1937-05-07 — Page 1

CHEVROLET.

CANADIAN

CARS

FAR EAST MOTORS

Low Water:-12.57.

kogy Telegraph

Midtning Post, Lichi

ek. Hongkong.

The

FIRST EDITION

ary, Severom

Hongkong Telegraph.

26 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON,

HONG KONG

TELEPHONE

59101

FOUNDED' 1881

五拜敢,號七月五英港香

MAY FRIDAY,

7, 1937.

日七廿月三

No. 15202

BINGLE COPY [0 CENTS 184,00, PER ANNUM

DUNLOP FORT 90

This new tyre meets". the conditions pro- duced by increased cur efficiency.

ZEPPELIN BURNS: OVER 100 DIE

All But 3 Perish As Flames Envelop Giant Trans-Atlantic Craft

Unaccountable Outbreak Occurs As Airship Comes To Mooring

THE GIANT SKY-LINER VON HINDENBURG, LARGEST DIRIGIBLE IN THE WORLD, BURST INTO FLAMES OVER LAKEHURST, N.J., LAST EVENING JUST AS SHE NOSED DOWN TO MAKE HER MOORING LINES FAST, AND IT IS FEARED THAT ALL ON BOARD HAVE PERISHED. SHE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ONE REPORT CARRIED BETWEEN 100 AND 150 PERSONS. SAYS THERE ARE THREE SURVIVORS.

WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF THE BURST OF FLAME FROM HER STERN, THE AIRSHIP HAD CRASHED, CRUMPLED AND BLAZING, UPON THE AERODROME. CROWDS. STOOD HELPLESS AND SOBBING AS FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS CAME SHRIEKING. FROM THE U.S. ARMY HANGAR NEAR AT HAND.

The Hindenburg had just completed the first Atlantic crossing of the season. She was due to arrive at 6 am, but flew over Manzatlan to outride a storm.

Witnesses say a terrific explosion occurred just as she approached the mooring mast and she was immediately enveloped in flames.

She is known to have carried 39 passengers. It is believed a total of 150 per sons were aboard, and all, as far as can be ascertained by the United Press, perish- ed. Reuter believes three were saved.

:

Lakehurst, N.J., May 6 (8.27 a.m. H.K. Time). ; The giant airship von Hindenburg burst into flames as the crew prepared to moor her this evening at the end of her first trans-Atlantic flight of the season.-Renter. ALL APPARENTLY DEAD

New York, May 6 (8.31 a.m. H.K. Time). All occupants of the zeppelin von Hindenburg are apparently dead in the fire which destroyed the airship at Lakehurst, NJ., to-night-Reuter.

The United Press flashes a wireless message direct to Hongkong, saying: "Fire broke out in the dirigible von Hindenburg at Lakehurst, New Jersey. It is believed all on board perished."

MAY BE THREE SURVIVORS

New York, May 6 (8.40 a.m, H. K. Time) About 100 persons wore aboard the von Hindenburg for her first Atlantic crossing of the season. It is now reported that there are three survivora.

The Hindenburg left Frankfurt-on-Main at 8.16 p.m. Mon- .day.

She carried 89 passengers. There is no accurate estimate yet of the dead and injured. JUST ABOUT TO LAND The crew of the airship had just tossed her nose-lines to the ground When suddenly there was a terrific burst of fame from the stern of the airship. No cause of the explosion can yet be determined.

The airship cruised over the air- port for more than an hour waiting for the weather to clear to permit her to moor.

Police sent out a radio appeal, as soon as the explosion occurred, for all ambulances and fire apparatus in the district to rush to thô spat.

4

PASSENGERS WAVED FAREWELL

Previous

Dirigible

Disasters

There have been eight pre- vious major disasters on the history of dirigibles, involving a total loss 232 lives.

The greatest toll was caused by the destruction of the U.S. airship, Akron, which crashed into the sea at the height of a storm in April 1938, 74 persons losing their lives.

In 1930 the British R101 plunged into a hillside in France and 46 people were killed, including high officials of the British Air Ministry.

MIGHTY GERMAN SKY-LINER DESTROYED BY FLAMES

CLIPPER'S PASSENGERS HEAR STORY.

ON FLIGHT

The dramatic story of the loss of the Zeppelin von Hindenburg was conveyed to passengers aboard the Hongkong Clipper just after the Pan- American plane took off from Kai Tack on its Inaugural passenger flight to Manila,

Aboard the Hongkong Cilpper was Mr. Thorster Florden, a journalist attached to the Stockholm Dally News, who was to have joined the Zeppelin at Lakehurst next week. Mr. Florden expected, by catching the Zeppelin, to complete a circuit of the world by commercial air ser- vices in three weeks,”

His plans have been completely

by the destruction of the giant Prigible.

The information, was flashed to the Clipper by radio from Kal Tack as soon as the Airport officials were in- formed by the Telegraph of the tragedy.

When the dramatic message was received by Captain La Porte, the Clipper was already 50 miles away, speeding towards Manila in bright morning sunshine.

Gold Price Reduction Unlikely

British Fund Checks Metal's Flow. To United States

London, May 8.- The recent reaction of commodity prices must surely have satisfeld Here is a list of the wold's worst President F. D. Roosevelt's wishes alrship disasters.

and accordingly have eliminated any. N8-11 In the North Sea 1919, necessity for action to reduce the 12 killed

dollar price of gold, says J. Henry ZR-2 In England 1021, 42 killed Schroder, and Company's quarterly Roma Over Virginis, 1922. 34 review.

This killed

publication points Shenandoah Over Ohlo 1925, 14 furthermore, that any isolated cur- rency deflation by the United States would be disastrous to her export trade.

killed

Italia In Arctic 1928, 8 lost

E-101 In France, 1930, 40 killed Akron Off New Jeray coast 1933. 14 lost

Macon Of Califoròla Coast 1935,

2 lost

1

out,

Citing the existing uneasiness in the minds of the business community, regarding the practical results of the American gold policy, the review adds: "There are algas of amellorat ing circumstances. Firstly, America 300 feat when the explosion is buying foregn goods much more freely; secondly, the Dritish Ex- change Equalisation Fund has step- pod in to arrest gold in its journey across the Atlantic, the latter being. n most Important factor, reassuring the public mind with regard to the Immediate outlook for the metal." Reuter.

The von Hindenburg was due to convey the last of America's Corona- tion visitors to Europe and her next scheduled. trip to the United States had been postponed two days, until May 14, so that she could carry news only a few hundred feet above recla and other Alms of the Corona- ground when disaster struck her. Including 39 passengers, died in the tion to Amerien-Reuter.

Passengers were laughing

fire, and wov- ing to crowd below-not ronliz-

the

Captain Max Pruss was in com- DEATH IN SECONDS ing that they waved

mand of the ship, with Capt. Ernst farewell. The bomb-like explosion sent Lehman acting as adviser. Both are Within a few moments after the clouds of red and black smoke reported to have survived, though outbreak of fire, the twisted frame- billowing outwards and upwards.

they are badly burned: work of the airship crashed to the

The alrahip carried 340 lb. of One of the passengers aboard was Colonel Nelson Morris, of Chiengo, freight, 240 lb. of mall and 1 ton of

baggage.-United Press. Spectators stood sobbing. Many former U.S. Minister to Sweden. -were hysterical' as Army trucks came: Capt. Max Pruss commanded the hurting, with syrens screaming, to ship, with Capt. Ernst Lehman as hose the blasing wreckage,

advisor to the commander-Router.

The airship, say eye-witnesses, was occurred.

It is belloved, now, that about 100,

The airship wan:scheduled to moor at 6 a.m, but was delayed 12 hours by head winds over Newfoundland. Thai disaster securred at 0.20 p.m.

E.S.T.

CAPTAIN SAFE?

Lakehurst, May 6. The Hindenburg was approaching the mooring mast at a height of abogg

H.K. SHOCKED

MONTREUX AGREEMENT::

Montreux, May 6, The international conference con- functioning "It la terrible," said Mr. O. Noldt, cerning Egypt's courts' Secretary of the German Consulate with respect to foreigners has reach in Hongkong, whch informed, of the ed a compromise on the vexed ques disaster. Members of the German tion of protected subjects, and has community in Hongkong will be approved a formula. The agreement

(Continued-on-Page-5.) -

will be signed Saturday-Reuter.

The ill-fated Zeppelin, Von Hindenburg, on the completion of her first trans-Atlantic crossing of the senson, burst into

flames as she nosed towards the mooring masts at Lakehurst, KOWLOON

New Jersey, last evening. First reports said that of her crew and passengers, who totalled about 100, only three persons sur-

vived.

BEDECKED FOR MAY 12

All Mainland Villages Share In Display

CHINA DRIVES CRIMINALS TO Impressive List

H.K. HIDE-OUT

Gamesters and Narcotic-

Traffickers Arrive With Gun

Gun Gangs

(By Special Representative)

Of Illuminations

To judge by the preparations already in hand the illuminations which will brighten Kowloon and the New Territories during the Corona- tlon celebrations will both surprise ond please even those who witnessed time of King the display at the George

V's Jubilee. "Already the owners of many- build Ings on the Peninsula have applied to the China Light and Power Com- pany, in whose hands practically all the preparations for decoration will be, to have illuminations of some sort or other erected. while the Illumina- tions Sub-Committee: for. Kowloon and the New Territories har spared, neither time nor energy to brighten all public places in the most effective

VILLAGE PREPARATIONS

Nor will the New Territories be

preparations have been made, under

forgotten. In almost every village the supervision of Mr. C. F. Wood, District Engineer and Mr. J. Young

of

In Police Court proceedings last week against certain manner. Chinese offenders under the anti-gambling laws of this Colony, police officials traced a close connection between the recent crime wave and a prevalence of gambling, introduced, they further asserted, by elements displaced from Kwangtung by a rigid suppression there.

It is being argued that, through the comparative mildness of its laws, this Colony has become a refuge and happy hunting ground for the worst possible type of criminal to migrate from the neighbouring. Chinese ter ritory.

the China Light and Power Com- pany, to decorate the main road and its immediate environs more elabor- ately than has ever been done before. As distribution engineer Mr. J. D. Parkinson has had his hands full in connection with the general scheme. that, though a few coloured lights

The Sub-Committee has decided will be used to vary the illuminations, white lights will be used in the main with the idea of obtaining a brilliant white effect.

Among the public places decorated by the China Light Company under

These foreign elements, it is alleged, have been responsible for many crimes Jately, amongst these the series of daring hold- ups at goldsmiths and money-changers' shops that preceded the Chinese New Year, and have since continued in sporadicere, the Police Pier, which will be. form over since.

In Kwanglung under the present centralised regime directed from Nanking, gamblers and thugs are given

shrift. short

Execution threptening offenders his Impelled two other types to move down into Hongkong.

One

is the narcotics tramcker, who specialises in heroin; and the other is thio gamester whose fall from grace has followed that of the previous regime.

Bus Strike Settlement

Now Likely

In the imparted type of gamester Way Oponed For Men

To Resume Work

Instructions from the Sub-Commitico

graced by 830 lamps; Signal Hill, 1.200 lamps and a 20-feet sign read- ing "G.."; the Water Police Station: 600 lamps: the now Magistracy 1,000 lampa: Signal Hill most, 300 lamps; the Valleylar Ferry Wharf at Jordan. Road, 800 lamps; and the Kowloon- Conten Railway Station, 2,500. lumps... Private buildings which will be 11- luminated at the

request of tho owners or lessees, include the Star Ferry Pier, 620 lamps; Holt's Wharf, 1,800 lamps; the European Y.M.C.A. 1,000 lamps; the Hongkong and Kow.

Toon Wharf and Godown Company's

2,800 lamps; "Saltash"! <the

Test of Mr. G. B. Gifford Hull

000 lamps; Gun Club Hill, 2,000 lamps; and Jubilee Building (Military Married Quarters at Shamshulpo)

are represented not only the former monopolists-rich, influential and in a position to command the sanction and support of the regime of his time but also his numerous following of subordinates. These latter had Provincial Unions 2,000 Imp

hella gambling charge of the former gan or worked in one capacity or other Their combined in those resorts. number can be legion, when it is considered that scarcely a district in Kwangtung was without a gambling monopoly in one form or other under milltary protection,

DRIVEN TO HONGKONG

Back on Job

to à

MISCELLANEOUS DISPLAYS -The China Light and Power Com- pany is, apart from these jobs, srepte, ing illuminations also at its Kowloon

London, May 6. "With regard to the claims

lamps, the Youmoti sub-station 800- seven-and-half hour day, which are Tong offlee which will support 700+ based fundamentally on the ground lamps, the Statt Recreation Club 150 of injury to health, evidence placed lumps, and the private houses of a bofore us is inconclusive," says annumber of members of the arm Interim report presented by the Lon ···Unofficial'decoration:have been ap All these people in July last year don Bus Strike Inquiry Tribunal to plied for by the following firms and Drivate Individuals, and are in thei found themselves suddenly deprived the Ministry of Labour, of employment when the Nanking

continues, course of erection:- Mamak and Com Nevertheless, the

report Government stepped in with its edicts a prima facie case has been made out pans, 800 lamps, Wing On Company against gambling in all its forins for further Investigation and it the for their buildings in Nathan Road,

MS! (Continued von » Page:(54) jak [Continued on Page 5.)

(Continued on Page 5.) From being an organised "business" men's complaints are substantiated 3,500 lamps; Knutsford Hotel, 500