1939-10-25 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 25, 1939

CITY OF FLINT AFFAIR German Admiralty Still Denies Knowledge WASHINGTON NOT YET TAKING VERY SERIOUS VIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS

London, To-day..

THE UNITED STATES Embassy in Berlin has re- ceived instructions to ask the German Govern- ment for a full explanation of the seizure of the City of Flint, 6,501 tons, which is owned by the United States Shipping Board.”

At present, the German Admiralty denies any

knowledge of the seizure.

The City of Flint was seized on Saturday by a Ger- man cruiser while she was on the way from

America to Liverpool and Glasgow.

She was taken to the Norwegian,7 port of Tromso, but put to sea again after two hours, and Norwegian sailors say that they saw her holst the Swastika flag.

Yesterday, she arrived in the Gulf of Kola (in which Murmansk is situated), flying the Nazi flag. The Soviet authorities promptly detained her and the German "prize crew" of 18 men. It la not known whether the original American crew was still on board. The Soviet: authorities state that the detention is only temporary and American circles in Moscow believe that arrangements will soon be made to enable

her to saíl again. The Germans claim that she carried con-

traband cargo. Reuter.

STILL TRYING

:

Washington, To-day.

at

The United States Government Is still trying to find out from Russia details of the seizure of the City of Flint, but no information has yet been received of the whereabouts of the crew, President Roosevelt stated the press conference yesterday.

Replying to a question, the Pre- sident sald

# Government- that owned ship was practically of the same status

vessal as a private

as far as seizure was concerned. The President added that the report received from the United States Am- bassador in Moscow stated that all the facts about the seizure are not yet known there.

Asked whether he had authority, under the existing law, to order American ships to stay away from war zones, President Roosevelt replied in. the negative, but added that he hoped to get the City of Flint back- Reuter.

ENQUIRY IN MOSCOW

Washington, To-day. The United States Embassy in Moscow is asking the Soviet Govern- ment for information about the City of Flint. Reuter.

NEUTRAL PORT ISSUE

Washington, To-day. President Roosevelt's press secre- tary, Mr. Stephen Early, said yester- day that the City of Flint was on a perfectly legal, and lawful voyage under the present laws..

Asked whether International law permitted Germany to sail. the ship Into a neutral port, Mr. Early said that the State Depart- ment" was examining that aspect and had asked -American, repres sentatives abroad to gather all the facts.**

Mr. Early pointed out that under the neutrality, legislation now being discussed the City of Flint could not have sailed for British porta. Reuter.

FIRST MOSCOW REPORT

Washington, To-day. President Roosevelt states that he hopes to get back the City of Flint.

He adds that, a report has

ceived, from, the United States bassador to Moscow,

full facts of the seizu known.

Heuter.

FRENCH CONFIDENCE IN ITALY

London, To-day. The French wireless announces that the black-out will cease in French districts along the Fran- co-Italian border. This, the an- nouncer sald, shows confidence in Italy's neutrality.-Reuter.

NEUTRALITY BILL CHANGES

Washington, To-day. The Senate has approved amendment of the Neutrality Bill to lift the drastic restrictions on United States shipping except North Atlantic danger zones.

The amendment--would permit American vessels to

carry any materials, except to belligerent ports in the South Atlantic, Paci- fic, Indian Oceans, China, Tasman and Arabian Seas, Bay of Bengal, Bermuda, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The Senate also approved an amendment permitting inland commerce with Canada and Mexico to continue normally without requiring, purchasers to obtain title to supplies before they are transported across the border.

The Senate has also accepted the proposal deleting the clause permitting belligerents to obtain 90-day credits.

Commenting on the seizure of the City of Flint,. Senator Cón- nally reminded the Senate that the shipping restrictions in the proposed Neutrality Bill would prevent a recurrence of such

· cases, —— Reuter.

CONTRABAND. IN THE

R FLINT,

Washington, To-day. More

half of the City of Flint's cargo was probably conditional contraband, and a small part pro- bably absolute contraband, declared the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, discussing the seizure at some length at a press confer ace.

He declined to åtal what, action the Government might

suid that

flag.

Court

Her. "of

replaced the Router.

LOKMACHAU RAID

BY ARMED GANG

Eight robbers, four with revolvers and four with daggers, ransacked

three houses in Lok Ma Chau shortly

after midnight.

The victims were three women, To

Mui, 45, Cheung Suk-ying, 64; and

Chol Yuk-wai, `14.

AMENDMENT REJECTED

Washington, To-day.

A proposed amendment to the Neutrality Bill that American ships should keep 800 miles away from Europe when proceeding to neutral countries was rejected by 71 to 18.

The approved amendments also Include one that inland com- merce with 'Canada and Mexico will continue normally-Reu-

tor.

RUSSIAN SHIFT BOSS ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

VICTOR SHAMRAFFF, 24, A RUSSIAN,

WAS THIS MORNING: CHARGED BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR ATHOLL MACGRE- GOR, AT THE CRIMINAL SESSIONS WITH THE MANSLAUGHTER OF IP MAN-WONG AT LINGʻ MA HANG MINES ON SEPTEMBER 9.

Mr. J. B. Prentis conducted the case | been ruptured. for the Crown, and the Hon. Mr. Leo d'Almada, instructed by Mr. W. C. Hung, was for the accused.

The following jury was empanelled; Messrs. E. R. Cutcher (foreman), J. { H. Xavier, J. D. Chin, E. Christensen, A. A. Silva, H. S. Advani and H. T. R. Liang.

The Crown's case, concluded Mr. Prentis, was that deceased had been unlawfully struck by accused, a blow which led to death. The company had an order forbidding any shift boss, as accused was, to strike any Chinese workmen.

Dr. A. D. Wong, doctor mines, said

he met deceased

at the

on a

Mr. Prentis said the charge arose out of an incident at the mines on Sep-stretcher. A quick examination tember 9 at about

11.30 p.m.

The showed bruises on the lip and above dead man was employed there as a

the nose. Artificial respiration was driller, and when there was no drill applied, and later an injection was ing work, he was put on something given but the man died. From his else. There were some 2,000 workers record, the man had never been un- and the majority

der his care at the mines. were Hakas and Shantung men. They worked in two

POST-MORTEM shifts the night shift from 6 p.m. to 2 am, with an interval of an hour at 10 p.m.

On the night of September 9, the deceased and two others, Chan Tung and Lau Sze, were ordered to work in No. 5 mine. They went to work at 8 p.m. and broke off at 10 p.m. for their meal.

ד ·

Dr. Tye, in charge of the Kowloon Mortuary, said he performed a post- mortem examination. There was à patch of bruising over the lower chest wall over the floating rib.

of bleeding and bruise' mark.

Internally there was a small amount abdomen contained free blood and The clots of blood. The spleen was three Mr. Prentis explained in detail var-tured. There were no-signs-of-dis- times its normal size and was rup- lous passages of the mine and the means of communication.

At 11 p.m., the men were supposed to return to work, Accused saw that a number of men had not returned.

TWO BLOWS

He asked Chan Tung, the foreman, to go and see what had happened. He went halfway down the side of the mine and shouted to the men who were at the bottom of the Man way. The foreman returned and reported that the men were at the bottom of the ladder and that he did not know why they did not come up.

+

ruptured

J

ease, injury or fracture.

Cause of death was a spleen and haemorrhage.

In answer to Mr. Prentis, witness said that the bruises could have been caused by mild blows.

1

:

The injuries could have been caus- ed by a blunt, hard object, and could have been caused by deceased falling

on rocks.

Witness agreed with Mr. d'Almada that if told the history of the case, he would be satisfied that the stones caused the injury to the ribs.

He agreed that the enlargement of the spleen was probably malarial.

The case was adjourned till 10 am. to-morrow.

MISFORTUNE COMES NOT

SINGLY

"ING ON THE KNOCKED ALE HOY BE, CONTAINING

Chan Tung and accused then went to the Man way where they found the dead man and others standing about, On waiting for the way to be clear. arrival, accused told the men to get to work, and struck Lau Sze on the but- tock, and deceased a slight blow. Ip Man-wong was then struck again, and fell to the ground. The other men went up the Man way, followed by ac- cused, but deceased didTM not follow.

Some time later, Mr. Steward, also employed at the mine, came from an- other tunnel- and saw two carpenters WHILE HE over a man. He enquired what was GROUND A the matter and saw decoused on the DOWN BY- ground. He filled his helmet with PICKED UP HIS water from nearby and then sent a $810, AND RAN AWAY ACCORD- carpenter to call accused. When ace ING TO A REPORT MADE TO THE cused arrived, he said, "The swine at- POLICE BY LAI BIU.LUN, OF NO. tacked me and I knocked, him down," 340, DES VOEUX ROAD WEST.

Mr. Steward tried to carry the in- At 10 am. yesterday, ha stated, he jured man to the mines' once, but was knocked down by car No. 4140 was unable and he had to be taken on near the Western Market. The our a stretcher The doctor met the in-.did not stop. jured man on the way,. An injection Lal's case, containing the money was given, but he died soon after." was flung across the road,

COMPANY, ORDEA ****** plšked up by a boy The post-mortem showed external before Lai managed bruises on the lips and fage and....on the side of the body. The pleen had:

Lal was admitte Mary Hospital for

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