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634
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
JUNK SINKING INQUIRY
CONCLUDES
More Experts Give Evidence
Expert evidence given by Mr. V. C. Branson, Government Analyst, and Police Inspector A. L Hopkins, an expert on arms and ammunition, at the final hearing of the enquiry into the merciless shelling and sinking of a fleet of Chinese fishing junks, allegedly by the hands of a malicious Japanese submarine crew, revealed that a bullet extracted from one of the victims was of the type known as incendiary,
The inquiry was conducted by a special Government appoint- ed Commission comprising His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Atholl MacGregor (Chairman), the Harbour Master, Hon. Commander J. B. Newill, and Mr. Justice J. A Fraser. Mr. J. C, McDouall acted as Secretary to the Commission, whilst Mr. John Whyatt, Assis- tant Attorney General, was in charge of witnesses,
It is understood the Report of the Commission will be ready in two or three days' time.
Mr. V. C. Branson, Government Analyst, said he received a frag- inent of a bullet from Inspector Hopkins two days ago. With the assistance of Inspector Hopkins he removed the envelope on the out- side of the bullet and found in- side a copper tube containing some whitish substance which he analysed. The substance consisted of barlum, magnesium, carbonate and hydrate.
Mr. Whyatt: Can you express any opinion as to how that sub- stance in its present state has been formed?-It
formed and can be would be the end-product from the interaction of barlum, peroxide and magnesium after exposea w m.r.
"FAST COMBUSTION" What type of interaction would you call that?-A fast combustion.
All you can say is that, in your opinion, the original substance consisted of peroxide, barium and magnesium? Yes.
What is it used for?-It is a stan- dard mixture for tracer bullets- an incendiary bullet.
What is its primary function?- It is used to cause heat and flame.
Can you express any opinion as to the heat which might be gen- erated by igniting this mixture?- I cannot say exactly, but I know it is used to ignite thermite which requires a high temperature to ignite it at least 1,000 degrees in round figurea.
ARMS EXERT Inspector A. L. Hopkins, in charge of arms and ammunition of the Police Force, said he had held that appointment since last year. Prior to that he was musketry Instructor to the Police for four years, and had considerable ex- perience of Are arms, having
studied for 20 years, both theore- tically and practically.
Witness was handed a piece of metal by Mr. Whyatt, who asked: Have you examined this piece of metal carefully? (The metal was taken out of a man by Dr. Bau at the Kwong Wah Hospita)—Yes.
Can you express any opinion as to the origin of this piece of metal? It is very dimcult to be definite but it is consistent with its being a shell
splinter; also it could possibly be part of a larger piece of metal other than a shell.
a
In any event it is consistent with is shell splinter?-Yes, that about all I can tell you about that piece of metal,
Handing the witness another ex- hibit, part of a bullet, Mr. Whyatt asked: Can you express any opin- lon as to whether that bullet has been fired-Yes.
Why do you say that?-Because there were four rifling marks im- pressed on the envelope-four lands and grooves with a right hand twist.
Do those marks enable you to form any opinion as to the kind of weapon from which that bullet was fired? They are common to a ma- chine gun of the Lewis gun type.
UNUSUAL BULLET
Is that an unusual
type of a bullet in your experience? It is.
Why do you say that? Because of the copper tube inside of which Mr. Branson and I found a whitish substance.
Can you tell me from your know- ledge of ammunition of all kinds, what would be the object of mak- ing a bullet with a copper tube and filling it with powder?--To make a tracer bullet, an incendiary bullet, or, possibly, an explosive bullet.
October 29, 1937
October 29, 1937
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
F. LAY AND
PRATA BAT WELL
D.B.S. Defeat Medicals
Playing on the home ground on October 20 the Diocesan Boys' School defeated the Royal Army Medical Corps by seven w.ckets in a friendly cricket match.
Batting first. the Medicals were dismissed for 151 runs, to which Capt. Harvey contributed 74 not out. Capt. Maisey 25. Sergt. Mux- low 17. Staff-Sergt. Patterson 11. wickets C. Matthews took three for 30 and the Rev. C. B. R. Sar- gent five for 59.
Opening the School's innings, F. Lay (80) and A. J. M. Prata (38) scored 99 for the first wicket in less than an hour and laid the foundation
The for victory. School, when stumps were drawn. had scored 161 for three wickets, Sargent scoring 29 not out and G. Kew 13 not out. Cpl. Thom- son captured two wickets for 50.
Chairman: Inspector Hopkins, you said a few moments ago that from the lands and grooves you found on the end of that tube. you have formed that it was fired from a machine-gun of the Lewis gun type? Not exactly; it is com- mon to the machine-gun type.
Mr. Whyatt informed the Com- missioners that the remaining wit- nesses could not be located as they had found new eployment in fish- ing junks, Strenuous efforts had been made by the Police to locate them but so far without success. He was certain that if further time could be
spared these witnesses could be found, but in view of the urgency of the report he did not propose to ask for an adjournment. All the witnesses who were avail- able had been called and he trust- ed that the evidence which had been adduced would be of assi8- tance to the Commission in arriving at its conclusions.
Chairman:
I should like on be- half of my colleagues as well as for myself to thank you. Mr. Whyatt, for the very great assis- tance you have given us in pre- sentation of the case and marshal- ling of the evidence.
The Commission then retired.
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RACE FANS PROVIDED WITH
EXCELLENT SPORT
MR. H. C. PIH WINS KWANGTUNG HANDICAP ON PLAIN VIEW
NOVICE JOCKEY THROWN: BIG SWEEP PAYS $31,813.60
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAVE REASON TO CONGRATULATE THEMSELVES ON ANOTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL RACE MEETING. THE ONE HELD ON OCT. 21 WAS FEATURED BY GOOD WEATHER, AN EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE AND WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE VERY FINE RACING PROVIDED TO THE HUNDREDS OF RACE FANS WHO LINED THE RAILS TO WATCH EACH EVENT.
There were many other counter attractions, but race fans remained loyal to the King of Sport. There were no sensational dividends-testimony, if such indeed is needed, to the ex- cellent judgment of the handicapper. The day's sport was marred somewhat by an unfortunate accident to Mr. O. R. Sadick, a novice jockey, who was thrown by Happy Venture, in the Paddock' Handicap. Fortunately, the injuries sustained by this promising Jockey were only slight.
Racing honours went to Messrs. H. C. Pih and N. Deitz, and the Daily Double combination of Tabby Cat and Plain View paid successful punters $ 32.10.
WYNDHAM HANDICAP
Mr. Norman Deltz rode one of his best races to date when he brought home Gladiator first in the Wynoham Handicap to beat the favourite by a length.
Only four starters accepted for this race which was over six fur- longs. Mr. Davis, on Oak Bay, went into the lead from the mo- ment the gate went up and was followed closely by Wild Life (Mr. D Black) and Gladiator while the only other starter, Soldier of Mr. H. C. Pih on Britain, with the saddle was many lengths be- hind.
obtained positions The same until the home stretch was reach- ed when Gladiator was given his head. Responding gamely this pony finished with a fine burst of speed, passing the favourite (Oak Bay) just after the Distance Post. 1.-Wyndham Handicap
6 Furlongs
QUEENSLAND HANDICAP
As generally expected Lanca- shire Chips, with Mr. B. A. Proulx on the saddle, won the second race, the Queensland Handicap with a length to spare. The sec- ond pony was Electron (Mr. S. C. Liang) while Centre Court (Mr. W. H. 8. Davis) was third.
The race started off with Double Finesse taking the lead and Mr. H. C. Pih kept his mount in front till the Village Bend when the winner was sent to the lead and It remained there till the end of the race. Mr. Y, T. Fung, on Able Amazon, made a belated effort to
and only catch
managed up fourth place.
2. Queensland Handicap 6 Furlongs
Mr. Lancashire's Lancashire
Chips, 148 lbs.
HONG KONG GRIFFINS' CUP
The Hong Kong Griffins' Cup provided race fans with a very fine race, the field being bunched together for the greater part of the race and it looked as though anybody would win until the field came into the straight for the second time when Mr. S. C. Liang, on Expansion Time, let his mount and the iron grey responded finely to win by a length and a half from Havoc Eve (Mr. N. Deitz) who was the same distance ahead of King's Coronation (Mr. B. A. Proulx).
go
Rob Roy (Mr. W. G. Poy), after running promisingly for three parts of the race, finished weakly and Scenic View (Mr. B. L. Tao) was the last to come in.
3. Hong Kong Griffin's Cup (11 Miles)
Mr. Li Po Chun's Explansion
Time, 158 lbs.
1
(Mr. B. A. Proulx) Mr. J.E.D.'s Electron, 149 lbs.
(Mr. S. C. Liang) Mr. Taşma's Centre Court. 142 lbs. (Mr. W. H. S. Davis) Won by a length, two lengths be-
1
2
3
(Mr. S. C. Liang) Mr. Eve's Havoc Eve, 161 lbs.
(Mr. N. Deitz)
1
2
Mr. Dynasty's King's
Coronation, 161 lbs.
Time: 1.16.
Pari-mutuel:-
Mr. Eve's Gladiator, 145 lbs.
(Mr. N. Deitz) Mrs. Stanton's Oak Bay, 149
lbs. ...(Mr W. H. S. Davis) 2 tween second and third.
3
Mr. L. Dunbar's Wild Life, 183
lbs.
(Mr. D. Black) Won by a length, length and a half between second and third.
Time: 1.24.4. Parl-mutuel
Win: $16.10.
Places: $8,70, $6.20.
Also ran:-Soldier of Britain, 140 lbs. (H. C. Pih).
Win: $7,30.
Places: $6.10, $13, $18.10. Also ran:-Able Amazon, 142 lbs.
(Y. T. Fung), Blandford, 145 (N. Deitz), Double Finesse, 142 (H, C. Pin: Katinka. 142 (L. P Ralph), Ranger. 142 (D. Black).
3
(Mr. B. A. Proulx) Won by a length and a half, the same between second and third.
Time: 2.30.2.
Pari-mutuel:-
Win: $12.80.
Places: $6.20, $5.80.
Also ran:-Rob Roy, 181 lbs. (W. G. Poy), Scenic View, 161 (B. L. Tao).
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