1939-03-02 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 2, 1989

Pags

HUGE

FIRE DESTROYS JAPANESE MUNITION DEPOT

DERBY SWEEP RUMOURINGS PERSIST

Rumours persist concerning the identity of the holders of the prize- winning tickets in the record Derby Sweep. Actually, we are official- ly informed, no-one can state with any certainty as no claim has yet been lodged for any of the first three prizes.

4

Apparently authentic, one re- port suggested that an Indian clerk in the Dairy Farm, had won the third prize of $34,291, but this was promptly denied on en- quiry.

An amah employed at Saifee Terrace, Kowloon, drew a pony on her own undivided ticket, collected $2,956.

A report that University stud-

ents

won the first prize of $240,000 cannot be confirmed. It is, however, possible that the story arose from the fact that University students gained first prizes on the ordinary sweeps on two successive days.

The rumour also persists that a syndicate in which Dr. and Mrs. S. N. Chau were interested took the first prize, though this has been repeatedly denied.

ANOTHER STORY

Another remarkable story, the more remarkable if it is true, was

OSAKA, TO-DAY.

THE TREMENDOUS FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT POLISH NOTE

IN THE JAPANESE MUNITIONS DEPOT AT

HIRAKATA, NEAR OSAKA, ON TUESDAY, TO DANZIG

WAS STILL RAGING LAST NIGHT.

The damage is enormously greater than was origin- SENATE

ally announced.

The deathroll, too, is believed, to be extremely heavy, though official figures are lacking.

It

Danzig, To-day. The Senate of the Free City has

is believed that the conflagration began with a received a note from the Polish

series of rocking explosions, in which scores of munitions workers lost their lives.

ap-

panied by explosion after explo- tions magazine at Hirakata.

It then spread rapidly, accom- of fire in the Japanese army muni- sion which made it practically im The explosions rendered possible for fire-fighters to approach very dangerous.. Devasta- proach near enough effectively to tion reigns for a mile around. combat the outbreak.

The fire thus extended, to all parts of the extensive depot and the efforts of the massed fire brigades of all surrounding dis- tricts, including the greater part of Osaka's equipment, remained without effect at all until last night when they were able to gain control of the flames in some of the buildings involved.

TERSE COMMUNIQUES Official communiques are terse. One issued last night state that order is being maintained throughout the district and thắt the populace is calm.

Army detachments are playing. a major role in combating the flames, one battalion of infantry, one company of engineers and

Buildings destroyed or dam- aged include the psychopathic- asylum, the Osaka Art School, the Nakanomiya Hospital, the Osaka Dentistry College, a women's higher school, a pri- mary school and a spinning mill.

ap-

Government, proposing the pointment of a special commission to enquire into the incidents which have occurred between Polish and German students in Danzig.

?

The Senate, it is said, will not answer the Note so long as it has not itself received the Polish Gov- ernment's reply to the protest lodged in Warsaw on Monday, in which the Senate requested the Polish Commissioner in Danzig to disavow the resolution passed by the Polish Students Association in Danzig, which is regarded by the

The authorities have thrown a Senate as insulting. ring of soldiers and police round the area. Reticence is being ob-technical College in Danzig (which Meanwhile, the Rector of the served as to casualties. Reuter.

HOSPITALS. FULL OF VICTIMS

Osaka, To-day. The fire which broke out in the Hirakata Munitions Factory, even- tually involved almost the entire

this-- morning.

was the scene of the recent inci- dents) has announced that five members of the committee of the Polish Students Association, "Bratnia Pomore," who were res- ponsible for the resolution have been expelled from the college. Trans-Ocean.

four first aid detachments having wirakata area but the control NATIONAL SERVICE

been sent to the scene.

ove:

In addition, there are 1,000 police officials, and 170 members of fire brigade as-

task..*

in circulation this morning, con- sisting in the te

cerning the second prize ticket.

According to the retailers of this report, a Chinese shopkeeper. con- ceived the idea of giving away tickets in the Derby Sweep to pur- chasers of goods exceeding a cer-

tain amount.

:

MAJOR DISASTER

was reported to be under control,

Troops, police and fire brigades sent from Osaka are still there, rescuing and taking charge of countless injured and homeless.

IN FINLAND

Meanwhile, the three main hos-

Helsinski, To-day. pitals in Osaka are crowded with The Finnish Government has It ic already apparent, how-injured who are gradually flowing introduced a bill for national ser- have suffered a major disaster. ever, that the Japanese military in from Hirakata. Thousands of vice in war time.

homeless are also being taken care of If adopted, all men and women institutions in Osaka. and given shelter in Government between 18 and 60 would, at tho outbreak of war, report for national

The bill provides that those lia- defence and for filling up vacancies in the war industry and agriculture.

ble to national-service can be call- ed, in peace time, for not more than 60 days for training purposes. -Trans-Ocean.

damage at over 50,000,000,yen in Unofficial estimates place the One hundred tickets were ex- buildings, apart from the fact yet unknown-Our Own Corres- machinery and war material and The origin of the conflagration is hibited in the window and of these that one of Japan's greatest pondent. 75 had been given away on Derby munitions depots is out of com- Day. In the evening, a crowd as mission for at least a year. ---- sembled outside the shop and the proprietor, investigating, was dumb-Trans-Ocean and Our Own. Cor-

founded (the story goes) when it was pointed out to him that the second prize ticket was on exhibi- tion!

He hastily withdrew it and dis- covered himself (the story goes) possessor of a ticket worth $68,000.

respondent.

Series Of Explosions Tokyo, To-day,

A series of explosions lasting four hours followed the outbreak

MUSSOLINI'S BRITAIN DOES "TRIPLE TASK" NOT RECOGNISE

NANKING 'GOVT.'

Rome, To-day.

Mussolini received the new DI- rectory of the Fascist Party in the Palazzo Venezia yesterday.

London, To-day.

The British Government does Defining the guiding principles not recognise the pro-Japanese the threefold task (Empire, Race Government in Nanking, declared and Autarchy) the Duce proclaim-† Mr. R. A. Butler in the House of the motto "More and more intensive Commons yesterday. military preparations and more and Mr. Butler said that the Gov- more social justice", in order to safeguard the defence of Italy against "plans of encirclement har boured by the anti-Fascist world movements against the Authoritari an States," and to amalgamate the working masses closer and closer with the Tascist State. Trans- Ocean.

DALADIER TO BE NEXT PRESIDENT?

Paris, To-day,

The possibility of M. Daladier

becoming next President of the French Republic was openly dis- cussed in French political circles yesterday.

TANGANYIKA REPORTS DENIED

London, To-day Replying to a question in the House of Commons, the Secretary The election is scheduled for for the Colonies, Mr. Malcolm April 6

Right wing circles are not thusiastic over the idea of the

Macdonald, denied that National en Socialist propaganda was being Pre-aprend among the natives of Tang-

mier giving up his post an

and hope anyika territory.

that President Lebrun will decide

run for

re-election-Trans-

Ocean.

BRAZIL EXTENDS RECOGNITION

Lisbon, To-day.

ernment had received no official confirmation that the "Nanking authorities" were carrying on a The Brazilian Government has "silent war against the Inter-instructed its Ambassador here to national Settlement and the inform the Spanish Ambassador in French Concession, as well, as Lisbon that Brazil has decided to ro- against British and French ship-cognize General Franco's Govern ping in the Far East. Trans-mont as the legitimato Government Ocean.

of Spain. Trans-Ocean,

He declared that such reports were made to the Governor of Tang- anyika Territory from time to time but they, had proved wholly un- founded after careful examination. -Trans-Ocean:

CAMERA THEFT

Chow Yik Chuen, 89, was

thia morning found guilty of stealing a Brownie camera from private car. No, 6102 bolonging to Mr. E. Jof- fery, No. 26 Mody Road, who had loft the vehicle parked in Middle Road. He was fined. $10 or one month's hard labour.