1939-04-14 — Page 30

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, Friday, April 14; 1939.

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SYMONS-TOD. On 12th April, 1939,

at St. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong, Lieutenant John William Douglas Symons, RA, only son of the late Captain J. H. Symons and Mrs. J. F. H. Ussher, of Toronto, Canada, to Margaret Elfreda, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tod, of Hong Kong.

Whe

Hongkong Telegraph.

Wyndham St., Hongkong 'Phone 26615 April 14, 1939

Gathering The News

ONE disturbing fact has emerged

from the crises of the past six months. That is the apparent blind-j ness of the British Foreign Office to what was impending.

The Foreign Minister, Lord Hali- fax, could not have chosen a more inopportune moment, from his point of view, in which to castigate news agencles and the correspondents of London newspapers who told renders

Slovakia on March 15.

that litter would march into Czecho

Belgium has ឌ new Government after six weeks of wrangling and crisis. Why has there been so much

PEACE

in the

fuss about the political situation in MEDITERRANEAN

this tiny Kingdom? Surely they've had elections before and anyway, it's purely a question for Belgians, isn't it?

FRANC

Cambrai

Q 10

29 MINED

H Q

LAND

UXEMBURG

GERM

THE TWO "RACES"

IN

BELGIUM

EUROPE'S statesmen keenly watched the electoral crisis in

little Belgium.

First, Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet watched on behalf of France; and you may as well know that Bonnet is not highly thought of in Belgium.

However, France was concerned, because ever since King Leopold started the neutrality movement in 1936, Belgium passed out of the sphere of French influence.

has

France did not believe that the neutrality plan worked both ways until the September crisis, when the Belgians, prepared to defend their neutrality, rushed troops to the French as well as to the German frontier.

I can now tell you that to the French frontier the Belgians sent 150,000 men, roughly half the number they mobilised.

They meant business, too, blew up houses to get proper sights for their artillery. This was denied in the Belgian Chaus ber. One night I had them blown up.

A twist in this election may a Maginot Line have altered that attitude, so M. frontier, though not Bonnet watched.

HELPED THE GERMANS

French.

Say's

SIR CHAS. HARINGTON EX-GOVERNOR OF GIBRALTAR

MANY people think, Our sailors won't fraternise with.

Gibraltar is an island any other nailon, but they have a with a rock on it, but it isn't and on the Germans themselves say great respect for the German sallor, it is a little bit of Spain which they get the pick of their nation has belonged to England for into their Navy. very many years, since 1704, and in my opinion will belong to England for many more.

*

NO HOSTILITY

As regards General Franco's

attitude towards Great

We in Gibraltar were totally un-Britain-not for one moment do I prepared at the time of the crisis believe that any Franco gun or inst September. It is difficult, to howitzer was installed with any know what the effect on Gibraltar hostile intention, as regards Gibraltar. would have been had conflict arisco.

I hold no brief for General Franco, but I am quite prepared to say that The French bad certainly massed all the territory which I knew of a large force on the Spanish Moroc- which was administered by him was can border and might quite likely better administered "than ft wns have taken Ceuta and Tetuan. In before. fact, at that time General Franco

Wag

bringing troops back

I think he will install law and from Spain hurriedly to Spanish Morocco. order in the country. For how long,

it is impossible to say. My Information, for what it was worth, was tint General Franco had I have no doubt that the various wished to be neutral, but that Herr factions, Falangists, Reguetes. Hitler had told him he could be but Monarchists, and so on, who have that he would use his bombers from: held together on his side will all de- Spanish aerodromes, and I think it mand their pound of flesh. quite likely that if the French bad Jumped Ceuta he would have, foliated, and, perhaps naturally, on Gibraltar,

troubles do not end. Far from it.

With the end of the wor his.

I doubt whether the Government I had only four anti-aircraft guns has a man at all who could feed it. two at each end of the Rock!

I am quite convinced of this, and I am told that things are very have been for more than two years; different now. WID unlimited that General Franco will not keep money, which Sir Alexander Godley either German Italian troops (the former Governer) and I did not one moment longer than is necessary, improving, and Gibraltar daily grows experience in our time, things are He is slek to death of both..

stronger.

He may keep a certain number of German Instructors for a short while.

I have never for a moment even

of all General Franco's guns which I am always interested when I rend threaten Gibraltar and of all those thought that he has ever intended to heavy 12in, howitzers at Palayo, near be dominated by German and Italian fedge there were never more than nations are bound to get concessions. Algeciras. To ту certain know- Forces. Concessions, yes; both those

four of these great howitzers, and to Before I left, any business houses my certain knowledge they had all becoming available in Seville and been removed over a month before I Malaga were being snapped up by left Gibraltar (Inst October); two to Germans. the Ebre front and two to Cadiz.

Two years before the crisis I had asked for gas masks, und was told

"HE WILL TURN TO US"

REALISE the danger of that Influence, but that Spain

that I could expect none before 1939. The Navy and Army had some, but under Franco in just going to be

the Colonial Service and civilians not dietated to by either Herr Hitler or one, and on my return to England Signor Mussolini I just don't belleve at the end of October I passed an and never have. their Joutgoing liner with the first gas

on

on the

BRITAIN WATCHED

from

mask!

I quite realise the danger to us if such an event ever did take place, Our relations with the Germans út and I fully recognise what a dificult Gibraltar were very interesting. role our own Government has had Quite recently-in fact, directly throughout, and I think in the end ERMANY was interest-

after the crisis in September and it is quite likely that General Franco, WORTH noting, too, while our own Fleet was still or Spain, will be thankful to us for ed, too, for out of this

is the fact that the mobilised-I received information having kept out of H.- struggle, they hoped, would mass of Fleminge fought for that the German pocket battleship

As things look at present it seems integrity

Deutschland wished to pay a visit of to me that the souner Lord Halifax announced on March emerge a stronger, more violent Belgian

the

the German

and courtesy. 11-is announcernent was carried to autonomist movement among first, days of 1914 to the end.

Italian troops are removed the better Hongkong by "Reuters"--that the the Flemish, one of the

i entertained two Britain watched because the officers to lunch.

the captain and for the future of Spain and of every-- international outlock had distinctly races that go-to make up Bel-Channel ports on the Belgian H.M.S. Hood was in at the same will be able to hold the country one one. I think he will install an Improved and that newspapers were gium.

effective machinery, but how long he But they The skies were scaremongering.

were dis-littoral have been from early those, and the liaison between the blue-until the bell came. And no appointed for the pro-Germans days, and still are, vital to the streets were full of our sailors and

two ships was remarkable. The cannot say. Department was, seemingly, more were routed.

I am firmly of opinion that what-- safety of this country. astonished than the Foreign Offlee.

theirs arm in arm; 85 per cent, of ever Franco may think of the The Flemish arc Teutonic, All the nations watched be-the German Navy speak English, The newspapers reported a week like the Germans, and

British attitude and the hostility to the cause a country without a stable their sailors

The cafes and cinemas were full of the grant of belligerent rights and so beforehand that the next move Germans, bitten

and ours. It was non, when once would be in Memel. Their announce-

the war in over, the more than a wonderful sight, and, as I told his one Power to whom he will turn for ment was deplored as unofficial theories, imagined that they month in Europe is a tempta Majesty on my return, it was a great friendship, and possibly money, will speculation. But they were right. could expect more from the tion to any nation looking for pity those sailors could not be sent be our England. We should then sec

The newspapers gave warning four Flemish than from the present an easy victim.

together round all the capitals of Gibraltar and the Western Mediter-- Europe. days beforehand that Italy would mixture

ranean back to normal.

with гасе

Government for

which includes the French in

march into Albania. Here in Hong-Walloons who are kong. we received protests for publishing such speculation. But the language, culture, and senti- news agencies which supplied us ment. with the news knew mare, apparent-

ly, than the British Government, The Germans thought back which, as Mr. Chamberlain admitted to the war, when extremist last night, relied on

T

IMPROVE THE NAVY "CUT"

nsurances to Flemings helped the Germans says PHIPPS

the contrary by Count Clano,

Lord Halifax Was

ns did Dr. Martens, whose

right when he said that newspapers Academy of Medicine, approved been

undoubtedly nomination for the Flemish NOT the least gratifying symptom of our Re-armament drive has have a heavy responsibility. But

the newspapers, especially those separated by the King and his Cabinet, more stream-lined Mr. Atkins,

emergence of a sleeker, from

events as far as we in Hong- caused the row in Belgium. kong are, have

For a year or so now learned that more

the Wor credence can be

pinced

The Germans note, however, lee's battery of designers and on reports that the Belgians have emanating from news agencles, and

Couturiers has been working built on Mr. Atkins uniform. Countless tirelessly especially American news agencies, than from the spokesmen of the to the speculative comments of the B, and as quickly run down! experimental ensembles have been

run

again. 7tda of

endured und

have

mannequcks in

British Government,

The responsibility of a newspaper the various capitals of Europe,

correspondents of news agencies In to publish only official, or officially inspired, reports of international have greater facilities for gathering, one costume after another was re- It is no idle boust to say that theythe scope of their employment, while developments surely ends when, as accurate has happened time and again, they

Information than rejected as being too boufant, too in- discover that those sources of in- diplomatic officials or secret service demure for active service.

souciant or just the weeniest bit too formation do not represent what is during the past six movie has aha is ready with its Spring Colle agents; they have certainly proven, happening.

Now at long last the Maison Bell- the British Secret Service

will

The British Secret Service spends been singularly mis-informed or the tion, and the new models something like £500,000 per annum British Foreign Ofee is releasing issued to the excited noldlery in the in ferreting out the secrets of other countries, Doubtless, the information information to the Press with its very near future,

tongue supplied to the British Government

in its check.

VOU have probably; seen;

photographs of the new

If the British Foreign Offee in as

is Iluminating. If it is on a por ill-informed as recent-happenings

locker and not more than half- cocked hat in lieu of the usual.

All the ceremonial glit would have to go, of course-the epaulettes be- coming flush fitting, oxidised hooks by which the Admiral, in these days of mechanisation, could be slung about from davits, derricks and son.. It might be a wrench, perhaps, to say good-bye to the full-dress sword. But, as in the modernising of Messrs.. Atkins, so it should be with the sea- dog; utility before beauty. The site formerly occupied by the sword might be devoted to a neatly rolled rubber raft-labelled, naturally, "I' Admiral or 0 valinga.”"

The above modifications could be carried right down the scale of off- cers, with certain variations in de- tall.

Paymaster-Commanders, for+ instance,, would have a large cath- "BUT I prefer it starched, Ad-register and delivery chute incor- miral..

It keeps my neck warm."porated in the trouser log while Surgeon-Commandera uniform must include & self-compensaling sictho-

"with"the"zmamul représentations that would have us believe, the country Mark Something or other two-piece proved, crews' quarters are better. | Ecope" TaCK. have been made for public consump- is badly served by Its representa--which between ourselves is to be talkies aboard are now a common-

and

YOMING down to the A.B.5,. the problem is a little dimeult. Ono alteration, we'd be to remove the name of the ship

tion thr

through the Press, it is also in- tives in the capitals of Europe. For called "Moonglow." accurate.

And we think place in fact, battleships are becom Fortunately, modern newspapers warning or premonition, except that utterly, utterly soigne, with its culc

big events to burst without any you will agree with us, that it is ing increasingly desirable residences.

Yet the fact remains that the uni-more news agencies spend equally or supplied by the newspapers (and culls and snugly gusseted pockets for form of our Jolly Tare hasn't alfred be tempted to make, however, would" even more lavishly for their informa- dented officially as "scare-mongering maps and field dressings. tion on the aume Bubject.That has speculation) must be bad for no

for the thick and of

of a century, been one of the merets of their suc-

But pondering Beau Atkins of 1930 You may argue that it doesn't need from the sailors' hats. It gives the cesses in the past six months.

stability and a danger Britain's security,"

to a sudden pang assalled us. With all altering. That it is a purely "func-girls their address right at the start, We do not believe we would best

Again, the existing trouserings are this fura about the re-upholstered tional" out! and ideal for the job. It would be senseless to lull our Land Forces, everybody seems to Or that All The Nice Girls Love a manifestly too wide. Afloat, they ad- serve the interests of our readers were zelven into a sense of false optimism have forgotten the Senior Service. Sallor, and that they mighta't if you mit gales from every point of the we to voluntarily censor or "tone simply because "political circles" or What do the allent watchdogs of the changed the wrapper.

compass, and ashore they are apt to down" the reports we receive from "diplomatic circles"-favourite terms acas, the

But it seems to us unreasonable to

the excessively up

Jolly Tar on about it all?

suggest that the uniform is incapable the stairs which, for a man with n agencies who are frankly Information is from official or semi- from those nationally propagandist.

I Improvement--and we include all wife in every port is highly incon- don't care; but in his case ranks.

venient. We should substitute tish Government, attaches BO much clearing.

they'd be supermen If they didn't weight to the speculations and fore-

Admirals, for example, are at pair of ski-ing pants, closing neatly Do not delude yourselves into be feel just the tiniest bit hurt, as they present a perfect riot of buttons, at the ankle, but zipping up for horn- casts of Its Secret Service that it heving that conditions in Europe are roll about in the same old spinnaker which may looit very gallant, but pipes when required. appropriates, without question, over, such that the world can afford to trousers and art-striped collaring. halt a million pounds for the con- relax, until the people who make it

must be an internal nuisance.

Oh, yes, only last thing: slide- The Navy, we know, is being made tinuance of this service, we

Tho now suvamlined: Admiral action, collapsible countersunk parrot are their business to And out the news steadily more comfortable. using would have zip-fdalencin everywhere, cage under the left arm and don't equally justified in attaching weight correspondents- tell you so,

is constantly being, revised and im-in built-in telescope pocket and flag tell the Marines.

News Agencies, excepting, of course, employed to hido, the fact that the feel heirs of Drake and Nelson,

If the Bri- | official 'sources—say that the air Tradition, admittedly, insists that of

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