1935-02-02 — Page 13

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1935.

S.S. TUNGCHOW PIRATED AFTER LEAVING SHANGHAI

PIRATES GET AWAY AT

HONG HAI BAY

RUSSIAN GUARD KILLED AND

ENGINEER WOUNDED

Seventy British Children All Safe

Intense excitement in Shanghai over the fate of seventy school children who were passengers ca the Butterfield and Swire's steamer Tungchow were allayed last night, when the vessel steam- ́ed into Hong Kong shortly after midnight, after being in the hands of pirates for four days. All the children are safe.

A Russian guard named Serota Tiborivoff was killed by the pirates, while the Second Engineer, Mr. K. Macdonald was shot in the chest. He was removed, to hospital upon the ship's arrival in port.

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"First suspicions that the ship had been pirated arose when the ship was twenty four hours overdue at Chefoo and failed to respond to wireless messages. As a matter of fact, she was taken South. The Naval authorities at Wei-Hal-Wel were approached for assistance to locate. the vessel.

The pirates after capturing the vessel changed her name to the Tao Maru and painted two white lines on her funnel,

49

A graphic description of the piracy is given below, particu Early interesting being an interview with Mr. Duncan, who was a teacher travelling with the cblidren.

GREAT ANXIETY IN THE NORTH

-

Sir Malcolm Campbell, the racing motorist, whiq has left for Daytona

with hh new "Bläs' Bird” m

search of a new speed record

ship's lifeboat, taking with them a mate and the wireless operator. Upon landing, at a distance some two or three miles from the ship, they left the mate and the wire- less operator on shore and the ship had to send a boat in to rescue these two.

"A great tribute was paid by one of the passengers to the work done by the wireless operator, who had to serve as interpreter most of the time the pirates were in possession of the ship.

"When the boats of the pirates had left the ship, another aeroplane made its appearance and hovered. over the ship. This proved a source of great" delight to the children, who gave the airplane a cheer..

SOVIET DEBTS TO THE UNITED STATES

No Hope Of Agreement At Washington

Washington, Jan. 31. the credit of the American Gov- Possibly & record for shortness ernment for the purpose of facili- In diplomatic, conversations wastating American-Russian trade, ve established to-day when M. Troy- It would be for the Board of anovsky, the Soviet Ambassador: Trustees of the Export and Im- discuss with Mr. Cordell Hull the 1sed specifically for the purpose visited the State Department to port Bank which had been organ-

old Russian debts to the United of extending credits to assist the States, totalling about $500,000,000 expansion of American trade with but M. Troyanovsky remained Russia to determine." whether or with the Secretary of State for not there was any good reason for only four and a half minutes. continuing the bank's existence.

Subsequently, Mr. Hull, after M. Troyanovsky, who was ob-. conferring with members of the viously downeast, refused to make State Department for an hour, any statement- announced: In view of the pre- ¦ Reuter, sen; attitude of the Soviet, I feel we cannot encourage the hope that any agreement is now possi- ble."

4

He regretted this, he said, be cause he sympathised with the desire of the American manufac turers and agricultural producers to find a market in the Soviet, and with those Americans whose property in Russia had been con- Acated at the time of the revolt tion.

The Government was most dis- appointed with There was much activity among dition to that there was on board

the Soviet's re- the British Naval vessels in the Mr.. D. J. Duncan, one of the tea-afternoon yesterday and it was at

The pirates left the ship in thejection of its proporal for a settle- ment, which represented the limit harbour yesterday afternoon in chers of the Mission Schools.

about 8 p.m. that HMS. Dainty to which the United States believ- consequence of fears of piracy re- | Schoolinlstresses who were in

was. sighted. It was welcome garding the Butterfeld & Swire

ed they could go without a com- plete sacrifice of the interests of steamer Tungchow.

American claimants against Rus- of thesia, and without unduly pledging

Later in the afternoon informa- tion" was received that the Tung- chow had beer pirated shortly, after leaving Shanghai on January 29 and taken to Hong Hai Bay. ten miles The piracy occurred north east of Shawelshian.

The news stated that a Russian guard named Serota Tihorivoff was killed and Mr. K. Macdonald, the Second Engineer of the vessel, was wounded in the chest.

POLICE LAUNCH LEÄVES The Police launch carrying Mr. T. Murphy, A.S.P. and party on board left Kowloon Point shortly after lip.m. and steamed out of the harbour to meet the pirated vessel. They saw no sign of her at first and stationed in Junk Bay for a while when moving lights ahead to starboard, indicated the position of the approaching craft The

launch immediately cut across to the Tungchow as it was seen that she was proceeding under her own steam into Hong Kong escorted by HMS. Dainty, whose searchlight were playing on vessel.

NAME ALTERED

charge of the children included sight to "many. Miss Henderson, Miss McNair, Miss Priestman and Miss Williams. Miss. Rouse, a member of a well-known family in Chefoo was also a pas senger,

Upon the arrival of the Police arrangements were made to send Mr. Macdonald to Hospital and to remove the body of the dead Rus sian guard.

The story of the piracy could best be told in the words of one of the passengers on board, Mr."Dun-

can.

MR. DUNCAN'S STORY

"We hardly got out of the Yangtse and were still in sight of Shawelshan

when it happened.

that the man

HEROIC GUARD

Russian guard. one of the passen-

"Regarding the death

gers paid a great tribute to him, stating

fought valiantly to the last. He mortally wounded, but

control of the ship, two shots were hour after the pirates had taken

it was probably that

fallen guard. these two shots were fired at the

heard and

was half an

"The pirates, it is surmised, must have been misinformed as to the nature of the cargo carried on board the ship. From every point of view, their expedition was a fal- lure as they could not have taken away very much money from the school children, who formed the

SEVENTY CHILDREN

Shanghai, Feb. 1.

The Tungchow was manned by

British officers, the master being Captain Smart.

!|

The vessel was carrying 70 school children, escorted by a gentleman and four ladies, there being 14 boys and 10 girls over the age of twelve and 28 boys and 18 girls under twelve years.

GUARDS KILLED

Shanghai, Feb. 1.7 Hong Kong by the British Naval The Tungchow was located near

authorities.

Russian guards were killed and the The vessel was pirated Two second engineer K. Macdonald was wounded. Everyone else is safe- Reuter.

It was Just getting dark at the time. The pirates suddenly ap- peared from the aft. There was bulk of the passengers, while they a scuffle near the after-hatch only took away with them a few where a Russian guard was. bales of silk upon departing from thought there was some trouble the

boat. There were about among the passengers or crew. twenty pirates in all"

CHINESE NAVY SEARCH -* After a while, a man tackled me. He was flourishing a pistol about

Tsingtao, Feb. 1. He was very excited and searched

Before learning that the Tung

was located. Mayor Shen me, at the same time asking me twenty, the for money.

Hung Lleh ordered the Third. I offered him the It is understood that arrange- Chinese Naval Squadron to search little money I had on my person,ments are being made to house the along the Shantung coast.— but he was too excited to take It. children locally until they could be | Reuter.

After entering the Harbour, the Tungchow anchored at Kowloon

Most of the children who where

travelling on the Tungchow were between the ages of twelve and chow

"I passed on and walked along sent back to Shanghai.

to the saloon. The children, who

The piracy of the Tungchow

Bay and it was seen that during were having supper at the time will go down as one over which the PROTECTION OF

HERDED INTO SALOON

greatest excitement was felt all along the China Coast and mes- sages fashed from port to port seeking news of the vessel, It was only after the pirates-had left the ship that, the vessel was able to make known to the authorities in Hong Kong her sad plight.

EARLY CABLES

SHIPPING

CONGRESS AGITATION

London, February 1.

COURVOISIE

Courvoisi

DODWELL & CO., LTD.

Tel. 20636.

Sole Agents.

FOR US.

Recommendations By Commission

The New York Times" Wash- GIANT AIRSHIP ington correspondent says 'thatë the failure of the Soviet debt negotiations is expected to stimu- late agitation already growing in the Congress diplomatic recognition from the for withdrawing

Soviet. The correspondent points out that the President exercises the exclusive prerogative regard- ing recognition of foreign Powers. Recognition of the USSR was only extended in November 1933- on the understanding that the Soviet regularise its debt to America.

The "New York Times" says America 18 willing to accept $150,000,000 over twenty years- Reuter.

SILVER MARKET

(From Our Own Correspondent)

London, February 1. London Buver prices to-day were 1/8 down as follow:-

Jan. 31 Feb. 1 Spot24-7/16 24-5/16 Forward ......24-9/16 24-7/18 London on New York cross rate at 2 p.m. to-day was 4.8706 com- pared with 4.8712 at closing yes- terday.

U.S. SILVER PURCHASES

Threat To China's Currency

Washington, Feb 1, The fact that President Roose- velt specially delivered & message to Congress in connection with the Federal Aviation Commission's report 19 expected to lead to sympathetic action on the part of Congress.

recom-

Queen's Building."

PLANE CRASH DEATHS

Eight Passengers And Three Crew

Berlin, Feb. 1.

Eight passengers and three of the crew were killed when a Deruluft plane of the Berlin- Moscow Une crashed at Podejush near Stettin en route from Dansig to Berlin.

The pilot tried to make

# bad

were

one

The Commission's chier. mendations are firstly a gradualy forced landing owing to

visibility. increase of the Army, Navy and

The passengers Air

all. Forces

Germans, including until strength is

womari reached of 4,320 fighting planes; secondly, development of commer-

Reuter, cial air lines across the Atlantic and Pacific thirdly, Immediate constructionat." Government ex- pense of a giant airship which will be leased to private owners for mail and passenger service across the Atlantic- Bouter.

JAPANESE LOAN

TO CHINA

Reports Denied By Tokyo

"Tokyo, February 1. A Foreign Office spokesman declares that there is no basis of

H

SAAR MINES FINANCE

German Nation's Sacrifice

Berlin, Feb. 1.. The Government has refused. dozens of offers of golden trinketa to assist in the repurchase of the

Saar mines stateme

An official statement says that this willingness to sacrifice fur- nishes proof of ideal patriotism, but such sacrifice is unnecessary. The new Reich was suiciently strong and an understanding had

*th in the reports that Japan already been reached for safe- ̈

is considering a loan to China, guarding payments for the Baar adding that no Chinese official mines without resorting to gold had approached Japan in the and foreign currency reserves of

the Reichsbank Reuter.

matter..

London, Feb. 1. The "Times" Washington, corres- pondent states that coincidently with Press reports that the mone-

Japan will not consider such a proposal.-- tary system of China is threatened Feuter with collapse, which the State

Query In House Of Department received with anxiety,

Commons

the four days that the pirates were not particularly disturbed were in passession they had taken for the supper was not even in- the trouble to change the ship's terrapted. name to the Toa Maru at the bow and to add two white lines on the --"We-were-all-rounded into the funnel. Otherwise the ship did saloon and another pirate came- not show any outward sign of in and took all my money and having been pirated, although even my watch. After a while the things on board did not appear to Captain and officers were also we in the same presentable' condi-herded into the saloon. tion as outwardly. It was seen that

Shanghai, Feb. 1. ""Three or four excited pirates. All Shanghai is spending the day Bluejackets, were on board and demanded all the ship's ammuni- with the keenest anxiety waiting they must have gone on board tion and were very angry when to hear the fate of the Butterfield when HMS. Dainty met the ship they thought they had

not & wire steamer Tungchow carry earlier in the evening.

had it all presented to theming 70 China Inland Mission school They were waving pistols in children, mostly British, en route a reckless way. The pirates, according to in Captain Smart and the Purser the China Inland Mission school After a while from their holidays in Shanghai to formation gathered on board and told then the exact number of in Chefoo. surprised the ship's officers on arms on board and went with them Tuesday at 6 pm. They were on to help them locate it. They seem overdue although perfect weather bands

The vessel is twenty four hours of the board in command for four days ed pacifled after that

conditions are and only left, the ship, shortly

prevailing. The Hankow after noon yesterday, when upon

Chefoc agents are unable to obtain | Reuter Chilang. Lighthouse, they manag-

replies to wireless messages and Piracy is feared. They have tele- graphed to the British Naval JOINING THE NATIONAL Authorities at Wel-Hal-Wet

GOVERNMENT. Reuter

OFFICERS SURPRISED

THE PIRATE LEADER. "The pirate leader was a young, ed to commandeer a junk and by man, but evidently very experien- using a couple of the ship's boats ced. He was ready to grant us managed to get ashore.

any reasonable request and on the whole was very friendly towards. CHILDREN ON BOARD

the children and allowed them to

CHEFOO FEARS Chief interest in the piracy come and go as they pleased at

Chefoo, February 1 yesterday lay in the fact that meal times. The passengers bad

Parents and guardians here there were on board seventy Bri- every consideration from him after and in Shanghai are greatly an tish children, who had been to the first excitement of the attack xious for the safety of the Shanghai on an extended holiday "Most of us were confined in the seventy British schoolboys and from Chefoo.. These

students, Arst class accommodation, and you girls returning to the China. In drawn from three, schools, belong may magine how congested te

land Mission school aboard the ing to the China Inland Mission

were for three days.

British steamer Tungchow, which were returning to Chetoo, and the Tate of the Tungchow gave them,

from Shanghal though weather what might be described as an

conditions are good. additional experience of condi-

The ship's agents are unable to tions on the China Const. For

make wireless contact. It is fear tunately for them, none of them to feel alarmed by the presence ed that the Tungchow has been were molested in the least by the

SHIP'S OFFICERS

There were British

pirates.

ALARMED AT PLANE Talking of the departure of the pirates, one of the passengers stated that the pirates appeared

London, February 1. Coincidently with the news of the Tungchow piracy fears comes the announcement that Major General Sir A. W. F: Knox is asking in the House of Common being taken to protect British on February & what measures are shipping on the Yangtze in view prevalence of Communist between Nanking and

The

Mr. Lloyd George To Be Approached

there has been no comment from the Senate Agricultural Committee enquiring export trade in United States,

the

Some quarters believe this masks the attempt to secure support of the Southern Senators for for- ther silver legislation. It is hoped. to show the representatives of the

PARCEL POST WITH MANCHURIA

Resumed By Chinese Post Offices

Nanking, Feb. 1.

MANCHUKUO SOVIET

TROUBLE

Changchun, Feb. 1. Trouble is looming on the Amur. River with the Soviet announce- ment that the Boviet alone will?

A circular order issued by Chin-soon be dredging the river on the Southern States that all compet post services were resumed to day ins" the Soviets that the action ese Post Offices states that parcel Soviet side. Manchukuo la warn-.

and China are on cheap paper or and Liaoning Provinces, but the ment which requires co-operation ing nations, including India, Egypt with Hallingklang, Kirin: Jehol violates the Waterways Agree silver standard and though it is not belleved that Senator Wheeler's allowed to be used. Postal remit- puppet regime names are not BI for free coinage of suiver on tances and savings banka business a ratio of 18 to 1 with gold can

be enacted, it is thought that such are also starting to-day and they a show of strength can be made four Manchurian Provinces.

will Berept remittances from the as to compel the Treasury to r-Router. newed intensified silver purchases. Beuter

AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

IN AMERICA

Code Extended Until

Washington Feb 1 President Roosevelt has extend

LONDON THEATRE

DISPUTE

-Beuter.

COMMONWEALTH FOR

THE PHILIPPINES

Road To Complete Independence

Manila, February 1

sovereignty over

Common-

London Jan. 13. London, February 1.

Both sides to the dispute "be constitution for the Philippines A national plebiscite on the "Morning Post's” political

tween theatrical managers and Commonwealth will be held t correspondent states that an in-

the British Equity Association Président Roosevelt approves the formal approach will shortly. be

of members of the theatrical pro- completed draft. made to Mr. Lloyd George on bé-

fession has recently laid their The verdue her half of the Government with the

new constitution recog object of ascertaining the condi

cases before the Ministry of Lab our, and the Principal Assistant the Philippines. nises American tions on which he would be pre-ed the Automobile Industry Code Secretary for the Ministry, Mr. F. wealth form of pared to enter the Cabinet. It is until June 16 with amendments W. L. Leggett, to-day placed be- intended assumed that extensive recon- designed to spread employment Tore a joint meeting the broad from the tion of the Cabinet would be including a demand for an agree-outline of a scheme which would to necessary to find a place for Mr. ment with manufacturers to hold enable the dimenities to be settled Lloyd George, and it is most im- motor shows and bring out new for the future, probable that Mr. Ramsay Mac models in the autumn Instead of

mub-committer Donald would be willing to con- January, also pay ordinary time the

nue to lead the National Govern and half in addition for overtime been ment if Mr. Lloyd George joined after a 48-hour week

-Reuter.

Router

of an aeroplane which hovered seized by pirates infesting awatow near the ship. They had waterä commandeered Say junk maidī

British warships, the Cruser some of them had left, when Suffolk and sloop Bandwich, and Officers an aeroplane hoved in sight, aircraft from HMS, Hermes are on board the ship, the master of | This was at a place just outside scouring Chinese waters which was Captain Smart. In ad- Chilang Point. They went in the Rester.

las Ame

tring