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Coca-Cola
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VOL. IV NO. 78
For the Proprietor of
HONGKONG, TELEGRAPHY, For and on behalf of
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LAD.
Printer and Publisher
The
TODAY'S WEATHER: Moderato Easterly winds; cloudy, will Scattered light drissie,
1 p.m. Observation: Barometric pressure, 1016.5 mba, 30.02 in. Temperature, 67 „deg. F. Dew point, 60 deg. F. Relative humidity, 78. Wind direction, ENE. Wind force. 18 knots.
Low water: 2 fl at 8.50 p.m. High water: 3 ft. 8 in. at 3.18 sm (Tuesday).
Hongkong Telegraph.
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1949.
MISS ORIENT DISASTER
Chinese Reds Toscanini Would Fight With Russia
Latest Broadcast
Declaration
Nanking, Apr. 3.-The Chinese Communists today said amid peace negotiations with the Nationalists that they would unite the people of China to fight for Russia in any war between the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic treaty nations,
A Communist broadcast heard in Shanghai quoted a statement signed by Mao Tse-tung and other Leftist leaders cic- nouncing
treaty the Western and pledging aid to Russia in the event of war.
Discussious for settling the 22-year-old civil war between the Communists and the No- continued tionalist government behind cosed doors in Pelping. Details of the talks were kept Government secret, but the newspaper, Central Daily News, sold the six-man Nationalist delegation led off with propo- sals for a cease fire and calling
political consultation ference.
✡
This report drew
Upset
Tos-
'New York, Apr. *-* Arturo Toscaniul lost his temper after conducting the last two acts of "Aida" last night when a girl photographer took a Bash- light photo of him. canin! ktrode from
ntage
Ignored and wild applause of the au- dience. He had been con- ducting the National Broadcasting Company's
the the
Symphony Orchestra In his last regular broadcast of the season!.
ren-
One music critle ald afterwards that the dering of "Aida" had been kont
enough to Inspire "acitons more rash Chan picture taklar."-Reuter.
"INVASION”
THWARTED.
Vienna, Apr. 3.-Oficials sald today that Austrian gendarmes the Hungarian border along Ared warning shots on Friday to prevent an "invasion" of Austria by Hungarian soldiers. The oficials said the Austro- Hungarian border had since been "scuted off by wire and electric con- wire, except for a small stretch near Nikelsdorf where legal travellers
an indiret
dewal from official sources who through are allowed to pass
forward hand in hand with the oped four Austrian
(Continued on Page 5)
EDITORIAL
leftist
Protecting
with
INQUIRY OPENS
Explosion Described By Capt. Anderson
STEERING GEAR PUT
OUT OF ACTION
The Elliot Reach shipping disaster on the night of March 24 when the Miss Orient, of British registry, was sunk after an explosion while on a journey from Canton to Hongkong, was recalled at a Court of Inquiry which opened this morning. Capt William Anderson, mas- ter of the ill-fated vessel, gave evidence.
Mr N. Garland, Acting Director of Marine, is President of the Court with the following as Members: Lt-Cdr J. B. P. Stirling, RN, Capt W. Lumsden, Capt R. E. Smith and Capt I. Newton, Master
Mariners.
Mr B. N. Cooper, of Wilkinson and Grist, is representing Yu Ping-yung and Yu Fod-ynu, both of the Wo Cheung Fat Shipping and Trading Company, of 52 Wing Lok Street, owners of the Miss Orient.
chart of Elliot
W. Sprague gavo formal testimony regarding a Passage which was taken from an Admiralty chart while W. R. K. Collings testified to photographs of the Miss Orient as she lay on March 31. He went to the scene on the instructions of the Director of Marine, he said.
Capt. Anderson, master of the Mirs Orient, gave evidence that all the ship's papers were lost. She arrived at Canton at 8 a.m. on March 24 and discharged her passengers and eargo by noon deihat day.
River Shipping
eventually
ONE of the first acts of good neigh
Home
was made before spiling.
an-
Dino
At the
For
P.G.
Reservations
Price 20 Cents
'Harry' Baines Appointed Bishop Of Singapore
Canon Henry ("Harry") Wolfe Balnes, former Assistant Priest at St John's Cathedral for Ave years before the war, has been appointed Bishop of Hingapore.
A United Press message from London says the appoint. ment was announced yesterday by the Archbishop of Canter- burir
Canon Baines succeeds Bishop Wilson, one-time Dean of St John's Cathedral, who is now Dean of Manchester,
A year ago, the Rev. Baises was appointed Rural Dean and Rector of Rubry.
He was appointed to Hongkong during Dean Swann's tenure of alice and on leaving the Colour he became Vicar of Radford, Coventry, which was biltzed in 1929.
Ile took his degree at Balliol College, Oxford, underwent his theological training af Cuddesdon, and was appointed to the staff of the Church of St Mary-the-Virgin, Oxford.
lle is an accomplished planlst, has a fine baritone voice, and is a keen cricketer.
A
Israel-Transjordan Armistice Signed
LIMITATION OF FORCES
a
Rhodes, Apr. 3.-Israel and Transjordan tonight signed a Palestine armistice agree- ment here. The pact-signed exactly month after the two States began their nego- tiations on this Mediterranean "peace" island was Israel's third armistice settle- ment. The others were with Egypt and The Lebanon.
was
The ceremony of signing lasted seven minutes. It was preceded by a final joint meet-
of which ing lasting 55 minutes, most taken up by Dr Ralph Bunche, the acting Pales- tine Mediator and a tireless seeker of peace in the Middle East, reading: the text of the long" agreement.
rafts were place at 9.30
Crew
д
between
of
p.m.
GMT. TheThree-
#
weeks,
Qalqllly-Reuter.
and
Tel: 27880
Mandalay
Retaken By Govt. Troops
London, Apr. 3.- BurmosO Government troops · ́have...... · captured Mandalay, the temple city and ancient capital of the Burmese kings, from the Karen
All. insurgents. India Radio announced today. The Karens entered
500. the city, which is miles north of Rangoon, on March 12,
After three days of street fighting the insurgents com- pletely occupied the ancient capital and attacked Saga- ing, a town across the Irrawaddy river.
116
A Government communique on March 10 described the Com- munist and the Karen rebels
In complete
control of Mandalay, but two days later the Karens were reported to bave withdrawn to the suburbs, In leaving the administration the hands of the Communists.
Government forces recaptured. Melkiila, 00 miles south of on March 23 and the Mandalay, next da
launched day
a new of- fensive In the Mandalay sector. Recapturing Amarapura, miles
nino south of Mandalay by March 25, they were within four miles of Mandalay, with Burma Air Force planes giving protective cover to the forces.
IF YOU KNEW about
ROOM AIR CONDITIONING
land
two
Frontier guards armed said that the early stages were
were under
CLOSING IN devoted to 'mapping agenda for rifles and pistols
To the cast and northeast of orders to repel by force any discussion.
attempting
embarking at about 5 p.m. and wards, when he was dragged Hungarian soldiers.
Government Mandalay, other the ALLY OF SOVIET UNION
embarkation was completed by cut by other members of to invade Austrian territory."
troops were that closing an The officials said the The Communist broadcast 10-
about 9 o'clock that night. The crew on the port side. He then
on the railway town of Maym- compradoro reported to wilness saw passengers on the ship's night fald that in the event of Hungarians withdrew from the
yo, about 40 miles from Manda- West, bonier after warning shots on war between East and
that 203 tickets were sold on side. There were also the Chief said:
Dr Bunche had set up much of either side, with another three lay on the line running up to Officer, the Chief Engineer and even if it should start on the Friday. The spokesman
shore by the ship's, agents, authorlties the "The Austrian other side of the world
The figure did not represent some of the guards whom he last night drafting the final ferma battalions in the surrounding the railhead at Lashio, recap- The Arab Triangle tured by Government forces on Communists and their associated ckled to meet force with force
the total number of passengers recognised. He had no idea how and marking maps. The negotia districts. "democratic
The vessel lay alongside and partles"
The situation in the rice port would as far as the Hungarians were
on board, said the master, as the many passengers there were astions had been held up earlier will contain a total of five bal- March 21.
this afternoon by disagreement talions, with a similar number custom at Canton was for many there was no opportunity of
of Barseln in Southern Burma unite tha
people to "march concerned and after Hungarian there was no cargo left in the Chief Ocèr in-
over one of the two annexes to af Israels facing it. The and soldiers hat holds.
passengers to come on board and counting them. officers
bor- spected
said to be that the agreement, tween then buy their tickets. He had the holds and
will hand was normal and the loading of The Iraqi forces the Iraqi-occupied
for paddy ally of China, the Soviet Union."
export continued The decks on his instructions. In the no means of knowing the exact
ship was lying with covering
over their positions to Trons without Interruption, All-India police recently in order to The joint Communist
Triangle" in East of passengers but on in-list of 80 degrees to starboard. "Arab
Jordan, and will eventually be Radio said. statement condemned the North press them into the Hungarian afternoon the ship loaded with totul
They said about twenty tons of tin ingols formation received after the The passengers had no life-sav-Palestine. Atlantic treaty as endangering espionage service."
A serious rift between The ceremony of signing took replaced by the Arab Legion.
time phases peace and security of mankind the gendarmes rushed to on uti-and-general cargo-from-lighters disaster he was able to estimate -ing Jacket with them. The
factions of the Karens was res and supervision of the that there were approximately ship's boats on the border under the
allowed for in the armistica by alming at a "new aggressive disclosed point
ported from the Bassein 'district. 400 passengers on board. Ne secured, and could not be used, arrangements for the celebrations
but all milltary dispositions world war."
after Hungarian soldiers crossed Chief Officer and the compra.
All India Radio reported that ere's statt. Passengers began thorough search of the vessel but a few lifebuoys floated off, went on smoothly. Five copies will be completed within 14 Rangoon Radlo, heard in New the frontier-United Press.
the of the agreement, bound In Wilness was satisfied with the
Delhi, announced the recapluco life-saving appliances on board, black imitation leather cover, FELT ESPLOSION
The clause which deals with of the city. The insurgent losses and each of the passengers had were made earlier in the day. The Miss Orient left Canton been
supplied with
PRINCIPAL FEATURE
the demorcation lines explains were heavy, it was claimed.
NEW MINISTERS at 0.20 p.m. from the whart.lfe-jacket, but the suddenness
that in the Hebron, Dead Sea, On the bridge were witness, two of the uceldent did not permit
A Supreme Court judge, E. The principal feature or the area there is a "substantial de pilots, two quartermasters
thu and the use of
statutory life-
Keneral ormistice agreement viation from the existing mili- Maung, and Lieutenant General tour ship's guards. They pro-saving appliances.
of the Win, commander and tary Ines" in favour of Trans- Ne Transjordan in the Police succeeded
ceeded to the quarantine
Burmese armed forces, have Israel is the Inclusion in the fordan. chorage where they stayed for
NO PANIC breaking up the gangs, and, supported
about ten minutes and then pro-
agreement of
"This is designed to offset a been appointed Ministers of the the Traqi-held
the of "Arab by the Law in its sternest and most
Triangle"
existing Burmosa Government, it was cerded down the river by Elliot
of Eastern modification By the time he had got out
announced in Rangoon today, the which uncompromising mood, this menace to
Reach at varying speeds. It of the bridge. assistance had Palestine.
Iraqis military lines in the Trag! see-
the the agreement said. In The
sold announcement lifo and property in Hongkong Was normally took 50 minutes
they were handing tor, been given to some of the pas-announced
this area, the Jews gain a little President of the Burmese Union, Clearly the removed.
pass through the Reach. ruthless
Chief Officer over to King Abdullah. sengers by the
In
of the Iraqt- Sao Shwe Thaike, considered snid "At 10,50 p.m. I was appoach- and the Chief Engineer,
general, the demarcation north and west
according hunting down and elimination of the
to
held front, where the
they have unnecessary at present to fill the Cabinet ing Dent Point Buoy, I heard Capt Anderson. When he did line In-
the six vacancies in the given stretches of Conton river bandits is demanded.
and felt
between Tulkarm an explosion," sald get out it was not possible to present truce lines, In Southern been
caused by the resignation yea- any further Capt. Anderson. "It was not effect creased protection and safeguards on the
rescues. Palestine, it accords with the road
(Conlinned on Page 3) river vessels can help in maintaining the a very heavy explosion but 1 About 9 am, on March 25 the International frontier.
were Annexes to tho armistice shook the ship. The first thing passengers
and internal safety of these ships during the
agreement provide for noticed was the steering gear taken off by various vessels in- and can trips
reduce the danger of
forces, was out of action, and the ship ward bound, and he remained limitation these armed piracy. But
additional
be implemented inclined Into the left bank when on the Miss Orient until 10.30- will abreast of Dent Point Buoy, Aam before he himself was 14 weeks. The front line gives guards are helpless against the machina.
quartermaster called my atten- taken off. tions of river bandits who, operating
tion to the from Chinese territory, are able to lay
saying
or words to The President: Was there any cafi mines in the channels whenever they
that effect. About a minute after panic on board? feel no disposed. A Canton report says the explosion the vessel tuuched the bank. The speed of the ship that
authorities have the
intensified their river patrols by placing two
duty and stationing gunboats on company of troops along the banks of the river where shipping is most vulner- able. This may have the desired effect, although the action can hardly be des- cribed as an all-out attempt to destroy the Landit gangs. Two things.
are well or. obvious: the gangsters
operating from ganised, and they are hide-outs
the along
river banks. Punitive expeditions appear to be called for in dealing with the situation. The presence of a mere company of soldiers and the movements of two patrol, gun-. benta are not likely to dissaude the bon. dits from their cruel depredations. The vulnerable parts of the river must be combed along both banks and then garrisoned. The constant presence of purposeful troops along the river banks effective would probably be the most menna of suppressing the activities of the bandita and in the meantime the Kwangtung security police should be mobilised for an all-out drive to round up the gangsters.. River shipping 'carrying out lawful and peaceful duties must be protected from these bandit gangs and the onue of providing this protection falls on the Chinese authorities.
bourliness which the British Navy carried out after the liberation of Hong- the Canton kong in 1945 was to sweep river of mines which had been sown by Allied planes for the
purpose of dis- rupting the movement of Japanese ship- the Colony. between Cunion and ping
time and It
which took was a task involved risks, but it was successfully accomplished and river traffic was able, once again, to resume between the two cities in safety. That was a full three today, British and Chinese years ago: steamers are being confronted with the by of mines-this time tald menace Chinese bandits and gangsters for the express purpose of terrorising shipping
into
of the payment companies "protection" money. And the bandits mean business as they demonstrated 10 days ago when they blew up and sank the British-registered steamer Miss Orient with heavy loss of life after issuing an ultimatum to the owners, Now they have fasued similar threats against the. Canadian-built motorships Shibmen and Chimen, while it is common knowledge that the B. and, S. Fatshan, the Queen of the river, is on their list. The owners have met these attempls to terrorise with courage, refusing to be intimidated either into paying out "protection" money or to taking their vessels off the river. But danger faces every bit of the river shipping today and a situation has
which been created
calla for must energetic aetion on the part of the Chinese authorlifes. Two years ngo Hongkong was subjected to a terroristic campaign carried out by gangsters: It took the form of extortion by threat, with home-made bombs and grenndes being placed in theatres and shops when meet the the proprietors refused to terrorists' demands. The Police carried out a relentless campaign of investigation and search, and were Involved in more than one gun duel with these well armed, skilfully organised gangsters. But
опе
are
'No
steering gear by
which
within
Capt. Anderson. There was no
Sen.
the Isrnells the entire stretch of the Haifa-Tel-Aviv railway, at point for onc except Tulkarm, The Jews also obtain
works
the potash
at the
erkl of the Dead
'situation in The present
at the time of the explosion panie whatsoever amongst either southern
As would be about six knots. the passengers or crew. - far as was able to judge the
He went on to express his Jerusalem remains the same, vessel's speed was not affected by the explosion. Immediately appreciation of the work done with the Latrun road still in Abbott, chief tide Arab hands. Starting from the after the explosion the engine by Mr H.
surveyor of the Chinese north, the front line commences was stopped."
Maritime Customs, Canton, who in the Delsan area, runs west- organised the removal of all the ward giving the Glibus Hills to passengers and crew, from the the Jews, sweeps south, Tun
ning east of the railway line, to j Misa Örlent.
Tulkarm, This gives
SHIP HEELS OVER
Immediately after the explo- sion, Capt Anderson went on, the engine was stopped by tele- graph from the bridge. As soon Orient,
the
Your choice would be a
Carrier
ROOM AIR CONDITIONERI
The Chief Officer of the Miss Gedera Afulch road to the Jews, Proven in 118 Countries
Mr S. E. M. Hoalett, but Tulkarm remhins Arab.
as the ship touched the river said he was not on duty at the
Before LINE. FOLLOWS RAILWAY she began to heel
eci time of the explosion. bank,
From Tuikarm the front line over very rapidly on her star- the ship called from her wharf. board alde, but he could not say in Canton, she loaded 22 tons follows the castern edge of the whether the vessel's stem struck of general cargo consleting the bank a glancing blow or an Ingols, hides, cigarettes, railway to Qalqitiya, which re-
square-on blow. However, he Chinese medicine
on of the
of
the
the
the
and
and bamboo mains Arab, and turns eastward to Budrus, 15 kilometres north did not consider that the putting mats. There was also baggage
ne belonging to passengers.
The of Latrun, thereafter following engine would have ved any
useful purpose or cargo was mainly stored in the the November 30 armistice line
Jerusalem, South of corrected the heeling. The time main hold, No. 2, and the info south of Jerusalem. between the explosion and when gots in No. 1 hold. The cargo
stored for trim and front line continues east from Jibrin, south from Hebron the ship heeled over was ap- was
sad joins the Dead Sen ni En- proximately three minutes, he stability. estimated.
When the ship was at Nam geddi. The line then joins Asked what the night was Shek Tau at 0.40 p.m. he issued International frontier in like, Capt. Anderson said it was arms to the guards and to the centre of the Dead Sca
of forces is very dark and misty, and the Captain. These comprised rifles, follows this to the Akaba Gulf,
The reduction revolvers
Bren visibility was very poor.
prc. understood to include the machine-guns.
renco There was no time to tako
of British troops at life until to savo any action
He then turned in, and was Akaba. This area is allocated after the ship bad settled down awakened some time later by u total strength of three bat
each, with attached on her starboard side. Witness the sound of an explosion and tallons was trapped in the onclosed the contents bis bookcaso į troops.
will bo Jerusalem Proper bridge, and could not get out falling down on to his bunk. until about 10 minutes" after- The Inquiry is proceeding. allowed two battallons
and two
for.
on Countless Ships at Sea
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