1940-07-23 — Page 8

"I can tell

WHITE

HORSE

blindfold

it's equal to a fine liqueur"

Sole Agents for South China: JARQINE MATHESON AND COMPANY LTD

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 23, 1940

GALLANT FEAT ON CHINA COAST BY BRITONS BELGIAN

ONE OF THE most impressive demonstrations

FIGHT TO

of the China Coast tradition of comradeship at sea, VICTORY

yellow or white, was described by passengers arriv- ing in Shanghai in a British steamer from Hong Kong.

M. Marcel-Henri Jaspar, Bel- gian Minister of Health, speaking in French in a B.B.C. broadcast said it was untrue that the Belgian Government, now in Portugal, had resolved not to continue the fight.

"The war for the defence of our.

They told in terms of admiration of the thrilling and heroic rescue in the dark, early hours of July 14, of eight Swatow fishermen, one a boy of twelve, facing almost certain death in a waterlogged junk. Fatherland continues," he said, Caught in the fury of the re- them. They stated they had and will continue till victory. cent typhoon which swept the been adrift since about five that That is the purpose of my arrival China Coast, the junk was dis-morning and two ships has pass-in Great Britain.. I am here nasted and the base drove a hole ed without noticing their plight. awaiting other Belgian Ministers through the bottom of the junk, Only their drift on to the course

which slowly began to fill. For of the rescuing steamer, which who may be able to reach Eng- the best part of a day, the junk nearly ran them down, revealed tinue alone the task of leading the land, but if necessary I shall con-

drifted helplessly and as night their presence.

Belgian war effort."

M. Jaspar said that Belgium had

"Soldiers!

came on it sank deeper as big! Next morning, fed and refresh- waves battered it.. With lights ed, they seemed none the worse out and only the dimhest glim- for their adventure, and a whip-still considerable resources and all mer of blue illuminating the round among the passengers re-the wealth of the Belgian Congo, decks, the British vessel, rolling sulted in the collection of $400 which they would maintain intact. in the heavy seas, narrowly es-which will be given them when caped running down the junk they are sent back from Shang- which it passed only by a few hai to Swatow. feet about 11 pm. The junk crew were then up to their waists in water, and

their pitiful cries

awakened the passengers in their cabins, so near was the distressed

craft.

HEAVY SEAS

Immediately, Captain L. McRae

CONCERTS

FOR ARMS

took charge of rescue operations, WORKERS

and stopped his engines. The gloom of the night was broken;

nately covered by scudding clouds

Destroy your arms

and munitions, for you must leave nothing in the enemy's hands," he declared. "Let him have nothing which he might use against those for whose aid we have ourselves appealed."

Sallors! Leave the French ports [and make your way to those of the British Empire. Do not abandon The Fleet to the enemy, do not add to defeat the disgrace of treason. Those Belgians who are in France I ask to stand by our French friends in the dark days through

France cannot perish nor can she

only by a faint half moon alter- Mr. Bevin, Minister of which their country is passing. which shot a beam of light across Labour, was present yes-enslaved. The French Empire the sea, Skilfully manoeuvring terday at the first concert is still there and is at our side." bring her as his ship, Captain McRae tried to

The speech was afterwards

near as possible to for munitions workers, at broadcast in Flemish. the drifting junk, while members a factory "Somewhere in of the crew prepared lifebuoys

and lifelines to throw to the junk-England."

men, but the seas were running The idea, originated by Mi. so heavily that four times the Bevin, Minister of Labour, junk swept past the ship, almost Mr. Bevin himself, is to provide *D*D*D*D•D within reach but not within entertainment and relaxation for safety. At times, it was difficult the thousands of workers all over to see them, but their cries could the country, and it is hoped that; be heard plainly above the roar this will help them to increase of the waters.

SALE

Sensation!

ALL PRICES ARE

· GREATLY REDUCED

DURING OUR

SUMMER SALE

BOAT LOWERED

output.

Mr. Bevin congratulated the

It was then decided to lower a workers on their marvellous out- boat, and within a few seconds put, and told them:-

it was swung ́ out on the davits

"The more you keep it up, the

HURRICANE AIDS CREW OF

ENEMY VICTIM

and another search proceeded quicker we will get this wretched] A Hurricane pilot yesterday before the boat was lowered. The job over-and we are going to get directed the rescue of surviving task of discovery was made even it over on our terms!"

1

German airmen from a Dornier

on

Catching up the Dornier, which dive to sea level as soon as he saw the fighters, the Hurricane pilots shot the German bomber down partly fire into the sea. One man climbed into a rubber boat and one Hurricane-pilot circled round while the other went to find a rescue vessel. A motor torpedo from boat

appeared and the pilot and went British Wireless,

SEAFORTHS HAD A GRAND TIME

more difficult by the war-time! With the factory workers, 501-17 which he and à companion black-out conditions on board the diers, sailors, airmen, mercantile had shot down... ship, and only a few hand electric marine men and all others, they torches could

be brought into would be able to "do it and do it had started a long play to pierce the darkness. thoroughly."-Reuter. Eventually, the boat was lowered in command of the Second Om- cer, Mr. J. L. Bains, and the herculean task of getting under way in waves which almost swamped the boat started. For two hours the boat searched the sea guided only by the cries from A group of B.E.F. men the distressed junkmen answer-Dunkirk told how the Germans directed it to the rubber boat. ing shouts from the boat's crew, advanced in a mass for the moon slowly sank into a down in heaps. They faced the dark mass of clouds leaving little fire, but when the B.E.F. advan- light for rescue operations, ced with bayonets they turned and.

Passengers watching from the fled. A sergeant said: "A bat- deck obtained only a vague oùt-talion of Seaforths were ordered line of events, for the night was to cover our retreat and fight a too black and the ship's boat was rearguard action, but they decided lost in the obscurity of raging to attack. It was a grand sight- Jean Ybarnegary, French min- waters. Suddenly, there came the Scotties simply yelled and ister of youth and family, an- the welcome flash from the Se-went for a large force of the nounced afficially in Vichy that cond Officer's torch, which was enemy. They killed a large French youth would be trained interpreted as a signal of rescue. number and fairly routed the from infancy along the lines. The boat had arrived just in Germans who had been attack-which proved. so successful in time, for the junk was barelying us in this area."

Germany-Associated Press. afloat and took the plunge shortly after the fishermen were taken

Come early for best selection.off

YEE SANG FAT

& CO., LTD.

□□□○□□□□□□□□□□□□

BAGGAGE TRANSFERS

Telephone 27761

to Engage our Service.

Efficient and Secure

CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN & MORTGAGE CO., LTD.

MIRACLES OF SEAMANSHIP.

Then came the equally difficult task of getting the boat and 'men · on board, for the stationary, sten- mer rolled heavily and it took a long and strong pull to bring the boat alongside." Time and time, again, Captain McRae made his vessel perform, in the passengers'

MODEL FRENCH

NAZIS?

GRIM STORY OF FROSSOULA'S LOSS

THE PANAMANIAN steamer Frossoula,

observation, miracles of seaman- of 1,200 tons, has been sunk in the Atlantic

ship, providing a lee to enable,

the boat to come alongside, and by German aircraft, it was revealed in London

eventually it entered safe and

calmer waters, but even then at yesterday.

one` point; there was a threat of

capsizing which was overcome

The Frossoula left Barcelona on July 15, only. by skilful and strenuous and was some 250 miles north-west of Cape

efforts, for the weather was too

in the black of night. The boat

foul to encourage such operations Finisterre when she was sunk by bombs from and its passengers were holsted German-aircraft. ̈

aboard and three hours after the

>

start of this brave incident of the Eighteen men left in two life-ed a British port. Three men were China Sea, the steamer continued boats, one commanded by the still alive-the chlëf officer, the captain, the other by the chief second engineer and one scaman. on her way to Shanghai.

officer. Nothing more has been They are now being cared for in a PASSENGERS' GENEROSITY:: heard of the captain's boat. The shipwrecked fishermen,

British hospital. wet and exhausted, were immedi- Those in the chief officer's boat The Frossoula was nearly 300 ately attended to by Mr. C. W. suffered terrible hardships. The miles north-west, of Cape Finis Stocks, the Purser, who provided weather was very bad; men were terre when attacked, and the them with Su swift › "stick" ́of washed' from the lifeboat and weather was very bad. Her last brandy-the boy Included-and others died of exposure, +

port of call was Barcelona.

.

food and clothing were given. After four days, the boat reach-Reuter,

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 23, 1940

Strange Rumours Of Rumania: Now Swinging To Soviet

(SPECIAL. TO “China Mail“)

NO CONFIRMATION was available yes-

terday (says Havas) of rumours in Berne that

the Soviet had invited Rumania to set up some form of "people's government.”

ARMOURED TRAIN FOR IL DUCE

Hitler has just presented Mus- solini with a heavily-armoured

Political circles in Berne pointed out that such a Russian demand would be directly contrary to German interests because it led by Germans. would be hostile to Germany.

AUSTRALIAN NURSES NOW IN ENGLAND

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL

ON

train. It carries several batteries of anti-aircraft guns and is staff-

Mussolini accepted the gift yes- terday morning and the Itallan news agency, Stefani, The Reich could hardly tolerate official such a reversal in policy, while makes it clear that Il Duce

highly delighted with, it.. Rumania, which is already faced The general who made the pre- with Hungarian demands on sentation said:- Transylvania, could hardly afford|

is

"Der Fuchrer wishes to offer this battery to accompany Il Duce