1930-02-12 — Page 1

T

IASAHI BEER

Just the very brand

MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, LTD.

China

Library, Supreme Court

DWit

· Business Mana

Mail

ESTABLISHED

1845

TO-DAY'S DOLLAR. - The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day was 1/6 5/16.

No. 27,410 HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1930. PRICE $3.00 Per Month.

USE OF SUBMARINES LINER BURSTS INTO HONG KONG VESSEL

IN WARFARE

TO BE RESTRICTED · AGAINST MERCHANT SHIPS

U.S. OPPOSITION

SENATOR BORAH AND A

66

'USELESS KING SHIP"

A hopeful note is the characteristic of a statement issued by Mr.

H. L. Stimson, the chief United States delegate to the London Naval Conference, who declares that a definite decision was reached at the plenary meeting in regard to submarines, the use of which against merchant ships it had been agreed to restrict. That, he felt, was alone worth the visit of the American delegation to Britain.

A different note, however, is conveyed in a message from America, in which Senator Borah, a well-known "Big Navy" ad- vocate, opposed a proposul by the U.S. delegation to build a battleship of the Rodney type, declaring that he did not want parity if it in- volved "spending millions on a useless king ship."

THE DOMINIONS ANXIOUS?

announce-

INTO HONG KONG VESSEL

RELEASED

FLAMES

GERMAN 14,000-TON VESSEL HIGH-HANDED METHOD OF

SINKS IN HUDSON RIVER

CHINESE AUTHORITIES

CREW MISSING

REVOLUTION IN TONGKING

FRENCH OFFICER KILLED IN FIGHT WITH NATIVES

"FAIRLY SERIOUS”

Paris Yasterday.

There aro Spectacles and Spectacles

....but What A Difference in Quality................

and there are opticians and opticians, but in Hong Kong, only one European optician who messuras up to the highest qualifications. Optical men in every corner of the world re- cognise his certificates and the modera equipment used.

LAZARUS

The Optician.

Phone Mr. Cooper G. 1203 for appolat-

ment

Ralph A. Cooper, FL.O. (Engl.), Registered Optometria (Canada).

COLONY'S EUROPEAN

POPULATION

NO EVIDENCE THAT IT IS DWINDLING

HINT OF A CHALLENGE.

ALLEGED

PIRATES'

AGENTS

NEGOTIATIONS FOR RANSOM MONEY

THE MAN FROM SHANGHAṬ”

TE VARA

THE TONG ON SCANDAL

New York, Yesterday,

The curtain bad rung down on

In Monday's issue of the China Evidence was yesterday taken by Mr., Passengers who disembarked from the regrettable affair which had

A message from Hanoi states that | Mall an interesting query was A. W. G. R. Grantham, at the Central the Germer 14,000-ton steamer Muenchen, from Bremen, waiting at come to be known the "Tong On following a revolutionary agitation raised as to the European popula- Magistracy, in the case in which two the pier at Hudson River to have their Scandal,' and on which questions the natives, joined by sharpshooters tion of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Chinese are charged with acting as baggage cleared by the Customs, were were asked in Parliament at Home. garrisoned at Yen Bay, attempted to The writer of the letter startled by a series of explosions from the liner, whose crew tumbled ashore ás The Tong On is a steam launch mutiny. The ensuing fight was de- opinion. that there had been a the vessel burst into flames, and belehed registered in Hong Kong Kong and scribed as "fairly serious." Several eteady outgoing of British forth volumes of suffocating smoke from

Her

a cargo of nitrates and speedily sank. lies the British flag. owner, persons were killed, including

Three Bremen who were hurled into Mr. H. T. He is a large ship French officer. the river are still missing. Seven men. owner and directs his operations Steps are being taken to restore including the captain, were injured.— Reuter's American Service.

from his officed in the Colony. The order-Reuter. Tong On was seized by the Wuchow

tive for the immediate purposes. Military authorities on December NATIONALIST ARMY regardless of the consequences. 27 subsequent to a collision with a CHANGES COLOURS When the nations are turning to

commandeered launch. a peace past to provide revision in armaments it would be travesty

"Detained But Not Seized"

if the conference sanctioned a Two British sloops stationed at

brought the western world into

measure.

was of pirate agenta in negotiations for the re-

and

A American residents since the strike

of 1025.

CHANG FAT-KUEI MARCHING ACROSS KWANGTUNG

TO ATTACK KONGMOON?

Wuchow, Yesterday.

Weapon the abuse of which had Wachow Intervened, and although the Great War. Their abolition they succeeded. in preventing the would be a practical, commonsense Tong On from being seized, she was nevertheless detained. Her

It is reported that Chang Fat-kuel, A Necessary Weapon

pilot and coxswain were taken the rebol leader, in manoeuvring his M. Leygues, French Minister of Marine, contended that the sub-

into custody, and they were troops across Kwangtung. It is marine was a defensive weapon brought before a Military tribunál. thought that his objective is Kong- which all the Naval Powers could At the so-called trial, these unfor-moon. not do without, and that its use tunate men were not given the op- could be and should be regulated

The colours of the Nationalist Army at Wuchow have been changed from like that of any other warship.portunity to state their case. The

red and white to red and yellow. This France could not accept its aboli-Court decree that the Tong On

in said to be due to the reverses suffer- tion, but was ready to concur in was to be blamed for the colli an international agreement re-slon and demanded compensation Kwei Yuen and Ping Nam, on which ed by tho Nationalist forces at gulating its use.

ing the use of surface craft; thirdly, the regulation of the unit size of submarines.

The French resolution was that the committee should prepare an agreement open for signature to all Signor Grandi (Italy) described as follows: $2,000 for the salvage; occasions both armies displayed simi- the naval Powers forbidding, sub- the submarine as the weapon of $4,000 for repairs and $1,000 for lar colours!—Naval Wireless Service. marines to net towards merchant a less-armed nation against one the loss of gears.

London, Yesterday. In the House of Commons Lieut. Col. Howard Bury asked if the Australian Government were consulted in regard to the latest reduction of cruisers and dea- troyers prior to the ment of their reduction.

Mr. MacDonald replied in the ships otherwise than in strict con- negative and said that the Aus-formity with rules, either present tralian Government

fully were

or future, to be observed by surface apprised of the general considera-warshipa. tion of the policy on which the decision of His Majesty's Govern- meut was based.

Limitations of Submarine

more powerfully armed. Italy

+

was ready to renew the undertak- Mr. Hung refused to comply ing restricting the use of sub- with the demands and although he marines against merchant ships did not seek the assistance of the and would not, object to their British Consul, for fear of bring. abolition if all the Naval Powers ing about international complica- agreed.

"Ruthless Weapon"

tions, he sent an envoy there to

The Terms of Settlement

Mr. A. V. Alexander said that the British delegates clearly understood Lieut. Col. Howard Bury asked that the attitude of the Fowers whether Mr. MacDonald were unwilling to agree to the complete Admiral Takoradi (Japan) ex-effect an amicable settlement with aware of the great uneasiness and abolition of submarines was based on pressed the view that the sub- the owner of the commandeered anxiety in Australia in regard to their views as to

their value for marine had legitimate uses as a

launch. the Singapore base and the reduc-purely defensive purposes, although | Weapon of defence and as a scout, tion of cruisers and destroyers. the British thought that those and was not to be condemned as

This morning Mr. Hung inform-j Mr. MacDonald replied "As far views were mistaken. During the ruthless weapon in contradis

ed a China Mai representative as I am concerned, I am aware late war Great Britain's endeavour tinction to surface craft.

Japan that the Tong On had returned of exactly the opposite."-Reuter. to use the submarine for coast de regarded it as a convenient arm to the

"Scrap the Rodney"

Colony under a guaran- fence was largely a failure, add did for her national defence, but one

tee. The terms of settlement Washington, Yesterday. not prevent the shelling of a number whose uses should be strictly cir-

arranged were both unreasonable Opposition to the American of town and ports with heavy loss of cumscribed by law,

and ridicalous. The Tong On was proposal at the Naval Conference life and much material damage.

Mr. Fenton (Australia), Mr. that the United States be permit

Ralston (Canada); Six Chatterjee Hung la

released on the condition that Mr. The submarine could not ted to build

to pay $4,000 for the (India), Mr. Smiddy (Irish Free salvage and repairs of the com- a battleship of the efficiently against a sudden Rodney type was voiced In Con- under cover of darkness or bombard-State) and Mr. Wilford (New mandeered launch and also to sup

ment at dusk by a vessel approach-Zealand) briefly expressed agree-ply gratis eleven tons of coal to Senator Britten, in the House of ing at high speed. On the surface, ment with the delegates of Britain the Military Authorities at Wuchow, Representatives. The former de- submarines were more than and America, and Mr. Tewater why coal and only 11 tons of it, we clared that he did not want parity torpedo boats of slow speed. Sub (South Africa) promised to supdo not understand? if it involved

spending millions merged, they were either blind or port every effort towards the on a useless King ship. He coun- of very limited vision.

limitation of submarines.--British selled them to "scrap the Rodney.

Wireless Service. That would settle the propost tion. Reuter's American Service. Abolition of Submarines

grees by Senator Borah And by

по

act

On the other hand, the War showed that the submarine was cap- able of and

was used largely in offensive operations for recon- naissance and actual attack in nar

Its reten.

of the

The Tong On is now laid up in Hong Kong, and her owner has not decided whether or not to put her back on the Wuchow run.

Earlier News

London, Yesterday. The plenary session Naval Conference Baw the room DARING DAYLIGHT

the debate packed for the marines.

on sub-

London, Yesterday. There was a decision-not ten-row seas and harbours. tative, but definite at to-day's tion would always constitute plenary meeting, declares

Mr. MacDonald at the Mr. danger that an unscrupulous enemy

the submarine for announced that the

outset

FRESH AND FAIR

To-day's weather report from the Royal Observatory states: The anti-cyclone central to the north of the Yangtsze Val- ley has weakened.

Fresh to strong monsoon pre- valla along the S.E. coast of China and moderate to fresh monsoon over the N. China Sea.

Forecast: N. E. winds: fresh; fair.

Rainfall Rainfall up to 10 a.m. to- day, 0.01 inch. Rainfall since January 1, 2.92 Inck, against an average of 2.14 inch,

Temperature and Humidity

The temperature and humidi- ty at certain specified centres this morning at 6 o'clock

were:

!

As the matter is of general in- terest we reprint the letter in full. It ran as follows:

lease for ransom of a Chinese angincar named Hsu Hau-yak, otherwise known us H. Y. Hsu, of Shanghai, who was captured by pirates when they carried out a coup on board the Japaneso 5.5, Dell Haru on September 21 last.

The story of how the accused came- into Police hands has already been re- lated in the China Mail. One of the European Population

men was seized at the railway station: Sir-Can you give me впу he war bout to board the train for figures regarding the European Canton after $11,000 had been received population of Hong Kong and from a mediator from Shanghai who Kowloon (excluding the Portu- had negotiated with them at the Em- guese and Military community) press Hotel on behalf of Hau's relativen for 1929 as compared with, say and employers, a foreign firm of con- tractors in the Northern Settlement. two or three years ago?

It would be interesting to know street, Yaumati, described as a pirate The Police also raided 22 Reclamation these facts in view of the present hannt. It resulted in $6,000 being re- trade situation, the fact that covered. The other man was captured many stores catering to the Euro-in Room 35 at the Sai Kai boarding pean community are doing much house in town, less business than they did three

Originally the two accused years ago, and that hotels charged with consulting and, corres- and clubs also catering to this ponding with rates, and subsequently community seem to be having a two other charges were added alleging hard time to keep going.

that they had threatened injury to the It seems to me that there has captive if ransom were not paid; and been a gradual but steady out-that they had obtained $11,000 from going of the British and Ameri-persons who were negotiating on be can residents since the strike of half of the captive.

1926.

Yours, etc.,

STATISTICIAN.

A Difficult Matter

were

Mr. A. Covey of Messrs. G. K. Hall Brutton & Co, was for the first accused, whilst the other man was not legally represented. Mr. Somerset Fitzroy, Assistant Attorney-General, was for the Crown.

Ransom Asked

It will be recognised that to ob- tain absolutely accurate figures of the population of Hong Kong is · Interest centred on the evidents of an extremely difficult matter. A Cheung Ting-yuet, the man from China Mail representative thix Shanghai who was appointed to nego morning interviewed Dr. G. W. tiate with the accused here. Pope, the Medical Oficer of He said he was well acquainted with Health, who agreed with this view, the captive. Mr. Heu. I became ac- As regards the question of what quainted with the fact that he was on might be termed "the dwindling pirates; also with the fact that a ran- the Deli Mara and was taken away by European population" Dr. Pepe som was asked for his release. Messrs. said that he had no evidence at Malcolm, of Shanghai, by whom the all to this effect. Furthermore, captive was employed, were interested he said that although in the ab-in his release, as were also the latter's | sence of definito evidence he was relativer. ~~

not prepared to contradict the "After several conversations with the statements in the letter, be would relatives of Mr. Han I came to Hong- seriously challenge them.

Kong, accompanied by Mr. Chan Ho pui, who was with the same firm an Mr. Hau. We arrived here on October It is suggested to the China 22 and

went to the Great Eastern Mail from another source that Hotel. I registered in my own name, possibly the general trade depres- but Mr. Chan registered himself as Hsu. sion since the strike accounts for Ho-hoi. "the hotels and clubs catering to

Trade Depression Blamed

Hong Kong Macao Pratas Island 66 Manila Amoy

Terrip. Humid.

81

the majority

84-

.80

82

BB

83

46

77

Swatow

49

73

Chofoo

24

100

Shanghai

25

100

expert sub-CARE-TAKER OVERPOWERED BY HUGE FORTUNE FROM

ROBBERY

ARMED THIEF

BOUND AND GAGGED

H. L. Stimson, U.S. Secretary of might use State, in a statement issued to methods of attack which civilised committee dealing with global night.

and category tonnage

had com- nations regarded with horror. The five Powers have agreed to

plated its work, and appearances restrict the use of submarines posal was

It might be said that the propointed to an early plenary meet-

of special benefit to against merchant ships to the Britain, but in the late

war aubing on the matter. same rules applied to

A daring daylight armed robbery surface marines destroyed

Mr. Alexander opened the dis- over 2,000,000 Vessels. "I regard that single in- tons of shipping of other belligerents that British experience in war the coolle quarters of the Hop Tick cussion on tubmarines. He aald occurred at 12.30 p.m., yesterday in cident worth the visit of the and 1,500,000 tons of neutral ship time showed that submarines were Co., on the first floor of 296, Temple American delegation to London," ping.

Again, if the submarine was

defensive valusleas for coastal defence, and Street, Yaumati

he doclares. He thought the debate to be regarded as

恿

Was

marine. Не

particularly Power. pleased that the above mentioned reservedly from the French delegation-Reu- were augured to afford.

ter.

Franco & Japan Obdurate

WHISKEY

CHAIRMAN OF JOHN DEWAR & SONS LEAVES £4,405,000

EXCHEQUER TO BENEFIT ·

Rugby, Yesterday.

of

"Friends of the Hills"

the (European) community" hay- "When I first saw the first accused, Ing a hard time to keep going.

it was on October 20. What is a definite fact is that satisfied himself that we came on be He, having the dwelling half of Mr. Heu, began the negotia- houses and flats classed as "Euro- tiona. He said he was asked by Mr. pean" are fully occupied, and Hou's friends "of the hills" to arrange there is usually competition for the ransom, and told us to write a one that becomes vacant.

letter, which was to be sent to Mr. Hau. The letter was written and hand- ed to the accused when he enlled again the next day. He asked to read the letter and opened it himself. After reading it, be said that the sum of $800 was too small-the people.of the hills, the said, wanted $60,000.

SERIOUS BATTLE OF

WHEAT PRICES

BRITISH MILLERS DENY STORY "We replied that Mr. Hsu was a poor

OF ORGANISED CAMPAIGN

CANADA PERTURBED

,

man and his family could not raise such a big sum. He then said he would forward the letter and told us to ex- pect an answer at the end of ten days. Meanwhile, he asked for $40 or $50 as London, Yesterday. expenses incidental to the forwarding A battle of wheat prices is pro- of the letter, and we gave him $20. coeding between British and Euro-) Ransom Price Reduced pean purchasers and producers in North America, who seek by with-Kong. I again saw the first accused on "On January 8, I returned to Hong marked a step in the direction of weapon, the British Empire could they were largely used for offen- According to Yip Lau (20), the:

holding supplies to maintain prices the evening of January 9, at the Tal the eventual abolition of the sub-show greater need than any other sive purposes in commerce raid- caretaker, who was alone on the pre-

The late Lord Forteviot, who in spite of the existing glut. The Loy Boarding House." Britain needed defensive mises when the raid occurred, he was was chairman of the distilling firm 63 per cent of the marketable sur had brought down only $0,000 after

Canadian wheat pool, controlling

Witness told the first accused that he Yet she was prepared un-ing.

turrender auch de- vessels more than any Power, but sitting in the rear cubicle when he of John Dewar and Sons, left a plus, embraces 110,000 members the latter had said that the sum now motion should have originated fensive protection as submarines was prepared unreservedly to sur- heard the verandah door being fortune of £4,405,000. During his who are pursuing policy of decided upon was $11,000. A farther

render such protection as subforged open. marines afforded,:

As he came out of the cubble to fetime he made munificent be-"orderly marketing. It refuses to sum of $1,000 was to be paid, it was understood, as brokerage, to, the first Question of Economy

He added that the Powers re-investigate, he was met by a man guests to social institutions, not-end supplies to Europe at "Un-accused. It was in a room at the m the question of presented at the Conference had who was armed with a dagger. ably in Perth, his native town, while, the new Argentine and Aus- was reached, the money

reasonably low" prices. Rugby, Yesterday. Turning to

Mean-press Hotel that the final settlement At to-day's plenary session of the economy he said that abolition built or were building over four Pointing the weapon at him, theand was particularly interested in tralian supplies, shortly marketable, over to the first accused in the presents being paid Naval Conference the total abolition would effect enormous. savings hundred submarines, which wasj intruder ofdefed Yip Lau to keep

may force down the prices and in-of witness and two companions, of the submarine was urged by the directly and also indirectly in per- very expensive. Their abolition quiet and then proceeded to open housing reform. British and

fict a staggering blow on the pool, The Exchequer will benefit in and business in Canada. American delegates, mitting reductions in destroyers and would enormously reduce arma the stairs door, thus admitting two

The bearing was adjourned. while. Its retention as a defensive anti-submarize unita. Falling ment expenditure, and would in- other men. These, as far as Yip death duties. on the estate to the The Canadian High Commission-

on their

could see, were; not armed. abolition, directly economise in the provi

"Tropical beer," says a Germaḥ weapon was advocated by the French agreement

amount of and

er, however, declares that the finan- oficial statement, was the reason Гаранене: *The British Britain would endeavour to confine sion of destroyera as anti-sub

££1,700,000. ***** Gagged With Towel Dominion delegates concurred gen-submarines to defence by limiting marine unite.

After the door had been re Another fortune of $1,702,000 cal position of the grain firms why the cruiser Emden few a red Is thoroughly sound." In the flag off Puerto, Colombia, in Octo erally with the view of the British to the lowest their size and num-

Dwelling on the loss of life in fastened, the man with the dagger has been left by Mr. Gerard Craig meantime, supplies to Great Britain ber. Exaggerated stories of a Government, and the Italian delega bers and seeking agreement pre- submarines in peace time, he ordered Yip an into the rear Sellar, a director of various com-continue to be large and it is estim- "mcting" were to be discounted, tion declared itself willing to venting their use as destroyers of said that since 1918, altogether cubicle, what the Intruders bound panies. He was at one time Fristed that stocks will suffice for at the tipsy ringleaders of the affale abolish submarines If all the other commerce in violation of inter 570 men had perished in sub-als hands behind this back and vate Secretary do the late Joseph least ten weeks. The quartern having received light punishments. Powers did the same.

national law and practice.

marine disasters. If the confer- gagged him with's towel Chamberlain. From this estate loot has been reduced by a half- The session agreed to refer to Mr. H. L. Stimson (America)ence failed to agree to the aboli The robbers spent half an hour $660,000 falls to the Exchequer in penny. Discussions, are proceed- resolutions pointed out that? an offensive use tion, Britain would endeavour to ransacking the place and eventually death duties. British Wireless ing between Mr. J. H. Thomas and

and was made of submarines at great limit their size and numbers, and departed with a quantity of cloth Service

the wheat pool representatives. action on his schemes to develop A Bow Reports Denied (..

trade with Canada, Mr. Thomas re- It was some time before Tip

Aaked In the House of Cominons plied by reading a statement by the was able to release himself and raise Growing demand for a public whether his attention had been National Association of Millers of the alarm, but by then the robbers carillon to be erected permanently drawn to the Canadian reports of Great Britain, denying the reports:

disappeared on The value of in Hyde Park in indicated, "to višw an organised campaign of British and, declaring that they were al

a mot high, the stolen cloth of the great success of the New millera against purchases of Cans- ways anxious to purchase Canadian:

apparel of chany Zealand- carillóns, recitals. Mrdian wheat, and what action he was wheat, provided the prices appro

Lansbury te sympathetic.

Įtaking in view of the harmful, resximated to world pries

the First Committee the

by the Am

prop

bobo The Amel

the

ion. distances from their home porta; would propsse very definite con- ing and a metal wrist watch wh

that ton-for-ton they were, three or ditions to preven their

four timen as azpensive as largement « ná. commerce?

craft; that they made Britain

to all davies moré

oy.