1936-01-23 — Page 11

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INTREPID JOURNALIST'S QUEST FOR "COPY"

Died a Dozen Times

First, she looked as though she had just returned from the dead. Her face was the colour of deep water that cold, unearthly green. There were deep marks, ad most of sufforing, around her eyes and mouth;

And then I sat down with my portable typewriter at the dressing table, and while the harbour light still winked at me

through the window, wrote my story,

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1936.

NEW LINERS IN 1936

Developments At Southampton

London, Jan, '1.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

No. 7 Squadron Command

Wing Commander

O.

Boden, DF.C., promoted last July.

Southampton's position as # passenger port will be considerably No. 7 (Bomber)

ls appointed to-day to "command

Squadron entranced during 1936, Although Worthy Down, Ir aucerision

تاة

to

at the moment attention is largely Wing Commander A. Gray, M.C.

Woodbridge School, Suffolk, and

Court

"That is the bed in which the Woman died," the manager told "That is the door into the "adjoining room, from which the murderer, Fax, entored. You have the use of both rooms for the night

And I'd sooner you | thần cao s

Then I caught my own reflection concentrated on the services to NewThis unit has recently been re- The bedroom door in the hotel at in a mirror. I looked an old man, York, more especially in view of Margate still bore the marks of The nervous strain of the past five the coming of the Queen Mary, im- quipped with Handley Page ex- press night bombers in place of having been sealed by the police hours would have been terrific for portant progress will be recorded in

the obsolete Vickers Virginias. after the tragedy. My companion anyone I was a mere impression-other services.

Wing Commander Soden has and I were to have the privilegeable youth of we at that time!

One of the most significant moves

hitherto commanded at Worthy of being the first to spend a night

The woman went quietly into the will be inaugurated early, in Janu-Down. No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron, in that room of terror, writes J. adjoining room, closing the doorary when the, North German Lord which is in process of removal to Murray Smith, Intrepid Journs behind her. I went to the basin will bring to completion a large Upper Heyford. He was born i fist, who has braved most known and bathed my face, noting that and costly plan to provide a month-New Brunswick. but, educated at dengers in his search for copy. my clothes were moist even to the

ly service between Germany, The echoes of the Fox murder shoulders of my jacket case were still ringing as the time,

Kobe. The scheme involved the war the Inns of Saithampton, and Yokohama and [he came" "to the RFC. In the and many people doubted whether Fox really committed the crime for

construction of three liners of OT. C. and the" South Stat- which he was hanged. Mrs. Fox

already the fordshire Regiment. special type, and

His D.F.C. had been discovered dead in bed,

Scharnhorst and the Potsdam have was gained in France, and a Bar nd her son was found guilty of

rade their voyages to the East te it in 1922 for further service in strangling her and then setting fire

Now the Gneisentu is preparing for to the room to make her death ap

her maiden voyage, and with her rear'an accident,

departure from Southampton" on January 7 there will be on this ser- vice three vessels capable of a greater speed than any rival ships.

The Bremen organization perienced preliminary dimculties with both the Scharnhorst and the I had undertaken to climb a 120 Potsdam; with the result that their feet chimney stack, to have a talk maiden voyages were not quite as to No. 1 (B) Squadron Worthy Down. to command. vice with the steeplejacks at the top successful as was anticipated, but Wing Commander & Gray. M.C. and then to write about their job. the Scharnhorst, which has just

(Dec. 19). Going up was quite all right, completed her second round trip, although I scarcely liked the way gave some evidence of the speed in which the wind seemed to be the is capable of. She arrived back trying to haul me into space. At in the English Channel several single plank, which had the dis.ours ahead of her schedule, but advantage of being straight, while then she ran into very dense fog 21).

My companion closed the door behind us, and locked it carefully, envied her calm, and I. walked to the window and looked out in an ffort to sein unmoved by the grim surroundings. For there was a large oharred hole in the carpet ar the fireplace, and the walls were discoloured by flame and

-moke.

The woman I was with Was professional clairvoyante. Wa had both been engaged to got a saw story on the Fox case. She was to tell it, and i was to write it up for publication.

A strange woman she was past middle age, dressed in Bowing garments, and with vividly-painted finger, anils.

"Please sit down." she said in a honotone.

I took a chair dear her. Turn out the light."

GRUESOME DETAILS

the man

·UP A 120FT. LADDER Thore have been many other times when I have known sheer funk, and when I have been scarcely able to stand in my fear.

An experience of an entirely different kind from that night in the deathroom occurred in broad daylight, in the fresh air. It was equally terrifying to me.

the top I stood upon a narrow,

meant

*

BALTIMORE SERVICE

The

On January 13 the Baltimore

Kurdistan..

R.A.F. APPOINTMENTS.

the Royal Air Force are notified:- The following appointments in

GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH Wing Commander.-F. O: Boden.

Flying Officers.-P. W. Stansfeld, No. 2 (Army Co-operation)

squadron, Manston (Dec. 21). T. E, Lacey, to No. 13 (Army Co-opera-

[tion) Squadron. Old Barum (Dec.

ston (Dec. 16).

STORES BRANCH

Fight Lieutenant.-D. W. Desa, tỉ' No. 99 (B) Squadron, Milden- hall (Dec. 18),

NEGUS

the stack itself was round. This and was kept idle for some hours Plot Officer. E Townsend, that the plank and the before she was able to land her to No. 48 (GR) Squadron, Man- brickwork only touched in one passengers at Southampton place, while the ends of the shaking new monthly service will be in- platform stuck out into thin air. Bugurated by the Gnelsenau when Half an hour of balancing up she sails from Southampton on there, with three men dependent for January 7. I reached up and pressed the their lives on flimsy piece of switch. My mind was crowded wood would Have been quite with the gruesome details a man enough for me in any case. But

was enlivened by larid Mall Line will inaugurate their PROCLAMATION BY THE bad been talking to in the hotel my stay

unge had given me. He had been tales of various steeplejacks who fortnightly service from Southamp-

who had first met thend made just one slip.

ton, and the port will thus have its. alleged murderer as he rushed Only when I started the retura first direct connection with Balti- down the stairs in his night attire journey did I realise that the lad-more and Norfolk, Virginia. The screaming at the top of his voice:ler, which was pinned to the ships assigned to this service are [Special to the "Hong Kong Dally

Press" (Copyright).] brickwork went "underneath the the City of Havre, the City of

Addis Ababa, Jan. 21. Hamburg, the City of Newport

Heralded by the ominous rolling

yard, the Emperor read a procla- mation on Tuesday at 3.30 p.m. ordering a final general mobilisa- on to supplement the voluntary mobilisation of October 3.

"Fire"

In the darkness, the glow at rayscaffolding! cigarette was comforting, and I' To reach it again I had to hang News, and the City of Baltimore. was glad that I had a large tin of over with my arms, frantically in the recent "sliver rush" to the of war drums in the palace court- cigarettes in my pocket.

feeling with my legs for the rungs. Minutes passed in complete I got a new grip, and descended silence, and after half an hour very gravely and steadily to the began to feel cold and cramp. I ground. After that I walked be- moved slightly, to be rewarded by hind a wall and took relief in being an agonised sigh from the direction sick

of the bed. I drew hard on my cigarette, but could not distinguish "1 HEARD MY BONES BREAK"

Looking back over several years very much.

Another half hour passed. I wasof danger, it is difficult to may reaching for yet another cigarette which particular thrill was most when a deep, sepulchral voice unpleasant. Generally, I suffered startled me into stillness.

most in fear beforehand, while to "See-the-door-open--"

actual riak was not too terrifying. The voice was quite unlike the woman's normal tone. It had an unearthly quality that made me hudder, yet it seamed in keeping with the cold, dank smell of the

The voice went on, with great pauses between each word. It was us though someone half strangiad was trying to utter nome terrible confession.

'TOOJE

IL

United States some of the ships of the line were ordered to put into Southampton to load silver on their They way from the Continent. also found that there was a fair offering of passengers, and accord- ingly a fortnightly service has been decided upon.

The proclamation emphasised that Italy has unrightfully invaded the country and employed methods Another notable event in January (contrary ta all international will be the arrival of the Union- laws. The unfortified towps, Red Castle Line's largest vessel, the Cross dressing stations and other stirling Castle, of 25,000 tons, from non-military objectives were in- I know that I did not sleep for the builders yard at Belfast. She cessantly bombed. Abyssinia was about three nights before making is expected to reach the docks at therefore now.compelled to use all my first parachute drop. Another the end of the month, and will be means at her disposal for the de- time, when I discovered myself at in her maiden voyage to the Cape fence of the country, every Abys- the controls of a plane which in February. This ship is one of sinian must take up arms could not fly, 3,000 feet in the air, five new vessels which the Union-awalt the order for attack, the ne- received a "shock from which Castle Line will have at Southamp-cessary arms and foods supplies only recovered with the aid of ton in the New Year. The Athlone, would be forthcoming. Every able many drinks.

Castle, named after Princess Alice" oodled man must come to the col- Once I found myself in the grip and the Earl of Athlone, is to make ours and aght until an ultimate of an enormously powerful man, her maiden voyage from Southamp victory is achieved.----- inned down by him, while a great tun on May 27, and there are also 'ransocean Kuo, šlim. many people shouted themselves

two intermediate" passenger and hoarse. My mind suddenly regis

dream..

and

AN INCREDIBLE PICTURE That west on for hours. I lost all idea of time. From halting tered the details, as though I had cargo ships, the Dunottar Castle phrases and odd words there was

an unpleasant and the Dunvegan Castle, which place in March. She is to be placed conjured up in my mind an in-awakened from

will use Southampton' on their in the King George V. graving dock credible picture of a man entering the room, studying the face of the I was wrestling in a charity homeward voyages from the Cape. for cleaning soon after her arrival. woman sleeping in the bed, goingtrument, and his friendly bout The fifth of the new Union-Castle The Queen Mary will begin her to ber and starting back with and suddenly changed into a mat-vessels will be a small cargo ship, maiden voyage from Southampton

ter of deadly "seriousnesa. wrekm op discovering that her face

designed for the trade between on May 21, and the saling My opponent he is now a friend, Bouthampton and the Continent. schedules of the Normandie and of was cold.

This Bugeted the amazing

I'm glad to add-bad taken offence The Majestic, which has rendered the Cunard White Star liner have theory that the woman had died in something, and the fight had distinguished service on the Atian been so arranged that there will become serious. I realised his in-tie since she was taken over from be no clashing of dates of depar- tention too late. His great Germany, is listed to leave Bouthi- ture, either from New York or were around me, crushing me, and

felt a couple of ribs sap ke ampton on February 13 for New Southampton. As has already been York, and, although there has been explained in "The Times" the two twiga.

That cruelty to enraged me that 20 ocial intimation about her largest ships In the work will took on new courage and nearly future, the ship's name does not adopt a saliing plan at the height strangled him, but I walked about appear in the sailing schedule on of the passenger season which will for weeks in a neat jacket of plany subsequent date. The future provide that every Wednesday ter in which I could not breathe of the Majestic and the Homerle, either the Queen Mary or the Nor- Indeed, we went to hospital to another "reparations ship, must mandle will leave Bouthampton gether in the

remain a matter for conjecture 00: |_ Cocmarty" watching with keen the company make an omcial interest the fight which her rivals statement.

are hiking the American trade; The North German. Eloyd have not

her sleep, and that the man then tried to make her death appear an accident in order, as her next-of

11693.

xin, to claim the insurance.

A great deal of that night of terror failed to register, on my memory, but one or two incidents I remember with unpleasant clear

Some time during the early hours when the woman had been Filent for some minutes I learned forward and made my cigarette glow. Then, quits deliberately-I don't know why--I touched her band with the bot end!

taxi!!

UNDER, WATER THRILL

Of course, I died several times

in imagination the first time I got

NORMANDIE'S RETURN -

yet indicated whether there li to be f

a new ship that may be regarded-

She made no moveme

into a diving it and plunged The month of March will be Liter while she was moving into murky water. I could popotable for the return to the as a challenger, to the Normandie about the room and speaking in a work the valve of the suit properly. Benthampton-New York-service of the Queen Mary, but they are deep voice, like a man, I rolled At one moment I would be crawling the Normandie whose home port is determined to make the most of aarons the bed to the window and about the bottom like a crab, then Hayre. She is to begin her voyage the speed of the Bremen and the drew a curtain slightly A Bashing the next second, with my suit full on March 25, and when making for Europa, two of the vessels which harbour light threw a faint bear of six, taking great leaps up and home she will omit her usual call have held the Atlantic speed re into the room, and I saw the woman down.

at Plymouth, and will make for ford, An accelerated service will standing at the foot of the bed, her

Southampton, where for the future: He brought into operation in April, faos horribly contorted.

her British business will be concen- but because the ships have to cover trated. Her, frat homeward call the extra distance between England will take place on April 8.

The arrival of the Queen Mary weekly schedule. The new and Germany they cannot get down from her builder yard will take schedule shows that they will save considerable time both at New York and at Bremen and instead of

When the light fell upon her she shuddered violently while her voice rose into an agonised moan I dropped the curtain in alarm.

A DODEZE SHOCK

About five o'clock in the morning my serio companion recovered from hertrance and, asked me, in a werk voice, to switch on the light.

I did so, and received a double

shock

I was half frozen, half throttled, half dead. A voice was talking to me through the telephone in the headpiece, but I would not bear word.

"This," I thought, is the finish There must be a leak in the thing.

| Yes somehow, I cuma to the BUT

Inge, where I was given neats brandy, hathed, and put to bed risks like a good many other men working to 820 or 21-day scheme.

I have never, I hope, pretended Hat I have never taken these risks each ship wil follow a 17-day plan. that I am a brave man. I have without being almost frightened out thus enabling extra voyages to be had to take certain number of of my life.

made throughout the seasITALY

For

CRAVEN

downright enjoyment

I smoke

Craven

never

They

Vary!

CRAVEN

VIRGINIA CIGARETT

NETTES

IN "EASY ACCESS' INNER

FOIL PACKETS, ALSO VER ÎN "TRU-YACH (50° TINS

When we al the TRU-VAC alreight "TEN" the FACTORY. FRESHNESS of CRAVEN “A” is menesty imprisoned until the :sesi la broken by půling the zubber cabino ·quiters No (jagged edges...

Remember

11:

CRAVENA

ARE MADE SPECIALLY TO PREVENT SORE THROATS

MADE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, BY CARRERAS LTD

Miles

DIRECTORY & CHRONICLE

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1936

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