1948-01-30 — Page 2

Page 2 1

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1948.

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES ON THE BATTLE FOR

(Continued From Page 1) been curaplated on the mainland

"The full fares of the enemy's fatione

21: one machine-gun- nital attack on the island fell battalion, which permitted the this latiniion and they imploym-t of only an infantry Zoncebe statantly batif they had hattalion on the maitlandl. andfered heavy openalties

17

(100!

my camp of the Bastish officers

ין:

mit of the fudian

bing to Ex. an!

...

bestel

vere

New Plan

1 101 war to voy ra com welve home of

af

et min

nd troops there had had little practise with mortars when the battle began.

tened severe nrtlery fire and aerial bombardment in the event of n refusal.

"The demand was tantamount to unconditionat surrender and was rejected categorically.

|

ror,

HONG KONG

install.

"In the afternoon of Dec. 16- Anglo-Persian 17, enemy planes bombed Mount at

"I was curi later that at 10 Davis, which was also heavily

Captala Otway obscrved and accurately shelled. An un-P2015. exploited nine-tuch shell entered sampans lighting simulte flarea in the Krtress plotting room and the harbour, and motor boats and na eratt plying between Devil's Peak and Lytmus pler. damaged the instruments.

"The landing of the

"By the end of the day, more

chemy

"Battle

Royal" In Swatow

Swatow's waterfront was en- veloped in a battle royal be- tween two rival factions

of

and Bant, and no af the Hons of town Catupilan hattafong, hind Bureau at Singapore | Jery fire increased in intensity/time, bet it would have meant the worth shore from Lyemun tabelwern Lyemun and North Polnwaterfront labourers, number-

Ing several hundreds, on Wed-

were reported signalling novince of Chinese forces was heard in considerable, volume rom the island to the mainland, towards Hong Kong. However, along the n:rth shorz water "When there operators were active assistance could not be front and in the aren of the ntercepted, they were shot.

electric power station and the avaitable until early January. Wrong Information

"There was a systematic shell-|

Company The 2nd Battalion 14th Pan-

ng of the pill boxes along the hub Regiment had had one de-

Fifth Column

Barth share during the morning monstration of three-inch mor-

of Der. 15. The provision of al- tara and no preliminary shoot. "During the morning, the ternative enplacements for the at al with two-inches mor- Japanese were observed to be boxes had already been taken

*collecting launches in Kowloo "So far as the Jannese forces Ray and concentrating them and some 10 to 12 were com- plated. They should, of course, concerned, the Far East Bailey's Shipyard.

"During the day, enemy artil have been completed in peace than half of the pill-boxes along

knocked pens to have been simultane ene 9.2 gun at Mount Davis was requisitioning valuable godown Bowrington had been

tis, for at 10 pm, on Dec. 13, nesday. according to Chinese toning had not been sanctimed el office properties and requisi- out.

nill-box N at Talkoo, manned by press dispatches yesterday. "On Dee. 16. two enemy battallon of the 7th Rajput, was

The city's entire Municipal by the Guvernment antil the planes were brought down and overheard reporting the cecupation police force and the Water Po- áři posed “precautionary period. the civilian morale improved, of the

by sugar factory

turns ul to quell the ice were "The rest this day of

aj enemy. Landing Fails

the disturbance, which lasted Dec. 15. 110011 on

the prominent Chinese merchant for

"The power station welf was several hours.

Several labourers were seri- a fores kn.wn as the enemy was observed preparing defeatist talk was expected to held by

the have a salutary effect--which.."liughesi Hers." under the comm. ously injured and a considerable sandhugged positions on

maril of Major the Hem J. J. aumber. Including by the Kowloon in fact, it did.

in- Some water front

murlar

Paterson, which was forgied bet renocent pedestriana, beaten up. Godown, probably for

from The enemy was observed collect. Į ting small craft in Kewloon Bay, possibly for a raid,

demoll

b. daying bused with tabburnij 5th 1 arrival on Nov. 16)

Korge Volentrer Deloner Corps) red fee plan was brought

thank and n. I had ever been fully prac de Apprentiun 4 Marked as the traps had ever Youny, th Gronor of Hou been avaífutil in endlielen mum. Kong, and a statement of ad maration by the Gy

JAIL

1

Our Casualties

..

nt at the hebt.

Major

..

las

Contal Maitly

{aluct: 5ན། 1.al th

16.

L

tea ef ft employed three yafandry.

NO

indented that an attack was kely by on division, with an-

her in reserve,“ Major General Multby adds, Devever: "This I believe to be trol pert as a Japanese staff frey informed me after the unitelation that two 1189 miles, the now

divisions Drisk.rs Lauad been deployed on the island emmading draum.

a third held in reserve."

aberent weake

Unusual shipping was noted Home Pag te thres weeks before the altack, but its signifi- TICKE clear, while air raft movem: 1.

REE PORN.

baum ending offerts ab

survey, Alpa minent of

meilerab

www bound to be necessary, for emensrent Toy the centre sector?

lin va in a partially com 1ed form of three yenta prest

iva www.

before the battaliona arrived,

dan muda bo upen ezimnole

tha tinal

.

·༄་

זיי .

grow wore known, showed leermal activile. Ambassadorial embles Pokyo did not indicate immediate Impending hosiljities,

stereotyped

The available information led to these conclusions:

Japanese nichtwork was poor, they preferred

thods and fixed plans, their wong king parties were light automatics wero less by De miniand bal-{ "nmerous. and up-to-date than

white later thu

» mod fans wil Maka a long "

petu pempat and the fate off an

jarpre

all over b An we

On a loal of 5134 officers, 71 mont

Fateekonded it wond...!

ין

I

import is de 2. dem P

inst, and sev

chided, repre centa 180 prendre altare.

Or 6515 Beted wher intel.

woandt, 696 were reputed ung

ng, and 778 woan at du betal nit 2,000 en saltic

L

3.000 Jap Dead

Wa

for th

ייד

I

upal the iri

Ich hattain 7th

Over ZBW

Listeners over ZBW are 11 1ment rights, The

reminded that from 911 to 2nd Barat 14th Pangal Re 9.55 p.m. this evening they pitis not detrel

will hear the and the 2nd

reading of Reval Sets left were jented

despatches From Hong Kung hy Major-General trainst

Maltby, GOC Hong Kong at the time of the Japanese attack on the Colony.

fit

a tutal

ptar d to be likely |

sole under extentes.

it re

1.

www

Japan

This change replaces the original Brains Trust pro-

granime.

WITH

knocked out by a direct hit and at dusk Belcher's Furt Other serious fires were started heavily shelled and set on fire

Town.

Point and

Went

Kennedy

"Fifth columnists bad been active during the day, and a large number of Army transport drivers, deserted, some of them aking their lorries with them.

"The police dealt with these

in due course.

The elvilian por fation showed signs of straits and the fuod queues in some districts tcame disorderly. The question of rice distribution presented grave problem in the overcrowd

cd quarters,

31

"A1 2.00 p.m... Dec. 14, great anxiety was caused by the speed of the fires at Belchers Kennedy Town. The civil fer brigades had been fighting the fires for many hours and asked for military assistance,

"Parties were accordingly rot and some housеR blown down. Fires were under control

by midday.

FLD

|

"At

"Special rangements made to rimater this.

were

"A19 p.nt. on Dev. 15, an at- tempted landing WAB reported by the Pal Sha Wan Battery Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corpse. It was ascertained later from several sources that a very bold attempt was made by the my who, with small rubber bonts and petrol in rafts for equipment. fair strength-estimates varied) from one to three companies.

across

In

Second Offer

wery still the outbreak of the war "Fifth columnists netle. Their methods consisteren of 59 and over why felt the of shining lights to bring shell all to duty, though they them- {sclves were outside the terms of Are io bear on concentrations of transport, ele, sniping, spread. Compus ry Service Act. ing false rumours, inducing de-

Delaying Action sertions from the "essential } services" and inciting to riot.

"It contained my pronvinent

"They also gain attacked the men of considerable standing in glated. AA

rle was ath colony and their searchlight

the prevention of sabotage to the Shaukiwan

The reports said that several days previously, the Swatow Gorrison authorities had to LAUTE out a large Bumber of troops to prevent a battle be- tween a rival coolie ganzes on the waterfrent.

་

"The quarrel WAA between conlies and Jar- transportion line's god? wn workers "trespassing" on

each other's, "territory."

over

"During the hours of darkness vetric phuni,

It was reinforced ab ut Dec.

In the fight on Wednesday, 17. heurs of Dec. and early mortar fire from Karon Penin-Company employees. 30 China by the gangs. Other instru- 16 by 45 Hong Kong Electric hand-made grenades were used sula continued on to the north

Light and Power Company em ments were bamboo poles, iron shore pill-boxes,

bars, wooden sticks, stones and plytes from Kowloon, plus two "A force of 14 Japanese Army Tirers and seven other "Frebricks. "All were shut in the water. light bombers maite (WE | French."

heir

Awam

13. it

who

The general impression of!

nt about .30 "Thus forme was instrumenta. In Japanese artillery fire was thatparate attacks

m. on Dec. 17. followed by holding the power at this gunners were extremely

short but relatively severe ar:]metht and fought in the streets Secret Societies neenrate on targets which were ultery and mortar bombardment next day until the late after on "Elements of the civil popula. obviously well-known from our

when the nous:-to-house fighting en the Central District. time dispestens and an tion made thene disasters

Shortly afterward, two Japan-and mepping-up by the Japanese ocension for disorderly conduct, dee direct observation, but ese sunches, flying a white flag. caused their surrender by encircle. Fifth columnists became more accurate in picking up new crossed the harbor. The delegatment, except for

A few active and great care was neces- targets, needing predfeted fire on brought written proposals for scoped. Bury in cheeking telephone calls, in spite of abundant air

resurrender, similar to those of Dre.! The delay

the force imp and "The civil police found di- compaisance.

was thought that the was very valuable to ine. culty in maintaining guards over

“About 30 per cent of the am-Japanese supposed our morale to "To give Inertated defence in

Victoria against a possible land vulnerable points and negotiated munition barst detectively, and be shaken. with the Chungking Government the heavier natures, at times 60 "The cnvoys appeared genuinelying on that water front which secret societies for ussistance. per cent, failed to explode." surprised and discutetrted when supplemented by th columnists

"By now, the new organica- tion of the island defence had hern carried out: a division into two brigade areas, an east in It was, and el, unfortunate) Boronean standards, and they fantry brigade Brigadier at the tang f events 心

imployed fifth columnists.

Walls) an a west Infantry a ruch a war that the

The Attack

brigade (Brigadier Lawson),

"The Chungking Government Imad ese attack developed when Major General Maltby reports "During the early hours of representatives had been most the six battalions in the war- that all British troops were in Dec. 15, several traitors, with helpful in assisting in ཉཱ**

, only two knew their roles battle positions on Dec. 7, and lamps of primitive design tenance of def. net ad precise detail. Curly the foll wing morning operated from a dry battery "News was reecivel from the they carried out forward de with a small but adequate mir Chinese General Stuff of the motitions when code instructions,

Not Practised

+1 time

too short fr ham of the am. tank batlalieng don patur tant! properly in ther

Thu The battalions! the British, their "Combined Familiar ( rati net were thūrough and var defence sed boats and equipment, their]

Air Force was low first-class

. . ; ..

iman he 41 Jeet any rabtaformation re Candipyr altos suffered by The 45 Healy-enlisted Chinese * vazuation of the main

Ma nema meal mendes had been ped bulation ender the former of depanes en mallin. p. wa the task of the Royal despute: Waxy. It was not easy and had

tate mod three times,

Las obviously ng op to work out fall de

to the ed, but fait est mate ws: afrody ki tol and 5.000 wounded.

Th

The append's on the day-to! pranie

Shting between

Dee. 54

ses the Japanese faunched!

the attack, wad De 26.

f

Brophores surrendered.j

a statement of thei

apposing thestar.

the garrison

sted og din infruntry bat.

T pra than the

hoop afperalien.

1

ווי

new

cadeast by Tokyo,

·

indlented

that war was imminent.

The Japanese attack opened 8 a.m. local time, when planes attacked Kai Tak Aerodrome

and Shamshuipo Barracks. Later they dropped subversive pam- te the eredit

of all phlets, addressed mainly te that The ev ntual Indian troops.

from the mainlandi

LONDON and BiRNINGHAM

Any le

Civilians Shaky the proposals w're agal summar would constitute ʼn grove danger from the west, anal perhaps over- Major-General Maltby's desily rejected. They left with the thal future bombardments

run the Govirament House aren, patch continuva: "The morale of

(a company of the 2nd Battalion the civilian pepilation remained night not be so discrimirate,

"The Japanese delegation ann. 14th Punjab giment had been shaky, chiefly alue tu rice dis

cuteeri on arrival, that there deployed. tribution liculties.

"AL daylight December 19. would be no hostilitics until 4

junks, barges, motor Pt, by which time they expreted laden a reply. Advantage was taken of intenches and ferries were observ. this very welcom lull to repaired crossing to the vicinity of North Point, but the exact aren Communications, ele.

of landing was not under bstr.

TRADE RESTRICTIONS

DRAW PROTEST

Chinese commercial organisations in Hong Kong,

Oil Tanks Alight "The morale of the civilianation as the low level obser

spod togas ppulation continued to improve unto usaq poy

nad bauldings, etc., obscured th and the rice distribution was

Jurnstone from the view of the zetting better.

pre observation posts,

"On Dec. 17. shelling on the north-east sretor was particularly heavy and lines were being con- stantly cut and repaired. At aboutt ų p.m.. many pill-boxes

still, cul of touch.

were

(Continued on Page 9)

Several labourers have been arrested for questioning.

Huge Star Ferry Profit

The Directors of The "Star" Ferry Company, Limited, announce that, bjert to audit, the balance Profit and Loss Account for the wear ended 31x December, 1947 İs $4,372,000.00 which with $19,000.co wrought forward from 1946 makes a otal of $1,391,nu available for distribution,

At the forthcoming Annual Meet- Jug of Shareholders they will recust- mend the following appropriations:

of Dividen:t Payment

of $80 per share fest tox ($7.4 net)... Pensfer to Reconstruc

tion Reserve Cary Forward

$ $82,000.00

750,000.00 49,000.00

Total $1,391,000.00

Readers' Letters

Past History

✔

Gallant Canadian

"Between Ra.m. and 9 a... mal ties of enemy were observ ed on Jardire's Loʻkout coming "At about 9 a.m. the same day, down on to Weng Nei Chong The Japanere ground forces Macao and Canton, dissatisfied with the exist-Aberdeen came under shell fire Cap. Brigadier Laws:n report- ared forward steadily and d ing "unreasonable" trade restrictions in from seawords and the Industrial fed about 10 a.m. that the head- Then e elas their pressure during

Sir, Where does alf this talk of wapa maitsed." | 11. beigelut moonlight night. The

China, have protested to the Executive Yuan School, headquarters of the Aber-quarter shelters wire overrun

deen portion ct the Royal Naval firing into them was actually collaborators, pseudo-c:llaborators Make a Brita 1 frees began to fall back)

in Nanking and asked for revision of the Dockyard, was hit.

| taking place at point blank range and those fiw who were chased dentions had not carry out demolitions.

regulations.

"Ai 10 a.m. on Dec. 18, on airjand that he was going cutside to up by the Cloak and Dagger boys The Canadian reinforcements! The Kwanglung Chamber of Mr. Chien declared that raid of considerable intensity fight it out.

get us these days? routed to the mainland from Commerce, reports the current was impossible for the Govern-developed in the Central District,

It may be bad history, but it is Trong Keng Island. But on Dec. issue of the weekly "Farment to dissolve the Board. He Victoria. The Anglo-Persian Com

at least past history and the sooner Economic Jo, Major-General Maltbý or- Eastern

Review", atided, however, that "the exist. pany's petrol and oil tanks

he whole sordid episode is for- gotten, the better. dered the evacuation of Kal Tak have made an outright demanding control regulations could be North Pint were set on fire and

merchinats. Arrodrome, and the following for the dissolution of the South revised to help

In subsequently shelled at intervals dlay the withdrawal from the China Regional Committee of their legitimate trade as long as throughout the day,

The the Government's interests are

atlock seemed to be alland under cover of dark the Export-Import Board. ness, except for the 5th Bat.

Other organisations which protected and its policy unim directed particularly against the alion 7th Rajput Regiment,

have petitioned the

Government cffices, where the Chinese paired”, Air raids and shelling of authorities

consider to

their Obviously referring to charges Secretariat was hit and many Toe Mr. Chien Faid casualties were Hong Kong Island

was main suggestions for modifying trade or corruption,

nor tained by the Japanese, who regulations are the Hong Kong that he could "guarantee neighbourhood.

"During the early afternoon. so attempted landings on some Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the honesty of every member of of the smaller surrounding

the Kowloon Chamber of the Board's regional Committee Causeway Bay

But the one islands.

Commerce, the Canton Chamber in South China,"

BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

1948

MAY 3-14

ON May 3rd 1948, sole selling agents and you will

Fifth column activities de veloped in Kowloon and later on Hong Kong Island itself.

On Dec. 13, the last British troops, the 5th Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment, were with drawn from the mainland.

of Commerce, and the Maen thing he could guarantee was Chinese Chamber of Commerce, that "not every member of the

The general demand is for staff is dishonest". relaxation and modification of the existing trade controls and regulations governing remit. tances from oversens.

Apparently in reply to the General of the Regional Com representations, the

Secretary- mittes of the Import-Export Board, Mr. Chien Igu, issued a statement in Canton.

Policy

Truce Offer Units of the Royal Navy as sisted the withdrawal from the mainland. "One company of the 5th Battalion 7th Rajput Regi: ment was ordered to cover the withdrawal of the remainder and then themselves to embark He emphasised that it was In the last flights. .

the national policy to save "Daylight had arrived by foreign exchange and to help then, but they accomplished the Chinese manufacturers. evacuation without casualties, pointed out that it was for this covered by artillery fire from purpose that the Import-Export various Island positions.

Board was created.

"It was not until 9.20 a.m. when the British Industries find exhibits carefully grouped that the last contingent of the Fair opens, buyers from all by trades so that comparisons 5th Battalion 7th Rajput Regi- over the world will have an

may be made quickly. Abovement from the mainland reached opportunity of inspecting the all you will see new achieve- ments, new methods of manu- products of 3,000 United Kingdom manufacturers. facture and new ideas all executed with superb crafts- imanship.

This annual event is the world's largest national trade Fair. Such is its size and im- portance that you are urged to come yourself. You are assured of personal contact with actual manufacturers or industries.

This is your only opportunity in 1948 to review within a few days the achieve- ments of 87 United Kingdom

For information and assistance you should apply to the nearest

·British Embassy, Legallón or Consulate.

Aberdeen. The whole battalion was collected in the Tytam Gap area by noon and was given 24 hours to reat, and re-eqslp · be-i fore taking over the northeast sector from the 2nd Royal Scots..

*The 2nd Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment took over the northwest sector.

"At 9.00a.m., Dec. 13, launch Bearing flag of truce- was acen to put off from Kow loon. It arrived at Victoria Pler with a staff officer of the Gen- eral Comalanding the Japanese| ferees (Lieutenant Gederal Sakal) bearing a letter address" ed to the Governor. A

RIP KIRBY

YOU TOO CAN BE A REPORTER

Parment for all itema naed. Phone through any NEW! story,

He

32312 OR

24354

NOT VERY

D & PREPOSSESSING.

BUT I'M GOING ON WITH THIS IN SPITE OF DEREK

·AND ALL HIS - LAWYERS!

caused in

it

the

Area W35 very

heavily shelled, the water front fr-m that place to Lyemun now becoming a tangle of fallen frum- wires and standards and almost impassable for vehicles and des- pbich riders.

"Further ir ralds occurred; from 3 p.m. enwards and the Saiwan artillery obervation post was dive bombed and also shalted The Crossing

was

"At 7.30p.m., a report received that the Soiwan AA paltlon and an old redoubt had been under heavy shelf fire for half an hour, that the whole fort was badly damaged and that the | structure would not stand up to

further shelling.

Reminders

Today

H

Club meeting, talk

On

"Some curiosities of nature"

In any case, the argument terms to have been started over a com- alete miscanerption. Mr, Pear- on had quarrelled over à sugges tion that guilty persons abould be

belter treated than their victims, なぜ would have been possibly

by Dr. G. A. C, Herklot justified. But, these people are Talbot House, 50 MacDonnt employed by the War Crimes Rad, 8.30 pm.

Meeting of Past Students of DGS.rganisation luet as counsel and DBS, & Royden House to dis-erpreters. Surely they are en-

titled to expect performance cuss proposed new school by their contract?

Mr. & Mrs. E.C. Thias, Sí. John's Cathedral Hull, 5.30

8

REALIST.

of

p.m. Gramaphone Recital of Classical

A Tunnel Music, European YMCA, p.m.

SirTalking of subways, what H.K. Philatelie Suelety meetings about the tunnel? A tunnel SCM Post Board Rocin, 6.30 across the harbour with an exit p.m.

In a place other than a congested H.K, Intercession Fellowship intersection would reduce the meeting, Green Room, Penin- problem of the Star Ferry passen- sula Hotel, 5.30 pm.

ger flow to the point almost of Scottish Dancing,

European elimination. YMCA, 6 p.m.

Coming Events

Not that I Imagine, the interests behind the Star Ferry would gen any special merit in this. But it, as you insist, we should drop our small-town ideas, it would be Music, excellent to begin at the begin Talbot House, 60. MacDonnel! oing. Rd., 8.30 p.1.

SUNDAY

"AL abcut 5.30 p.m. Verey lights were sten going up from Toc H Club, Recorded North Point and Lyemun and shelling and machine-gun

AN AUTHORITY

ON EARLY AMERICAN

I'M MRS, SMITH...) MISS BLEAK IS,

W...WHAT A ☀- CHARMING ROOM BEHIND SUCH A DECREPIT EXTERIOR

DECOR

fire

MRS. ER.. JOHN) LEAVE US,

MARCEL SMITH, MISS

BLEAK.

I PRESUME

YOU KNOW WHY....

E.G.R.

BY ALEX RAYMOND

SHALL WE COME STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, MRS. STARLOCK? YOU WISH TO ADOPT

A BABY!.

The letter demanded 'the' aur render of the colony and thrøn-