1941-06-05 — Page 41

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 5, 1941.

NAVY RINGBURIED 19 YEARS IN YANGTZE RIVER

(By BESSIE HACKETT)

ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO a young ensign, fresh out of Annapolis, lost his class ring while serving his first tour of duty in China. He searched, but when he sailed back to the United States, his ring was still "somewhere in China."

To-day that ring is on its way back to its owner, Lieut. Comdr. Donald Francis Smith, commandant of Floyd Bennett airport in New York. The ring arrived in Manila recently in the possession of Lieutenant (jg) William J. Lederer Jr., who rescued it from a Chinese who claimed to have fished it out of the Yangtze river, where it had apparently lain for about 19 years.

Last December this Chinese viated by misfortune when he coal junk sank in the rapids of the Yangtze river Dredging 115 secover his lost cargo, the Chinese spied in one load of road wild sand a glittering object which he recognised as a navy ring He Took the ring to the cook of the USS Tutunla, anchored an The Yangoze river at Chungking, and uggested that perhaps one of the

nately ten dollars gold

NEW-TYPE

B.B.C. WAIVE WEDDING BAR

The B.B.C. marri- age "bar" to women members of their staff has been waived for the duration.

Before the wor, members of the staff wishing to marry had to obtain permission. Cases were consider- ed by a board and if applicants had key

CARRIERA HOPE positions, and it was

FOR BRITAIN

in converting

a

fficers would care to buy 11. The U.S. Navy's experi- Approached by the cook, Lieuten- ant Lederer recovered the ring ment by paying the Chinese approx standard cargo vessel into jan aircraft carrier was Despite the years it has been viewed by unofficial knocked around in China or been observers

as a possible buried in the silt of the Yang.

the river, the ring is in good future boon to Britain's, condition. Set with a translu raid-menaced shipping. cent, sea.green stone, the en-

If the new carrier proved suc- graving is clear and Identifies it as belonging to

the class of cessful, it was suggested, Great 1921.

Inside is etched "Donald Britain might receive a number of these craft to carry fighter 'planes States

which could combat German bombers preying on North At an- tie shipping.

Francis Smith, United

Navy,"

Odd Coincidence

Lieutenant Lederer has municated with Lieut. Cdr. Smith and will deliver the ring

com.

1 him in New York when he reports for duty しい his new tation in Kearney, New Jersey, in July.

An ode convidence is the Tact Lieutenant Lederer lost his own class ring while on duty in 4hungking this past year.

GLORIOUS FOURTH AS USUAL

Pursuit planes operating from such a carrier also might locate and attack German submarines

considered their domestic life would not interfere with their jobs, permission was granted.

a

Now that the "bar" has been lifted, large number of B.B.C. girls have married, and some already married ore being taken on.

VICAR'S LOVE

ADVICE TO

them with depth charges. WAR BRIDES

Experimental Carrier

The U.8. Navy recently disclosed

News,

ton Mormacmail was being converted at Newport Va., Into an

"An exceptionally large that the 7,886 number of young people are being married at the experimental present time and for the carrier, but officials of the de-

discuss great majority of these possible expansion of the con birth prevention will be- there were gin with the first night of reports that from 16 to 30 such marriage," states the Rev.

partment declined to

version

programme. quarters, however.

In other

carriers might be developed.

The Navy acquired the Mor- Geoffrey H. T. marmail from the Mermark Line | Vicar of

at a cost of nearly $3 000,000

1:

one of the Maritone Commis. Coventry. ston's standard C-3 type vessels.

It

Pedley,

St. Thomas's,

**Couldn't keep my eye

on the ball to-day!"