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HOLLYWOOD

SOFT AS SILK, DESIGNED FOR FLATTERY

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For the Proprietor of HONGKONG TELEGRAFIL For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST,

The

TODAY'S WEATHER; Light or moderate Bouth or Southeast winds; fair, apart from sesilored early morning showers.

1 p.m. Observaílona: Barometrie-pressure, 1010,4 mb, 29.84 in. Temperature, 84.1 der. F. Dew point, 77; deg. F. Relative humidity.

Wind direction, South Wind force. 18 knots, Low water: ft. 8 in. at 9.33′ pan. High water: 5 ft. 6 in. st.. 4.10

80.

Thongkong Telegraph.

VOL. III NO. 177

THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1948.

Dine

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Tel: 27880

Price 20 Cents

Innisks off I.G. FARBEN WORKS BLOWN UP

Tomorrow

The First Battalion Royal Inniskillings Fusillers will embark aboard the Troop- ship Lancashire, today and will sail tomorrow for the United Kingdom, but will stay over at Singapore an route. The duration of their stay there will depend on the Malayan situation.

The Battalion, which has been in the Colony a little over 4 year, is in high morale at impending return Home. During their brief. stay in the Colony they have taken a prominent part in local sports, their football team giving a good account of itself in the leagues, · while they have also parti- cipated in rugby matches.

New Four Power Talks Possible

London, July 28-An official Brillab kource said today the Six Power London Agreement to set up a West German slate will be frozen if now Big Four talks on all Germany are arranged. The question of such, -talks ·zuay be decided in Moscow within à few daya.

cretary

*

600 People Killed In Terrific Explosion

RHINE CITY BLASTED: BIG

FIRES RAGING

Ludwigshafen, July 28.-A terrific explosion tore the heart out of the giant sprawling I. G. Farben chemical works here today, killing an estimated 600 people and injuring 1,600 others, blasting this Rhine bank town and wreak- ing havoc in the city of Mannheim across the river.

Rescue workers in gas masks fought their way into the smashed and burning workshops through a dense chemical cloud, said by some to contain deadly phosgene gas.

Some Frenchmen were among the injured, 1,200 of whom were rushed to hospitals at Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Speyer and Karlsruhe.

At 8 p.m., huge fires were still raging and many people, trapped in the area, are feared dead in the spreading fires. The explosion took place in the chlorethyl factory in the works. Wartime sirens wailed shortly after the blast shook the area, warning the local people that deadly phosgene gas had been set free.

SUPERFORT CRASHES

Aden. July 28-Five bodies had by tonight been recovered from an American B-20 Superfortress which

Mr Walter Hedell, Smith, U. 8. Ambassador to Russla, is on route to Moscow, "possibly to initiate series of new Western moves with crashed in shallow water a mile off Soviet Foreign Minister V. Molotov. Aden, in Southern Arabia, last night, Mr Frank Roberts, Foreign So-with 17 or 18 United States Air

principal Force men abeard. Ernest Bevin's Private Secrmon in the place

will as toThere was only one survivor.. All of the British Ambassador, Bir Mau-the others are presumed dead. rico Peterson, Mr Roberts served A search for the rest of the bodies in the British Embassy in Moscow is continuing. The sole survivor, for somo years. Sir Maurico came

whose name was given as Gustafson, homo recently on sick leave and may

was picked from a raft after being decide to quit his Moscow post for in the sea for an hour when Asher- men saw his torch alignals from the

Moscow this

health reasons.

TARGET DATE

A Foreign Office spokesman said the London agreement to create a West German course is being swiftly implemented and that September 1 remains the target date for a meet- ing-of-a-Constituent Assembly,

(Continued on Pare 5)

EDITORIAL

Ho

shore."

In hospital suffering from shock and slight facial Injuries, he said the plane suddenly nose-dived into the sea from about 300 feet. There was no fire or explosion. before the.

crash-Reuter.

Encourage Improvisation

for giving

л

made by Britain in her plants all her population echo

decent And adequate bouces. Hongkong will wistfully

Ludwigshafen looked as if it had suffered a heavy air raid, with badly injured people streaming with blood lying in the streets. Extensive fires could be seen in Mannheim across the Rhine immediately after the explosion occurred. Apart from the police headquarters, Ludwigshafen is cut off from telephone communications with the outside world. The actual contre of the explosion is still inacces- sible because of the thick smoke and gases, police head- quarters stated.

un-

So long as the factory cannot be Į Almost four hours after the blast по estimate of the occurred, there were still many of approached, number of dead and no statement the plant's 1,200 workers of the cause of the explosion can accounted for. Scores of Germans bo given, police, headquarters here were reported: to have been told Reuters.

asphyxiated by the gases generated in the burning chemical vats.

Poisonous gases had been

תנה

་ས་ leased, and this had been one rea- son for sounding the sirens. A moro dednite statement about the sence of phosgene or any other kind of gas would have to be regarded as rumours pending an investigation, police ometals said.

Fire brigades and police rein- forcements were rushed from all parts of the Palatinate and Rennish- Hesse in the French Zone and from Mannheim-la-the American Zone.

SHOWERS OF GLASS

This picture, taken in Macão harbour, shows the wreckage of the CPA Catalina which crashed last week, which has so far been salvaged.. Evidence is growing that four men attempted to pirate the aircraft shortly after its takeoff from Macao.,

King To Open Olympic Games At Wembley Stadium Today

London, July 28-King George tomorrow opens the 1948 Olympic Games at the Empire Stadium, Wembley, in a ceremony of solemn splendour and dignity.

With the words: "I proclaim open the Olympic Games of London, cele brating the 14th Olympiad of the Modern Era," the King will launch the world's greatest festival of sport on its 17 days of highly competitive but honourable

French security forces here took and large lorries were being ferried pet of emerald green grass,

circled by the smooth

of

will bo

of all the competith the Arena and track cycling at Herne"

the

in

of

the at Bisley and a cycling road race Windsor Great Park, the home the Royal Family,

Whatever the competitive results, no nation may proclaim itself the Olympic champion at the world.

STREET" AMPUTATION

Many minor explosioris, scattered burning rubble here and there throughout the ravaged area. A

Nearly 6,000 competitors,

the continents, ("Stadium" where the events will in- the rings representing German doctor found a man planed finest representatives of the sport is raised. The address of dedication clude athletics, swimming, boxing, hopelessly beneath wreckage,

and ing skill of 81 nations, will march by the Archbishop of York and the fencing, part of the equestrian pro- cut off the man's

an past the King at 2 p.m. G.M.T. while Hallelujah feel with

chorus form a solemn gramm and football and hockey a capacity crowd of 83,000 specta- prelude to the Olympic oath taken finals.. ordinary carpenter's saw.

A number of events A freman said that four of 80tors, including visitors, watch the by Wing Commander Donald Fin- men who worked in the machine great parade of the youth of all lay, Britain's greatest hurdler, ou staged in other parts of London, In- shop were still alive, trapped in the

continents.

behalf

cluding wrestling at Harringay smouldering buildings.

From the rostrum and As they march around the great American Army 10-ton trailers arena of the Stadium with its cat- Dag-bearers of all nations grouped H.

en-about-him, he will declare: "We. Beyond the capital are rowing and across the Rhine tonight, removing

red track, swear that we will take part in the canoeing at Henley, on the river part In the Are fighting and

Olympic Immaculately

Games In loyal competi Thames, Yachting at Army bordered white and

Torqudy, clearance work. People in Mann-wounded to hospital, while

rolled

the competitors will re-ton, respecting the regulations modern pentathlon and equestrian

and desirous events in the Aldershot area, helm found glass falling in showers Torries and ambulances from Heidel-member the lofty ideal of the inter- which governg-them about their heads and saw buildings berg and Mannheim were operating national unity which inspired the of participating in them in the true big military training contre, shooting

for of sportsmanship ucross the river bursting into fame a shuttle service across the river. For

far sighted Baron Pierre de Couber spirit The French authorities sent bustin to reviva the Games in 1896 honour of our country and for the Smoke from the burning buildings

loads billowed over the city, almost obs-

whitecapped - German after they had lain dormant

glory of. sport," curing the sun, while bull-dozers nurses and doctors from Kolperalau-11.500 years.

136 EVENTS and tractors rammed their

turn, 20 miles away. way

National From the Royal box of gold and

Anthem The British through the shambles in an effort jo An eye-witness told a gruesome blue, the King, the Queen, Princess brings the ceremony to 3 etune and block the spreading fomes, whielt story of the headless bodies of Margaret, the Prime Minister, Mr

For the basic ideal behind "the the stage Is cot for the fulment have already swept through three victims hanging from the windows Clement Affice, members of his miles of buildings along the Rhine of the plant. Other reports said the Cabinet and leading representatives of the motto "Certlus Altiu Fortius" Games is crystallised in the words

higher, more of Baron de Coubertin. The m blast caused a wall of the factory of

quickly, the competing nations, will (More to 'collapse, crushing en estimated watch the Greeks start the March Strongly) indicating that the com-portant thing in the Olympics is not A weird, almost ghostly group of 200 people of the explosion shatter-

pelltors aim to achieve new stand-winning but lalding, part, for the essential thing in life is not so much ards of physical accomplishment. covered by the methyl The force

"EYES RIGHT" SALUTE

wall" na fighting There are 180 events in 17 sporis: conquering - violet dye scattered over a vast aren ↑ed windows far and wide in Mann- The Greeks have the honour of the focal point

is the Empire Reuter.. by the explosion, were wandering helm across the river two and a leading the parade as a reminder of helplessly amid the ruins, dazed and half miles distance. aimless,

The German hospital at Lud- the origin of the Olympic contests. national contingents I wigshafen reported that it had They gave no attention at all to treated 1,500 people for injuries. follow in alphabetical order, with the despemto struggle of the According to plant records, 10 people Britain, as the host nation, the last

to enter the arena, American and French Zone Are were working in the buildings when,

As the competitors march past Aghting units battling 100-foot flames it is thought, a spark in the gas

they will give the British which to touch filled room ignited

mixtur om arbed the explosive military eyes right salute.

AL p.n. GMT, with the com- believed the explosion originated in

drawn

facing up

the the petitors the small building used * for A directos of the Forben plant, manufacture of ethyl chloride. One Tribune of Honour, King George busy co-ordinating the efforts of the Farben worldman, whose hands were will formally inaugurate the Games are fighters, estimated that 123 of bandaged for burns, said he thought with the words: "I proclaim open the huge plant's 660 bulldings, the fire started in an employees the Olympic Games of London _ccio- occupying an area of seven-square locker room.

brating the 14th Olympiad of the miles, we destroyed,

Modern Era,"

HOUSING in the "greatest of 4. Nixen huts into homes.

social services" declared reasons never made publle, but British Member

apparently of Parliament

on the debatable when the House of Commona grounds of safely, the proposi- recently debated the progreKS

tion was rejected by the building authorfiles and as result considerable namber HELO

of huts have gone to waste, while thousands continue to yearn for some sort of place which they might call home. This is been

of the one

most unfortunate features of Government's attitude Unwilling to embark housing, on any building scheme beyond the provision of living quarters for civil servants,

Government has also given no encouragement to private enterprise ways and means of constructing

that sentiment, conscious at the same time that here

social service conspicuous TA

complete absence. revent

that

$

Britain

Reports is

by

now

completing permanent houses at

A rate of 20,000

ܚܢ month ܀

Aicure proporilonately as high as

Europe; country in

#ny

but

even so the Minister of Health:

la "not sallzfled"

and all con-

cerned with housing

aro to

Intenally their efforts to build homes fit in every sense of the word for Britain's people. The ного

tackled Home Government housing

two distinct, but nevertheless Integrated lines of polloy one

is of expedienor has encouraged which

innova- tians: the other long-term, which sima

farget at a minimum permanent dwellings within slated period, In contrast, the Hongkong Government h.as worked 'out nd policy, and,

has more than once dis

¡9% £fono, ̈‚who Improvise.east

for, the pUIDOSO

providing

of

A

would

temporary

what can be lone in the

MOTOR bodde "An example of

of Industrial housing, improviza tion for workers has Just been commended by the Ministry of Labour. A firm on the out- -akirts of "London, which had

obtained" "an important

Banufacturing

Tor

W contract

digarette making mac

machinery Ameries was faced will the

to:

for A

export

problem of finding immediato accommodation for la increased

br

Snumber of workers. They

Kolved self their

• AiMoulidos obtaining railway Pa

Puliman. coaches which were converted

·Into comfortablo dwellinge: widob, according to experts, could tast 610 years In Hongkong, 11 Ju ́recollected,kut gestións:7 were advaries), thal boruss¡part of the Calonyfa accoranındation “prob»"

“bo, tampornSY- Levitled

of

- Ur, the,, conversion

to

temporary dwellings Granted Hongkong 15 subject to

weather conditiona

EX-

ceptional which Roverely test the соль

workropical

Of

Of

the

structional strength of buildings, It is difficult to belleve that Nisen huts could not be pro- with sufflelenily strong vided foundations to

withstand the

the typboon or most for. rains. As 14 mcataire temporary expediency. the conversion Nissen hats into homes would contributo andsilanially to easing of the housing prob lem. Neither does it appear that any official

encouragement has been given to the suggestion tit Hongkong should Import frt- fabricated houses although their practicabilly and durability have

texted been

elso- and proved

the very start. it where. From „wadlı seem. Government has lafd.

down

rather too exzeting condi-

tions concerning the types ΟΙ dwelling houses-which-Hongkong must have, tenoring the fact that houslar has been, and stil is, an emerrency problem, blo only

Nissen

сар

be quicklyremedled emergency action. I private enterprises to be left to carry. out this

› it -must_boy given Lendouragement, espials. und if converted bungalows other types of. dwelling", at reasonable price be adapted to meet the 'minimum requirements of #afuly' and publié,TM health, Government

· shouldĄde "nothing" to "dkoonrigs- their construction.

CAL

bank.

workers,

400-cubic metre tank on for a

methanol.

.

INFLAMMABLE GAS

Past.

The

the

other

Still other Germans, held back by

A fanfare of trumpets will lend a French gendarmes and German Large numbers of people were dramatic effect to the King's words. police, waited forlornly outside the reported to have their arteries cut Simultaneously, Boy Scouts will works' entrance in the hope that by ginss or damaged by the release, 7,000 pigeons, recalling the they might receive word of a father extreme pressure.

practice of sending pigeons through- or brother, who has not returned Highly inflammable chlorethyl gus out Greece to carry the news of the home from work.

Is used as a narcotle in surgery and opralug OL tho Games and to call in formed by

of for the end of strife. by a combination alcohol and hydrochloric acid.

The whirring flutter of the birds Phosgene, a poisonous gas, might will be followed,

of 1 guns. Then,

STREAMING WITH BLOOD

scene afterwards,

told

Reutern: slon

An eye-witness, who visited the have been produced by the explo~ Royal Batuto the crash of a

through the chlorine and seven minutes later, the last torch "All along the way I met with carbon of the chlorethyl combining bearer, whose name is being kept green, yellow, blue or while faces with the oxygen. In the air. --workers from the Forben- works The sprawling Farben "chemical 4-secret to heighten the dramatie

effect, enters the gigantic Stadium, who had been drenched in various octopus" contributed

great part runs around the track and kindles colours

· by the exod 3. |

Many to the Nazi war machine. Even were streaming with

before 1930, it controlled the total the Olymple flame which will burn

day and night

• the throughout There is not a whole window in German production of chemical pro Games. A Ludwigshafen tonight, and many ducts and about 85 per cent of

1,000-VOICES CHOIR windows are broken in Mannheim, German syntheile- nitrogen Many roots had been taken off by Later,, its, complex network of His enity marks the end of the the blast, doors and window framus companies achieved even a larger flame's. 3,000-mile journey through torn out

soven countries of Europe since it buildings Immediately

the vast com was ceremoniously kindled in the the site of the blast are | biho's"

are today awaiting village of;

with the sun's raya hanga-a-cavetja smell which caused Inst September on charges of taking throug

through a magnifying glass at noon popple "to falic" of phosgène and part in war, crimes

17. and it giving on July

accompanied chemists employed by the factory abstential and sustained aid to the A choir of 1,000, think It may be, that.

Nazi war machine, surpris

the

massed bands of the Brigade Rescue squads are working with General Pierre Koenig, the of the Guards sings the Olymple Non Nobla Doming by gas masks and oxygen" apparaitis. French Military Governor In Ger- hymn All police land tremen hava been many, sent a message of condolences Rulyard Kipling,

edued with gas maka adapte to thone affected by the empleaton. Glowly the white Olimpic Hag cautions.

with its familiar dve interlinked

heavily damaged. Over the droa | verdióls:"in their trial which began olive branch pia by igniting..DD

Reuters.

by

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