1937-02-27 — Page 53

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1937.

ABOVE MALAYA'S CLOUDLAND

A Flight In A Royal Air Force Machine

PENANG-ISLAND REMINISCENT OF STATELY HONGKONG

By Lt.Col E. R. Macpherson

(in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps Gazette)

Lt. Col. E., R. MacPherson, O.B.E.. F.R.S.A.. F.R.C.S., the author of the article below, is on a visit to Hongkong, and has kindly given the "Telegraph" permission to reproduce his work. The author is Assistant Director of Ordinance Services in the Malaya Command, and loaves Hongkong to-day on return to Singapore.

country side has been mutilated by in mining. Huge dredgers macerme the sail, extract the tin and spuc out the refuse. The result is, that square miles of country ure reminiscent of the shell-stricken areas of Flanders.

THE MALAYAN COMMAND is very air-minded and all Officers are bidden to make use of every opportunity to fly and study the country from the air. So when I received an urgent request Lo visit the Burina Rifles at Taiping, the R.A.F. During the trip, my pilot regaled || most obligingly placed a machine at my disposal.

A SHUDDER

with entertaining messages, me scribbled on a pad. North of Kunlu Lumpur

received ble; The Inmous Selangor jungle is ahead we will skart 1" took over see miles of what looks like tightly- Packed

moss, of billiard-cloth green.

And

130

in reality, it consists of trees feet high wedged together, all set ni

The slurt was scheduled for sun- rise, and the motor drive of 17 miles to the Seletar Aerodrome through the cool forests of rubber trees at 6 am. was most refreshing. I arrived just in time to don my pneumatic jacket with parachute harness, and I was svamp. shudder as i think of allotted the centre cockpil of the what a forced landing here would "Vildebeest" Bomber. There was no meant and quickly remember l seat and only just room to stand, but the tales I have read of jungle escapes

forced myself and naged

landings. But precariously on the upturned end of Pegasus engine bravely carries on, my suit-case. The huge "Pegasus" without falter. 600 h.p. engine was "tleking over

Soon the sen Pilot pleasantly. The

appears again, and Was

leave the Peninsula at Part Squadron Leader and one of their

Buntar for Penang Island, crossing slar turns. The wireless operator sor

some twenty miles of sca. Penang was in the rear cockpit.

Aerodrome Bes at the south end of

to balance

the

we

Dar

civilian

Alongside us, and also waiting for the latand, len miles from ita capital,

We make a perfect) the down, was the new Monoplane-George Town type of Imperial Airways Liner, wait-landing on the tarmac surface, having ing to take off for Karachi. We give covered the 400 miles in about four Here also is another flourish. her, and soon her four engines hours. way to boom out, lifting the 12 tons grace-ing flying club with a large member- fully into the morning sky. She dis- ship. The rapid growth of

over the Joliore jungle, with appears her malls and passengers, as a matter of course. It is now our turn, and the chocks are pulled away from the wheels, the B-cylindered engine roar. and we shoot up like a projectile Into the fast warming tropical air.

SUNRISE AT 2,000 FEET The engine makes short work of our four tons (we are travelling "light"-as no torpedo is carried) and

soon

have we

lying in Malaya is in no small mea- sure due to the example and encour- ngement given by its Director of Civil Aviation, the Hon. Major R. L. Nunn, D.S.O., a pilot of no mean ubility. Malaya is the cheapest place to learn to fly in, as if you are keen and alert, you can learn to fly for less than £6 at any of the dying clubs.

BEAUTIFUL PENANG

its

Our pilot having discharged his the magnificent | errand, soon took off for the return spectacle of sunrise over the Johore journey to Taiping. We circle over Straits at 2,000 feel. After a few the beautiful island of Penang, near- more turns to gain height, the ploty 3,000 feet high, and it reminded sets his course in a northerly direc-

me strongly of Hongkong with tion for Mainecu at 4,000 feet. The sharp hog-back ridges, covered with famous Johure Causeway, which links sparse vegetation, and its houses Singapore

with

mulaland, clinging precariously to

the

steep stretches beneath us like a taut bow-slones. In view of the re-focussing string.

It is interesting to note that of our For Eastern policy, Penang is it took nearly a hundred years of beginning to have a new significance British occupation of Malaya before in

Imperial scheme. It is interest- this essential causeway was built; 1ting to note that Penang was the first carries both rail and motor rond. We British Settlement in Malaya, having see the famous ridge of Gunong Pant! (2,000 feet) and I am reminded of been eeded to the East India Com- pany by the Rajah of Kedah in 1786.

in the

my recent climb on foot of this hill, The fifty odd miles to Taiping is through unbroken forests, Innumer-

ersoon covered and though only a small able leeches and other pests

(we town It possesses is splendid new spent 13 hours on this climb, and novaerodrome. The town itself is one of 1 am serenely looking on it after 13the most picturesque in Malaya. minutes flying!).

streets are shaded by rows of the

for th

The

into a These

ቤ

lot of blossoms, even more yellow than those of the laburnum. blossoms are rained down like golden snow upon the streets, provding natural carpet it for a Sultan, for yellow is the royal colour in the East. Here, the once ugly water-filled gashes (old tin mines) have been converted into limpid lakes, amid gardens and pretty lawns,

On this hill the most wonderful famous Angensa tree, which at re- orchids are found, and it is a jealous-gular intervals bursts for ly guarded forest reserve. On our left are two saucers of jade, the new reservoirs at Pulat, which supply Singapore with such excellent waier. On our right lies one of the most marvellous big-game countries in the world, controlled by the Sultan of Johore. Tiger, elephant, thing, and seladang, all abound in this reserve The tigers still exact their toll of human fe, and in Johore State alone over sixty rubber "tappers" were taken during the past year.

LONELY SENTINEL

Bussers

EMDEN'S VISIT TO SHANGHAI

One of the colourful ceremonies which occurred in 'Shanghai in connection with the arrival of the German cruiser Emden in Illustrated in the above photographs showing the guard of honour which welcomed Captain W. Lohmann when he called to pay his respects to Mr. II. E. Arnbold, Chairman of the Shanghal Municipal Council. Captain Lohmann is seen with Colonel F. R. W. Lleutenant- Graham, Commanding Officer of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, at top, while below

Colonel Hermann Kriebel, the German Consul-General, is sten inspecting the guard.

Love-Lorn

Hollywood

Is Monk In Tibet

Hollywood, Feb. 15,

GARRETT FORT, highly-paid Hollywood scenario-writer, and favourite dinner party guest, is a monk in Tibet, where "everything he once held dear-fame, fortune, the earthly pleasures of the flesh-seem empty compared with the

exalted meditation achieved in this haven of infinite silence."

CLARK GABLE NEVER IN ENGLAND

Hollywood, Feb. 15. EVIDENCE is being brought

forward here to show that Mr. Clark Gable,alleged by an Englishwoman now under ar- rest to have lived with her in England has never been in Great Britain.

Behind Taiping towers a range of hills 5,000 feet high, on which are perched attractive week-end bunga- lows. The finest swimming pool in

Mrs. Violet Wells Norton is in Malaya is found here. A fifty-foot We soon discover Malacca on the casende in the foot hills is trapped Los Angeles gaol on a charge of port side, with Mount Ophir (4.000 into a pool set in the most enchanting fraud after declaring that the feet) acting as a lonely sentinel to surrounding, and the Swimming Club film actor is the father of her this very pleturesque Portuguese cu- there forms the focus for all the local child aged 13. tony of the early 18th century. The European society. Dutch captured it in 1041 and finally

a visit.

A grand Jury to-day moved an in- dictment agains. Mrs. Norton, and two associates Mr. J. L. Smith, private detective, and Mr. J. J. Hier han, a boarding-house proprietor.

The letter in which he writes these words is written to Marina Passer, English actress in Hollywood, and is the firs. that has been heard of him since he disappeared a year ago, leaving a half-inished script on his desk in Universal Studios.

He has revealed to Mrs. Passer that he is leading his new life be} cause a well-known director's actress wife

with whom he fell in love re- fused to leave her husband for him.

"There's never a word spoken here," he writes, "but we are per- mitted to write an occasional letter to friends outside.

"I am perfectly happy in a beautiful white castle high in the hills. There's no yearning to re- turn to Hollywood and to things. 1 once loved,

"The freedom A have found from suffering is too runlistic to be short- lived. I shall never return. I have found contentment."

Writer

RÁDIO BROADCAST

A Ballad Recital By J. McNaught Thomson

TEST CRICKET SCORES

Radio Programme Broadcast by Z.B.W. on a wavelength of 365 metres (845 k.c's.), 31.40 metres (9.52 m.c.'s.).

HK.T.

12.30 The Madrid Symphony Or- chestra.

1 p.m. Time and Weather.

1.03 Songa by Frank Titterton (tenor) and Paul Robeson (bass) with Albert Sandler (violin).

1.30 Reuter Press, Rugby Press; Weather, Time and Announcements.

1.40 Variety and Dance Music. · 2.15 Close Down.

4-7 p.m.. Chinese Programme. 7 p.m. Light Orchestral Seler. tions.

Neapolitan Melodies Medley; "From Foreign Lands"-Suite (Mosz- kowski); Hungarian March Potpourrl (Pecsl-Prichystal); "La Belle Helene"

Selecilon (Offenbach). 7.30 p.m. change

Market Ummary ng Stock Ex-

and Exchange

Havoc By Dingoes In by Howard Jacobs. Australia

7.33 A Light Saxophon Reccital

1. I love the moon (Rubens); 2. From the land of the sky-blue water (Cadman); 3. At dawulng⋅ (Cad- man); 4. Down in the forest (Sir Landon Ronald).

7.45 From the Studio. A Re- cital of Ballada by. J. McNaught Thomson (baritone).

Having discharged our military Clark Gable's former wife, it surrendered to the British Fleet in duties, we take-aff in the late after Miss Josephine Dillon, has pro- 1795. it still, however, retains its id noon for Kuala Lumpur, where we duced a theatre programme Dutch atmosphere and is well worth spend the night. On the way down

we pass the Cameron Highlands on showing that he was billed in Our sister machine parts company our port side. These attractive up- Portland, Oregon, as William with us to take some photos, and we lands (nearly 6,000 feet) are bidding Cable at the material time. Dow shape, our course for Kuala to be the. Simla of Malaya, The Lumpur. The pilot increases height temperature there often drops to 12 the temperature degs. F. and military training camps to 0,000 feet, and rends 50 degn. F., a drop of 30 degs, and sunatoria are envisaged in the Sandwiches and hot coffee are wel-, not distant future. come, and for the first time in many months iny nose and Buger-tips. feel cold! The attractive little town of Seremban flashes beneath us. It

"K L" (as Kuala Lumpur is known i 13 the capital of Negri Sembilan and in Malayn) is the administrative into some heavy rain clouds at 0,000 from the air it looks like a Garden capital of the Federated Malay States, fect, which were exceedingly

comfortable. The machine bumped of and is a very busy town full and shuddered, but was various races with a population of handled by the pilot. It was like be

superbly ing dragged in a box over we make the characterlølle · R.A.F. when we view this beautiful town stones The centre of a rain cloud I have killed more than 1,000 sheen thers Bertini: Vocal-Outside of you;

CILY

CASH FOR HEADS

heads

SERIOUS MENACE TO STOCK-BREEDERS

1. Cargoes....Coningsby Clarke; Dingoes - Australian wild 2. Sombre Woods (Bols Epala).... dogs are killing so many sheep Abana flows....Woodforde Finden; J. Michael Drack; 3. Where the and attacking young cattle so 4. For you alone....H. E. Gheel; persistently in the hill country 5. Far and high the cranes give cry-

Korbay the Victoria-New South

8 p.no. Time, Weather and. An- nouncements. Wales border that stock-breeders unare gravely concerned at the 8.03 A Variety Programme.

Vocal-Wandering shoes..... The position.

In the Cooma district of New South Hill Bullies; Instrumental-Medley of

belonging to one breeder.

is just a maelstrom and is most un pleasant to fly through.

Singapore greeted us, shimmering- mace in the tropical heat. We had a wonderful, trip of over 900 miles, in a flying time of some nine hours. would have taken me at least four or five days to have carried out this duty

dive down to its well-ordered with its architecture strongly sugges aerodrome, followed by a sharp turn tive of Indo-Saracenic influence, that to starboard, a "zoom-up" and an- us recently as 1972 the "Capitan other circle round, when our wheels

China"

na" paid make contact. A Bourishing civilian of a paid cash down for flying club exists here, with all the of the mono-streeted a latest machines, including Hornet- tow phenomenal growth

town. The Moths, etc. We take in petrol, as rubber and coffes estates in this we have consumed nearly 70 gallons district have been the main causes

in the two hours flight of 220 miles.

.market

It

on

on

MAULING STEERS Cattle-men who hold lenses Kosinsko, state that the dog menace has grown to an extent hitherto un- known. The dogs nowadays altack and maul yearling steers,

Owing to the heavy losses caused

Soon we are in the air again Cour, of the rapid ring and growth of this? by road or rall, and. I was pleased by wlid dogs in the snow leases, a

sister machine having rejoined us)

Malayan Metropolis.

that our Corps was keeping fiself up number of lessees were forced to to date by taking advantage of this bring in their sheep soon after having comfortable new We spent the night in a

and satisfactory method of sent them out last season. and we head for Penang. The modern Hotel with excellent cuisine. travel.

Feats are expressed that the leases commenced the Wo saluto our Air Force friends, will be abandoned, and that, apart feat deep, like

open just lap amphitheatre terraced from top to Singapore, which, wo did in exactlyPer Ardua Ad Astra" without, any ment, they would then be a breeding- bottom, gapen at us. The whole two hours. On the way back wo rm ostentation or fuss.

ground, for wild dogs.

Wa

famous iron mincs le below, and one Next moour homeward journey; to] who daily live up to their motto of from loss of revenue, to the Govern

44

Lonely Gondoller....Dick Powell; Accordeon. Band-Accordeon Nights -Medley Geraldo and His Ac- cardron Band; Humorous Scienti- fically, of coursel .....Murgatroyd (Continued on Pago 4.)

TYPEWRITING AND COPYING

OFFICE

Gestetner

PHONE 25355

GLOUCESTER ARKADE

It

BISSET'S

FAMOUS

GOLD LABEL

LIQUEUR

WHISKY

is risky to say Whiskeyj

When one would inpest

Be explicit - Order Bisset

not have the Best ? "

Whign

Don't Miss This!

HONGKONG UNIVERSITY

ARTS ASSOCIATION

REPEAT PERFORMANCE

"The Blue Stockings'

--by Moliere

In the UNIVERSITY GREAT HALL

(By kind permission of the Vice-Chancellor)

on

WEDNESDAY, 3RD. MARCH at 8.30 p.m.

Tickets: $2. $1. and 50 cents

BOOKING AT THE KING'S THEATRE. Scats at the Door.

TOUR

ENGLAND FREE

FOR THREE MONTHS

UNDER THE TRIPTYQUE PLAN"

DO YOU KNOW THAT

1. The Canadian FORD V-8 delivered in London costs very much less than the English FORD V-8.

2. The License Tax is FREE for the FIRST THREE

MONTHS

►

3. The car may remain in England for ONE YEAR.

FREE OF DUTY.

4. The car enters Hongkong FREE OF DUTY on

return.

5. You may trade-in your present car as part

payment before you leave Hongkong.

PHONE OR WRITE, US FOR MORE DETAILS AND

SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY

WALLACE HARPER & CO.,

LTD,

Ford

223, Nathan Road, Kowloon Tel. 59245

Ard

USTS

.COMING to the KING'S.

Balanish Internsilänst Presente »

• Vitarlene

DIETRICH

Charls

BOYER

GARDEN

OF ALLAH

"DAVID O. BELZNICK

Junaedi rhen. WRITED · SA PINTE