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STOLET
XUXLINÝS
·C. E. WARREN & CO., LTD.
Chia Building.
PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY
Ihranklin
Kanager
*Hongkong Telegraph"
for The South China Morning Post, Lid, 1 & 3. Wyndham Street, Hongkong.
The
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Hongkong Telegraph.
Tel. 0.269)
VOĽNDAR UM
1 +AEXF. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1929. + INDEN OFT COUNTR
130 PER ANNUM
HSIN WAH DISASTER. THE KING GAINING "MAJESTIC” BADLY. GENERAL BOOTH
STRENGTH.
REVELATIONS BY MR. P. MAKING SLOW STEADY
JACOBSEN.
NEWS AT LAST OF PROBABLE FATE OF MASTER.
NO OFFICIAL INQUIRY.
While the waters and islands near Waglan are being scoured to-day in the forlorn hope that further survivors of the Hain Wah disuster will be discovered, it is almost certain that only 26 have been saved.
The worst calamity of the kind in local history, it is next to impossible to obtain a coherent account of the tragic events on board the doomed craft after the vessel struck, but it is fairly certain that utter confusion and panic reigned. Life- boals were overloaded by frenzied passengers, and could not be swung out from the ship.
PROGRESS.
NO CHANGE IN CONDITION YESTERDAY.
QUEEN MUCH BETTER.
London, Jan. 16. Although no bulletins have been Issued during the day, official statements have been made regard
DAMAGED.
HUGE LINER'S BATTLE WITH MOUNTAINOUS SEAS.
REMARKABLE HAVOC.
London, Jan. 10.
The great White Star liner Majestle, the biggest ship in the world, arrived at Southampton to-day in a sorry state after one
DEPOSED..
MOMENTOUS DECISION OF COUNCIL.
OVERWHELMING VOTE AFTER LONG SITTING,
THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY BUICK.
This radically new and different automo-. bile in rolling up the biggest demand ever won by any now quality car. It is focus. ing the attention of the world by quality- standards so zow, so advanced and so epochal as to proclude any thought of comparison,
THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.
Telephous Central 1240 or 1247.-
35 Wong Nel Chung.......... Happy Vallay, Road,'"
EXPRESS SMASH ON CONTINENT,-
MANY DEAD, IN COLLISION WITH WAITING`TRAIN,
DRIVER IS ACCUSED.
"IRENE" GUNFIRE SINKING
SENSATIONAL AFFAIR
RECALLED.
SUBMARINE COMMANDER SUED BY COMPANY.
of the roughest Atlantic crossings CHALLENGE IN COURTS months, At least fourteen per EXPRESS ORDER PLEA.
in her history.
London, Jan. 16.
In the early hours of this morn-
In the latter stages of the voyage particularly, the Majestic encountered mountainous scas, which awept her decks continuousing, it was learned officially that ing the King's condition from time fly, and created amazing havoc. 10 time, though it is emphasised
the High Council of the Salvation One member of the crew was that the changes in the Royal killed and five were injured.
Army sitting at Sunbury Court Patient's condition are so slight that. It is probable the bulletins
had, by fifty-five votes to eight, adjudicated General Bramwell would be issued at even longer that the King'a doctors are unwill
supreme command of the Salvation laterynia were, it not for the fact
Booth unit to continue the Army.
to leave the country without
information.
¡
The usual mensures for increna- ing the Kinga' strength are being pursued, -
·Comfortable Day.
The great ship was absolutely covered in wreckage,
forward, was bent almost at right An enormous steel cargo boom angles, and even when the liner
A GERMAN "NAVAL SCANDAL."
A A A
At eight o'clock this evening, it was learned officially that His Majesty had had a comfortable Secret Memorandum Published day and that otherwise there was no change.
The next medient bulletin will.
be issued-to-morrow morning.
It is also learned that the vessel hit the rock twice, the second time resulting from the snapping of an anchor chain which left the vessel helpless in raging seas. While the vessel listed, huge waves, said to have been thirty feet high, swept the vessel, dozens of unfortunates being washed overboard.
For the first time, it has been possible to obtain an indi- cation of what happened to Captain M. P. Jensen and the others being maintained and this is European officers. Captain Jensen went on to the bridge, and was joined by Mr. Jacobsen. They were helpless to stem the panic. Jacobsen was washed overboard, and it believed that Capt. Jensen suffered the same fate.
We are informed that no Marine Inquiry will be held into the disaster. The Hsin Wah is a Chinese ship and is, there fore, out of the control of the local Harbour authorities.
UTTER CONFUSION ON BOARD.
The slow progress of the King regarded with satisfaction.
It
was authoritatively stated this morning that the King is much stronger to-day than he has been at any time since: the illitess developed seriously.
Feeling of Confidence,
The increase in strength is, how- over, very gradual, and cannot be measured from day to-day, though as compared with a fortnight ngo, His Majesty is considerably strong-
er.
The difficulty of persuading the King to take nourishment has been
Further information was obtain- When he eventually reached the ed by a Telegraph reporter this bridge, after a great deal of elbow-week he has been taking more food, morning in interviews with both ing through the press, he found Mr. Jacobsen and the bu'sun of the Captain Jensen already there, and Hsin Wath, the result of this being with the latter, there were also on that for the first time, definite light the bridge, the Chief Ofleer (Mr. is thrown on the activities of Jacobsen), the Chinese Becond Captain Jensen and his officers at Oficer, Mr. Kwok, and the quarter- the crucial moment of the disaster. master. The Chief Engineer and Captain Jensen and those the Second Engineer had also got associated with him in the on the bridge. The Third En- management of the ship are gineer, & Russian, was on duty shown to have stayed on the below, bridge unt the last, the former sending out distress signals) until the doomed vessel took thei Anal plunge, when they were
No Marine Inquiry,
1shed will take her usu
In London.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
Barlin, Jan. 16. The leading newspapers are indignantly fulminating re- garding a so-called "Naval Scandal", following the publi cation in the Review of Re- views, tht well-known London journal, of a secret memoran- dum, in which Herr Groener, the Minister of Defence, de- fended the necessity for the new battle-cruiser,
An investigation has been ordered into the leakage of the niemorandum, which hitherto had been a Cabinet secret.- Reuter.
HEBLAZERS CHARACTERS E2809CZELNEMERAL
|
Berlin, Jan. 16, Graphic messages received from. Bukharest to-day disclose the story of one of the worst rallway disus ters on the Continent for several
sons were killed, while it is stated that forty others are seriously
་ ! ་ - injured, and hundruds. slightly
The sensational piratical attack on the hurt,
8.8. Irene, owned by the collision between an express from ending, the ship bolag sunk by gun- The disaster resulted from a Company, which had an amazing China Merchants Steam Navigation
Bukharest to Temsovar, and a pas fire from 11M. Submarino L4 (Com senger train, which has been hold mander F.J.C. Halahan) at Blas up at the station at Prusaila owing Bay in October, 1927, was recalled to the derailment of a mail van. before the Chief Justles (Sir Henry The express which ordinarily Gollon) in the Supreme Court this station crashed into the stationary an action against Lieutenant Com- would have dashed through the morning, when the owners brought slow train, a number of coaches on mander Halahan for damages, both being telescoped.
alleging wrongful sinking of the Irene.
The horror and confusion were added to by an outbreak of fire, which naturally grently hampered rescue work.
This momentous decision was reached after long and anxious discussions throughout the day. The resolution was considered from every possible angle, since many members were very relue- The bodies of fourteen victims tant to take the final step of de-were found among the wreckage, posing the General.
and many others were taken out alive and sent to 'hospital,"
It will be recalled that the ship the was attacked by pirates on evening of Wednesday, October 19, whon on a voyage from Shanghai. to Amoy.
At Bins Bay H.M. Submarine L It is alleged, according to the 4 came on the scene and signalled
Trene most recent messages, that the the
(then proceeding de-driver of the express train was inwards). to stop, which the
drunk-Reuter,
Hopes for Compromise. The time occupied before the cision was reached can be estimat ed when it is pointed out that the Council discussed General Booth's rofusal to accept the Council's suggestion that he should retire for more than four hours on Tues- day,
When they re-assembled yester- day morning, it was expected that the vote would be taken, almost immediately. There were many, however, who were loth to vile against the General and yet were not satisfied of his competence.
They still hoped that some sort of compromise might be reached by which the General, could continue to hold power for the term of his life, but his successor would be ap- pointed by the High Council.
Decision' to be Challenged.*
,
OVER A MILLION
TAELS.
ESTATE OF THE LATE MR.
B. A. SOMEKH.
MOSTLY IN SHANGHAI.
pitates refused to do. The submarine then fired a WATH. ing shot across the bows, and when this had no effect, a second shell was fired which struck the ship's, engine room.
The Irene sank in' flames, while herole rescue work-by the Navy ca- pecially by the men of L4,"who saved 222 persons, was a feature of the occurrence.
Company's Claim.
of China by gunfire from the L 4 on the night of October 19-20.
Details of the claim were: Total loss of Irene $500,000. Stores $5,000. Offcera' kit $15,000.
Practically ever since litigation has been proceeding in Chambers over the claim which was mado pub- A fortune of over a million lic for the first time this morning. taols was left by Mr. Bension It was argued on behalf of the Aaron Somekh, late of No. 1,006 China Merchants' Company that the largely overcome, and for the past
Avenue Joffre, Shanghai, who Irene was wrongfully sunk in the torrlorial waters of the Republic died on December 27, 1027. which is very important at this
The net value of the Shanghal stage of the illness and will pro-
Late last evening, it was officially estate is Taele 1,093,002,05, while bably make all the difference,
stated that the Council had been un-Hongkong estate amounts to $900.
fidence in the King's ultimate re-pumping out tons of water,
There is a growing feeling of con- was docked, her engines were still able to reach a decision, but the Consul Service estate duty stamps delegates sat on, and early this paid in Shanghaf amount to ouvery, and Paince circles are now
morning, the rate was recorded as £15,742,18. very optimistic.
A large quantity of mail
above.
Re-sealing of probate and It is stated that when the weather matter was drenched by sea-water,
It is stated on good authorlty codiella has been granted to Mr. Extra disbursements to officers shows signs of improvement, the while several motor-cars were that the decision to depose the Gen-W. E. L. Shenton, of Deacons, who and drew for clothes, board, Queen, whose cold has almost van-covered. It is also stated that the eral will be challenged in the Law is the attorney of Mr. Reuben lodging and fares to Shangha!
daily entire scenery of a theatrical Courts by the General's supporters. David Abraham, to whom probate $10,000, drive from Buckingham Palace.--. company has been irretrievably The communication which Gen- was granted by H. B. M. Supreme Making a total of $530,000.
Prince George, who has also been ruined.
eral Booth sent by his wife to the Court for China, Shanghai.
To which was added a claim for suffering with a slight chill, is bet- ter-British Wireless.
There is a heavy galo running Council on Tuesday had not been Mr. James McMillan, ship and the loss of use of the ahl; from in the Channel and in the North matte public, but General Booth is insurance broker, Tate of White October 19, 1927, at the rate of
sued a statement for publication Incote, London Lane, Bromley, Kent, $1,000 a day, Sea.
which the reasons for taking up an who died on September 26, last Mr. F. C. Jonkin and Mr. H. G. It is reported from Rotterdam uncompromising attitude are ex- He attributes his life to the fact that in going to the assistance of
yeur, left Hongkong estate worth Sheldon, instructed by Mr. F, H. that he obtained a hold on a float-the
plained. The vessel is a Chinese shiping spar, though he was semi-con-stranded off the Dutch coast,
Latvian steamer "Falka” A report received by the High $2,300, while gross estate In Great Loseby of Lee and Russ were for ing the rock, he made his way to registered in Shanghai, and the efous when taken out of the water lifeboat from the Hook of Holland Inid before General Booth its de-coffell has been granted to Mr. Bulmer Johnson, of Hastings, the Company, while Mr. Eldon the bridge to find the Captain local Harbour authorities have no by a party of heroic fishermen.
Council from the deputation, which Britain amounts to £6,795,
Re-sealing of probate and a Potter, K.C., instructed by Mr. ready there, together with the See-jurisdiction over her,
was for capsized, her crew of eight being cisions regarding leadership is also w. E. J. Shenton, who is the Dennys and Bowley, ond Officer, Mr. Kwok, whose watch
The man says that the only per-drowned-Reutor. The only possible form of
published, it was.
attorney of the widow, Mrs. E. J. Lieutenant Commander Halahan. enquiry that might serve to bring ns on the bridge when the ship Mr. Jacobsen would not speak of out the salient points of the and
McMillan, the sole exccutrix.
Mr. Jenkin, after referring to struck were the Chinese Second
the claim, spoke of the plea. what followed, beyond the fact that disaster, and its causes, is the
Ofeer, and a Chinese quarter- he later found himself struggling holding of Coroner's Inquest into
raised by the defence, master. in the water, his life-belt securely the circumstances surrounding the Ship Twice Hits Rock. fastened, until picked up many deaths of the persons, whose hours later by the fishing junk.
bodies have been picked up.
He is also able to assist in as- Mr. Jacobsen vouchsafed no We have no
information to certaining the cause of the rapid | WILL RESIGN WHEN PROBLEM further information
although indicate whother such an inquest alaking of the Hain Wah. He says pressed as to a previous statement is likely to be held, but there is a that the vessel hit the rock with he is said to have made to the strong feeling in local shipping such violence that she rebounded police to the effect that he saw circles that it would be highly clear. The Second Officer Imme Captain Jensen struggling in the desirable. water, after the ship went under.
Reen no niure.
The Chief OfBeer said to-day that on being awakened from sleep by the shock of the Hsin-Wah strik-
The Bo'sun Confirms,
in A.
na-
The Telegraph learns on 'enquiry from official sources this morning that there is no likelihood of a Marine Court of Inquiry into the Hsin Wah disaster.
Panie-Stricken Scramble.
back on the rock by the waves.
MR. PARKER GILBERT & REPARATIONS.
IS SETTLED.
Paris, Jun. 16.
that Mr.
Public Statement.
It is stuted that the General look- ed frail and extremely weak. ·
General Booth's public statement is vigorously phrased.
LONDON VISITED BY BLIZZARD.
SNOWSTORM DISORGANISES
TRAFFIC,
London, Jan. 16. London was visited by a bliz
•
Defendant had pleaded that the loss of the Irene was not enused wrongfully and, in any event, his section was authorised by the Crown, and, in the alterna- tive, that it was ratified by the Crown.
No Redress Counsel continued that both he, himself, and Mr. Potter, had advised the plaintiffs that if the plea was substantiated by evidence
She must have been holed badlyReparations Conference, but only Commissioner Higgings during his night again, and there was a heavy from the Court. Since the plea
crashes.
י'
In it, he recalls that for fifty) | years, he has spent all his time and energy, and has tolled incessantly amidst burdens of anxlous caro, such as few men are called upon to bear, in extending and leading the diately ordered the dropping of informed quarters
It is definitely stated in well-Salvation Army. He says he has never had a prolonged rest, and re- the anchor, but in the angry seas, Parker-Gilbert, the Agent-General fers to the steps he took for the zard early this morning. the cable snapped, and the almost for Reparations, will not resign responsibilities of his office being stationary ship was then- hurled before the end of the forthcoming carried on by his Chief of Staff when the sky grew as black na then they could obtain no redress
The day had scarcely dawned
after the reparations question has illness. two different places by the been finally settled.--Router.
Proceeding, he says it should be downfall of snowflakes, whipped was filed, the evidence of Com- clearly understood that the Found-by a sudden wind into whirling modere Pearson had been taken de bene case showing that a dis- er of the Salvation Army instituted clouds. powers under which High Council Vehicles were brought almost patch was sent by the Secretary could be called for the sole purpose to standstill and pedestrians, of State for the Colonies to His of turning out of an official has no unable to struggle against the Excellency, the Officer Adminis power legally to change the Army blizzard, had to take shelter. tering the Government..
The defence was satisfied constitution, but he had offered to
The storm Insted,only half, and that evidence that the Plen of consider its proposals for broaden- ing it, and suggested a Special hour, but it left the streets cover: State had been substantiated.
The plaintifs could not, thoro Commission to consider the matter. od with a thick layer of snow and
"I feel I should be less than a created gront disorganisation in fore, get any redress at his Lord- ship's hands but the Crown had man, let along the leader of a great traffle.
desired them to appear in court
Mr. Jonkin concluded that they had no alternative but to consent to judgment.
In this appalling disaster, the The bo'sun who got away in one: of the two life-boats, that are the full history of which will probably only ones known to have been never be told, there is one nut- launched from the doomed vessel, standing feature. Utter confusion has been installed with some reigned on board from the time
survivors
the vessel struck. other
Most Bur-
Engine-Room Fatal five boarding-house in the central vivors assert that they saw n part of the city. Seen there this signs of any Mauropean offer, but The situation might have been. morning by a Telegraph reporter, be it seems that the ninai serbmble for less perilous at this stage, but for was productive of further informa- the boats began immediately the the fact that the whole of the lights tion, which appears to be of con- peril was realised by hundratsun the ship were expunged, presum- siderable importime in supplement who wire awakenin frum their jably by the flooding of the engine- ting as it does, the brief narrative sleep. The horror was added room. He is not aware which of of the Chief Officer.
by the fact that the engine room the officers were on watch in the The basun definitely declares was quickly flooded and put out engine-room, but expresses the opinion that anyone down below
CHINESE CANNIBAL
SENTENCED.
BEGGAR SENT TO GAOL FOR TWO YEARS.
Shanghal, Jon: 17.
that he saw Captain Jensen on the every light on the ship, and mand very little chance of escaping who was found exhuming the bodies to a request to retire at a time when, generally experienced a snowstorm and offer, po evidence,
The cannibalistic Chinese beggor religious organisation if I agreed The eastern half of England of infants from a Chinese cemeteryns 1 understand, there is agitation | about the same Ulme.-British On deck, the scene was one of has been sentenced to two years' to change the foundation upon Wireless. horror. Everyone was fighting for imprisonment.
which it rests. Therefore, I
In such circumstances, the diff eulty of obtaining anything in the nature of a coherent story is easily
bridge directing the course of the fighting went on between panje. ship as far as he was able, and senal-stricken passengers and crew in with his life, ing of distress signals on the syr, The darkness. right up all the moment when he (Lo bo'aun) bud successfully launched the No. 3 Lifeboat and got away in it with 19 other persons.
Like most of the people on the ship, his first notice of disaster was received on the bump attendant on 'the actual colllalon. He was then
understood,
Only Chinese On Bridge.
Some considerable light is, how-
the boats, scrambling for life-belts, The Court was crowded when the #m? compelled to refuse to even going to the extent of drag-case was heard.--Our Own Corres-d's 60.- ging them off olher porsons in tha | pondent. durkness.
J
Thirty Foot Waves,
Hugh waves, which are said to
MARSHAL FOCH'S ILLNESS.
asicep in his cabin, and his first ever, thrown by a sailor, who now have been sweeping over the thought on being aroused, was to go lies in the Government Civil Hos on to the bridge. He found his way nital suffering from the effects of craft, sometimes rising as high as barred by, a mass of struggling humanity.
Paris, Jan. 18. The doctors report a very slight long immersion in water, buffeted thirty feet, made it almost im-improvement in the condition of for hours by angry seas.
(Continued on Page 7.). Marshal Foch.-Reuter.;
on
Fired on Express Ordors, e bers of the High Council imme-
Mr. Pottor remarked, that in diately sang, with much foryour, A Moving Scene.
the hymn, "When we cannot see fairness to Lieutenant Commandor Later.
and Halahan, he would like to point.. our way." All the women The High Council's decision was many of the men present were in out it was clear that the plea of taken by secret ballot after mid- tears,
Act of State meant that the firing night, at the end of a sesalon which Later, the members dispersed in of the shot was done as the ro
silence, the Council being ad-sult of express orders, which lasted for fourteen hours.
There was a moving scene after journed until February 18th fact had been proved by Com the result was known. The mem-Reuter.
(Continued on Page 8,)