1937-03-09 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 9, 1937.

BISCAY

Page

SENSATION

Admiralty Rushes Four Destroyers On Reports Of Shelling And Sinking Of Big British Liner

Wild Weather In Atlantic

New York, To-day.

Seven trans-Atlantic liners

from Europe, including

the

72

“Queen Mary," have reported delays

to from twelve hours, owing. to storms described as the worst of an exceptionally severe winter. Reuter.

British Ambassador Coming South

Canton, To-day.

It is reported that Sir Hughe Montgomery. Knatchbull-Hugessen, the British Ambassador to China. will leave Peiping for Canton on Friday.".

MYSTERY SHIP NOW BELIEVED SPANISH

RUTHLESS SINKING BY SHELLING OF A “MYSTERY” LINER, BELIEVED TO BE BRI- TISH, IN THE BAY OF BISCAY BY AN INSUR- GENT WARSHIP, CAUSED CONSIDERABLE ALARM AND ACUTE TENSION IN LONDON YESTERDAY,

Canarias

Worsted In Fight

Bilbao, To-day.

A lively sea engagement between convoying vessels is officially reported.

A number of Basque Govern- ment armed trawlers were es-

corting a steamer when they en- countered the insurgent cruiser "Canarias," which was acting as- escort to another steamer.

The armed vessels immediately opened fire on each other, the

One of the trawlers

The liner, according to first messages received in Hong Kong, was the "Adda," a 7,816-ton pas-fight lasting for several hours. senger vessel owned by the West African Steam- ship Co., and plying between Liverpool and West Africa.

SHE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED By A HAIL OF SHELLS AND TO HAVE SUNK IN FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, AND FIRST REACTIONS TO THE REPORT WERE THAT THE CONSEQUENCES COULD NOT BE FORESEEN AND THAT THE AFFAIR WAS AN INTERNATION- AL INCIDENT OF THE UTMOST GRAVITY.

It is stated that he will come by train, will arrive at Hankow on the

A later message through Reu-lceipt of a message in London from Peiping-Hankow Railway on Sun- day, and will arrive at Canton by ter, however, seems to have dis-the destroyer "Echo." the Canton-Hankow Railway on pelled anxiety, with the state- Thursday next Canton officials ment that the ship was the Span- are preparing to welcome their ish vessel "Mar Cantabrico." honoured guest.-Our Own Corres- pondent.

OSLO CONVENTION AGREEMENT

Extension Of Bloc Expected

Riga, To-day. Extension of the economic bloc formed by the powers signatory to the Oslo Convention is foreseen by the newspapers here.

It is reported that the Oslo Con- vention powers are now seeking adherence of Latvia, Lithuania and Esthonia to the agreement.

CANARIAS' STATEMENT

was sunk

with all hands, but the other Gov-

ernment ships captured the insur- gent steamer by a clever ruse.

The "Canarias" was forced to abandon her charge when by subtle manoeuvring the rebel cruiser was lured within the range of the shore batteries. Reuter.

BIG FALL IN

JOBLESS

London, To-day. Employed in February totalled The destroyer stated that she had 81,000 insured persons more than The vessel has been in the lime-been informed by the rebel cruiser the figures for January and 662,000 light before, as she slipped out of "Canarias" that the ship alleged to more than at the corresponding New York a few weeks ago with be the "Adda" was the Spanish ship period last year, according to Gov- a cargo of munitions for Spain just “Mar Cantabrico."

emment returns.. before the American Neutrality Law

was passed.

ALARMING REPORTS

First reports of the sinking of the vessel, which took place in the Bay of Biscay, were received in the French ports of Rochefort, St. Jean de Luz and Bordeaux.

Dramatic S.OS. messages from the doomed ship said that she was on fire and sinking.

A message was also received at

# Land's End wireless station, stat-

The Swedish Foreign Minister,ing that the ship was in flames and M. Sandler; it is reported, will sinking and giving her position. as visit the three countries in June in 45.10 North and 3.20 West.

order to conclude trade agreements with the Baltic states. Trans- Ocean.

GEORGE VI STAMPS Expected To Be Ready

For Coronation

London, To-day,

ADMIRALTY ACTION

The Admiralty in the belief that the vessel was the Adda, immediate-

y despatched four destroyers Echo, Eclipse, Encounter and Esca-

pade to the spot.

Other vessels also rushed to the liner's assistance from French ports. These included the British oil tank- er "Tamaha,"

vessel a French

The Postmaster-General announc-"Pierre L. Dreyfus" and several Ar- ed in the House of Commons at cachon trawlers.

question-time that he hoped the

new George VI stamps would be

ready by the date of the Corona-

USHANT REPORT:

tion in the most used denomina- The uncertainty was added to by tions.

a report from Brest stating that the

The main issue would total 250,- Ushant semaphore picked up an 000,000.

SOS message at 3.35 yesterday

A special commemorative corona-afternoon stating, "Adda bombard- tion issue in the higher denomina ed in the Bay of Biscay by the na- tions was receiving urgent

con-tionalist sideration.

Eritish Wireless,

asking7iser Canarias and is

help owing to "fire” The British liner "Adda," "how-

For the 10th time within a week, ever, was queried and replied "All's Dalston L.C.C. fire station received a well" false alarm from the Greenwood-road district, and a watch will be kept for those responsible.

The identity of the vessel was not definitely established until re-

The crew of the latter vessel are now on board the rebel cruiser and it is presumed the ship was sunk.

Berlin, To-day. Approximately 750,000 visitors poured into the German Motor Exhibition which has just closed

after two weeks.—Trans-Ocean.

THE ACE

OF PLUGS

Agents :---

DODWELL & CO., LTD.

elephon

The number of wholly unemploy fed on February 22 was 1,400,000, being 61,000 less than on January 25 and 396,000 less than the same date the previous year. Reuter.

About 600 Glasgow school-children will be taken on a limer week-end cruise to the Western Isles as part of

city's Coronation plans.

the

LODGE

MADE IN ENGLAND

LODGE