1937-09-07 — Page 8

Page &

THE CHINARMATRISER

THE P.

The Story Of

&

O.

1837-1937

A Great Steamship Line

HIS the centenary is being One point on which the company Iberian

In The quarter of a century which

T celebrated of the Peninsular and is justly proudly that not onerous Therm or spanish peninsula flag followed was, sunother period of cou

་

tween Suez and Calcutta was the vessels. Hindostan, a paddle vessel of near-

tinuous advance in the character Oriental Steam Navigation Coming the War did their mail steamers originated there. It incorporates and dimensions of the P.

The Naldera and pany, known everywhere as the P. deviate from their usual course the old Spanish colours, red and steamers and 0. The company was incor-

through the Mediterranean and the yellow, but actually the flag, diagan Narkunda were projected in 1913, but because of the War they were porated by Royal Charter in 1840,

Suez Canal During the five years ally quartered blue and white over

not brought into normal service un- but its board, management, and fleet ending with July, 1919, the com- yellow and red, represents the Royal 17 1920. These are of 16,000 tons. were precisely the same as that of

pany had over 200 mail sailings colours of Portugal and of Spain at The past fifteen years have also the enterprise which was formed from London to Bombay, and as a the time the company was founded. been marked by great progress. for the company has built five liners in 1837 as the Peninsular Steam matter of fact. nine more in the

The latest. The company originated from the of over 20,000 tons. Navigation. Company.

other direction. Though enemy sub-

the Strathmore, is a 23,428-ton twin- activities of two shipowning par-

screw turbinedriven vessel. The marines were constantly active in The P. and O. can look back with

tners, Willcox and Anderson, who policy of the company, as stated by pride to a century of great history, the Channel and the Mediterranean, and the part it has played in the 10 P. & O. ship tried to elude them began business in 1815 at a time the chairman, Mr. Alexander Shar when the word "Peninsular was 2 is to provide the most suitable vessels in the light of marine en- household one because of the long gineering and naval architecture for communication and development of by going round the Cape the Empire has been a conspicuous Naturally, like every other line, struggles of the Peninsular War the tropical seas they are called up-

company suffered heavily The partners assisted the Queens on to sail one. The first steamer sent by the the company round the Cape of Good Seventeen steamers were lost, but of Portugal and Spain with charter

ed ships at the time of the in- Undoubtedly the most picturesque Hope to inaugurate the service be these have all been replaced by large surrections against them, and when period in the company's history was the Spanish Government wished to when the "overland route" was be- establish a line of steamers from ing worked, although conditions

recognition of their services, were sengers, for Egypt: knew nothing of given the management of the ships. hotels in those days. The company had to provide coaling stations, This line was founded in 1834 as docks, stores, and supplies of fresh the "Peninsular Service, and a ser- water. Passengers were landed at vice of steamers was inaugurated to Alexandria, then taken down to Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, and Gibraltar. Cairo on the Nile Next followed By 1835-36 a fleet of steamers was 100 miles of absolute desert to Suez. running, including two which were Caravans numbering more than 3,- advertised as “the largest and most 000 camels were required to tran- powerful steamships afloat. Big sport the cargo and mails of a sin- they were, no doubt, for those days, gle steamer but the merchandise but they would seem small in indigo, tea, silk, and precious metals HIS is a yachting story. We speed. Turned out to be island not

modern eyes, for the largest, the were so valuable that it made this left the pier at about 2.30 marked on chart, and indistinguish-modern, as of little over 800 expensive form of transport practic- pm on Sunday. We were drawing able from mainland until close to.

tons burden. about 3 ft. 6 in. aft, three inches Circumnavigated it examining coast less forward, and corks amidship. for 2 likely landing place, Skipper

History was made no August. Wind was from the N.E. and fresh-having decided to send an explora-

22nd, 1837, when a contract. was The opening of the Suez Canal in ening. Large junk unloading large tion party ashore. Found small signed with the Admiralty for the 1870 meant that at one swoop the cases obstructing pier steps, we beach on westward side, with two; reached our vessel by way

of a and a half fathoms within biscuit transport of mails by steamer smaller junk that had an unloading toss Having tossed biscuit, anchor- lime. Crew's first watch was spent fed in the lee, and manned the cap- in removing lime and empty bottles. (tain's gig. Landing party, well- The Skipper, so called not because armed, went off in her. he can skip but because he was the only-man on board with a yacht-

The question is frequently asked, ly 2,000 tons, whose sailing from to which country does the word this country, the two partners, in were not always pleasant for pas-

this country was regarded as important national event.

THE

*

an "Peninsular" refer? It has nothing to do with India, but relates to the

WORLD GOES BY By "ULYSSES"

September 5.-Shore party

able. The merchandise carried often exceeded in value £40,000,000 a year.

to enormous organization of the P. and

By E. R. Yarham

by feared, but all worked willingly to that the service should. Provision etc, rendered useless, but it

was

Peninsular ports. Previously the O's overland route was rendered re-mails had been carried by Govern- useless, while at the same time the ing cap, was fixing fishing lines, turned at 5.30. None missing butment brigs and Post Office packets fleet was rendered practically obso tying on hooks and sinkers, and some locking sick. Rumours soon The word "Oriental" was added to lete. Not only was the capital swearing at the bait.

spread throughout ship, and things the title when the Royal Charter was sunk in barges, steamers, camels, were said about bad joss. Mutiny granted, subject to the September 5-Course. N. W.

extended necessary to build larger steamers Wind still from the N. E. and get away from island. Anchor to Egypt and that within two years to do the whole voyage in one run. freshening. Water coming aboard weighed before 6. Nearly four cat one or more of the company's vess On the

starboard bow Ulysses ties Course E by S. with heavy should be serving the ports of the The directors had to revise the caught broaching cargo. Skipper seas, and a freshening breeze. In Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. company's financial resources ordered him put in irons. No irons 22 deg. N. lat. and 1131⁄2 E. long.

create a new fleet, despite reduced available, so was put in log instead. Spoke a two-master but got not

The wear: 1840 saw the extension and at one time vanished--profit. answer. She was heading South, of the mail service to Egypt, and two. Their difficulties were not lessened September 5-Land sighted on full and by, believed manned by years later the company built the by the refusal of the Post Office the port bow. Signs of a city of local militia. Made landfall before Hindostan for the India service allow the mails to be taken through considerable size, with smoke, noise dark Skipper jammed a finger nail when it secured the valuable India the Canal, and the objection was not and other indications of industrial in one of the cabin ports,

and mail contract. The mails for finally evercome antil 1888, and

activity. After consulting chart, it knocked his head on the skylight. India were taken to Egypt, and then the subsidy was reduced. was held to be Kowloon. Course Bad joss beginning to work. Whose thence by what was long known as Foreign rivals were also bidding for altered one point to starboard, to turn next? May God preserve us the overland route, to Suez, by the trade of the Far East, and were clear a point. Wind and sea in-1 September 5-Fetched pier and camel. From there P. & O. ships able to take full advantage of the creasing, and several cupfuls of disembarked passengers. All safe sent out round the Cape took up the new water

water being shipped. Skipper or-but thirsty. End of log- dered mizzen fore upper topsail taken in. Crew unable to find it, second officer decided to consider it as taken in.

irun between Suez and India.

The thirty years. following

immed

bit of high-powered American years of

company for

to

arkness fell in chamks

until

and Hong

long

Sept. 5-Vessel rolling heavily, descriptive writing- and ballast shifted. Inspection showed that no less than four bot- tles had been shifted. Ulysses ve helpful, urging crew to trust Providence, which would in no w

Course altered

ost due

ws, ande huzzam

front of

and died in the

Happily

Offee its

ing?

“Swift-shutti

loom that

THE CHINA MATE PTEMBE

1937

Page

DARE-TO-DIE BRIGADE RECAPTURE PAOSHAN Japan's Big Push Fails To Make Real Headway

SWIFT CHINESE COUNTERSTROKE ON YANGTSE LINE

Shanghai, To-day. -

WEIGHTY MATTERS

London, To-day.

The discoverer of heavy hydro- gen and heavy water has-now isolated heavy nitrogen, which has an atomic weight fifteen times heavier than ordinary nitrogen.

The discoverer is at present of the new substance per day. Reuter.

Although the Japanese assert that the big push able to produce one-third of a pint

is not yet under way, the biggest battles of the Sino- Japanese conflict raged on all sectors yesterday as the Japanese operating from Yangtsepoo in the

direction of Woosung used machine-guns, trench JAPAN AND

mortars, light and heavy artillery, navy guns and

bombers in an attempt to demoralise the Chinese NEW BID FOR

forces.

The Chinese resisted stubbornly. They may have given a little ground in the Yangtsepoo sec- tor, as the Japanese assert, but on all other fronts their lines remained intact.

NEUTRAL ZONE

Shanghai, To-day.

HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING AT PAOSHAN

Shanghai, To-day.

In the course of the Chinese counter-attack, which resulted in the recapture of Paoshan, the “dare to die" battalions were most prominent in hand to hand combat.

ཏ་ ན

The night was quiet until 2.40 this morning, when desultory firing broke out, which was later succeed- ed by a steady cannonading.

At daybreak, a squadron of Ja- panese planes was sent out on bombing expedition, concentrating especially on the Chinese lines at Liangwan and Yangisepoo.

The Japanese Embassy con-

Japanese scouters unsuccessfully siders the joint British, Ameri- tried to locate the elusive Chines Meanwhile the Chinese claim to have frustrat neutral zone at Shanghai to be the Japanese warships loosed a few can and French proposals for a batteries in Pootung, înto which ed a Japanese attempt to land troops at Liuho. unsuitable.

shells at dawn-Reuter They also say that the Japanese troops in Paoshan tion of a neutral zone on the Whang- The Embassy believes that crea

BATTLE STILL RAGING are being hotly pressed and that Chinese capture of the town is imminent.Reuter. PAOSHAN RECAPTURED

Shanghai, To-day.

The Chinese claim the recapture of the walled city of Paoshan after a fierce counter-attack led by the "dare to die" battalion.

p00 River simultaneously with

the withdrawal of the Japanese warships, would not increase the security of the International Settle- ment, while on the other hand, it would seriously impede the Japan- ese military operations.

The Embassy, however, hints that

the Japanese may themselves short-

is

put up another proposal regard-

ing creation of a neutral zone, to

Meanwhile Chinese planes have heavily bomb-be accompanied by withdrawal of ed the Japanese off Woosung and scored direct hits Ocean.

the Japanese warships. Trans- on two destroyers and one cruiser, according to offi-

cial reports.

It is added that severe Japanese attacks in the

Yangtsepoo and Hongkew sectors were repulsed, ANOTHER VIEW

the Chinese positions remaining unchanged. Reuter.

SHAI CARNAGE

Little Change In Position

Shanghai, To-day. Yesterday's fighting in the Shang-

CHINESE OFFICIAL

COMMUNIQUE

Slight Advance Near Lotien Chen

Shanghai, To-day. hai area is described as one of the A communique issued by Chinese most bloodiest witnessed since the headquarters this morning says that commencement of hostilities. While in spite of the heavy fighting, there the Japanese regular troops sup- has been no change in the lines. ported by marines were launching a The Chinese achieved a slight ad- fierce attack on the Chinese lines vance near Lotien, while a Japan- outside

e Yangtsepoo, about twenty ese attempt to land near Potang Japanese warships lying in forma repulsed.

tion on the Whangpoo River simul- Supreme military taneously opened up fire to cover have been established in Nanking, iquarters the landing of Japanese troops at so that the Chinese army, navy and the Jukong Wharf with the obair force will in re bender Ject effecting a conjunction with a single command Trans Ocean. their comrades in the Woosung area

Up to fast evening, the Chinese and Japanese lines showed no in-

change.

The Jap

MARTIAL LAW AT

BOCCA TIGRIS Ships Liable To

Examina

Following

in the

ON REFUGEE QUESTION

Shanghai, To-day. Statements alleged to have been made in a broad- cast from Hong Kong re- cently, to the effect that con- ditions are generally quieter in Shanghai and that re- fugees now in the Colony may soon be able to return, are criticised by an official of the British Consulate Gen- eral

According to the "North China Daily News, the off- cial stated that at present it would be most inadvisable for refugees to return, the situation

more serious at any mom

Beuter

and all ships passing

tion.

the meantime, reports

that foreig

otection for

Shanghai, To-day.

The biggest battle of the war is still raging, though replaced infantry fighting artillery fire seems to have for the time being.

Chinese guns in Kiangwan and Japanese pieces in Yang tsepoo are blazing away each other without ceasing, each apparently being un able to silence the other.

The explosion of the shells, some of them of large cali bre, is literally shaking Shanghai

Most intensive bombard- ment was at 5.30 this morn- ing, when the shelling rose” to terrific beights, leading to the opinion of observers in the Settlement that a Jap- anese attack was about to be launched

This failed to materialise, however. Trans-Ocean:

UNEMPLOYED FEWER

London, To-day. Unemployment was down again last month. The Ministry of Labour ates at August 23 show that the number of insured persons. employment in Great Britain, clusive of

mploy

tish Wir

when a

Queen M

the