THE CHINA MAIL NOVEMBER 28, 1939
Big Liner Blazing Furiously Off Thames Estuary
SPAARNDAM STILL AFLOAT HOURS AFTER STRIKING MINE: BUT CATCHES FIRE
London, To-day.
HYDERABAD AN OUTBREAK OF FIRE aboard the Dutch passen-
ger liner, Spaarndam, of 8,857 tons, which FIGHTER struck a mine in the Thames Estuary yesterday afternoon, and was believed to have sunk, re- vealed, shortly after midnight, that the vessel was still afloat.
The liner, which was bound for Rotterdam from South America, had been completely abandon- ed, with the loss of life of four members of the crew and a woman passenger.
Three of the victims were drowned when they were thrown into the sea and the other two were killed by the explosion of the mine.
The explosion occurred in the the early afternoon and whan the lifeboats from shore reached the Spaarndam seemed likely to
sink at any moment.
BLAZING FURIOUSLY
her,
Just before midnight, fire broke out on board, and she is now blazing
1.
SQUADRON
The new
London, To-day.
the fighter squadron of R.A.F., to which the Nizam of Hydera- now
bad contributed £100,000, has been formed. Its pilots will be drawn
New
from Great Britain, Australia, Zealand and South Africa.-Reuter..
NANNING'S FALL OFFICIALLY ADMITTED
furiously off the Thames Estuary in NANNING
full view of people lining the shore.
She appears to be down heavily by the head, but her bulkheads aft" ap: pear to be holding, accounting for the fact that she has remained afloat so long. Reuter.
X.
SWISS STEAMER STRIKES MINE"
Berlin, To-day.
The German newspapers assert that а Swiss steamer named Helena has been sunk by a mine in the English Channel.
It is believed here that the ship referred to is the Helene Kulukundis, of 5,548 tons, which was one of nine ships chartered by the Swiss Transport Office from a Greek shipping firm for the duration of the war.
of
The ship was bound from the United States with a cargo cereals. Reuter.
Kwong Chow Wan, To-day. GATEWAY and ancient capital of was occupied by the Japanese yes- terday, according to official Chinese despatches received last night.
Kwangsi
T
Fighting an effective rear-guard action, in spite of the numerous Japanese aircraft overhead, the majority of the Chinese troops left behind to en- gage the invading forces, successfully withdrew to prepared positions, north of the city.
“THE LION HAS WINGS"
most
"The Lion Has Wings" is the exciting and inspiring film to arrive since the war began. Alexander Korda's epic of the Royal Air Force is true, human, amusing and reveal- ing; it will thrill you with pride, writes
a
U.S. BID FOR Home film critic. S. AMERICAN
MARKETS
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Washington, To-day, The Pan-American financial and economic conference has agreed to the creation of a Pan-American Bank which will act as a clearing house for financial transactions between American States, operating something on the lines of the Bank of Inter- national Settlements. A
A number of Chinese soldiers-"sui- cide squads were last night reported in Nanning engaged in street-fighting and sniping.
it is estimated that in the battle around Nanning - alone, the Ja- panese' lost bome 2,000 men. The casualties suffered by the Chinësë have yet not been established; **5 Most of the Chinese casualties were caused by Japanese aircraft.
Meanwhile, Chinese guerillas are re- ported very active in areas between
+
,'
SEVEN
DIE IN WEST
..
POINT FIRE
Seven people perished in the disasterous fire at West Point car- six ly yesterday morning, and were seriously injured, according to the latest investigations.
The body of a young girl was found in the debris yesterday afternoon.
Four are still missing, and may have been trapped and burned to death..
They Include * 51-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman, and two boys, aged 11 and 13 years, respectively.
:
PREMIER'S BROADCAST APPROVED IN AMERICA
Washington, To-day.
Mr. Cordell-Hull in a for- mal statement said that he was gratified but not sur- prised at Mr. Chamberlain's speech in which he said that trade is pre- increased requisite of lasting peace in Europe.
* *
Mr. Cordell Hull hoped that when
the time came these economic ideas would be given broad and effective
application.
dorsed
Mr. Cordell Hull specifically en- Mr. Chamberlain's statement that only by increased inter-change of goods and services can the standard of living be improved.
first
He indicated strongly for the time that he would insist on the re- enactment of the Trade Agreements Act on its expiry in 1940 which pro- gramme had been carried out in the to conviction that it was essential bring back the balance of American agriculture to industry-Reuter.
BELGIAN
Nanning and Yamchowfu. Japanese DEFENCE
.
are
supplies along the Nanning-Yam- chow route
being constantly. ambushed-Our Own Correspondent KWANGSI LEADERS CONTENT Kwelin, To-day. Chinese military circles predict ma~ jor. operations in the Watkiang' River
It opens with scenes of peace-and freedom-loving Britain at work and play; while Germans are learning to fight Bookies shout the odds at race meetings; Hitler shouts the odds in Berlin. Very amusing, these sequences,
Merle Oberon and Ralph Richard-valley. son re-enact the drama that came to
every British home when the Prime Minister broadcast on that fateful Sun- day morning; and the film goes on to show the preparations for war.
KIEL CANAL RAID
The Kiel Canal Raid is brilliantly
They are not at all perturbed by the rapid Japanese advance. It is point ed out that the Japanese occupy a cor- ridor about 100 kilometres in length, stretching from the seacoast to
the Watkiang valley, hemmed in by the Sap Men Tai Shan and Ku Low Shan
ranges with the Watkiang River at
one end.
The headquarters will be in New see these heroes getting out of their exposed to attack from three sides. All
York and the American dollar will be adopted as the basic currency, p
There will be twenty-one members of the Board of the Bank, one from each of the member countries. Havas.
reproduced, under the guidance of the men who took part," and you actually
machines on their return-a real thrill.
HONG KONG HOTEL
The Japanese along this line
are
resources and highways are destroy- ed.
All regular and militia units in How the secret Central Control of Kwangsi have been mobilised.-Cen- the Fighter Commands tackles an airtral News. raid on· England is shown in great detail and with much tense drama, The film, indeed, all through gives you the feeling that you are learning-more about the war than you knew before.
And your old Gaumont-British News A communique states that there was friend, E. V. H. Emmett, pops up at: a local infantry and arilllery, en- appropriate moments with his usund gagement during yesterday morning witty commentary, A✨ great; show, to the east of Moselle; otherwise this, which everyone will be talking there was nothing to report Reuter,Fabout:
-
LOCAL INFANTRY « ENGAGEMENT
Paris, To-day.
ROOM THEFT
Police are investigating the re- port of the loss of $550 by a re- sident of the Hong Kong Hotel. The victim was Mr. Brandel, re- siding in Room 207, and he
*bolicema informed the bolle
that money was taken from his room between 7 and 10 p.m. on Sunday,
PRECAUTION
Brussels, To-day. On Sunday night, the Bel- gian authorities again com- mandeered motor buses and army leave was cancelled.
The Minister for National De- fence says that the commandeering of the buses was only for the one day.
There is no confirmation
of
Paris report that German troops have
been moving about in the Aix-la- to Chappelle (Aachen) region close the Belgian frontier.-Reuter."
CAPTURE OF GERMAN SHIP
London: To-day,
In connection with the capture the German": chantman Konsul Henrik Fisser bý a British warship, this ship should not be confused with the Berta Fisser which, as already re- ported, broke up on the Iceland coast after being attacked by a British war ship-Reuter
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.