Enclosure 4.
38
xtracted from the
South China for ing Post.
dated bin Sept. 1937.
TYPHOON AFTERMATH
ATTEMPTS TO RE-FLOAT GROUNDED STEAMERS: CLEANING UP STREETS
CANTON AND MACAO DAMAGE
Hundreds of coolies were busily engaged in the streets of the Colony yesterday clearing up the debris left by the typhoon. There was little salvage work done on ships, but intensive surveying continues, and attempts were made to refloat two of the grounded ships.
It was officially notified yesterday that the Taipo road is closed between the railway crossing and Taipo Market.
At Stanley Peninsula considerable damage was done during Wednesday night to the military buildings there. It is estimated that repairs will cost somewhere in the region of $30,000.
Shipping and buildings also suffered severely in Canton and Macao.
Extensive Damage To Military Buildings
Yesterday the "cleaning up" pro- STANLEY PENINSULA cess necessary after the typhoon con- tinued all over the Colony. The major repairs which had been neces- sitated to roads, bridges the rail way, godowns, houses and wharves were commenced, and all speed is being made to bring things back to normal, while the Urban Council continued its work of clearing the streets of debris.
There was little salvage work done on ships, but surveying continued, and in one or two instances attempts were made to refloat ships which were aground.
The Asama Maru, aground at Sai Wan Bay, was examined, and with two tugs in attendance the lightening process was begun by which it is hoped to give the ship buoyancy at high tide. It will be at least several days before the ship is refloated.
The Conte Verde is still ashore about a mile from the Asama Maru, and her position was again reviewed yesterday with a view to pulling her off the sand within the next two or three days. She is being held by the stern, which is resting firmly on the sandy bottom.
FULL FORCE OF STORM
Extensive damage was caused to the military buildings, now in the course of erection at Wong Ma Kok, Stan- ley, by the typhoon, it was revealed i during an inspection of the property yesterday.
The completed structures remained undamaged expect for broken! window panes, but half-built build- ings were almost blown down by the force of the terrific wind, which tore concrete piles from their foundations, and twisted reinforced steel piles like wire.
The 2,000 coolies employed by the Hop Cheong military contractors, of Queen's Road East, who are respon- sible for the erection of the buildings, had an exciting but unpleasant ex- perience during the storm. Just be- fore the typhoon burst upon the Colony in its full force, the coolies evacuated from their matshed quar- ters, in Tai Shi Wan, on the western side of Stanley Peninsula, and climb- The Van Heutsz is still aground at ed up the hills where they sheltered Green Island, but surveyors have on the leeward side, which was less visited her and it is not expected exposed to the fierce wind and blind- that she will become a total loss; ing rain.
A final examination of the Talam- ba was carried out yesterday after- noon, and nothing will be done to get the ship from her position on the shore at Lycemoon Pass until the report is finished.
while the Gertrude Maersk, which The matsheds collapsed like a pack ran aground close beside her, is now of cards, and poles and tiles were at Kowloon Docks.
Hong Peng Refloated
The Tymeric is still aground west of Taikoo Docks, though efforts have been made to refloat her. She ap- pears to be in a position from which it will prove comparatively easy to get her afloat.
The Hong Peng, which ran aground near the Tymeric, is safely docked, the first efforts to refloat her having proved successful.
carried through the air as if they were sticks and paper. The seas swept up the beach, and smashed any remaining huts to pieces.
A total of 20 coolie matsheds, many of them two storeys high were des- troyed, and it is estimated that it will cost the Hop Cheong firm at least $12,000 to replace them even if they use as much of the old material as possible.
A further 30 matsheds belonging to The other ships which grounded, the firm, and used for the storage of and their positions, are as follow: materials at Wong Ma Kok, were Hsing Ping, hard ashore and more swept away, many of them being than half out of the water on the squashed flat. A large quantity of south of Capsing Lighthouse. No stores was damage or lost. The action regarding salvage has yet been estimated cost of re-erection of these taken, while word is awaited from sheds is stated to be $13,000. the owners in Shanghai.
The India. at one stage adrift in the harbour but now safely moored at buoy A3, having suffered only superficial damage.
Severn Leigh, now safely moored though adrift in the harbour at one
stage.
Hunan, aground at Ping Chau.
In State of Collapse The force of the wind can well be gauged by the fact that uncompleted concrete buildings, built up to the first floor had the upper storey blown over at an angle to the ground floor, Steel wire-mesh netting spread on the floors of several buildings, and ready for concrete to be filled in and
Shuntien, drifted to Ching I around it, was torn up by the wind, Island, later safely brought to buoy in the harbour.
a
and flung over the wall of the build- ing in a tangled mass.
Mao Lee, still sunk on Kellet Bank, The Officers' Mess was perhaps the An Lee, still aground with her most badly damaged building. The stern on Connaught Road Central. whole of the first floor collapsed, and Kalgan, moved from Kowloon the whole structure will have to be Wharf, where she drifted, to dock. I pulled down by the contractors and
Tehsing, Chinese Maritime Cus-re-erected. The toms Cruiser, still aground at Stan- uncompleted, had its walls blown in, Church, although ley Bay.
causing the Hsing Lee, hard aground near the Chancel and the entrance were the roof to collapse. The armament depot, Stonecutters' only parts of the Church left stand- Island.
ing.
Other Smaller Vessels
The men's quarters also suffered Lushing, aground on the east point considerable damage, of Lantao.
concrete columns being knocked over, and Kwangchow, still hard aground on steel piles twisted into positions at the south of Lamma Island,
right angles with the buildings. The Lyeemoon, went aground at Chau Royal Engineers' office was Kung but later refloated and now at away.
swept Yaumati Bay fairly badly damaged. A total of 23 buildings of different Kau Sing, ashore on the south-sizes are thus affected. The glass east side of Tsing Island, being sal-windows in several buildings were so vaged but still ashore.
deeply embedded with fine sand that Dashing, hard ashore on the east the panes looked like frosted glass. side of Tsing Island.
Yuen
On, aground at Tsun Wan.
Sheng Lee, all aground and still fast at Kowloon Dock, North Point and Kowloon Dock, respectively.
Emmy. aground at Capsuimun. Tin Sang, aground near the Hong- kong Brewery at 13-mile Beach.
Shenandoah, sunk near the China Light and Power Company's works. A Chinese Maritimes Customs cruiser which was blown onto the Yaumati breakwater was salvaged fairly badly damaged,
over
Bridges
iges erected by the workmen the roads were demolished. bandslides partly blocked the roads, but were quickly cleared. By permission of the military au- thorities, the coolies engaged in the construction work have been allowed to live in the completed quarters un- til their own matsheds are replaced.
LANTAO ISLAND
Lantao Island
Bonneville, still aground at Stone- damage during the typhoon.
escaped severe cutters Island.
No serious damage was done to property, and all residents there are reported safe.
H.M.S. Cornflower, went aground at Tonnochy Pier but is now moored and safe.
Yun Mow, aground at Ping Chau. Perola, aground at Cheung Sha Wan.
THE TAIPO ROAD Closed Between Railway Crossing and Market
The disruption of communications left the conditions on the island an unknown factor, but the recently re- ceived message removes all appre- hension.
CLEARING OF DEBRIS
The sanitary coolies under the Urban Council are working day and night to clear away the refuse and
It was officially notified yesterday debris from the streets and expect to that the Taipo Road is closed between have completed most of this gigantic Taipo Railway Crossing and Taipo task by this evening.
Market.
The department was unhappily
The road between Shatin and Lok handicapped Lo Ha Railway Crossing is in a launches
by damage to the rough and dangerous condition. The barges, by damage to several refuse which tow the refuse public may use this section of the chutes, and other equipment. Thirty road only at their own risk and it extra men had to be sent Taipo
is recommended that it be not used to help bury the dead. This has re- during the hours of darkness.
sulted in the clearing-up work being
Taipo Market inay be reached by delayed to some extent.
the Castle Peak Road via Un Loong
and Farling but owing to numerous
MR. LOW IN HOSPITAL
small landslides and erosions the Mr. T. B. Low, one of the officers public are advised to proceed with of the Government tug Kausing, caution.
was taken to hospital
FIFTY-TWO BODIES
From the different foreshores of yesterday the Colony, fifty-two dead bodies
The Sha Tau Kok Road is closed morning suffering from the effects had been recovered by the Police between Sha Tau Kok Police Station of exposure. He
hospital for a few days.
ad Sha Tau Kok.
is remaining in within two days, Friday and Satur-
day.
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