1949-01-15 — Page 1

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CAMERAS & FILMS

FRANCIS WU'S STUDIO

Gloucester Arende

CHINA MAIL

No. 34179.

ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

HONG KONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1949.

GRIM ORDEAL OF TIENTSIN Merciless Shelling Of City Confusion And Panic In Downpour Of Red Shells

Tientsin, January 14. Death, desolation and despair descended upon the whole of Tien- tsin today when. Communist artillery opened up a merciless and incessant bombardment of the city.

Utter confusion and panic reigned as the city's two million inhabitants, both foreign and. Chinese, ran about like trapped rabbits 'in' search of places of safety.

Casualtics omong refugees and destitutos mounted every minute in the downpour of stool, which began early this morning and was still showing, no signs of any fatup when this despatch was filed this afternoon.

Several streets have been roped off by the local-author- Ities where shells landed with- out exploding.

whole

The British-French

the former of Dund and the next parallel street, which con- stitutes the main thoroughfare of the city, underwent heelie binst- ing by high explosives.

Shells landed all around

International Bridge,

the

which

is

believed to be one of the Com-

munists' targely

the

To add to the confusion, city's telephone service was din- rupted

In the course of the

morning.

Anti-pircraft shell bursts were seen over the centre of Tientsin when a solitary plane appeared overhead.

Nationalist mortars and cannons sounded as coming from deep in- Alde the elty. indicating that Communist targets wade not tou for off.

Gordon Hall

Shattered

the shat- tered by a direct hit, while the

Gordon Hall,

Best of

City Government,

WAS

Itaflan Club, which

pleal, has been hit twice.

WAS Co

*** [and attended by the Kuombitang

Chiang Order To Fight On

Nanking, January 14. President Chiang Kai- shek today instructed his ́armog' forces to fight the

Comminplits without any ** lot-up pending`a peaceful settlement.

The

Social- Welfare Dally sold that in:à meet- ing with his army, navy and air forco, commanders last night, the Generalia- simo said the Communisis. are now taking advantage of the Government's peace - move to intensify their attacks as shown by the war in Tientsin and South West of Hauchow,

He told the command- ers, therefore, not to relax resistance against tho

Communists on account of the peace movement.- United Press.

Executive Committee and some' members of both the Legislative and Control Yuana,

Speakers criticised Kuomintang with members who seek peace the

Communists without outlining practical plans for obtaining it.

Peace, can not be obtained un- less the Kuomintong is proparod to fight on, they declared.

"There was a sharp with the well-known prace nd- vocate, Mr. Shao Li-tse, during the debate, according to reliable gources.

exchange

The Inner Cabinet Mirilater, General Chang Churi, read letters and telegrams said to have been

with General

General Chang again emphati- cally denied reports that Generál Fat wants President Chiang to resign.-Reuter and Associated Press.

~ Commander in Central

Red Fleet Sees Red

cently transformed into a hos-ninintaining contact with Tientsin the American Navy, and Vice-

A shell lunded in Victoria Park huge colurin of and threw up dust. The French Consulate moved to the cellar this morning for greater safety.

censed functioning

nt

mid-day

Moscow, January 14. The Russian Navy newspaper Red Fleet inferred today that

Admiral Oscur C. Badger are trying to embroil the United Internit States in Chinese affairs.

Princess At Circus

Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Cyril Mills, smiles as she passes Percy Huxter, the-clown, when sho arrived at Olympia, London, for Bertram Mills Circus. Behind them (centre background) is Bernard Mills,-, (AP Photo),

Rickmobile To Be On The Streets In Near Future

Anothon change in the Colony's traffic will shor

take place when' all the“ present man-pulled rickshaws will be replaced by a motorised version known as the "rickmobile.“.

The change will take place when tests to establish operational costs-on which will be based the rates to be charged are completed in the very near future.

Price: 20 Cents.

Whe

́ ́All Kinds of

Portable TYPEWRITERS

AT REASONABLE PRICE. HONG KONG TYPEWRITER EXCHANGE.

9, D'Águilar et.

Tel. 21433

DEBTOR ORDINANCE: CHAMBER'S ACTION

Representations will be made to Government by the Chinese Gon- eral Chamber of Commerce for amendments to the Debtor- Creditor (Occupation Period) Ordinance 1948. ·

The amendments sought are that no interest

should be charged for the occupation period...

It will also be suggested that the ratio between the Military Yon and Hong Kong Dollars be readjusted.

It is contended' that the value fixed for the Military Yen in the early stages of the occupation was entirely in commensurate with its actual value at the time, and that it should be assessed at a fuch higher value in terms of Hong Kong notes.

Small Fire At Kowloon Dockyard

Volumes of black smoke soaring, skywards from the

Another amendment sought is that debt repayments during the occupation, which had been, ac-. knowledged by creditors or by their legally appointed agents or attorneys, should be deemed valid discharges of such debts, irres- pective of whether there were do-

for repayment. mand notices

.or not whether such repayments were due or not, and whether or not such repayments were made mero than three months after the service of the demand notice.

The decision to make these re- presentations to Government wat taken at a largely attendod meet- ing of the Chamber held yester- day afternoon and presided hver by the chairman, Mr. Ko Cheuk- hung.

Not Fair

Kowloon Docks shortly before Mr. Ko informed the meeting of the Debtor- 1. p.m. yesterday attracted that the matter considerable attention both in Creditor Ordinance had been con- -Hong Kong and on the main-ridered most carefully by the Charober's sub-committed special= land

ly appointed for the purpose.

Speculation was, rife, that, an- other ship was on fire.

Within 18 minutes, however, the smoke completely disappear-

The proposed representations are the result of their recom- mondations,

In

SHANGHAI ROCKED BY EARTHQUAKE

Shanghai, January 14.

Shanghai was rocked by short but fairly sharp earthquake at 10.20 a.m. today....

The quake lasted five seconds, during which workers on top floors of skyscrapers distinctly felt their buildings swaying,

No damage war report- ed-Router.

Dutch May Disobey UN Order

Lake Success, January 14: The Netherlands is reported to be ready to inform the Unit- ed Nations that the Dutch will ▾ ignore any orders to retira from territory recently cupied in Indonesia.

oc-

The sub-committee, "said Ko, said the whole matter of oc- ed

repay. cupation period deble and Cause of the fire and smoke was ments had not been treated fairly some waste oil which had accumu- by Government under the Ordin This was indicated by a Dutch lated in a bomb crater. For some ance. Neither debtors nor creditors spokesman as the Security Coun- unknown reason it ignited and were consulted, at least the all was called for an afternoon sent forth volumes of black debtors were not consulted, before meeting to continue debate on the

Indonesian question. was framed. The Acke

thegapore, the sub-commit-' | Netherlands. will never comply spokesman said the The Dockyard Police under thair superintendent, Mr. Blen- tee's report went on, a select com with any resolution which calls on Kinse with the assistance of mittee, composed of representa- the Dutch to withdraw to the fre engines from the Fire tives of both debtors and creditors areas they held before their De- de, put the are but within 10 was appointed to examine and ceber attack (put them in pog*--

kenza de consider all points it issue befare session of territory formerly held were no casualties and no any legislative, step was taken.

by the Indonesian Republic was done to property.

The report wenes and

on to detail the The United States ง opposed to...

com- any further efforts to order, a versions that would arise as a Dutch troop withdrawal from

River Ship In Mishap

About 500 tons of water had This firm believe, — that this to be pumped overboard be question probably. Will by de-fore the river steamer Wusuch cided by Government through could free herself: trom & mud the calling-of pubiletanders.

plications

settling debts and res der the Ordinance.

result of the arbitrary manner of Republican territory Amerkan repayments un-sources said. The US. delegate, Phillp: C. Jessup, does not want In the course of the meeting the Council to face another rebuff. various members aired their. The US, and some other do- views, orillofsing the unfairness lcgations are primarily interested 267 the ratio fixed between milli tary yan and Hong Kong dollars,

Inequitablo

in getting the Council to make sure that elections will be held in Indonesia in the near future and In getting the Dutch transfer control to the projected united states of Indonesia at a definite

time:

Reuter's Ofee and Kiesling's, todny,

Then these modern versions known firm interested in this, new Tientsin's best known rate,

of China's age-old passenger-enterprice. * arc The reason is unknown, but it among the other buildings hit, is believed they have been put

carrying man-powered vehicles while windowpanes in the British out of commission by shells. Red Fleet quoted the China will be authorised on the, Consulate-General were shat-

Rumours that the

Chinese Weakly Review as saying: "The streets, the "China Mail" teied by a near hit

Government radio administration's first place among groups who learned from reliable sources

Others criticised the Ordinance When all the preliminary ques bank on to which she ran on link with Tientsin was interrupted stand for active interference of yesterday.

on in its entirety as being inequit-

The Dutch probably will re- tions are settled, the rickmobile her way to Hong Kong this afternoon were denied by a the United States in Chinese la-

able.

'affirm' their pledges to grant in-. be put on the streets in Thursday. company official.

Many of those who had-repaid dependence to Indonesia and may The question of Oxing standard will ternal affairs is occupied by the

ultimate

The

Wusuah left the Colony Meanwhile, shells from both American Fleet. The navy con rates, and also that of granting a gradual stages with the Communist artillery and anti-alders it obligatory that the Chinn franchise to interested operators ain of completely replacing the last week-end carrying medical the Japanese liquidators of the even give a definite indication as old-fashioned rickshaw... relief supplies, for Chinese medic foreign banks had to sell their to a time-table to which the aircraft guns are tailing into shore remain in the hands of a is brider consideration

Being a runier-powered vehicle, at and Health agencies, in South houses to raise the money for the Netherlands will adhere. Asso Peiping, as the Reds continue friendly government."

Several well-known focal busi-

ment, seemed to belleve,

those their determined effort to halt: The paper accuses Americans of neas houses and individual Anan- the present riskshaw coalies will Chinh sent by the Economic Co- repayment, and not, ab Govern- ciated. Press, air communications, with', 'the making A

of training on how to operate the of the Marshall Plan. old capital.

"deceive public opinion" recently the project,

new vehicle,

She ran

aground shortly after and could well afford to repay à by spreading contradictory Tum: Some already have applied for. They will have to pass police leaving Canton, and it took about delegatio

BIG OPIUM HAUL ours on the chance that. American | pointssion to operate,

A delegation from the Chamber rick texts before being licenced to 10 hours before ballast water was will call on the three Chinese re- Marines will moved out of mobile company along sirailar

Singapore, January 14. drive.

pumped out. lines to the present taxi. com- It is understood that a number China.

Customs officials,štoday” seized on the Executive No damage is reported. The presentatives Admiral Badger is commanderpanies,

and Legislative Councila to zook | ST.$500,000 worth of opium, the of the US. Naval Forces in the No decision, however, has been of models have been submitted to vessel had no cargo.

The Wusuch is resuming her their support, and an Interview biggest haul of its kind since the will also be sought with the liberation, and, arragted; five per- Governor in the matter.

| Bona-Associated Press. ;*

Reuter in Shanghai learns that All the windows of the State Consulate-General

United were

shattered and the light plant

the radio section was put out of commission when a shell landed

on

A

nearby ammunition dump British Sloop

The Director of the

States Information Service and a

Chinese girl employes were re-At Taku

ported to have been injured by

flying glass.

Peiping Too

י.

Urgent action is imperative on the part of Nanking

to

M

deliberate, attempt to ciers have shown great, Interest. In / have to undergo a special course operation Administration, as part who had accumulated vast riches

Weston Pacific and is in charge taken by the authorities regarding the authorities for approval....

It is very likely that more than Macao-Hong Kong service for At least one person was killed or American Marines in China. [permission, to operate such a com" | ene model will-of other Butterfield and Swire.

an

and several wounded when artillery shell exploded near the

East Date of the Forbidden City during one attack.

ཡ་

caused

Other casualties were navu

Tientsin from- being laid waste, by Red anti-aircraft shells which observers hare said today. Thin zell into Pelphig as gunners frod great Northern port city cannot at Government aircraft from walt while the Government positions outside the walls. seeking Despite gale conditions. "Race-saving" formula, British sloop

DOD Alacrity,

which arrived outside Taku Bar from surrender

today with Shanghai at dawn

authorities sit around

some which

would mean anyway, they added.

In Nanking, two of the Defence Ministry's four radio stations

STOP PRESS

Shanghai, January 16, Mao Tso+tung, Chinese Communirt loader, in n broadcast today- called for abrogation of Chinese troatles! with the United States and trial of “war criminals"

among oight prerequisites -to talks.

the

Associated Press.

pany, it is learned from a well-

MacArthur's New Ruling On Japan

Washington, January 14.

food supplies for two Britons and The U.S. Army said yesterday that foreigners will

their native staffs, successfully completed unloading of the pro visionsinte 11 .Butterfield and Swire tug this, morning,

The tug was specially sent from

contact the

to

which anchored outside the three

mile limit,

Chiang To Stay.

be allowed to invest limited gums of money and acquire business properties in Japan.«

bo-authorised

public vehiclan to operate of the sticble,

The rickmobis carries two pas- sengers with the driver in front, and, has gone through a number of tests under the Traffic Depart ment,

It is understood that, the tests were satisfactory.

BRITISH SHIP.

LIMPS IN

Copenhagen, January 14. · The 845-ton British steamer Kulecastle limped into Nocrre Bundy Harbour near Aalborg,

To Promote North Denmark today with a list

Tolerance

tolo-

to the the

of 20 degrees

She was "calling from

Sweden

to Britain with a load of timber, when heavy seas in the Kattegat shifted her cargo, anîk carried thuch of the upper-deck stowage away-Reuter,

The Weather

Pretoria, January 14. General Jan Smuts, South A new SCAP circular ondtion personnel still are prohibit African-loader of the United

today Opposition, sloop, directive to the Japanese Goved from engaging in business In Party

ernment issued yesterday morn Japan."

nounced that ar

ajfoundation to pro- General MacArthur's “fiction (mote the ideals of racial Ing broadens the scope of results from a directive approved rance and collaboration will be business activities, permitted

by the Far Eastern Commission set up as:

memorial to foreigners. PAR six weeks ago.

This directive late Dr. Jan D

D, Hotmorla The Army said: "As an essen- provided for further expansion Finance and Deputy There, was no opposition to tial part of this expanded bust on the restricted trade regula the former Snuts. Government, __the___view................that Generallselmo programme, post-war - tions governing Japan's foreig General Smuts wild It is pro moderately locenes susiecylene continues

Chiang Kai-shek -- should. a. ftrants, how may acquire or lanse trado, and foreign businessman poseti to Invite the public to sub→ | pan, and; a: wonk-high 'pressoraʻis moying.|

residential properties for their viting Japan

scribe to a fund to be invested by ie the Pacife to the of Japan main in Nanking as President own hona fide individual, full or

and utilised through caprion is moving NE M. Maros Uso without SCAP The new reputations are non-scholarships, books, pamphlets, and deepening. A tropieni dapramics

buaiana ramo

eldered as in line with the new and educational grants to com- witware to be developing over the Western economia propramms General memorata the MacArthur recently

LA FUTURI Tavousti-Kodirale or fresh l directed, great South African-Reuters fine. Continuing onol and days,

**KonCorday"a";Westberr

of Nationalist China atan la part time

formal masting of more than permission on the praco

100. Kuomintang leaders today the Japanese,

The Red. leader,. In a * Chinese-langunge broad- east heard here, also de- manded trini, of ⠀ #war criminals,"" presumably tol follow any prace move, th

Mao,, accusing - Chlang - Kal” back of a warring against the Commuhlata bocanso, ho was lured by the million of American wespons, called upon the Nationalist: leader to show the sincerity:of' hin: desire faran pesce,” by accepting:

SIBERIA

added,

trustões

0000" "Mr (apok KIKST)

te danimate-China 'and - tha" neighbouring

ON OTHER PAGES 184 dem. Pake

by Dr. Sun. Fo, Prime Ministerse real estate acquired by any the Japaness so undertaka, Inse

non-Japanese or, by a foreign mediately. controlled frm: for business pur-P÷While the economló programu PRO:2

the HEAVY SNOW IN potes, either by purchase or long primarily conceruathinga

erm base, will require valida, Japanese must do to achieve tion.

And the greater, economie recovery, more by both SCAPA

r: the foreign trade in an ・ Important Japan will be vold-part of the overall objectly the ECA Moscow, January 14 transaction will

The Army continued.

the Prelfie alles, spe Thousands of railwaymen and today this requirement applies United States

especially other workers have boon working continuously for thupo days to not only to commercial) entrants that the daganese

nations feel increasingly.

'PWD'Laremy: Caroli

Queen's Speech Day European::Vagrante

EÇA and

Moneylending Case.

·Editorial,

along toward economie recovery,

Now Tovasu

and roads, in the Barnett region foreign national and arms owned

marit by their own efforts. or controlled | of Siberia, l

by thème, s durh

The my emphasised, how The TEC met yesterday - in fierce storm on Tueday night, ever, that this now regulsion ploration of labour policles in 2+ Contract C kwaa?? fiya, metres) dough in časome does not apply to occupation por Japan and other pending, matters; PARDE plates, Reuters Need Para sonhelisha Army saldi.." Decupa...) ——— Aasoplated Fross,

· Ekskohlamaz, B.1 hourly

| Hátofall, Ni, Total

Equaly

Coca Cola belongs

тем

Coca-Cola

"Coke"

Any time,