Troop.movements, are continuing down river. All ateamera were commandeered yesterday, but two British steamers seized were clear
ed of troops and their engines dismantled-Naval Wireless,
JAPANESE TO EVACUATE
. Changsha, Jan. 80 Japanese women and children. are now standing by prior evacuation.Naval Wireless.
PERSIAN POLITICS.
Affairs
'I now confirm our conversation to interfere with cargo arriving by with regard to reports which have British steamers and wo have now appeared in the local newspapers informed our members that they THE CABINET RESIGNS. to the effect that the Swatow Chee are to land cargoes from British Song Union have telegraphed to steamers and any members refus- Teberan, Jan. 30. the Shanghai Teochew Guild in- ing to do so will be punished." .. The Cabinet, has resigned instructing the latter not to charter The letter is signed by the British steamers as their cargoes President, Mr. Lim Chee-meng; consequence of the Independents could not be landed.
sad the Vice-President, Mr. Lea joining the Opposition in tabling I understand that, this Union Soh-cher,
This letter reads woll and is ba an interpellation in connection has sent similar communications with the recent correspondence to. Hankow. Tientsin and other lieved to be genuine, but what between the Government and the ports. As a result of these tele-effect it will have remains to bo Anglo-Persian Oil Company and grams two British steamers had to seen. also the non-settlement of a trade cancel charters which they had DOUGLAS CO. THREATENED.
treaty with Ruggia ---Reuter.
RABIES AGAIN.
already ixed.
NO INTERFERENCE.
..
The local agents of the Douglas Steamship Co., Ltd., are receiving
taken back to the saloon, and were and after the keys of the mail ties for supplying coal to the 8.9. forced to stay there in charge of room had been handed over to
Kikewo.-Naval Wireless, The pirate haul must have seen four armed men whilst the re- them, Atole these also. There were tremendous, and it is, variously mainder of the pirates went sys. 248 bugs of mall in the room, in- estimated as being between $100-tematically through the 000 and $200,000
pas-cluding the English paper mail. sengers luggage, taking all the two bags were opened but when One passenger alone told a money, jewellery and valuable these were found to contain only Telegraph, reporter that he had they could lay their hands on papers, the pirates left them alone. lost over $10,000 in money and That day they were allowed to The rest of the mail was untouch- jewellery, the compradore lost have their lunch in the saloon; it ed. large sum, and the passenger's was the 'laat meal they had there
During the succeeding days an steward was robbed of $5,000.
until they partook of tin to-day.exceptionally close guard was kept When the pirates had gained
"The No. 1 pirate gave orders to over all officers and there were complete control, the leader, speak- ing through an interpreter, told the stewards for all meals to be rarely fewer than six pirates on the officers that while they allow-served in the cabins, the saloon the bridge, on which the ship's ed the pirates to do as they wish-being used ns the pirates head-officers were made to carry but ed they would be perfectly safo, quarters, where all the loot was navigational duties, but always
The stored. but if any sign of resistance was
officers heavily under guard. The vessel shown, the officers would be killed were given first-class cabine and slowed down considerably yester- and the ship sunk.
were not allowed to go to their day morning, the pirates latimat- When the vessel reached Blas own rooms, which were occupied Ing that they did not wish to Bay, the pirate gang numbering by the pirates. With the ex.e-runch Bias Bay or get very near 13- nearly 100 were taken ashore with tion of the wireless operators, all longkong until nightfall After their loot in two ships boats rowed the others carried on work as the pirates were in charge of the by the sailors of the Seang Bee.
usual, being constantly in charge vessel only one other ship was of pirates, three or four of whom sighted and there could, of course, THE CAPTIVES.
were always on the bridge, whilst be no communication. The wire The pirates took away with others were in the engine room.less equipment of the vease! had
The day after the attack, the been dismantled at the time of the troops from India will drive hore from England that Major Louls in the imagination of the Cheof their steamers are old Company's
O.B.E., area-servants. izure, hip arived at Bies Bay, at-on February 17th. The cyntual Cassel, 0.3, 5., and formerly G.S.O. Sens Union. This is hardly & Tous servait rumoured that this trous
them:
Marcon!
TROOP MOVEMENTS.
SUFFOLKS FOR SHANGHAI, -We understand that the 2nd. Battu. Suffolk Regiment, coming East from Gibraltar, will ecced straight to Shinghal, although the they are troopship by which travelling will put in at Hongkong for a brief stay
The first of the contingent of
Capt. Cotton, the master of No. 1 pirata installed himself in seizure.] the ship; Mr. Goh Aik-min, the Captain's cabin and there slept merchant on his way to Swatow; for several hours. Waking up, by three o'clock this morning, two destination is not yet known. Koh Yow-tong, a boy of four-gave. Instructiona. that the boats were lowered, and the toen; Mr. Yap-Hong-to, a mer-ship must pass outallo Hong-pirates took away with them five ca chant; Mr. Lek Sui-po, a first- kong in the dark and reach Chinese passengers and the Mas- class passenger; and Mr. Ng Hal-Bias Bay between two and threoftor, Capt. Cotton. The boats were Dolar on demand him, à second-class passenger. o'clock in the morning,
This (Continued on Page-18). Lighting-ut
TO-DAY
2/-18/16
6.11 p.
AN INDIAN CASE OF HYDROPHOBIA.
'I therefore have to request the threatening letters from the Sea- Commissioner for Foreign Affairs men's Union stating that unless to instruct the Chee Song Union the old crews of the Douglas to withdraw the telegrams re-steamers are re-instated they will ferred to and not to interfero institute a "boycott against the. in anyway with the landing of Company. Similar letters have pla cargoes from British ships. To been recolved from the Wharf this request the commissioner for Workers' Union and the Trans- this Foreign
Affairs agreed and port Workers' .Unión in support of promised to inform me of any the seamon.
The local Agents of the Douglas special reasons why this could
Company, however, say that there. not be carried out.
On the 6th inst... I redaivod ale no truth in the statement that reply from the Commissioner, stat: the old crews have not been re- ing that the only reason for the instated and that with very few. non-execution of my request lay exceptions all the men employed on
In the health return for the forty-eight hours ending morning, it is disclosed that there was one Chinese case of diphtheria and also one Indian case of hy drophobin.
News has been received by mail
has been offered a very high ap- consideration of our respective ble has been started as a reprisal pointment in connection with the Govoramienta and I must again for the recent troubla on board' present crisis in China. No doubt therefore call your attention to the 8.8. Halching In Amoy and Foo Major Cassel's wide experienes in important points of the case.chow when that trip was carrying
I refer you to the Canton the missionaries to Hongkong. (Continued On Page: 18.) Minister for Foreign Affairs, M
| the Far East has boon a factor in
the choice made for the post.