1939-04-20 — Page 11

libi

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 20, 1939.

ACT OF WAR AGAINST BRITISH SHIPPING?

MINISTER SEEKS

TO ALLAY ALARMS

Spanish Troop Troops

Seven Inches

Of Rain

WITH the biggest fall

coming between 8 and 9 a.m. to-day, for the entertainment of people going to office, over 7 inches of rain fell in the 24 hours from 10 a.m. yesterday:

1

The

Movements

London, To-day,

The suggestion that there might be an act of war against British shipping was made by Lord Strabolgi in the course of the debate in the House of Lords yesterday on foreign affairs. Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, replying, as- sured Lord Strabolgi that the subject had en- gaged the full attention of the Government, who had not been at all unmindful of their obligations in that connection. He could not say more at present.

Diverted

To "Gib""

board

London, To-day. TWO battalions of in- fantry, at present on the troopship "Somersetshire," on their way to Egypt are to be temporarily diverted, and landed at Gibraltar.

Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to-

According to well-informed day, 1.150 inches were register- Replying to a question from Lord The Spanish authorities added quarters, the step is not to be re- ed. Last evening, between 6 and Strabolgi whether any agreements that they were prepared au-garded as a permanent measure, 7. p.m., .98 inch were recorded. reached with other countries would thorise any foreign newspapermen but is precautionary in view of The total since the beginning. of be registered with the League of who wished to do so to visit the the continued rumours and the in the April, 11.665 inches, compares Nations, Lord Halifax said he had Spanish zone of Morocco in order atmosphere of tension with 1.8 inches in the whole no doubt it would be the purpose to carry out investigations on the Gibraltar and Tangier zones. month last year, and has already of the Government, to take what-spot.-Reuter. created a record for 12 years. ever action was incumbent upon them under Article XVI, but it would de-

The day's rain since 10 a.m. yesterday is greater than the pend in some degree upon the form normal average for the whole of agreement reached. month, which is 5.444 inches.

Actually 7.200 inches of rain were recorded in 24 hours, according to the Royal Observatory, and this constitutes a record for any single day in the month of April.

The following was the rainfall from 12 midnight:

1a.m.-1.180 ins. 2 a.m.-0.185 ins. 3 a.m.-0.285 ins.

4 a.m.-0.620 ins.

5 a.m.-0.030 ins.

6 a.m.--0.265 ins.

7 a.m.-0.045 ins.

8 a.m.-0.650 ins.

9 a.m.-1.150 ins.

DIVERSION OF SHIPPING VIA THE CAPE

London, To-day.

A British steamship company has decided to send certain ships on the Far East traffic via the Cape, instead of the Suez Canal.

An official of the Brocklebank Line of Liverpool said the reason was one of cost, depending on war risk insurance only.

Effect of the decision was to divert ships which usually went from India and the Far East via Suez to America.

Ships to the United Kingdom continue to use Suez because the Government's war risk insurance rates thereon were not higher than via the Cape, whereas vessels from the Far East to America via Suez had to pay war risk insurance. rates of 55/- per cent. compared with 10/- via the Capo-Reutør.

SPANISH DEMOBILISATION

+

In regard to rumours of troop movements in Spain, Lord Halifax pointed out that a good deal of the

QUO TAI-CHI APPLAUDS

troop movements was legitimately ROOSEVELT

and naturally accounted for by the fact that the Spanish army was now demobilising.

There was no need for the move- ments to cause uneasiness, the For- eign Secretary concluded.--Reuter.

"FULLEST ASSURANCES"

London, To-day.

The Spanish authorities at Tangier have given the British Consul-General the fullest assur- ances that there is no truth in the rumour that Spain intends to occupy the territory.

This is according to a Spanish press service message received by Reuter in London.

described The rumours -are "totally false and unjustified."

ACTION

to

LONDON, TO-DAY. THE CHINESE AMBASSA- DOR, MR. QUO TAI-CHI, AD- DRESSING THE BRITISH AND

It is only proposed, at present, that the troops shall stay in Gibraltar until the arrival of the Welsh Guards, who are due to leave England for Gibraltar on Saturday.

Malta Order Clarified

-London, To-day.

NORTH AMERICAN LUN- REPORTS have been in CHEON CLUB YESTERDAY,

EXPRESSED SATISFACTION

circulation that the

THAT PRESIDENT ROOSE families of British troops VELT WAS EQUALLY EM-in Malta have been or- PHATIC ABOUT ASIA AS dered to prepare to leave.

EUROPE.

Stressing that China's grim fight for international political decency and afterwards for De- mocracy kept the Axis' Asiatic partner occupied, Mr. Quo Tai-

chi added:

"Faltering on the part of China would set the whole world still as further out of its stride."-

Reuter.

It is semi-officially announced here that there is no truth in the report.

What has happened is that married officers and men of the Malta garrison were given per- mission, in view of the present critical situation, to send their families home if they so desired.

Trans-Ocean.

TEOFANI CIGARETTES

KING'S GUARD

VIRGINIA

MADE IN ENGLAND

A GOOD

Tin of 50-85 cts.

Cigarettel

but INEXPENSIVE