1931-06-11 — Page 9

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1931.

AUSTRALIA S ALEXANDRA ROSE FATAL ERROR BY JAPANESE CAPTAIN ALLEGED.

CONVERSION LOAN:

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE ENDS IN OPTIMISTIC MOOD,

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

MELBOURNE, June 10. After "approving of the scheine regarding the voluntary conversion

DAY.

RECORD COLLECTION

EXPECTED.

[URITIBIL. WIRELESS SERVICE]

RUGBY, June 10. The Alexandra Rose Day annual

H.M. SUBMARINE POSEIDON SUNK

RAMMED BY CHINESE STEAMER OFF WEIHAIWEI.

appen, on behalf of hospitals, is TWENTY OF CREW PERISH: 35 RESCUED,

of the internal debt and the gen-boing held to day. eral reduction of "expenditure the Premier's Conference concluded in an optimistic vein.

An important decision reached not was that holders who were prepared to convert must notify, their dissent within, fortnight from the launching of the appeal, otherwise their stock will be auto- matically converted. ·

"

There are mors roses available and more sellers with collecting boxes than in any year since the late Queen Alexandra, the present King's mother, originated the iden of Rose Day."

This morning everyone in the London streets, including the most humble workers and practically all cars were decorated with roses.

A bouquet was sent by H.M. Queen Mary from Windsor Castle and is being auctioned at Christien

A sub-committee, consisting of Mr. Seullin, Mr. Lang, Mr. Hill and the Premier of South Austra lia, was appointed to discuss the question of New South Wales' re-to-day on behalf of the fund, and entry to the Loan Council, while afterwards, as in previous years,, the Opposition Party has promised each rose will be sold singly. ita wholehearted support to the voluntary conversion campaign.

Banks and insurance companies, whose holding amounts to 2219,000,000 out of a total of £836.000,000, which is the amount of the loan, are prepared to convert.

EVACUATION OF TRISTAN DA CUNHA.

BRITAIN'S LONELIEST

ISLAND.

[BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE]

SUEZ CANAL, DUES.

NO MATTER, FOR BRITISH

GOVERNMENT..

[BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE.)

Ruany, June 0. Replying to Parliamentary question to-day, the President of Board of Trade. Mr. W. Graham, said the British Govern- ment had from time to time sup ported, in the general interest, pro- Rogny, June D When asked in the House of posals for reasonable reductions in Commons to-day whether the Govthe Suez Canal dues, and, in parti- ernment would consider evacuating cular, had lent their support to the the lonely island of Tristan da proposals for a reduction in the Cunha, in view of the cost of pro- present, level of the due.

...

viding the inhabitants with the Regarding the precise, provisions necessaries of life, and the fret of the 1883 Suez Canal agrecruent that the island was of no commer--which, as the questioner" stated. cial off strategic value, the Under-provided for a reduction of dues to Secretary for Colonics, Dr. Drum-five gold franca when the Canal mond Shiels, said, the question had dividend reached 25 por cont. been considered from time to time, but owing to the opposition of the islanders to their removal, it had not been thought desirable to take any action.

“He added that the charge on the public funds was confined to the provision of occasional steamer calls, to carry mails and supplies, which were paid for by private Hubscriptions.

Mr. Graham pointed out that the agreement appeared to "have been concluded between an association of steamship owners trading with the East, on the one hand, and the Suez Canal Company on the other

The British were not a party to the agreement, and any question of securing compliance with its terms would seem a matter for the ship. owners concerned.

Maddening Moment:s

The man who dared

on

The manager was furious. The young man scrunched. The waitress was flabbergasted. The young man went scrunching. Over the faces of his fellow lunchers stole a look of horror

or mingled with admiration at his Hangfroid. Still he went on scrunching .... He didn't

Care, How delision they were, these "Ovaltine" "Rusks, How subtle the

their melting crispness how piquant their unusual favour, He took a drink. What an admirable lupoh ho was having. Why should he order. anything else when he had got these perfect ruska? He toyed with the idea of passing them round. Perhaps it such pleasure all to himself, was hardly fair to keep And yet, dash it all, there were only a few left No, he couldn't spare them.

Cort

not

OVALTINE

Pusks

H.M.8. Poseidon, one of the latest and largest British sub marines, which was commissioned only a year ago, and which made her maiden voyage to the China Station recently, was rammed and sunk by the as, Yuta, a Chinese merchantman, off Wel-hai-wel on Tuesday afternoon. As a result of the accident, it is feared that twenty members of the crow have lost their lives.

It appears that the submarine was oruising on the surface in fog when she was struck aft of the conning tower, immedi ately after which she sank with alarming rapidity into some twenty fathoms of water. Eighteen members of the grew, were carried down with the ill-fated vessel, and two of them succumbed to their injuries.

CAPTAIN CONFUSED?" (THROUGH REUTEE'S AGENOT.]

WETHAIWE, June 10:

Apparently the Poseidon came the surface close to the s.s. Ynts, whose Japanese Captain, it is alleged, became confused and steered the steamer in the wrong direction causing the 'as. Futa to ram the Possidon amidships with the result that the submarine sank immediately.

"

"It is understood that H.M.B. Medway is in communication with sight from the submerged crew and hopes to rescue them, but there is practically no hope of rescuing the others who ars. in another compartiment.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

CHEFOO, June 10.

It is reported from Wei Hai Wei that the Japanese tüg, which

is now carrying out operations, expects to raise H.M. submarine Poseidon within twenty-four hours..

It is also reported that besides the ratings two Chinese are antombed.

AMERICAN SALVAGE VESSEL TO ASSIST?.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENDY.]

SHANGHAI, June 10.

It is possible that the aubraarine salvago vessel, Pigeon; which is attached to the American Asiatic Squadron, may be requested

to assist_is_salvaging H.M. submarine Poseidon.

The Pigeon is at present at Tsingtao and carries equipment. for deep sea diving, and also has a number of expert divers on board.

LITTLE HOPE OF SAVING MISSING RATINGS.

[UNITION WIRELESS SERVIUS-]

Rugby, June : 10.

ין

It is quite impossible to state at prasant whether any real hope can be entertained.of saving the eighteen man who are in the wrecked submarine, however, there is just one faint hope that they may be in the airtight compartment, but the suddenness of the collision does not encourage, this hope,

SALVAGE OPERATIONS HAMPERED.

BRITISH NAVAL WIRELESS SERVICE.]

June 11, 1a.m.

The weather yesterday hampered calvage operations, “but H.M.S. Hermes reported at 10.30 p.m. last night, that divers had connected with the submarine Poseidon and were investigating her condition.

Commander-in-Chief U.S. Asiatis Fleet has offered the services. of the U.S, submarine salvage vessel Pigeon, which is now on her way from Tsingtao to the 'scene of the disaster.

Firat news to hand took the shape of an official statement from the Admiralty in London issued on Tuesday night. It read:-

The Admiralty regrets to announce that information has been received from the Commander-in-Chief of the China Station, that the Poseidon has been sunk in a collision with a merchant ship, 21 miles to the north of Wei Hai Wei, at 12:45 p.m. to-day (Tuesday): H.M.S. Berwick and H.M.S. Hermes are on the scene of the disaster."

FULL DETAILS OF DISASTER.

A message, issued by the local Naval authorities yesterday, read:-- "Information has been received from the Commander-in-Chief, China" Station, that H.M. submarine Poseidon was rammed and aunt yesterday, Tuesday, by the Chinese B. Yuta in a position 10 miles north of Wei Hai Wei.

"Five officers and 30.ratings were anved and are alive. Two ratings who were saved have sinco died.

Eighteen ratings went down with

the ship.

okt.

...

- Poseidon, is lying in about":"20" fathoms of water and diving, opera- tions are being carried out. Bo far wreck has not been located by divers, but bubbles could still be acen at a p.m. yesterday." [STAY

MISSING: FEARED DEADVA

The complete list of casualties is

oficially announced as follows:

Thomas V. Grills, R.O., Ports

mouth Division. Married), Wm. H H. Pyke, LEAS Chat

ham (Married) RAM Recr Albert V. Paino, E.E.A.1, Porte

mouth (Married),

George G. Hows, A.B., Devonport

(Married), ME

Amos D. Collins, A.B., Devonport

(Married).

PRINCESS MARIE LOUISE.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. IN CONDITION.

(BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICK]

Ruasy, June 10, This morning's bulletin concern- ing the condition of Princess Marie Louise records a slight improve, ment and that Her Highness passed a Better night,. *

THE POSEIDON.

The Poseidon was one of Tri tain's latest and largest ocean-

She was going submarines. vessel of 1,570 tona, on the surface, 9,040-tons-when-submerged and bad- a speed of 16 knots. She carried one 4-inch gua, the gun-platform being armour-plated; as well as eight torpedo tubes.

Like all her sister-ships of the "P" class the Poseidon was laid dow under the 1827-28 programume

and completed in 1929. She was commissioned at Barrow where she was built, on March 20, 1930, and joined "the Fourth Submarine Flotilla on the China Station on February last.-.-

Lieutenant-Commander B. W. Galpin was in command, the other officers being Lieutenants C. W. Greening, N. W. Fisher, and R. T. Shaw and Commissioned Engineer W. C. Richards, all of whom have. been reported, safe.

PLANE CRASH IN JAPAN.

ONE OFFICER KILLED: ANOTHER INJURED.

(THROUGH RAUTER'S AGENCY.]*

Kone, June 10, After manouvres last night the. Naval aeroplane which was miss ing was found crashed in the hills near Toda Bay, Shikoku Island.

One officer is dead and another seriously injured.

message conveying lus deen sym- pathy, together with that of H.M. the Queen, for the families of those who died or are missing from the Poseidon

The following messages of cons dolence have been sent to the C. in-C., China Squadron

From His Excellency the Gover nor (Sir Willian Peol):-On behalf of the Colony of Hong Kong I send very deepest sympathy to the fleet under your Excellency's command, in the tragic loss of HM.S. Poret don.

From the Commodore:-Deepeat. sympathy from all ranks and rat ings at Hong Kong

From the G.0.0.:~On behalf of the officers, W.Os., N.C.Os, and men of the Chins Command, I would wish to extend our deepest sympathy in the terrible loss of life which has been sustained by H.M.S. Poseidon.

AMERICAN OFFER HELP.

(THROUGH REUTER'S · AGEWOX.].

WRIHAIWEI, June. 10.

It was at first stated that of her. total complement of fivo: officers and 48 men only five officers and 20 men had been saved leaving

The Poseidon was carrying out 22 unaccounted for, hut later mes exercises on Tuesday afternoon ten from the Commander-in-to fifteen miles from Weihaiwei sages Chief were to the effect that two when she was rammed. ratings had since died, and that eighteen ratings were missing,

From the above it was gathered that in the painstaking search cat ried out by H.M.S. Hermes and H.M.3. Berwick, both of which were on the scene of the collision, four more ratings, had been picked upe

41

The parent-ship, the Medway, went to her assistance in the hope of raising the sunken craft and rescuing the eighteen, ratings who went down with her..

4.

It is understood that Adniiral McVay, Commander of the U.S. Asistic Fleet, is likely to offer the services of the U.S.S. Beaver, 6,500 | Conârmation of this came later tons, which is at present at Toing and it is now stated that the sur-too, to assist the Medway it re- vivors totalled 6 officers and 30 mien, one of whom is reported to be in a critical position.

A Careful Search: Shortly after the accident the Berwick and Hermes were joined in the search by H.M.S. Medway (the submarine parent-ship), H.M.S. Cumberland, H.M.S. Stormcloud, H.M.S., Marazion and the tug-boat, St. Brenock,

Details of the accident are not yet available but it is presumed that a thick fog made navigation extremely hazardous at the time of the smash. The s.. Yuta, formerly

quired.

The British C.-in-C., Vice-Admiral Sir Howard Kelly, in alcard R.M.S. Suffolk, which has left Hankow for Weihaiwei, where she is due on Friday.

(Continued on next Column.).

CANTON SOCIETY

WEDDING.

MISS E. CHEUNG AND MR. WONG KWOK WING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

CANTON, June, 10.

A most interesting wedding took place yesterday afternoon at Yan- tana Street Church, when Mr. Wong Kwok Wing, Superintendent of the Quantity Department of the Kwang- tung Haw Silk Testing Bureau, and Mis Elizabeth Cheung, a popular society belle from Oakland, Cali fornia, and second daughter of Mr. Choung Kit, was solemnized.

The wedding was one of the most notable events in social circles this year.

Both the bride and the bride- popular groom are extremely among the intellectuals of the city, foreign and Chinese,

The Rev. Chow Tsun Hing off- clated, while the bride was given away by her aunt, as neither of her parents were able to return to China for the occasion. Mr. Tsui Dat was the "best man," and Miss Lois Todd,, daughter of Dr. Paul Todd, was the maid of honour.

Amongst the numerous guests present were the following:Gen- eral and Mrs. Chang Tze Suen, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Todd, Mr. Chamberlain and her daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Fischer of the American Presbyterian Board, Mr. and Mrs. James Wong, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Wong, Mr. and Mrs. Chucky Mr. B: F. Wong, Mr. Paul Ryan of the Testing Kwangtung Raw Silk Bureau Mr. C. Fu, Mr. Lau Chaun of the Mission Book Store Miss. Law Yau Tsit of the local Y.W.C.A., and Mr. Lee Cheung of the, Canton Bank.

Following the nuptial ceremony, the happy couple held a recoption, at the Sun Yuk Po Café

B:6. Tuta.

The 8.8 Yuta (ex-Yuen Song) which rammed the submarine, is a vessel of 1,783 tous built in 1890- for Messrs. Jardins Matheson, by Hall and Russell at Aberdeen. She was sold to a Chinese shipping company some little time ago, and is skippered by Captain. J. Yei Shi

She is 250 feet long. Her owners- are the Haichang S.S. Company of Shanghai. There is no information regarding damage suffered by ber in the mishap.

the Indo-China Co.'s 3.8, Yuen THE HONG KONG & CHINA GAS COMPANY, LTD.

Bang, was on her way to New- chuang and had just turned, the Shantung. Peninsula Point when she rammed the Poseidon aft of the conning tower. Under the cir cumstances, water would have poured into the engine room very rapidly and that perhaps throws some, light on the heavy-death-roll- among the engine-room and electri- cal-torpedo staff.

it is presumed that the submarine was cruising on the suriace at the time, otherwise the damage might have been even more serious. It

would appear that the majority of, he survivors must have been in the conning tower or on the deck when the collision occurred, and were thrown into the water as a result of the impact. Despite the excel lent rescue work carried out by vessels in the immediate vicinity,, however, eighteen men went down with the ship.

Diving operations were carried cut almost immediately, but up till late yesterday afternoon the wreck had not been located, and it is not considered probable that any of the missing will be rescued,

Most of the victims are married Robert G. Bowers, A.B., Chatham men, and were attached either to

__(Single);

Arthur Bagley, Stoker, Chat, the engine room stad or the tor-

pedo staff.

ham (Single);

~Harold ~~ Cliff, Loading Bloker,

Devonport (Married),

“P”" "Cinas" Unlucky.

It is pointed out that the P” Fred T. 6: Pointer, Stoker, Chat-class submarines, have been extra-

'ham (Married), jasmi

ordinarily unlucky. The Pandora Sydney Shirrocks, Acting Leading and the Proteus collided outside

Stoker, Fortsmouth (Married).

Gibraltar Straits on their way to WR-Pyne, Bloker, Chatham *: (Bingle), wit

Hoppmom the Far East, and the latter, we Frank Dowling, Loading Seaman understand, had a narrow escape in the harbour a short while, ago, Chatham (Married). Robert Balshaw, Stoker, Chatham collision with a Japanese vessel. AND {Married), Jebendundreds being just averted, while another Ernest G. Gaines, Leading Stoker, of the same clase met with a slight

Portsmouth (Married),

mishap at-Taikoo Dook where she Fred R. U. Tolliday, A.B., Ohat was undergoing repairs.

ham (Married) prestada 0. J. Beaumont, Stoker, Davon

port (Bingle).

DIED

A.-J. Lovock, A.B., Chatham

Albert Winter, Stoker, Chat.

*ham (Married)

(Continued on nezį Column.)

It is interesting to note that the Poseidon was the first vessel of the British Navy to be named after the. Greek god of the wes

The King's Message, His Majesty the King has sent to the Commanders-in-Chief at Ports mouth, Plymouth and the Nore, a (Continued on heaj Golumn.)-

Offices and Works-West Point. Kowloon Works, Jordon Road. Central Showroom-Ice House Street (Near Star Ferry).. Kowloon Showroom-246, Nathan Road (Corner of Jordan Road).

Telephone 20000,

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