1919-09-23 — Page 1

G-E MOTORS

PACSPEEN, MENER & OL

THE

COPY.

Hongkong Telegraph.

(ESTABLISHED fesn.

68948:式拜望號三廿月九英港香 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1919.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

TERRIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

FEARED LOSS OF OVER FOUR HUNDRED LIVES.

New York, September 20. The hull of the Spanish steamer Valbanera has been found embedded in the quicksands off Rebecca Shoals. forty miles from Keywast.

The Valbaners, which was bound to New York from Havana,

had been missing since a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico ten days Three hundred and sixty passengers and fifty of the crew are missing.

THE RUSSIAN PUZZLE.“

NEWS STILL CONFLICTING.

London, September 21.

The latest news from Russia is conflicting. It is reported from Petrograd that the Soviet Government has resolved to enter into peace negotiations with the Entente, on the basis laid down by the latter.

On the other hand, it is stated that M. Trotzky has informed the Soviet that several Bashkirian Divisions will shortly reinforce the garrison at Petrograd and the troops on the north-west front.

THE IRISH SITUATION.

SINH FEIN NEWPAPERS SUPPRESSED.

Dublin, September 21. Five of the chief Sinn Fein organs and transport workers' news- papers were suppressed yesterday, a force of Police and Military rendering the presses unworkable.

Later.

The suppression of Irish papers, cabled earlier, is due to the publication of the prospectus of a Sinn Fein National Loan.

It is believed that all will revive shortly and be re-named, as the authori tise are willing to return the essential parts of the presses which were seized.

MASSACRE OF THE ARMENIANS.

A HEART-RENDING APPEAL.

London, September 20. message from the Armenian Parliament appeals to the Parliaments of the Entente to prevent the annihilation of Armenis by hordes of Turks, Kurds and Tartars headed by Turkish Regular officers, who are invading Armenia and massacring the inhabitants, encouraged by the inaction of the Powers.

The whole Armenian manhood has been mobilised to save the country, but the fight is unequal. Armenia is abandoned, and, inadequately armed and munitioned, must perish.

ů

CUNARD SECURES THE IMPERATOR ".

New York, September 20. The Cunard Company has secured the ex-German liner berator (52,000 tons) for the Atlantic service.

'WHITE STAR LINER GOES ASHORE.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

THE REPRIEVE OF LENOIR

GIVEN UNDER DRAMATIC-CIRCUMSTANCESĄV

París, September 20. was cabled on the 9th were most dramatic.

The circumstances of the reprieve of M. Lenoir, whose sentence formed on Thursday evening that President Poincare declined to His counsel was int

intervene.

at 6.45 yesterday morning. The officials entered the cell at 5.30 and A firing squad took up their position at the moat at Vincennes found the young millionaire dressing.

In reply to questions, Lenoir protested his innocence and made, a statement relative to M. Caillaux, which decided the Government Commissary to telephone to the Military Governor of Paris, who re-telephoned to the various authorities, with the result that Lenoir, after three hours' wait, was informed of the respite.

THE UPPER SILESIAN PLEBISCITE.

. FOREIGN OCCUPATION ONLY FOR ORDER.

Paris, September 20. Apparently the Supreme Council has not adopted the recom mendation of the Allied Military Mission to Upper Silesia, urging - the Allied troops to occupy Upper Silesia.

According to a semi-official statement from Berlin, a German Police Force, under Allied supervision, will be formed in the southern part of East Prussia for the period of the plebiscite. There will be no foreign occupation as long as order is preserved.

FRANCE'S PEACE ARMY.

REDUCTION IN COMPULSORY SERVICE PERIOD,

Paris, September 20, France's future Peace Army will number 350,000. Universal compulsary service will be reduced from three years to one year. This will produce 200,000, while enlistments and re-enlistments will produce 150,000.

France will retain two home Army Corps and one Colonial Army Corps in North Africa. Six Infantry and one Cavalry Divisions are ear-marked for the Rhine.

GERMANY TOES THE LINE.

HEE FEELINGS WOUNDED.

Paris, September 20.

A German Note to the Conference agrees to the annulment of Article 61 of the German Constitution, providing for union with Austria.

Germany protests at the ironical tone of the Allied Note dealing with the German Government's explanations, and says the Allies are not entitled to wound Germany's feelings.

THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

MEETS HOMEWARD BOUND MIDDLESEX REGIMENT"

Revelstoke, September 20.

HR.H. the Prince of Wales arrived after a magnificent journey across the Rockies. He was cheered at wayside stations by crowds including a party of Sikh carpenters, working on sawmills, from Jullundure. He was enthusiastically greeted by the homeward- Im-bound contingent of the Middlesex Regiment from Siberia. He dedicated Revelstoke Mountain and received and replied to a civic address read by the Mayor.

London, September 20. The White Star liner Vidic (8,000 tons) with 2,000 troops from North Eussia aboard, went ashore on the Orkneys last night in a rald. There are no casualties.

Later.

The Vedic has been refloated and has proceeded under her own team to Leith.

FIUME SITUATION UNCHANGED.

London, September 20.

Reuter learns that the situation at Fiume is unchanged. It is stimated that d'Annunzio controls 2,000 troops and sailors. All Communications are cut and no reliable information is reaching

utside.

Rome, September 21.

A message from Trieste says an Italian destroyer stopped the T-German liner Prinz von Hohenlohe, with 500. Volunteers, for l'Annunzio's force at Fiume, aboard..

Malta. September 2L

British troops from Fiume have arrived aboard the warships Ceres and Cardiff.

Paris, September 21. Le Temps Genera correspondent says the Italian Legion at Fiume has ordered the Croats, Magyars and Germans to leave

mmediately.

BRITISH IRON FOUNDERS STRIKE.

London, September 21.

Fifty thousand iron founders have struck, demanding a 15/- eakly increase in wages.

VISCOUNT

RETKEY LEAVES FOR AMERICA.

London, September 20.

Viscount Grey left Southampton for America on the Mauretanie. Bryce, Lord Curzon, Mr. Churchill and Lord Reading were cong those who saw him off.

ESTHONIAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS FAIL:

Stockholm, September 21.- The Eathonian Peace Delegation has returned to Reval. The negotiations with the Bolsheviste have been broken off owing to the Esthonians' demand that negotiations be carried on simultaneously with the other Baltic States.

日十三月七R

SINGLE COPT: 10 CTS $36 PERANN UM.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

„GERMAN DESPOILERS TO BE TRIED.

Paris, September 21..

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

President Poincare, presenting the Cross of the Legion of Honone to the town of Longwy, said in accordance with the teams of the Pasos Treaty, the officers of the 22nd, 125th and 156th German Regiments, who participated in fres and murders in Longwy, would 3be called on to appear before a French Court Martial

FRENCH PRESIDENT TO VISIT ENGLAND.

Paris, September 21.

It is officially announced that his Majesty has invited President and Madame Poincare to visit England in October.

SULTAN ON TURKEY'S POSITION. -

Paris, September 21, ** The Sultan, interviewed by the Journal des Debats at Car stantinople, dwelt on the state of unsettlement in Turkey, owing to the non-conclusion of peace. He hoped the negotiations would be. speedily finished. He expressed strong opposition to the Greek occuption of Anatolian towns.

ANOTHER GERMAN NOTE...

Berlin. September 21. Germany is presenting a Note to the Peace Conference asking for a speedy decision regarding the destiny of the Memel district.

GERMAN COMMUNISTS EXECUTED.

Munich, September 20. Six Communists have been executed for the murder of hostages of the Bolshevik regime.

AUSTRALIA PASSES PEACE TREATY.

Melbourne, September 19. The House of Representatives has passed without a division the Peace Treaty and the Agreement to defend France.

TO-DAY'S CHINESE TELEGRAMS.

INTERNAL PEACE, "

Peking, September 23.-

A telegram from Shanghai states that Tang Shao-yea, being instructed by the Military Government, has not received the official: call from Wong Yap-tong, the chief delegate from the North, butį Tang has decided to received Wong unofficially on the 22nd and to consult about peace affairs.

THE TIBETAN QUESTION.

2

Peking, September 23. Negotiations regarding the Tibetan question are still going on The Government is now asking the authorities of the Southam Provinces near Tibet to send representatives to Peking for a con- ference. It is reported that Tibetan troops are approaching the Chinese boundary, declaring that the proceeding is approved by the) British authority. Hung Hark-nen, Tuckup of Szechten, has wired that China must persist on the status quo in Tibet and that no sovereignty must be lost.

S

TO-DAY'S EXCHANGE. The closing rate of the dollar, on demand, to-day was 48:72 3-16d.

THE WEATHER. ForecastFair. Barometer: 29.96 Temperature 2-p.m. : Humidity 2pm-62

HOUSE RENTS...

'THE LANDLORDS' CASE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. HENRY BUMPHREYS.

("Hongkong Telegraph" - Special,"

We have recently referred to the way in which landlords are increasing, rente in Hongkong and have urged that legislation for the control of rents is imperative. With a

view to presenting the landlords' side of the matter, we this morning inter- viewed Mr. Henry Humphreys, of the Humphreys', Estate and Finance Company, very large possessor of houses in Kowloon and Hongkong

Mr. Humphreys at the outset disclaimed that there has besti any profiteering by his Company. He did not know what profits the other landlords were getting, but he could safely say that the Humphreys Estate Company-at east on the majority of the houses were not getting mora than 74 per cent gross on the capital outlay. Administration expenses had to come out of that. Continuing, Mr. Humphreys said: We have not increased our rents much recently. Before that we were getting 6% per cent. It varies in different blocks. Tha only houses you can get fat rente from are those built many years ago. You cannot build houses to day at the high cost of land. labour and materials and get more. than 7 per cent, do what you like.. At least there is no way -to do it that I have been able to discover. People who own houses bought many Fears ago are doing very well. you go into the open market and bay land from the Govern- ment and build houses, you will find that you will have to borrow money on mortgage at B per cent. and get a return of 7 per cent. This is the general rule. Mortgage money

interest is high. Money 1. Scarce &t present. If you want to get money on mortgage you will pro- bably have to get it at 8 per cent. Unless a building speculator gets cheap money, it will not be worth his while to build even with the present high rents. "It will not. be worth his while to borrow at 8 per cent, and build houses. even with the ruling rentaTM

You do not think there is any justification for Government control of rents ?" enquired the interviewer.

It

Feople talk of rent profiteer. ing. Look at these dock and - shipping companies; they make enormous“ profits. They make more profit in one year than we make in six years."

You forget," asserted the in- terviewer, that the question of high rents hits the ordinary ***.**

"What about freights? II: freights are high, your goods become dearer. That is no. justification for increasing rents, it is true. I will tell you the-- other side of the story. There is a popular legend that the landlord. is at the top. He is just as oftenat the bottom. Take the outbreak of the war. When enemy aliens were interned or bent away a great many houses became empty. We had 40 empty houses in Kow- loon fr 1914 1915 Cther land- lords also had plenty of empty-

· houses, with the result, that ten- ants put one landlord against.the other and rapidly educed rente, For example, a tenant would go to one, landlord and

such an

rive me

LORRAINE MINERS TO STRIKE.

Metz, September 21.

hers of Lorraine have decided on a general strike to- and a minimum wer of 18 franes daily and

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Underwood and Underwood.

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