1924-03-04 — Page 5

TUESDAY MARCH 4 1924

EARTHQUAKES.

HOW THEY ARE CAUSED.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE‹

HONGKONG'S IMMUNITY

EXPLAINED.

"Vidi ego, quod fuerat quondam

solidissima tellus,

Esse fretum: vidi factor ex

aequore terras; Et procul a pelago conchae

jacuere marinae,"

THE CHINA MAIL.

CHINA COAST PIRACY.

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS.

"HYDRANGEA" CASE RECALLED, HONGKONG GOVERNORS REPORT SOUGHT, ·

London, March 3.

In the House of Commons, in answer to questions, Mr. J. H. Thomas, Minister of Colonies, said he was requesting a detailed report with recommendations from the Governor of Hongkong with regard to the "Hydrangea "piracy caso.—Reuter,

1

(Metamorphoses XV. 262.) Earthquakes are associated with recently built mountain chains of the world, all of which Mr. S. J. Schofield PH.D., are made out of sedimentary F.RS.C, of the University of rocks. This shows that they have British Columbia, who has come risen slowly to their present posi- here to make a geological survey tion from the bottom of the sea.

[The British steamer "Hydrangea was attacked by pirates whilst of the Colony for the Hongkong Some of the recent or young on her way from Hongkong to Swatow. The "Hydrangea" left here Government, gave highly in teresting lecture at the Helena mountain chains of the world are with 500 Chinese, passengers and 300 tons of cargo, About seven May Institute yesterday evening the Alps, the Coast range of Cali- o'clock in the evening, at a given signal, the pirates, who were armed on the cause of earthquakes. He fornia, and the Himalayas. The and distributed throughout the vessel as saloon as well as deck passen expressed the reassuring view in question naturally arises, what gers, surprised the Indian guard, whom they disarmed. They then the course of his address that constitutes a recently built or rushed the saloon, where the captain and officers were dining. The Hongkong is likely to be immune young mountain chain. Moun pirates soon obtained control of the steamer, which their pilot navigat tains have been formed ut differ-ed to Bius Bay, where the " Hydrangea" ran aground. The pirates from quakes of any violence.

At the outset Mr. Schofield ent periods in the history of the then succeeded in making good their escape to the shore after footing characterised earthquakes us the earth and the young mountains the steamer, which they abandoned at four o'clock in the snorning. No most destructive and terrifying are those which have been form-casualties occurred and the pirates did not harm the British officers phenomena of nature. The aned during the last great epoch, the the vessel, to whom they offered oranges and cigarettes, and even ciepts in their early fancies ascribe ed them to writhings of Titups prisoned under the mountains by

Pre the gods for punishment. cipices then fell upon them, but the weight of mountains could not still the writhings of their pain.

Tertiary or within the last 8 million years. In order to gival you some idea of the different epochs I shall came them from the youngest to the oldest.

bankets

CORRESPONDENCE.

MILITARY LANDS.

(To the Editor of the " China Mall."}

Sir, I have waited with interest to see if anyone-ons of our Legislative Councillors for instance

would volee a matter which must surely be on the minds of a very great number of people. Signs will purchase what are known as point to the fact that the Colony the Military Lands at a colossal figure running into millions of dollars-land which at any rate have hitherto served a useful purpose. No one as far as I know has said a word about the valuable piece of ground used by the Hong Hong Tennis Club. Here is fairly large site given over to the excel- lent games of tennis and cricket but used only by, comparatively want to know is, is there any valid speaking, a select few. What I

the Colony's earth sbauld, not be reason why this particular piece of taken over by the Government? On what terms does the Tennis Club hold this land? And cannot raised to their present height. quakes are the cause of much those terms be met by an exchange The sediments for the formation destruction to life and property for another site in another part of of these sedimentary rocks which Many tremors are caused by the Colony? Why should sport make up the young, mountains movements along the grent ocean stand in the way of the material #zam which the have been derived from the de- déëps far from land but since progress

suffering"? Why composition and the wearing they do not affect human life and Colony is down of a neighbouring land mass property they are not noticed should sports Club in Kowloon be birds by running water. The streams except by seismographs or unless made to move on to allow progress carry these sediments into the they are called to attention by the to march its onward way in peace, amphibians, fish, sea. When the length of geologi- breaking of a cable or by the and not one in Hongkong? Is

Invertebrates,

á decision to acquire the Military dogmatic) he would attempt to put Proterozoic...50 millions...very eal time is considered, the work of change in the topograph of the there any valid reason I ask? If primitive life running water in carrying con- sen bottom as revealed by sound so it should be made known before before his hearers the hypotheses

Yours etc., ings taken before and after the Lands is reached. life.recorded understood. Every valley which earthquake. An examination of

CONCERNED. you see around Hongkong has the map will show the distribu- been carved in the solid rock by tion of the great ocean deeps and the streams which occupy them. the countries in their neighbour- In this way whole continents are hood which are liable to have carried into the sea which brings earthquake shocks of considerable us to the second part of the above magnitude, while other countries farther away will receive merely: quotation,

tremors.

In later days science had turned Epoch...extent in years......... Reigring families tis attention to this phenonena, and attempted 10 give a mere Tertiary...... 5 millions...animals rational, if less romantic, account Mesozoic.....I millions.... reptiles, of their origin. Although science

had not reached a point where it Palaeozoic...34 millions.... could say "this is the cause and no other "(for science was never

of science as to the origin of these Archaeozoic...50 millions...no tinents into the sea can be readily

devastating movements.

General Causes.

The general cause of earthquakes. Time elapsed since construction.

The Coast range of was the collapsing of the earth's

Canada

15 millions. crust in an attempt to adjust itself to 2 shrinking interior. This Appalachians... 20 millions. general shrinking and resultant Rocky Mountains of settling of the crust brought the formation of mountain chains, settling of ocean deeps and the extrusion of lava. These move ments produced tremors that, when of appreciable strength, were call- ed earthguakes.

In speaking of the structure of the globe and how this was-icon-

with 1nected

earthquakes, the lecturer said that could the water be removed from the orean basins their smooth topography would be a marked contrast to the corrugated" highlands of the continents. In them vast depression's called ocean deeps sunk so low as 30,000 feet. The crust of the earth was in a state of continual tremor, and it was probable that all earthquake movements started within the upper 12 miles of the earth's crust, and most, within the upper five. By observing the thrust of bodies moved by an earthquake at their emergence from the earth's surface and projecting them back into the line to a point of focus the first approximation of 'the location of

the upheaval was reached.

Severe 'Quakes.

5 millions. Canada ..... Hongkong Mountains 15 millions. Inchnection with this esti- mate of time, Cowper has indulg- Led in a little mild sarcasm at the

expense of geologists:

"Some drill and bore

The solid earth, and from the

strata there

Extract a register, by which

we learn

That He who made it, and re-

veal'd its date'

To Moxes, was mistaken in its

age."

ין

The hills are shadows and they

dow

From form to form and nothing

stands.

They melt like mists the solid

lands

The Tuscarora deep off the Coast of Japan is, as far as is. known the largest as well as the deepest of these vast sinks, 50 that Japan in the past has been, and will be in the future, the

Hongkong, March 3.

THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE.

FURTHER CANTON TROUBLE .BREWING.

CANTON, March 3. To prove that they do not intend the Yunnanese troops to mone

Like clouds they shape them-scene of devastation by earth-opolise the gambling revenues in

selves and go.

"

In other words in order to have

intruded.

quakes.

"Volcanic Activity.

..

Canton, the Hunanese, soldiers have stepped in and are now sop ervising their on pitches in the Western Suburb.

This is construed as the first wed-

"

near Honolulu there are no DARLING OF THE SCREEN. tremors but if the pipe is blocked for any length of time and great

STAR THEATRE. pressure accumulates underneath JACKIE COOGAN AT THE the cap, wiolent explosions may take place which will give rise to earthquakes.

The third cause of earthquakes a mountain chain formed one is connected with violent volcanic

No interference has been made must he destroyed to furnish the activity. Most of the volcanoes material for its construction. of the world are located around with the Fantan saloans from into the core of the rising moun- the shores of the ocean basins or which come the biggest spoils." Hunanese have merely ain chain vast quantities of at the junction of two cantinental The Naturally the beds deposited molten granite". are

Regments like those of Europe and permitted various street-stalls at in the sea

ox," dog's cards,""flower". are laid down in Later these masses are exposed Africa. Again we come back to which one can indulge in poker If we by the erosion of their sediment-the-idea of a cast adjusting itself lottery." twelve-places" and a horizontal position.

Such has

to a shrinking interior to explain almost any other game. examine the rocks of mountain ary roof or corner. chains we shall see that they are been the origin of the granites of the rise of the lava to such not horizontal, but inclined at all Hongkong. But the enemy, run-heights above the sea. Some ge-into the breach between the two angles, and if we plot these ning water, is awaiting the thing must force the lava up. The largest fnctions of non-native apparent irregularities they will appearance of these mountains settling of the oceanic segments troops professing loyalty to Dr. resolve themselves into arches It carves great valleys and tren- forces the lava to rise at the junc- Sun and is regarded by some as "the writing on the wail" portend. and basins, in other words into ches in the slowly rising mountain tion of the two segments where anticlines and synclines. This chain thus isolating the various fractures have been formed to ing serious open differences. must indicate that the earth's peaks with which we are so permit the lava to rise. If the In this connection the lecturer crust in mountain chains has been familiar in the scenery of moun lava has a free escape like Kilaven made a remark of some interest shortened by compression as a tains.

Folding Movement," when he stated that the most piece of paper, when compressed severe earthquake did not result at the two edges, will rise in

When the folding starts it from a lung vibration, but was due folds. The shortening in the Alps to the suddenness of such a move is 75 miles and in the Rocky slowly continues not only until the pressure is relieved, but be ment. Thus, just as a slight swift Mountains of Canada 25 miles. yond this point, because the mov- tap of a hammer on a marble on What causes the compression

Having captured the great In summing up, it is very evi-cinema public's love with his the-floor would make it bound which forces the sedimentary ing masses are so huge. In other several inches, so a sudden rise of rocka to rise in folds?

words the movement over-renches itself and a slow reaction takes dent that all earth tremors of winning little ways, Jackie Coogan the surface by a fraction of an inch would project bodies several Earth Becoming Smaller.. place. This reaction or settling appreciable intensity can be is a sure success in every new feet. A sudden shock with an The earth is becoming smaller back so to speak, takes place traced directly to the attempt of picture he makes. However he feature. attraction now showing at amplitude of only five to six by Shrinkage. Thus the upper usually in short sharp movements the crust of the earth to adjust excels himself in "My Boy," the the Star Theatre... Playing the part of the earth's crust must be spread over a vast length of itself to a shrinking interior."

Hongkong Immune.

part of an orphan child who has squeezed into smaller space, pro- time. These movements produce

Lastly it might be interesting been. stranded abroad in strange ducing compression in the crust. the earthquakes so common along The continental segments and the the young mountain chains of the to apply the principles outlined lands, he has a specially appealing Such earthquakes have above to the region in the neigh-role in this entertaining picture, oceanic segments are crowded world.

space. been experienced in the vicinity bourhood of Hongkong in regard and few people can witness his together into smaller Where will this vast pressure be of San Francisco which is situated to the possibility of the occur- game struggle with adversity and eventual triumph" without loving relieved? In the weakest part of in the Coast Range of California rence of earthquakes.

The weakest built in the Tertiary period about (1)--Hongkong is not located him afresh. "My Boy" will be Continuing to explain the the earth's crust. structure of the earth, Mr. Schofield part of the earth's crust is where 3 millions of years ago. The near a young mountain chain, I shown to-day, and to-morrow only. Temarked that the continental there are thick deposits of weak fractures which are associated believe the mountains around segments of the earth, and those sediments along the edges of the with these earthquakes have a Hongkong to have been built in of the ocean, were 'balanced in continents. The halance of the direction parallel to the trend of the early Mesozoic, some 12 or such a way that any transfer from oceanic segment and the con- the mountain chain. The mere 15 millions of years ago. one to the other, as for instance by tinental segment has been des fact that the fractures are gaping (2) Hongkong is not situated sen erosion, was counteracted by troyed by the transfer of, the crevasses shows that the earth's near one of those great ocean movement of material from the base of one to the base of the material from the continent into crust in that range at the present deeps which are so prolifilo a cause other, the two resting upon a the sea. The earth's crust is strong time is in a condition of tension of earthquakes.

(8)-Hongkong is not altuated potential liquid sub-stratum at a enough to withstand a certain or stretching following the period depth of 12 to 15 miles below pressure but when this is exceed of compression during which the near any vokanoes.

There it can be concluded that surface.

ed the crust must give way along mountain chain was formed.

Hongkong will not be affected by The three main causes of earth its weakest portion. Hence the Ocean Deeps.

tremors may be felt.

was

sufficient

to

millimetres shatter a building.

The earth was as elastic as steel, "and an earthquake travelled very quickly and, said Mr. Schofield, it tock only II minutes for the great Japanese earthquake to travel the 4,000 miles to Victoria B.C.

Earth's Structurė

•

NARROW ESCAPE.

IRON RODS FALL INTO STREET.

An accident that might have proved fatal to many who passed along Des Voeux Road a few paces from the Central Market, occurred yesterday afternoon when a num- quakes were readjustment along periodicity of mountain building: Let us pass to the second cause earthquakes of violence, although ber of wooden stays supporting a considerable quantity of fron rods the foot of recently fonned It gives way where it has been

Sir Claud Severn, who was in the gave way, bringing the whole mass mountain chains, readjustment weakened by the deposition of a of earthquakes, those caused by along the great ocean deeps and great thickness of weak acd the settling along the great ocean chair, moved a vote of thanks to of iron down with a loud noise! volcanic explosion. At

kong and Shanghai Bank who was The existence of all land was ments. Hence the sediments are deeps. As stated before the Mr. Schofield, and amid some Mr. JC. V. Ribeiro of the Hong dependent upon the inequalities of slowly compressed into huge onter 12 miles of the earth's crust laughter spoke of the reassuring passing in a ricals at the time, bad

a very narrow shave, the surface, and on the differing arches and basins which rise out is adjusting itself to a shrinking news in regard to Hongkong. densities of the segments; for if of the sea as a series of long interior. The adjustment takes the density was equal then all land folds parallel to the shore of the would be covered with water to a continent. depth of two miles

How Rocks Are Formed.

place first, by the building of the

mountain thaine and secondly, by the settling of the ocean basin

Anasty accident was nar Hongkong's Mountains. If we could walk over the young especially in the great ocean rowly averted on Sunday morning To illustrate the fact that mountain chains; of the world and deeps. The settling of the great near Talpo In the New Terri readjustroents have taken place examine more closely the rocks ocean deeps takes place frequent-tories when a motor cycle and in the past, it is only necessary."out of which they are made wey, very much more frequently de-car collided with a Ford car proceeded the lecturer, to would see that they are made up than the formation of mountain and forced Mr. Andrew Harper examine the rocks, which underlle of bedded or sedimentary rocks chains, hence the sinking of the to drive it down an em

fourteen feet below the road most of the great cities of the of great thickness, which would ocean deeps is not enough to per bankment into a paddy Bold, world; for example, London, yield us fossil shells, typical of the mit complete readjustment The fovels Fortunately, the car r Paris, Berlin, New York are all period in which they lived. Even settling of the ocean deeps cause maned appright and the built on rocks which have been on Mt. Everest the intrepid ex a stretching to take place along ants, Mr. and Mrs. A C formed under the sea during some plorers have found fossil shells their borders and the stretching and a child, Mr Mr.

thei past epoch. Also the high peaks of Mesozoit age embedd

of the Pat Bin range north of Tolo rocks at the height of 26,000

harbour are comporod, of cont glomerates which are solidified

gravela formed along an old sea (beach, Ever as long ago as t

this fact had been observE L

us cond

ved by the bitermittent Prickett, and Miss Jennle of the earth's crust. nolds escaped with nothing ading causes tremors serious than shaking A

appreciable, in of coolles dragged

called earthq:

road. The motor:

ocean deeps are

JuckyBoth

(the "earth?

ninor damage

THE DARLING

OF

NEW

YORK

TS

1924.

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Conducting the NEW QUEEN'S HALL ORCHESTRA

GAVOTTE IN F_{Bach)_{For-Strings Only) RONDINO (Beethoven) (For Wind Intramente) PEER GYNT SUITE (Greg)

L1516

11616

71517

2.-Morning; Death of Ase;

144

KI

8-(a) Apitia's Dance: 2-(6) Dance of the Impe; 4-Solveig's Bung.

**

HAMILTON HARTY

Conducting the

HALLE ORCHESTRA

L1522.—SIEGFRIED DEATH MARUH in Two Parts. (Wagner) LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by EUGENE GOOSSENS. 958-LA PERIUHOLE--Election. In Two Parta. "(Ofenbach)·

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