1929-12-06 — Page 1

31. 4

ASAHI BEER

Just the very brand...

MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, LTD.

The

China

County

Mail

SHED

No. 27,355 HONG KONG, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929.

BRAVE DEFENCE OF

HONG

KONG

INVADERS OUTMANOEUVRED BY

SOUND TACTICS

NAVY'S SUDDEN ATTACK

REPULSE BAY THE SCENE OF

EPIC STRUGGLE

[By Our Own Representative]

AN

A few hours before dawn—a steely glow glimmered beyond the hile the gulls resting above Repulse Bay soared into the air with screams of alarm. It was else eeriely quiet, except for the wind sounding through the scrub. But somewhere on the hillside a twig snapped. A hushed voice gave an order, and a tiny speck of yellow flickered far away among the crags.

A little Inter a searchlight shone with dramatic suddenness out of the dark, and caught in its powerful beam a group of figures moving cautiously along the paths. Then, from Deep Water Bay a Verey light shot into the sky and fell slowly in a shimmering cascade of green. "Bang!" went a fifteen-pounder concealed, some- where "up there," and the valley resounded with the thunder of

its echo,

"The war's on, Sir," said an eager young one-pipper. "Yes," answered the Colonel gravely, "and God help Hong Kong."

HOW IT ALL

It started in a very unromantic way--just a few lorries toiling up the hill above Wong Nei Cheong Gap at four o'clock yesterday afternoon. But detachments of local troops were already quietly at work among the hills. There was the R.A.S.C., which was

unloading mysterious boxes and canvas bags from lorries,

doing the arduous, but necessary work of preparation. Then the telegraphy section were much in evidence, unrolling coils of inaulat- ed wire and attaching It to posts that had been erected at various

of sections

the country. Every corner had its decoration of yellow covered wire, and before many hours the "war" area between Wong Nel Cheong and Repulse Bay was the centre of an efficient telephone service. Indeed, the communications were the most excellent features of this "mock warfare," which, as renders of the "Chins Mail" already know, took the form of an invision of Hong Kong from the sea.

NOT A SECRET

BEGAN

base, swept imperiously along the main road.

Number two Base, fortunately for those concerned, was the Golf Club, in Deep Water Bay, where Colonel Daunt, of the Norfolk Regiment, acted as one of the Umpires.

A LANDING MADE "Nothing definite through yet," he said.

AN EASY

-THE CHARMING YOUNG CHINESE

BOY...

-To ACT AS CHAMPION *EGG-TESTER

TO SOME

TRANSITION

-WHO FOUND A GOMB

IN A BASKET IN YAUMATI...

- AND THREW it into RECLAMATION

STREET....

Է.

TO-DAY'S DOLLAR ~The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day was 1/8 3/16.

PRICE $3.00 Per Month.

APPEARS TO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS OF COURAGE

AND FEARLESSNĒJS,

VENABLE

Hi M...

WHICH SHOULD

OF OUR LOCAL

Horcus!

PROPERTY

VALUES

RISE

IMPORTANT DEALS PUT THROUGH

SIX LAKHS INVOLVED

Two transactions in property in Hong Kong bath record increase in prices, tending to show that there is confidence in the Colony yet, in apite of arguments for and against rent con- trol.

The Spanish Dominican Procuration has purchased Lot No. 13n, at the Praya East reclamation. This belong-

}

HONG KONG MAIL LOST

Information has now been received from Karachi confirm- ing the total loss of the bag of air mail forwarded from Hong Kong on October 4.

LOYALISTS DEFEATED

Another Reverse For Chiang Kai-shek

Yet another raverse for Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and the National Government of China has occurred, this time from the Upper Yangtze River. in the west of Hupeh province Central China), whence troublo was reported yesterday.

A Royal Naval wireless com- munique issued this morning Icads:-

"It is reported that some Nationalist troops sent to repel the rebels (who began at Itu) near Ichang were defeat- ed and that the rebels are ad- vancing on Ichang.

"Preparations have been made to evacuate—in case of necessity the British, American and Japanese com- -munities from Ichang."

ANCIENT ITALIAN FEUD ENDS

1. PARIDUNG

1224.

CANTONESE INFLICT

CASUALTIES

fired

ed 2

PERHAPS ITS EYES!

Let us examine your eyes to see Li they are the reason for that tired fealing.

LAZARUS

Hong Kong's Only European Opildian. 13, Queen's Road, Central

Telephone Mr. Cooper C. 2283 for appointment.

PIRATES POSE AS MARY PICKFORD

IRONSIDES IN HONG KONG

TOW-BOATS ATTACKED ON

WEST RIVER

ACCOMPANIED BY DOUGLAS

FAIRBANKS

CATCH A TARTAR CHAT TO PRESSMEN

FORMER HONG KONG UNDESIR- WHAT THEY THINK OF THE

ABLES IN CUSTODY

TALKIES

Newa has reached Hong Kong) They are here at last! Mary that two undesirables, whose iden-Pickford, the world's sweetheart, titles are well known to the local and her equally famous husband, authorities, have been captured up- Douglas Fairbanks, arrived yes- country after an affair with which terday by the 8.8. "Rajputana.” piracy, polítics and smuggling were They are just as lovable as when mixed up. The "China Mall" cor you see them on the silver screen. respondent at Pakkal, the port of

Kongmoon, in the lower West River Fame has not

spoiled them, as

delta, about 100 miles E.N.E. of many may have thought. To the Hong Kong, throws light on develop crowd of admirers who gathered ments and mentions, incidentally at the wharf to catch a glimpse the effect of the campaign of the Ironsides (who are not not too well) liked because of their supposed Radical tendencies).

- CURIOUS EXPERIENCE

of them, these two Hollywood idola were most friendly. They had a amile for each, and al- though they had only a few hours to see Hong Kong, they did not grudge some of it to talk to Press-

Pakkal, Yesterday. As I stated in my previous re-mon. port, outlawa venture out as soon There was a Junior Fairbanks as the garrison is withdrawn for in the company, and Httle Jack is active service, alsewhere, and sev- a delightful and refreshing eral bands have been active of late. youngster. His father says that One had a curious experience. Jack's ambition is to run tho

Professing to be adherents to world, and I can quite believe it, General Chang Fa-kuel, Comman- too. Jack is a masterful kid, and der-in-Chief of the Ironsides (they well, who knows what the future BOMBS DROPPED UP NORTH merely did so because they were holds in store. Hia winning ways

RIVER

IRONSIDES TACTICS

bandits and therefore in opposition is certainly a great asset con- to the constituted authority), atributing toward his ambition.

CORDIAL, GREETING group of men stole (they sald “eum- mandeered") the ateam-launch

After the liner had tied up, we More wounded soldiers were "Sun Ning Wo" at Suncheong.

went aboard and the very men- brought back to Canton yesterday One of their first ventures was tion of the names of these two but, on the other hand, the Can- to pursue the wealthy passenger Hollywood stars

acted as

open tonese have been inflicting tow-boat plying between Canton sesame. We were shown to a casualties on their opponents, the and Suncheong, the venue. being comfortable apartment and wer¬ Kwangs-ites and the Ironsides. Sam Kong Hau (near Gaemoon) cordially greeted. There was the

1929 rainfall..69.40 Inches

Average

82.16 inches

Deficit

.12.76 inches

The situation at Samahui (80 | The launch towing the junk put debonair "Doug" Fairbanks in miles by rail from Canton), on on speed and another launch act-Roah, dressed in a grey flannel the door of which the Kwangeling as escort opened fire to such suit. Ha bronze-face figure and deadly effect that the bandita fed masterful galt at once recalled the ignominiously.

several films in which "Doug" took The robbers then attacked the the leading role. Taumoon tow-boat. The launch Then in a pleasant voice tinged towing the latter cut the rope with an American accent, he said, (leaving the junk to her fate) and "Vell, you want to ask me some got away.

The junk drifted on questions? I am ready and you to the river bank, however, Pro- can bombard me as much as you vidence thereby furnishing the ka." hapless passengers with an avenue Before we "bombarded" we of escape.

The self-professed looked around the room trying to "Ironside" bandits could not ap- locate the "world's aweetheart." proach in their launch because the Doug knew, and, in quite a charm- water was too shallow.

ing way, apologized for the ab- sence of his wife,

PASSENGERS TAKEN FOR

ites are knocking, did not change yesterday. Samehui le at the con- fluence of the West and North Rivers, which the Kwangsi-ites are

RANSOM waiting for an opportunity to cross, presumably when the Iron- Baulked a second time. aides (who are a little further up adventurers embarked the North River) create a diver-Some time or other they had on RECEIVES THE KING AND aion for them by a sustained at- board their launch an assortment

QUEEN OF ITALY

J

"She had rather a bad night, and is feeling none tas grand, but these she will be with us in a minute," again.be explained.

HIS NEXT PRODUCTION

IN COVER OF DARK After a couple of hours' rest at the Repulse Bay Hotel, I arose, punctually at 2 a.m. and made my way in the pitch darkness to the beach. A lance-corporal, with a worried expression, was in charge of a party of two men and appealed to me to show him the way. We stumbled our way down to the sands and presently came upon a radio station, in which the operator was assiduously taking down notes of intelligence concerning the enemy's movements. A candle lit the in-d to the estate of the late Mr. Lee Hysan, a Chinese millionaire. There terior of the station, which, in

Jaro over 18,000 square feet in the lat reality, was one of the familiar and the price was $2.50 per square native thatched huts, its only occu-foot, bringing the dent to the neighbour- panta being the operator and a bood of 1 lakhs. Mesars. Fred sleepy officer esconsced in an arm-Kew & Co, land, share and general chair.

brokers, pat the sale through.

Sub- The affair, for some unexplained

sequently, the "China Mall' learns, tho reason, had been planned with the

purchasers were offered $12 a square POPE has come foot! greatest secrecy and apparently

"The enemy Another deal in which Messrs. Frid

tack. But, says a Royal Naval of hand grenades, Lewis gune We then got going. We asked zealously kept for none but Service, are believed to have made an at-Kew & Co. acted as brokers, was even

communiqué, some bombs were (third hand), Mauser platols and him what he had got in view for ears, but only apparently. The tempted landing at Taitam, but no larger. It concerned an important site

"No," he COSTLY GIFTS PRESENTED reported to have been dropped up ammunition. They made out that his next production. "China Mail," which was not off confirmation of this has come in the business district,

"It is possible that. I the North River yesterday morn- the Ironsides had given it to them replied. cially invited to attend, heard of through."

Vatican City, Yesterday.

ing," ostensibly by the Cantonese for purposes of war! They, how shall get some ideas on this trip. the manoeuvres from its usual re- The beach was to all apparency of Ice House Street between Messrs. The Pope presented to the Queen

on the advancing enemy.

ever, aucceeded at last in their That is usually the way-we think llable sources and gave the informa- deserted, the only sound being the David Sassoon's building (on the Des of Italy a rosary gold and precious

Canton Environs

career of buccaneering. The Nam out something and then work on tion to its readers beforehand. It rumble of the waves. No lights Yeux Road side) and the Netherlands stones, and a mosaic reproduction of a

Past when we get home." Trading Society's premises (on the picture of the Madonna by Raphael, The situation in Canton itself is Sul tow-boat was robbed.

carried away for As a producer, Doug said that and to the King of Italy a coffor de- still quiet. Meanwhile light has sengers were the possible' results of an attack on could be only dimly discerned.

a. continual tion houses the Hong Kong Share- the Colony-and in that spirit we

precess of elimination, sorting out "What an ideal spot for a landing," brokers Association, Messrs, William trating the Vatican, a collection of north of the city on December 4. lay bare the secret.

I suggested.

hundreds of impressions, before Powell, Ltd., the Clover Flower Shop, route medals specially struck for the Canton Government were at work wroth.

coina, and a case of gold, silver and It is correct that enemies of the Then the authorities waxed The radio officer laughed drowsily. etc., with offices on the floor above.

to the coming

anllent Providing myself with a red, offi-

An expedition was sent Everything must be simple and parts. cially-recognised armlet, writes, our There are machine gun sectors at

Mr. J. E. Joseph was the buyer, at

and that they were routed by the against them; over thirty were direct. It was a mistake to take representative, I arrived on the either end of the beach" he said, $45 per square foot, so that 4% lakha Their Majesties presented the Pope city garrison. Some say that the arrested and handed over to the stories from the theatre or from acene of operations shortly after "and, besides, the whole of this part changed hands. The Chinese sellers, with an antique pectoral cross, studded Ironsides (re-adopting the methods Magistrate; and the two four o'clock yesterday afternoon, of the coastline is carefully watch-who had only become owners a little with Jewels, and a small crucifix, which they used to such good purpose "known" in Hong Kong were dis- and was directed to the Headquared and guarded.”

time before, had purchased at $40 per the heirloom of the House of Savoy against the Northernera in 1926 covered. ters of the General Staff by Colonel Nevertheless, the

Their Majesties the King and Queen roar of the square foot. Stewart.

waves would effectually have muffled excellently the sound of boats, and the daring departed when I arrived at the No. 1 Headquarters Avere situated in the Police Hut above the feats of Gallipoli could have been Base. Grim sentries marched up and cross-roads, from which a command repeated. As a matter of fact, a down, guarding the sacred little ing view of the Bay and surround-party of Invaders did land at that brick hut. Within, by the gutter ing country could be had.". A Ught precise spot-and were never de-ing flame of a candle, serious-faced battery was emplaced on the hill at tected.

Staff Offcors were bending over a LIGHTS AT SEA

map.

being the

middle of the west side of that part

was a matter of public interest-shone out at sea, and the coastline Queen's Road Side). The block in que-sigred by Beltrani, four volumes illus been thrown on the fring to the ransom and the cargo was loot-picture-making was

the side of Headquarters which, for

the first uneventful hours up to The wind was, bitterly cold and In that dim light, which cast: 2.80 a.m. this morning, were-unoccupiercing. I looked at my watch; strange shadows on the whitewashed pied, the temporary "base" of the the luminous hands showed me that walls, one could see only set faces G.H.Q. Staff being a bench fitted it was time for action-balf past half hidden under turned-up collars, anugly Into a ́lane on the hillside, past three. The darkness became and shining holsters and binocular and spread with much military-com- leas intense as I walked up the hill cases.

A Colonel of the Somersets was. forts as sandwiches and "within the direction of headquarters. water-or-without";

The lights of a car awept the road bending over the telephone. "Send #MAKING THE BEST OF FT and presently a powerful Siddeley the "A" sector to -." he said, and

The men of the various Regiments i raced up and came to a stop at my a gust of wind finished the rest or.] -Somersete KOB.B., R.A., | signál. ⠀⠀

the sentence for me,

A

R.A.S.C., and the Hong Kong Volun-Going to Headquarters?" I NEWS COMES THROUGH teer Force (machine Finland motor asked

A Presently they caught sight of cycle section) were detalled to We're going there later, came me. Who are you? naked, a stern occupy various sites of vantage, the reply. - "We are doing a circu- young subaltern, who might one day Not all of these were as anug se lar tour now to Deep Water Bay be a general, gy some would have wished, but and, incidentally, to look for any Modestly I showed him my red

made

bad casualties, and then return to Head- armlet. "War correspondent: for "British", was and the quarters, sus the Uhina Mall, A 1 replied, and

We drove along the sea road, past asked for news of the engagvpient.

up the hill, and back. The officer at the telephone laid- Paes, to our down the receiver and turned to me.

of "Three boat

čito kave

occasion.

of Italy move in state this morning, and 1927) sent up about 400 plain-

to the very en- to visit His Holiness the Pope and clothes troops

ed,

men

POSITION IN KONGMOON Kongmoon has been quiet, al-

for the first time sovereigns of Unit virons of Canton, not so much to though extraordinary precautions

MONSOON FRESH

To-day's

weather

Ironsides, to be followed by the

Biterature,

(Continued on Poge 5)

ed Italy entered the Vatican thus end attempt a surprise capture, as to are adopted nightly in view of out, however, almost daily to ing quarrel which has lasted sixty-trike consternation in the hearts the political crisis elsewhere in Siulaam, etc., to raid pirates. nine years-Reuter.

of the defendera.

the province. Coolles are still be- They have Jost .more than The Ironsides are also stated to ing rounded up by Police press-tan killed in action, the bodies being have several units of cavalry gangs to carry away the belong brought back to Shekki for burial (mounted on ponies) operating ings of the faw remaining troopa. with full miftary honours. with their main column near the The city is entirely under the WONG PO RECAPTURED lower North River...

protection of the so-called' volun-

Wong Po has been recaptured by The general offensive by the toer militia: report

Government troops and the gang of from the Royal Observatory Kwangsi-ites, is now expected (which was not borne out) that and Kongmel

Pakkai was alarmed by a report bandits there, has fled to Maning The anti-cyclone is now

hourly. The Cantonese, with their

pirates were Northern reinforcements, will con attack on a certain date. Many to be wondered at that a rumour

planning a night Central over the Sea of Japan,

In such exciting times, it is not The monsoon in interrupted to

centrate on defending a short line residents spent the night in Kong-reached Hong Kong to the effect the north of Foochow but will

which is in dangerous proxim moon but nothing happened that Kongmoon had "been captured" remain fránh" over the China'

Ity to Canton before counter-at- tacking.

In fact, the populace generally is by or had "gone over" {both Bos..

more afraid of a Red outbreak than figuratively) tỏi the Ironsides or a visitation of pirates. Many re- other opponents of the Canton member that it was during the Government. The exploits of the Ironsides regime in Canton that bandits who stole the launch "Bun the Communists overran Canton and Nang Wo" led to the rumour ba sacked the city for three days. The cause they claimed to be noting. fronsides fought the Communists for the Ironsides.

A depression is crossing the. Visayan; in a weiterly: direci tion. It will probably deve Jopezintos a typhoon In the China Sea.

Forecast:-NE, winds, mo Fderate; fair peniaze a

Thai American Conmlate General has received the following warning from, the Kanka

esterday

· RE-DISCOUNT RATE

San Francisco, Yesterday. The Federal Reserve Board has lowered the re-discount rate to 4 |per cent Reuters American Sor

vice.

COMMONWI

BANK

tooth and nail, undoubtedly, but it Incoming crews talk of attempts was their original "flirting with to hold up their craft, by pirates, Reds that gave the movement en af Parrot Bend. But the outlaws. couragement. We caught a tartar when they midbook The danger at Shakk about an armed and incured Chinese Canberra, Yesterday fortnight ago), was over by the time naval launch to be the Canton tow House of Representatives the Padi-Bed Guards returned to boat. The launch opened fire with the third reading of the accord protection. Small detach-machine-gung and the pirates suffer- nwealth Bank Bill-Reuter ments of this unit have been sented heavy casualties in the dark