1939-09-07 — Page 9

"HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

DRAMATIC STORIES OF ATHENIA: MANY BY THE EXPLOSION

Heart Rending Scenes On Ill-Fated Ship: Torpedoed

As Well As Shelled

LONDON, Sept. 6 (Router) Further dramatic stories of the sinking of the Athenia were related by survivors yesterday. Many of the passengers and crew were killed by the explosion.

In the second saloon, where the passengers were dining, the ceiling crumpled to the water-line.

A young Jewish couple saw their two young sons drown when their open boat capsized..

Women passengers worked with men for many hours at the oars of lifeboats, which were being cramped to danger point, many filling with water "and passengers sitting in them waist-deep. There " was a heavy swell and bright moonlight.

One young woman pulled from the water sat quietly for a moment, then plunged overboard scream- Ing"My Baby!"

It is clear from survivors' stories that the torpedo ex- ploded abaft the engine-room. A Glasgow member of the crew estimated that 25 per cent. of the American passen- gers were killed by the ex- plosion.

1 MANT CHILDREN'

He added, "There were many children on board and there were

heart-rending scenes as "chlidren rushed about helplessly calling for their parents.

"I saw there was a great cloud of smoke after the torpedo struck the ship, but soon afterwards the submarine: came to the surface and before we knew where we were the submarine had turned her gun on us and had fired two shells."

Mr. Robert Gillan, one of the passengers. said there was no doubt that the Athenia was shell- ed as well as torpedoed.

Mr. Gillan declared that" he saw one girl lying dead in a deck chair with her face cut In two. obviously by a shell splinter."

GRAPHIC STORY

BY CANADIAN Mr. John Bigelow, of Alberta, Canada, who is one of the sur- vivors of the Athenis tragedy, gave

had no blankets. His two children were In pyjamas. Mr. Bigelow ended by paying tribute to his companions and

to their gallant rescuers.

TORPEDO WENT RIGHT THROUGH LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuter)-On arrival at Galway yesterday after- noor. Capt. Cook, master of the

CABLE

TOLD BY SURVIVORS PASSENGERS KILLED

WAR COMMUNIQUE MALTA'S LOYALTY

PARIS, Sept. 6 (Reuter) -War Communiqué No. 4 states: "Our troops made contact everywhere at the outlet of the French fron- tier between the Rhine and Moselle."

There is reason to recall, adds the communique, that on the Rhine the per- manent fortifications rup along both banks of the river.

MALTA, Sept. 8 (Reuter)-The Maltese Council has passed a re- solution reaffirming Malta's loyalty to the British Government and has also passed legislation, for the emergency issue of paper currency.

HENDERSON AT HAGUE

THE HAGUE, Sept. 6 (Reuter)--- The former British Ambassador ta Germany, Sir Neville Henderson, arrived at The Hague" last might after crossing from Rotterdam

FIGHTING CONTINUES IN SOUTH POLAND

Polish Counter - Attack: Warsaw Again

WARSAW, Sept. 6 (Reuter)—A communique stätes that fighting is continuing in Southern Poland and Poznam (Posen). The rapid movement of Polish troops towards the German frontier has disorganized the detachments of German troops which were stand- ing on the defensive.

The Poles are reported to have taken a number of prisoners. An effective Polish counter-attack took place against the German mechanized units in Sou- therh Poland, near Bleradz.

The Germans are stated to

Athenis, said there was absolutely have left behind a large num- no doubt the British vessel was ber of tanks and lorries, the torpedoed. The torpedo went occupants of which were right through the ship to

taken prisoner, the total engine-room.

number of prisoners being considerable.

the

The submarine subsequently came to the surface and fired ore shell at the sinking Uner.

TRAIL OF SMOKE

A message from Paris states that the Havas war Capt. Cook then called forward correspondent reported that eye-witnesses of the torpedoing gunfire was heard in Warsaw who said that the submarine fired during the "whole of the its missile from a range of be-morning. tween 800 to 1,000 yards, -

"

The first officer said he saw the submarine's periscope and a trail of smoke. "following in the path of the torpedo as it sped towards the 11-rated liner.

Capt. Cook's account of the tor-

WARSAW, Sept. 6 (Reuter) Eleven Heinkel bombers raided the suburbs of Warsaw on Mon- day, coming over at an altitude of 1,500 feet. They met Intensive anti-aircraft fire.

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FIGHTING RENEWED IN WEST SHANSI: SURPRISE ATTACK IN EAST HONAN

HINGTSI, SHENS SEPT. 6 (CENTRAL)-QUIET ON THE WEST SHANSI FRONT HAS BEEN BROKEN AS TWO JAPANESE COLUMNS STARTED A WESTWARD DRIVE FROM LISHIH WITH LIULIN AND CHIHKOW AS THEIR OBJECTIVES.

One column pushing towards Chihkow" is Icarned to havO been beaten back' by Chinese forces following a severe batile at the hilly regions near Wanglaotashan, while the other column advancing on Liniin has reached Tsalcblakow, near Liulin, and is - meeting with stiff Chinese resistance,

·

Meanwhile, Chinese attacks on | headquarters have issued an order pedoing of the Athenia was con- VIOLATION OF RULES Changchin and Changise in south of commendation in recognition of

firmed by other witnesses. ··

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SHANGHAI RECEIVES NEWS

east Shansi continue with increas the bravers of a Chinese squad, OF BRITAIN'S DECLARATION

OF WAR

that Britain would not openly de- clare war against the Reich.

CALLERS AT CONSULATE

which recently made a daring raid Surprise Attack

on the Japanese at Lungkowchen, LOYANG, Sept. 6 (Central) in the district of Klayu, on the Chinese units staged a surprise north bank of the Yangtze River night attack on Tungha, south of Ir. Hupeh.

Armed with hand-grenades and STREAM OF CALLERS the British Consulate-General on

OF WAR WARSAW, Sept. 6 (Reutering severity. "MY SHIP WAS

Further attempts on the part of TORPEDOED" Germans to descend by parachute to LONDON, Sept. 6 (Reuter)-or, on Polish territory in order a graphic description of the tor-those in the Athenia when she create diversions are reported in pedoing of the ship. His account sunk, 430 landed at Galway and recorded and subsequently 300 at Greenock. Eight others. broadcast throughout the world by who were injured, are being taken straight to New York Survivors

Was

the B B. C.

Mr. Bigelow said that he had tell stories of the appalling dis- Just gone to the lounge. His wife aster.

and his two children, a boy and girl, aged six and five years, had gone to the cabin amidship Just Capt. Cook, master, on arrival. above the spot where the torpedo struck. "

"There was no doubt about it. My ship was torpedoed," sald

Water poured in on them.. He tried to get to their ald, no headway for could make about fifteen minutes through the milling crowds pouring ap to the boat decks.

The ship, meanwhile, had taken a bad list to starboard and all the ship's lights went.

out.

HURRIED BELOW

The torpedo went straight through to the engine-room and wrecked the ralley. He also said that the shell fired by the submarine was aimed at the ship's wireless and other survivors corroborated the story of a shell having been Bred.

an official Polish statement.

It is stated that several men. wearing the uniform of Polish soldiers, came down by para- cbute yesterday.

The statement adds that, this

is not the first case of flagrant violation of the rules of war.

EXPLOSIONS HEARD BRUSSELS, Sept. 6" (Reuter) The neighbourhood of Aachen is reported to have been bombed yesterday morning.

..

The sound of sirens and explo- sions were heard from a number of points on the Belgian frontier. according to the correspondent

of the "Soir.”

Kaifeng in East Honan, a few days ago. They succeeded in capturing the north and west suburbs, but withdrew the next wining.

Unit Ambushed, MILO, HUNAN, Sept. 6 (Central) A Japanese infantry wilt was ambushed on Monday morning at Kangwangchiao, in the vicinity of Linslang. in North. Hunan Over 100 Japanese were slain and two machine-guns and three rifles were captured by the Chinese...

other light weapons, the Chinese broke into the Japanese barracka. They killed more than ten Jap- light captured, "a machine-gum and two rifles.

All nine members of the squad returned safely.

anese

and

Attack In Bias Bay

There were streams of callers at

the "Bund where the lights were on throughout the night.

AT CONSULATE

CHUNGKING, Sept. 5 (Central)

It is learned that secret orders -News of Britain's declaration of regarding emergency measures ha a state of war against Germany been received beforehand bự the was received in Shanghai with various British organizations in excitement on Sunday evening, ae-China and these were immediately cording to a belated Shanghat reput into execution,

port.

YUNGYUN, KWANGTUNG, Sept. 6 (Central)-The Chinese counter-

Five hundred British troops are attack in the Bias Bay area has The news was Immediately reported to have left Shanghai on resulted in the recapture of many broadcast and, extras were issued the night of Sept. 3 to return to. points, including Kweichung, Lam- by the papers.

England, though no oficial atin. Wongkong, and Kattau. Over The Britons were especially ex-nouncement on their › departure 200 Japanese were killed in action. efted, but a blow was dealt upon was made by the British autheri-

A part of the Japanese retired the German residents who thought ties

In South Kiangsu KWANGTEH, ANHWEL, Sept (Central)-To. forestall Chinese counter-attacks the Japanese who occupied Kaochur. at the south PLANES OVER BERLIN WARSAW, Sept. 6 (Peuter)It on August 31, have broken the em- western tip of Kiangsu Province, STATEMENT MADE

was announced over

the radio bankment on the Shinchiu Lake IN LORDS

yesterday that over thirty Polish and flooded the areas west of Kao He managed to get hold of a LONDON, Sept. 8 (Reuter)-In aircraft new over. Berlin yesterday chún lantern and hurried below and the House of Lord yesterday, Lord and that all returned safely. RAILWAY SUSPENDED found his wife in water. He Halifax, replying to a question,

LONDON, Sept. 6 (Reater) The dragged her out and up on to on the torpedoing of the Athenia,

deck and then returned!

said that it was impossible to train service between Lithuania the

cabin again fully ex-estimate the number of casualties and Poland has been suspended.

Beuter's correspondent pecting the ship to sink at any until the various ships had landed

Kaunas, Lithuania, says that this moment.

the survivors in different ports.

Bome were returning to this action was taken because of re- that trains had Hable reports a stewardess, out of the water and country and some were going to

been bombed by German planes. then plunged into the cabin which the United States.

There is now no railway com- was nearly full of water to find Lord Stanhope added that,

munication between Kaunas, Vilna his children. They just had their

and Warsaw, Heads above water, he said.

the

to

Desperately be pulled Mrs Taylor,

He grabbed hold of them and managed to carry them both up on to the deck to his wife, who was waiting anxiously not knowing what to expect.

When they got to the life boats, they found them sii

There were cries

full.

“Women and Children Only!” They threw the children into One of the packed boats and at the last moment managed «

to get in as well,"

TEN HOURS

according to the wireless messages "received, the sub- marine fired a torpedo without warning the ship and then broke surfact,, so that there - was no question whatever re- garding the cause of the sink- ing.

W

.

in

MODERN WARFARE LONDON, Sept. 6 (Reuter)—At a meeting of the Danish Chamber on Monday, the President said

not only of the Admiralty, but of the Government,

The Admiralty was anxious to await the return of the Captain of the Athenia so as to be quite cer- "Therefore, the mere suggestion tain of the facts before making that a mine had been laid there by a statement, but there were rum- this country was obviously ridi- ours here that shots were also culous and absurd.”... fired.

ABSURD SUGGESTION -

U.S. GATHERING TESTIMONY

There were so many people that | Replying to Lord Strabolgi, Lord}" they could not row at first and Stanhope said that Lord Stra WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Reuter) has begun each time that they pushed away bolgi was quite correct in sug--The Government from the sinking Athenia, the gesting that that part of the sea gathering testimony to fix the sens pushed them back again. was too deep for mine laying responsibility for the sinking of the Finally they got clear and 'with twelve men at six 'cars struggled about in the seas for ten hours before being rescued:

Mr. Bigelow! ald · that actually their boat was lucky as it was only ankle-deep in water, Xb was £. a.m. before they were picked up and they

The Japanese have withdrawn taide Kaochun, where they are attempting to hold out against the Chinese.

Daring Bala CHANGTER, HUNAN, Sept. 8 (Central)-The

feld

Chinese

that the bombing of Eabjeg was an example of the horrors of modern warfare:

An investigation" would be made and if the railty party was found, a protest would be lodged, and compensation de manded.

GERMANS STAY

to their warships in the bay while others fled to Pukut and Shatau-

kok.

Japanese batteries. at Mahow near Samahut heavily shelled the Chinese positions yesterday (porn- ing. The cannonading was clearly audible in Shinhing states a Shiv- bing report...."

In the Tsungfa sector three thousand Japanese troops pushed northward from Shenkong and Taipingchong to Kalhow on Mon- day." They were intercepted by Chinese self-defence corps.

In the Chaochow-Swatow sector the Chinese are reported to be Dushing toward Chaochow.

HINCITAL SHENBI, Sept. 6. (Cen tral) -- Japanese reinforcemente have been pouring into southeast Shansi, latest military despatches. Indicate.

It is estimated that the total number of Japanese troops at Changchith, Changtse, Hakwan, [Lucheng, and other towns now reaches 20,000. They are being subjected to relentless attacks by the Camese,

ON IN S'HAI SHANGHAI, Sept, 6 (Int'l)-It is learned that the some 150 German

Shihchlichen, west of Changtse, residents in Shanghai are still staying in the French Concession; is reported to have been recovered many being non-Nazi Ayrans. They by the Chinese who are continuing are permitted to carry on normal their push towards Changtse Itælt. business pursuits.

The Germans are unable to leave wing to the omission of German liners from calling here at pre- "Athenia “And besides,” continued. Lord Stanhope, “in any case it The State Department announ- sent. Some of them are engaged would have been an absurdced that the United States Minis- in buying raw materials from

ter in Eire had cabled from Gal-China such as antimony. way that he had interviewed the German circles pointed out that Athenia's captain, members of the there is some improvement in crew and American passengers who Bino-German relations following all stated that the Athenia was the conclusion of a German-Bovjer sunk by a submarine,

place to lay any mines at all.

This country was anxious

to keep the trade routes going and, therefore, to place mines

in that area would be entirely contrary to the whole policy

Non-Aggression Pact.”

RETALIATION

BY BERLIN LONDON, Sept. 6. (Reuter)-- Berlin announces that all pro- perty on Slovak soll of the Slovak Minister to Warsaw bas been, confiscated.

♫ Borlin says this is in retalia- tion for his broadcast from Poland "when he called on the Slovaks to overthrow the Nerf

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