1939-03-08 — Page 1

0. K. SAUCE

WEATHER FORECAST:-E. WINDS, MODERATE; CLOUDY.

Library, Supreme Cours

Hongkong Daily Press,

Registered

Newspaper at the General

Served in the best places

Post Office in the United Kingdom.

報西

ESTABLISH · 1857

剌 刺孖

No. 25124

此肆拾式佰壹仟伍藏弍馆

HONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1939.

MR. GANDHI BREAKS FAST FOLLOWING

SETTLEMENT OF THE

RAJKOT

Viceroy Invites Mahatma To New Delhi To Have Personal Discussions

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE PRISONERS FREED, INCLUDING MRS. GANDHI

RAJKOT, MARCH 7 (REUTER)-THE DISPUTE BETWEEN MR. GANDHI AND THE RULER OF RAJKOT WAS SETTLED THIS MORNING AND THUS ENDED THE FAST WHICH THE MAHATMA BEGAN ON FRIDAY. WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD STARVE UNTIL DEATH.

An agreement was reached following a period of almost continuous "consultations between Rajkot and New Delhi.

This morning's moves included an interview be- tween Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India, and Mr. Gandhi's secretary, Mr. Mahadev Desal, and a visit to Mr. Gandhi by Mr. E. C. Gibson, British Resident öf the Western States.

LAUREL & HARDY "BLOCKHEADS"

COMPETITION

The "Hongkong Daily Fress has pleasure m zanouncing another competition, to be known as the Laurel and Hardy "Block - Heads " competition, which differs entirely from those formerly held Full detallä will be - published in these columns on Friday. The contest will begin" on Saturday and 'continue until next Thursday, and the senders of the first ten correct solu- tions received by the Competi- tion Editor at the offices of this paper, 319 Marina House, 15-19 Queen's Road Central, by noon on Thursday, March 16, will be given a pair of tickets to see the M.-G.-M. production Laurel and Hardy in "Block- Heads" at the Queen's “and Alhambra Theatres,

S. AFRICA ON TOP IN LAST TEST

M.C.C. LOSE FIVE WICKETS

DURBAN, Mar. 1 (Renter)—— At the tes interval on the fourth day" of the Futh Text match, the MC.C. had scored 184 for the loss of five wickets In reply to South Africa's first innings total of 530. Paynter was the only batsman, besides Leslie Ames, to show form, while Edrich once again failed miserably being dismissed for a singie.

+

The weather was overcast and the wicket damp from rain which lasted until early this morning. when, in the presence of 1,500 spectators, Hutton and Paynter résumed England's Innings the overnight total being 14 for one wicket.

Both batsman were very cau- tious but at 82 Button was run out through a misunderstanding. Hé drove a ball from Gordon and started to run then waved Paynter to go back but Paynter continued Continued on Page 9

THE DOLLAR

T.T. ON LONDON: 1s. 2.25/324. T.T. ON NEW YORK: 28 13/16, London Silver Market From Our Own Correspondent

London, Mar, '7′′"- London sliver prices to-day were unchanged as follows:-

Spot Forward

Mar, 7 Mar. 6 20-9/18 20-8/16

19-7/6:19-7/8

11

Later Mr. Gibson sent Mr. Gandhi a letter from the Ruler of Rajkot. Mr. Gandhi opened the letter and smiled.

At 8.55.a.m. (G.M.T.) Mr. Gandhi broke his fast with a glass of orange juice.

It is officially learned that Mr. Gandhi has released his correspon- dence with the Viceroy over the dispute for publication.

The basis for settlement la that

Thakore Saheb will implement his promise regarding the constitution of the Advisory Council in the Rajkot State. If there is any doubt as to what these promises are they will be submitted to high Judicial authority for decision.

VICEROY'S INVITATION

DISPUTE

· Mr. Gusta!" Aspelin, Mr. and Mrs. Ditley Simonsen, Jr. and Mrs. Gustaf Aspelin, all of Oslo, Norway, xleir Ele wanders of tha Acropolis while ashore from the world cruising Canádian-Facile liner ss,, "Empress of Britain.”

FLOATING HOTEL OF

CANADIAN PACIFIC

DUE THIS MORNING Empress Of Britain On

Annual World Cruise

THE 42,300-TON DE LUXE FLAGSHIP OF THE OF CANADIAN PACIFIC S.S. CO., THE * EMPRESS THIS MORNING AT EIGHT GCLOCK ON HER 1939 BRITAIN, ARRIVES IN HONGKONG HARBOUR.··

WORLD CRUISE

Since Jan. 7, when this palatial steamer left the port of New York, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and travelled through the Mediterranean to India, Siam and now the Colony, her large list of guests have been en- joying days of interesting events on sea and shore. Inspecting and sight-seeing in

NEW DELHI, Mar. 7 (Reuter)-the outstanding cities and ports of

has The Viceroy

invited Mr. the world along their route, these Gandhi, as soon as he is at to travellers on the Empress of Britain travel, to go to New Delhi in order have had time to study and re- to have personal discussions on cuperate for the next call to come. the Rajkot dispute. Mr. Gandhi Daring a long sea trip they are has accepted the invitation.

provided with every need for their

It is reported that the Viceroy welfare, comfort," amusement and has assured Mr. Gandhi that the complete well-being. Ruler of Rajkot will carry out his

Glancing over the passenger list promised reform in Rajkot State. one finds many noted yearly round-

Civil disobedience prisoners in the-world travellers' names. Rajkot have been released, includ-|United States appear to have the ing Mrs. Gandht

+

The

largest representation; however, many guests from England, Canada STUDENT'S SYMPATHY

and other European countries are LONDON, Mar. (T/Ocean)-included. A young Indian law student,

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tritton, of Motilal Kothari, who is a follower London, will be welcomed by many of Mr. Gandhi yesterday started friends and acquaintances in the hunger strike in sympathy with Colony. The widow of the famous Mr. Gandhi. He passes the time cigarette manufacturer Carrers," reading Indian poems and believes Mrs. Lewis Barron, is aboard the that the second or third day will Empress of Britain, and a popular bring a crisis in his physical con- American, Mrs. O. o. Mcintyre, dition, but is he determined to whose late husband entertained starve to death unless the Ruler of many readers with his daily news- Rajkot gives in to Mr. Gandhi, paper column "New York Day By

"Day."

GUIDE TO THE NEWS

1Page 2.—Tennis tournament.

Lawn Bowls Association meeting. Champion grima dies. Fage 3-Radio programmes. The Bervices. New York World Fair. Page 5.-Cinemas. Crossword

puzzle, Diary of local events. Page 6. Women's page.

Newsettes.

Page 7. —"Prof. Middleton Smith says farewell to Ro- tary Club. Child's death fall Murder charge com- mittal. Trans-Atlantic air service.

Page 8-Leading article: Du- ficulties for Japan. Tele- phone company

annual mesting.

Page: 11-Land - Investment and Agency Company an- nual meeting,

Pages 12 and 13-Finance and

commerce.

Pages 14 and 15-Shipping

news and directory.-

41

MANY BUSY HOURS

During the four day stop-over in the Colony, these travelling guests

Capt. Charles Howard Sap- sworth, Commander of the "Empress of Britain.”

TODAY'S PROGRAMME

9.30 am-Leave Empress of

THURSDAY

15-19 Marina House, Queen's Bond Central,

G.P.O. Box No. 1

捌月泰华玖拾佰我千五

|DAILY_PRESS FUND FOR CHINA'S WOUNDED

The Hongkong Daily Press acknowledges receipt of $10 from "N.C.L" towards the fund for the relief of China's wounded. Con- tributions will gladly be welcomed and acknowledged in these colmuns. Please send your mite to the Editor, "Hongkong Daily Press," 319, Marina House, 19 | Queen's Road.

CRIME WAVE IN CANTON

RICE SHORTAGE

IN CITY

OPTICIANS

to the Colony

for

47 years

Lazarus

JOPTICIANE

6. Pedder Street.

(Opposite the Hongkong' Hotel)

Price Single Copy: 10 Centa

Per Month; $5.00.

BIG BATTLE NORTH

OF EAST RIVER

Chinese Prepare For Attack In Waichow

From Our Own Correspondent

CHUNGSHAN, Mar. 2—Chinese troops gave battle to the Japanese at Laichingngan, near Tsengshing, north of the East River, on March 5; While the out- come of the battle is still undecided, troops of the 12th Army Group have so far succeeded in throwing back the enemy assaults, according to a communique, After working feverishly for

ten days and nights, the Jap HEAVY FIGHTING janese completed an аето-

drome at Taipingchang, 30 miles north of Canton, on March 1 and compelled the

CANTON, Mar. 7 (Beuter)-country people to take part in

Systematic house - to - house searches in suspected localities

of the city have been started by the Japanese authorities in an attempt to curb the present crime "ware, which shows no signs of diminishing.

AT CHUNGSIANG

an opening ceremony. The Big Battle Imminent

workmen who were forced to help in the construction of the flying field were each given 40 cents in order to induce them to participate in the ceremony.

A large area between the British Bridge (leading to Shameen) and The aerodrome will accommodate Wongsha Station was cordoned on only small pursuit planes for re- work. The heavy the other day in order to allow connoitring. Japanese troops and Chinese bombers are located in Canton and volunteers to conduct a thorough on board the aircraft-carriers. and uninterrupted search.

„Besides combing every dwell- ing, the inmates are subjected The da 'strict questioning, result of the search is not known. birt several Chinese

·were seen being led away with their hands tied behind their backs,

In Shansi

ICHANG, Mar. 7 (Central)-- Hostilities in central Hupeh have been extended to Ching- alang strategic town on the east bank of Han River. After engaging the Chinese "at Tsaochtatten, south-east of Chung slang, on Sunday, the Japanese,

succeeded in making their way to the latter town yesterday. Moody fighting continued in the evening.. The aitnation was admittedly critical.

ני

"The Japanese right "wing, puah- toward Wangchiatal and

CHINESE FORCES READY. Having shifted their troops along Shektan and Sheklung, at the con- fluence of the East River and the Canton-Kowloon Railway, the Jap-ing anese declare that they will soon Changshoutien, north of Chung- attack Walchow on the East River stang, was" intercepted by two and Poklo, east of Tsengahing and Chinese columns, ple north of the East River. The Chinese forces, however, are ready In their present campaign for mich attacks, against crime, the Japanese are An intelligence report briefly | labouring under'a'severe handicap states that Japanese troops are as the city is suffering from a making preparations to attäck shortage of rice, which is causing Kwangst and Hunan, but this la acute suffering among the poorer believed to be nothing more than classes. The expected fresh sup-the usual threat.

SHORTAGE OF RICE

Heavy fighting, meanwhile, is raging unabated to the east -of-Klukuw, on the east barik "of the Han Efror, where the Chinese sre"fighting fiercely to stem the advance of the ́ Jap- 'anese left wing.

WESTWARD DRIVE Reinforced by about 800 men, the Japanese troops at Yokowchen, plies have, for some unknown

Most Japanese troops in South;

on the north. bank of the 'Slang reason, failed to arrive from the china are in Hainan Island, where River, also resumed their west- countryside during the past few nerce fighting all going on ward drive. Cavalry raiding pár- days, with the result that the The enemy has failed to gain much ties have been sent out to create price of rice has soared beyond ground, now that they have reach- disturbance at Pengahibho. the reach of the majority of the ed the mountainous regions. populaca.

The authorities, both Chinese and Japanese, are doing all they can to remedy this serious situa- tion, the Arst step being to issue an order strictly forbidding the export of rice from the city.

CROP OF RUMOURS

The institution of house-to- house searches by the Japanese have given rise to a crop of rumours, including the assassina- tion of a Chinese offical of the Pro-Japanese City Government, the wounding of a Japanese sentry by gunmen and the murder of a Chinese Police Office All these have been categorically denied by the Japanese Gendar- merle, who have now, added to their other duties, the task of tracing the source of the these reports.

MASS MEETING

Meanwhile, at u mas meet- ing held in the Auditorium of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial

· Hall, several speakers made an appeal to the members of busi- 'meas guilds and shop owners to resume business immediate- b. \

WHAT THE "JOCKEY

CLUB MISSED

the

By a rule of the Hongkong Jockey Club, if no tickets are taken on a horse, then Jockey Club taken a solitary ticket. Last Saturday, in the "members enclosure before the first race, a Chinese went up to the pari-mutuel intending to buy a ticket on Sports Venture but by mistake he bought one on Starlet. Beeing his mistake, he tried to get the man 5257- ing the ticket to take it back, but the latter replied that he could only do so if another cllent wished to purchase i Nobody was forthcoming and Starlet paid the phenominal sum of $3,711 on the $5 ticket. Only three tickets were bought.

-

In north Hupeh, the Chinese. are latching a counter-offensive Hsuchia tien. north-east ''DI

00

Buthalen

While fighting in central Hupeh is raging with increasing violence, the all in north Hundn is un- ̈ broken, according to reports from Changteh. A drizzle has kept both the Chinese and Japanese maçtive during the last few days. Continued. on. Page 9

Imperial Pacific Conference

MELBOURNE, Mar. 7 (Reuter)- A hint of an early Imperial, Pacific. conference between Britain. Ans- tralia and New Zealand· may: “be theld is given in an editorial in the

"Melbourne Herald."

The paper says that conversa- tions have already begun. between Australia and New Zealand.

The King held his second leves. It is suggested that the "confer- of the season at Buckinghamence could formulate defence plans Palace. He wore the uniform of to indicate the degres of financial

responsibility Colonel-in-Chief of the Cameron and other

each

of Canadian Pacific SS. Co. will Britain by motor ears for a 60- have many busy hours. Each day mila trip around the New. Ter- various outings through Hongkong ritories. and Kowloon have been arranged. Teas, dances and luncheon are on

2.18 p.m.-Special "Star Ferry" | the " shore-party list. They will investigate and see our city and leaves the Empress of Britain for Following the meeting a pro-Highlanders. This is the first country, is willing to accept. surrounding territory thoroughly, Hongkong, wapd

cession was formed and paraded time in many years that the mang Approximately thirty passengera

Motor cara will be waiting for a through the main thoroughfares wore kilts at a levee, according to will leave the Empress of Britain trip around the Island via Cause of the city.

l'a Reuter message from London,

in Hongkong to embark on the way Bay, Shaukiwan and Tytam Empress of Japan arriving in the Reservoir to Repulse Hotel

3.15 p.m.---Tea at Repulse Bay

Colony on Friday morning. On board this trans-Pacific steamer Hotel they will travel homeward via the (eastward- route.

KERANA

4.15 pm-Continue ride around the Island via Deep Water Bay, Due to continued trouble in this Aberdeen, Pokfulam, The Univer- part of the world, a new Itineraryalty, Government House, Botanical | was made this year for the Empress Gardems and Garden Road.

of. Britain's cruise, which does not 6,30 pm-8pecial "Star Ferry" embrace Shanghai, Japan or the from Hongkong for the Empress Pacific Ocean, but which includes of Britain

| South" America `Instead,

7.30 p.m-Motor cars will be Therefore, when this "Floating waiting to convey passengers, from Hotel" of the Canadian Pacine the Empress of Britain to the leaves Hongkong, she will sail to Peninsula Hotel. Manila, the Dutch East-Indies and

8pm-Dinner at the Peninsula

to Capetown, then travelling up Hotel the South American coast to 9 pm to midnight-Dance at Havana and New York. The last the Peninsula Hotel. port of call will be Southampton 12.15 am Motor de care on May 24,

convey passengers from the Hotel to the Express of Britain.

Continued on Back Page

TIENTSIN CONVERTED INTO VIRTUAL CONCENTRATION

CAMP BY JAPANESE

TIENTSIN, MAP, 7 (Router)—The British and French Consular officials have inquired from the Japanese authorities, as to their reasons for the erection, to the main thoroughfares of the Jap~ anese-controlled areas, permanang brick structures,” their size gresting barracks, the construction of guard-houses in the stevetą wód “also the solid ring of barricades of live-wires, which have converted the British and French concessions into a vietos concentration camp,

Up to the present there has been no reply to these: imggun The few udis from the domenssions which are still open are. heavily ruanded by Japanese sentries, and Chinese police, whi especially ominous is the number of machine-gun" "empia. bulli facing the foreign concessions,

WARNING BY GUERILLAS CHUNGKING, Mar. 7 (Central) Gambling houses and opium dens at Tasokistu; in Pootung. have all been warned by Chinese guerillas, according to a Shanghai report z

The warning was given either in letter or verbally, by guerilis members who called on the owners openly, exhorting them to suspend their evil enterprises and refrain from giving financial aid to the Japanese Punishment as deniz upon traitors in the event of | ignoring the warning was threa-

tened.

The proprietor of one of the oplum dene surnamed Chen was arrested and taken to the heid quarters of the guerillas He tran released after signing a statement of repentance.