1940-01-12 — Page 1

**Hongkong Daily Prem"-Jan. 12, 1940.

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OK Hongkong Daily Press.

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HONGKONG, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1940.

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No. 253Sti

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CANTON - KOWLOON

EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED: TRACK

First picture to be published in Hongkong of the new eight-foot wide foot-bridge across the Shumchun River. It was opened yesterday in place of the old railway bridge. This bride provides easy passage across the frontier into Chinese territory. It will be recalled that the former rail way beldze was demolished when the Japanese took up their position on the other side of the

ziver Daily Press.

ECKFORD FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER: S'HAI JURY RECOMMENDS MERCY

SHANGHAI, Jn. 11 (Revtery-The trial of PRIVATE DAVID ECKFORD. of the Serfo th Highlanders, on a charte of the mur- der of Lance-Corno al James Davis, of the same Regiment, con- cluded in the British Sap eme Court today when the accused was found Guilty of murder with a recommendation to merez...

At the resumption of the trial this morning the jury asked num erous questions and also recalled Private Stirling and made him re- peat his evidence.

LAID WASTE BY IMPORTANT

GUERILLA BANDS MEETING

Repairs Will Take Many Months At Huge Cost

BY A HONGKONG DAILY PRESS STAFF REPORTER

As the result of a ten-mile trek along the Canton- Kowloon Railway from Shumchan to Po-kut, I was able to gather from guerillas encountered on the way that the quarter-mile long Sheklang Bridge, vital link between the Canton and Kowloon sections of the Railway, has been so extensively damaged that it will take many thousands of; pounds, and many months, before it could be satisfactorily repaired.

Sheklung Bridge is about 35 miles away from the fur- thest point reached by me but on my way thus far I met such a large number of guerillas that I was able to make extensive enquiries and any satisfied that my information is reliable.

The leader of one band of the British border for a long time guerillas claimed to have been to compe, if ever, in the party that dynamited;

OCCUPIED BY GUERILLAS - the bridge in the retreat from Canton in 1937. He told me

The whole country through which that the track up to Sheklung guerillas. I met "hundreds and the itne travels is now occupied by Bridge had been laid waste hundreds of them. Some in khaki- by guerillas. The wooden

green uniform some in civilian and their iron rails cast aside or revolvers and equipped with

sleepers had been taken away clothing, fat all armed with rifles

E

ON BORDER

TODAY

An important meeting

between Chinese Govern-

ment officials from across the border, and local Gov- ernment officials, will take place today to consider the question of facilitating the return of refugees to their homes in the border towns, it is reliably understood by the Hongkong Daily Press.

It is also learned that several other Important questions will also come up for consideration and that the decisions reached have Important bearings on the whole question of refugees In the Colony,

"Managar

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SHOSTICIAN

Single Copy: 10 cents. Per Month: $3.00,

This picture of Mr. Chau Ka-chan, secretary to the newly ap- pointed magistrate of Shamchun, was taken while he was being Interviewed by our reporter yesterday. Mr. Chan was depotis- ing for the magistrate. Mr. Hung Ya-sun, who was away on a cficult of inspection of the Po On district. With Mr. Chan are Chinese military and, police officials-Daily Press.

SPECIAL SURVEY OF CONDITIONS the permanent way was not of ammunition. on both sides of the track, but bulging ammunition pouches full IN SHUMCHUN: TOWN IS RAPIDLY RETURNING TO NORMAL; A NEW BRIDGE ON FRONTIER

damaged, nor were any of the smaller bridges this side of looking men, and eyed me with They were grim, determined Sheklung.

suspicion in spite of the fact that This is exacdy how I found I was being escorted by two of their conditions along the line between numbers. Every Chinese official Shumchun and Po-kut. Hardly a whom I met had a body-guard of| sleeper was left, but the rails lay armed guerillas walking behind stood smartly to attention and re-concrete foundations for the line,

on both sides of the line. The him. celved the Coure's decision, without however, were all there and the

inching.

few bridges I saw were intact.

Throughout the entire trial his demeanour was most ́ ́ ca'm, 31 The fact that the former rallway Atter the ladder, from which though a slight nervousness was bridge across the river at Shum- Eckford descended, with the ride, apparent a few minutes before the chun has been re-bulit as an eight- was exhibited to the Court the jury returned,

foot-wide foot-bridge, hardly wide jury decided to view the block-

This was the first murder trial enough to accommodate a locomo- house where the shooting occurred. of a British subject in Shang- tive even if rails were laid on, tends

hal since the case of the Indian to show that there is no likelihoodį Atma Sagh three years ago. of the line being re-built beyond

FINAL ADDRESSES

When the jury returned to the Court from the blo.khcuse, the Crown Advocate, Mr. John Mc- Neill, and Mr. Newman, counsel for the defence made their final addresses to the jury.

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Counsel for the Crown endea- voured to make out that it was a deliberate murder while Mr, New- man spoke about the benefit of the doubt on which, he said, the accused could be acquitted, og be found guilty on a manslaughter charge.

LONG DELIBERATION

I was told that there is a Japanese outpost near. Shek- lung Bridge and that there are no Japanese troops any- where between' that point and the Hongkong border. In fact there are no Japanese troops South of the Pearl River at this polat and that the inter- vening country is entirely in Chinese hands.

Thousand Lives Feared Lost:

Junks Burned In Sudden Attack

Japanese Destroyer

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By Near Swabue

56 JUNKS BURNED Struggling Fisherfolk In

The Judge passed sentence or ION JULY 21, 1939

death promising to forward the re- commendation for mercy.

The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 41 minu.es before. reaching! their verdict. Until the last mo- ment the possibility of a verdict., of manslaugh.er was not complete-| ly ruled out.

Eckford, in uniform and kilts.

NAZI SUBMARINE CAUGHT IN A FISHING NET. LONDON, Jan. 11. (Reuter)-A Danish Farmın caught a der-" man submarine.

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It le said that his net was caught by a heavy object and he pulled for some distance when the! periscope of a German submarine appeared, entangled in the netting, until it broke,

The shermen regretfully stated that this "fish" got away..

OFF SWABUE

The following is an extract trom the Hongkong Dally Press of July 27, 1939:

News reached Hongkong on July 26 of the deliberate des- truction by Bre of an entire fleet of fishing Junks off Swabne on July 21 Alto- gether, 56 vessels were burn- ed. The consequent lost of life is placed at above 1.003, while the financial loss suffer- ed is stated to be over $500,- 800,

TURKEY 'QUAKE KILLED 25,000

Water Machine-Gunned

BY A HONGKONG DAILY PRESS STAFF REPORTER

Conditions in Shumchun are rapidly returning to nor-. mal. The populace which evacuated the border town in such tragic circumstances following the ruthless bombing and subsequent occupation by the Japanese a few months ago, and sought sanctity in this Colony, are now going. back in fairly large numbers and the town is quickly as- suming its former air of peace, and prosperity.

An important stage in the border situation was mark- ed yesterday when a new eight-foot wide foot bridge was opened across the frontier in place of the railway bridge which was demolished when the Japanese took up their positions across the river five months ago.

"I spent the greater part of Shumchun itself presents a yesterday making a thorough pathetic picture. The ruins caus- survey of conditions in Shum-ed by Japanese bombs are stul chun and the first thing that there as a reminder of the terrible impressed me, even before I time the unfortunate inhabitants got to the town proper, was had during the critical Ave the large number of return-months past. "The streets are al- ing refugees making tree use that have returned

most deserted except for a few of the new gateway across the border which until a few days ago could only be crOSS- ed by boat.

SERVICES HONOURS AND PROMOTIONS

A full list of the Naval New Year Honours, the Half Yearly Promotions announced by the Admiralty on December 31, 1939 and the Temporary B.A.F. Pro- motions annouficed by the Air Ministry on Januzry 1, 1940 has been received by air mail from convenience of those interested London and is posted for the

on the bulletin beard at the Town Office of the Hongkong Daily Press, Marina Houst

U.S. Fleet Expansion Worrying Japan

Eecent. increase in the United States

The town is in the hands of querillas under the command of a magistrate and apart from.. preserving the peace, and pre- Passing the Chinese Maritime venting looting, etc., they are y Customs, which is now entirely staffed by ometals appointed by

doing everything possible to encourage former inhabitanta the Central

TOKYO, Jan. 11' (Reuter)--The Government

to return. Chungking. I visited the former

Navy Ministry spokesman declared I called Casino. This is now a hospital Mr. Hung Yu-aUDI,

on the magistrate, that Japan feels "grave concern” SPECIAL TO THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS run by Mr. Alfred Morris. former fortunately found him out,

but un-regarding the proposed : 25 per The Japanese Navy has renewed its war on defence- Director of Ambulance, St. John was on a tour of the whole Po On Fleet. less Chinese fishing 'craft. In an unexpected early morn- Ambulance Brigade, Hongkong. district studying conditions. He ing attack on Tuesday, a large fleet of about 70 junks, and staffed by former nurses of is a new ometal from Sekiang and apparently means to maintama He added: "The United States including a number registered in Hongkong, were sur-the same society. The hospital only took up duties a few days superior ratio over the the japan-

has 50 beds but will soon have 200 ago, rounded, while peacefully, carrying on normal activities more.

ese Navy."" near Swabue, by a Japanese destroyer and trawlers, shell-

I was "able, however, to get ed, burned and completely destroyed.

Interview with his secretary Mosals to fortify Guam, the spokes-

Referring to the American proje Chau Ka-chin, who was deputisman, recalling that Congress pre- ing for him as magistrate, Mrvously rejected the proposal, sald

Continued on 'Fage R

it was certainly uniporting to rake up the matter again."

OVER 1,000 PERSONS MAKING UP THE CREWS OF THE JUNKS ARE FEARED DEAD, WHILE FINANCIAL LOSS IS ESTIMATED TO EXCRED $1,000,000.

On Other Pages

Page

NEAR NEWCASTLE

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First intimation of the The junks had been fighing for! atrocity was brought to Hong some days in the Kip Shek area, kong yesterday by a handful off Swabue, About & am, on Tues-EKRA shoot... of survivors. Their spokes- day, according to the report the F.A suspensions man, 39-year-old Fung Hot- junk people were surprised from Fanling races... ying, master of Hongkong- their sleep by the arrival of a Jap-Coming events ...... registered junk No. 2238, re- anese destroyer and a number of Radio programmes

Crossword puzzle lated the story on his arrival smaller vessels.

Fire inquiry in Leading article. Weddings women's interests Finance, commerce

ANKARA, Jan. 11 (Reuter)The to officials of the Hongkong The destroyer opened fire on the official estimate of the casualties of Fishermen's Child, who are, Chinese craft which, though caught the recent earthquake and floods it is understood, making a full unawares, made vain attempts to was given as 25,000 killed, 80,000 report to the Secretariat, for escape. A few junks, succeeded in injured and 30,000 homes destroyed. Chinese Affairs.

Continued On Page 7

ANTI- TUBERCULOSIS CAMPAIGN IS AN EFFORT

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ENEMY AIRCRAFT

The newspaper, Yomfurt, saYL that Japan decided to open the Yangtee up to Nanking and the

LONDON, Jazz 11 (BW8) The United States replied by annome.

Air Ministry annouriced at 1230;g a plan to construct 52,000-ton "Enemy aircraft crossed the coast capital ships.

BUDAPEST, Jan.

near Newcastle shortly after 10 am. today. No bombs were

(Reuter- dropped. Fighter patrols were Commenting on the Venice talks sent up and anti-aircraft guns Pester Lloyd says: “Italy and Hin- opened fire. The enemy aircraft gary are bound together for good, were driven out to sea. One house as well as for bad fortune, and the was slightly damaged by anti-air-world knows that Italv backs Hun- craft shell splinters.”.

gary with all her military power."

THAT IS WORTHWHILE THAT IS

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