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VOL. II NO. 128

The

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P.

Hongkong Telegraph. G

MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1947,

"SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS TO

SHORTAGE OF FOOD

Acute Situation

Faces China

Washington; March. 2.

The Agriculture Department in the fourth and final report on the world foost situation for 1916-1947 predicted tha acuse food shortazes will be suffered rice

in China before the first harvest in southern arcan and before wheat and other winter nothern crops are harvested in China,

cun-

The report added that food ditions in Central China are expected to remain favourable. The largest defeli in in Kwangtung, Kwongsi and Hunan provinces

GENERAL CUNNINGHAM

while additional CURFEW LIFT

food deficits are reported in northern Kiangsu

and güvenment-occupled

areas of Ilopel and Honan.

The riport and the data is frag- mentary for Manchuria and Com- munist-held areas.

It sold during the past year the food production in Japan was higher than the previous year but is still far short of meeting consumer re-

quirements. Rice and sweet potato grope were good but wheat, barley and white potato crops were poor. South Foodstuffs production in Korea declined significantly in re- anticipated cent

and the years defcit In 731,000 short tann of rice and equivalent grains.

und

Bald uutumin The report winter harvests of rice and other grains in India are somewhat larger Ihan the preceding year but the low level of wheat and rice stocks Is still serious. It said imports will not greatly improve the situation and the Alock position is not likely

be relieved until India's

to

quen to the market in May. PHILIPPINES

THE

Crap

the The world food report said nutlook for the Philippines is beller than anticipated cariter and added. "If everything goes well 1947 should be free of any major food crisis."

It said, however, Ceylon will he furced to import two-thirds of its Burma rico requirements whereas will have 1,000,000 tons of rice for export as a result of the 4,500,000- ton rice crop. Burma is still short af cooking oils and sugar..

Slom is expected to have 412,000 tons of rice available for export but it is not certain if the full amount The report said will be exported.

FOR FOOD

PURCHASING

Jerusalem, Mar. 2. The curfew in the martial law

area of Mea Shearim will be lifted three hours daily from 10 #t,m. to 1 p.m. starting to- morrow to enable food to be pur- chased, it was announced to- night.

However, persons in the area must make their purchases within

11 03.

The announcement did not men. tjun Tel-Aviv.-United Press.

I

TEL-AVIV SCENES

By Eliay Simon

Tel-Aviv, Mor, 2. travelled for 15 minutes through the streets of Tel-Aviv to- night and found them entirely de- serted except for military traille and some barbed wire.

The curfew had been enforced. Many shutters were closed and the -balconies, of which-every-house-in Tel-Aviv has one or two, were de

serted.

I

visited severat Jews in Tel- Aviv and they told me they were "someone out because not going

the food situation in Malaya con- may go easy on the trigger.

import tinues to be serious with requirements during the first half the troops were in no mood to take The people seemed to realise that year estimated at 440,000 tons. It is certain that the next.

Jew, kindly will months

critical-United yesterday's extremist activilles. be Press.

Information Sought

who witnessed a

Any personis motor beeldent near the junction of Hennessy Road and Ewo Street. Causeway Bay, at approximately 12- 45 aan. on the morning of Saturday March 1, resulting in two people being killed and two injured, are re- quested to communicate with the Manager, S. CM. Post.

EDITORIAL

Sinister

to

curfew-brenkera after

isuuc Kuperman, who has

been with the Palestine Government for the past 25 years, told me that as he drove from Jaffa to Tel-Aviv to- later, apologised to him, explaining day he was fired upon. An officer

that every fast-moving vehicle except military cars were bound to encounter difficulties and risks..

I also saw several acquaintances in Tel-Aviv and all wondered what would come next-United Press.

Challenge

THE

"HE gang of terrorists, self-styled the "Overseas Chinese Youths' Move. ment Society," has struck again, following up extortion demande by exploding a bomb In the crowded Ko Shing Theatre which injured nearly 30 people, including women and children., This act, cold-blooded and brutal, places the gangsters outside the category of bluffing blackmailers; they are potential assassinators, apparently willing to go to any lengths to achlove their enda. They can no longer be regarded me irresponsible elemente, putting on, thriller-book. acts in the hope of intimidating nervous few thousand dollare. Tho Ko Bhing businessmen into cashing up a Theatre aplode le not only an open challenge to authority, but It Is sinister In Its Implications. If these terrorists are prepared to plant a high ex- plosive bomb in a crowded Chinese theatre for the sake of $8,000, placing in Jeopardy the lives and safety of hundreds of innocent people, they are capable of any sort of beimo. An additional alarming featura of Saturday -night's affair is that the outrage was carried out dospite the presence' in the theatre of policemen, specially placed there to prevent any such occur.

renco,

The police authorities have no reason to feel happy about this outrage. Firstly they were apparently unable to get any nearer to discovering the gang, despite apprehending two women who handed. In a second demand moto ten daya ago; secondly the posting of police officers in the theatre Without could not prevent the gangsters from making good their threat. withing to be gratuitous, we suggèet "that this calls for the most thorough Investigation. Either the policemen assigned to the job failed to take all reasonable measures to safeguard the theatre, or some agoncy was om- ployed capable of eluding the strictest auparvision. If the latter, the authorities should find their line of investigation apprealably narrowed and capable of yielding valuable information and evidence. The public le aware that a lot of patient and painetaking work has already been car- ried out in trying to apprehend the bomb-planting gang, but it is not satiefied that all available resources have so far been utillaad In this task. The terrorists appear to be well organlead and skilfully lod, but it in In- conceivable that they can successfully cover all their tracks against the combined resources of the police force, The Ko Shing Theatre outrage in nok a challenge directed at one branch of the polics authorities, but ät everybody in Hongkong who.ropresents law and ordari

BRITISH TROOPS

Montgomery Plan Becomes Effective In Palestine

Jerusalem, Mar. 2.

British troops with orders to “shoot at sight” curfew broakers were to-night patrolling Tol-Aviv, the world's largest All-Jewish city, as the Army launched a "counter-terrorism” offensive and statutory martial law was clamped down, on five Jewish areas of Palestine.

Sixty Jews were detained for further interrogation, following police and military searches of Rehavia, Jewish residential district of Jerusalem to-day, it was officially announced.

A total of 300 persons were "sc reened" during the operation, the state- ment added.

Some 280,000 persons— roughly two-fifths of Palestino's estimated 650,000 Jews -have been cut off "from normal facilities of civil government" by to-day's Pales- linc Government announcement made within 24 hours of the opening of the new terrorist war, which yesterday cost the lives of 19 persons and injured 26

others.

The Jewish Agency Executive was population of about 200,000. meeting to-nikl to discurs the

situation following the imposition of statutory martial law.

To-day's counter-offensive, krown as "Operilen Hippo" (Fleid Mar- shal Lord Montgomery's plan) The meeting was taking place in began at 8 am, (local time), with the absence of the Executive's statutory martial law on the dense chairman, Dr. David Ben-Gurion,ly populated Jewish district of Men Tide was

who is ill in hospital.

Six thousand troops of the British First Division, with orders to rout out terrorlam. stationed in Tei-Aviv.

Tel-Aviv's curfew in the strictest ever imposed in Palesting. All tele- phone and cable facilities have been suspended, isolating the coastal city from the rest of Palestine,

homes

N. Galc,

Factories-the bulk of Palestine's Sherim in Jerusalem.

light industries are concentrated In known as "Hippo Minimum.”

Tel-Aviv---are Idle. Schools are closed, but may be reopened later. Just over five hours later.opera- to-night tion "Hippo were

Maximum" began in

the The curfew now confining

to their Yesterday's Tel-Aviv, with its satellite townships city's inhabitants outrages throughout Palestine began of Petah Tikvah, oldest Jewish may be lifted within the next 24 with the blowing up of the Goldsmith colony, and Ramat Gan, an Indus-hours, Major-General R. British Offeers' Club in the Rehavla | trial town about midway between Commander of the British First quarter of Jerusalem, killing 13 and Tel-Aviv and Petal and Tikvah. injuring 10.

Also placed under martial law Troops were enforcing complete was the village of Bnai Brak, near troops and no one will be allowed Isolation of the area, which has a Ramat Gan.

tio one

Division, said to-day-but will be allowed outside the cordon thrown round the clty by British

to enter Tel-Aviv from outside.

ISOLATION AS CORRECTIVE

Newspapers appear once the editorial and printing stalls have been "screen- ed."

will be allowed to

There are also no train services for the use of the public in Tel- "Avly:~~~~

"Isolation of this area will con-

tinue until terrorism is eradicated," General Gale said to-day.

The communique added that since a warning was given to the Jewish authorities a month ago 48 outrages, in which 20 persons were killed and 31 were injured, have occurred.

in this area are now facing conditions of rigid austerity. The area has only one post office and no banks, but ap- proximately 200 synagogues.

Jerusalem's biggest bakery-which supplies most of the Jews in the Holy City with bread--is also in the pro- scribed area.

For

Reservationa

Prica 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

Child Killed, "Keep Your

Report

Jerusalem, Mareli, Z.

A four-year-old Jewish child died from bullet wound in

the

head received when a British soldier fired on her after she sp- peared on the balcony of house In the Men Sherim quarter of Jerusalem to-day, official Jewish sources stated to-night. Her six- year-old sister is reported to. have been slightly wounded.

British military headquarters to-night sald: "Warning Blicts were fired during the day in the Mes Sherina quarter. There were no casualties."--Reuter.

TRUCK BLOWN UP

Jerusalem, Mar. 2. A military truck was blown up near Hedera, half-way between Haifa and Tel-aviy to-night but there were no casualties.

Ofelal sources said warning shots were fired In martial law arras to-day-United Press. LPRITERRACING LEGENDANTS INAMAATARAKTERRIRIRAMA

US Officers Held By Communists

The

Nanking, Mar. 3.

Troops In Greece"

Truman Request

To Britain

Washington, Mar. 2. President Truman has urged Britain to retain her troops in Greece to avert a cívil war thore, with the assurance that the American elministration is con- sidering assuming much of the financial burden and supplying military assistance other than the despatch troops.

of American

This according to the Sunday Times cinrespondent in the effect of the note which the Under-Secretary of State has handed to the British Ambassador. The note was in re- ply to the one handed by the Bri- lish Ambassador, Lord Iverchapel, to General Marshall, Secretary of State, in which it was explained that Bri thin could not continue to decept Anancial responsibility for Greece after March 31.

President Truman is expected in a

United States Embassy hos | "major address on Thursday to lay asked Wang Ping-nan to forward a the facts before the nation and will radiogram to Yenan requesting the ask for a credit or loan of £4,500,- United 000 for Gece, spread over the next Immediate release of two States army officers who were cap- three years. tured by the Communists.

Planes returning the Communists to Yenan from Nanking carried with them a note maicing the demand.

The capture. bt the two officers,

and Major Robert Riges

Captain John W. Collins confirmed news paper reports, that the Communists had hammered their way to the very outskirts of Changchun, which changed hands during the past year. INCIDENT. DESCRIBED. Omelal reports reaching the Em- bassy from the Manchurian capital said the two officers accompanied by a chaffeur and an interpreler were travelling along a highway north of Changchun when they sighted gentry.

shot

a

ង.

the

who suddenly fired 1 which brought a large group of Communists who sur- rounded the jeep. When Rigs and Colling descended from vehicle to talk with the soldiers the chaffeur suddenly whirled the Jeep and drove away with the interpreter,

wald. reports These

men returned to the city and reported to the Consul they last saw Riggs and Collins standing beside the read with hands above their head band

the

- mistook exists

were

It will be supported by General Marshall. What answer the Ameri- can public will make nobody can

By".

It is certainly, however, thot the American adininistration feels that the desperate economie plight of Britain and its suggested with- dmwal from Greece makes the major the Moscow con- problem facing

Germann ference not so much the

(Continued on Page 4)

STOP PRESS

Hutton Ill

Latest Test Match Score

The wicket

Smith continued

Len Hutton, who has scored 122 was unable to continue not out, his innings for England when the fifth Test match was remmed at Sydney this moching. ItuttogTM- hus- the Communist been in hospital for two day suffer- the American officersing from tonsilitis.

wag soft and likely "We are here to eradicate terror-

for Chinese in the semi-darkness of ism" sale General Gale, "This is not the Manchurian dawn. The officers to be tricky when Evans and Peter the innings from full martial law, but a drastic step to

in uniform

riding in a and put down illegal activities against the jeep marked as American vehicles, the Friday night score of 237 for 6. Government After Smith had scored two,, and state." The commander declared that but it is known the

the total had been raised to 244, he not being used for Firat Army is using a number of hin troops were

was clean bowled by Lindwall, who, and they had no jeeps and other American equipment punitive purposes

at that stage had taken for 51. quarrel with the general community. In the Changchun region,Asso

The problem is to get hold of ter- ctated Press,

Press. rorists with the minimum inconvent- ence to the populace," he said. "These Seven to ten thousand Jews, as illegal activities must be paralysed no well as Yemenites and Bukhorians, matter how long it takes."-Reuter.

Referring to yesterday's outrages the communique said that the cars used in the attacks in Jerusalem and Halfa were stolen from Tel-Aviv To impose statutory martial law, and "dissident groups" were known General Sir Alan Cunningham, to operate from Tel-Aviv. Palestine High Commissioner, in- voked the regulations made under The curfew clamped down on the the Palestine (Defence) Order-in-central (Jewish) area of Jerusalem last night was lified at 1 pm, to-day, Council of 1937.

but the curfew accompanying slatu tory martial law imposed on the Mea Saerim quarter this morning re- mained in force.

An official communique said that severe mensures were now necessary as a result of the refusal of the Jewish community to co-operate with the British authorities asalnet terrorism.

.

Jewish Leaders Condemn Irgun

And Stern Gang Outrages

Jerusalem, Mar. 2.

The Jewish Agency and Jewish National Council, în a joint statement to-night, condemned yesterday's Irgun and Stern Gang outrages as "murderous and senseless" and express grief for the bereaved British, Arab and Jewish families.

the curfew may be lifted gradually. Cabinet

He promised to give the press full

· Gén

Changes Forecast

London, Mar. 3.

Evans

was 11 not

?

out United

Later. 201 for 7. Evans: 25 not out,

Hitler's Platinum. Bedser 3 not out: A reened crowd

Treasure Found

Berlin, Mar. 2. Hitler's platinum treasure, worth several thousand pounds, has been discovered by Allled offcials in the steel chambers of a German bank, according to the British News Ser vice.

The platinum, which was a gitt of a wealthy outh African whose name is not disclosed, is the only property of Hitler of any consider able value so far discovered.-Reu-

is present-Unlied PresS,

Later. 208 for 6. Evans, 6 Lindwall 29, Bedner not out 0. Lindwall haz taken 7 for 01-United Press..

LUNCH SCORE

England all out 230. Bedser not out 10, Wright, e Tallom, b Miller 7. (Hutton did not bat to-day).

Australia. 10 for 0. Barnes Morris 9.-Neuter.

of a wealthy South African, whose | aamuISONEM

PLANES TO THE RESCUE

Buenos Aires, Mar. 2.

Rescue planes of four nations are striving to aid the stricken zone of Trinidad, Northern Bolivia where floods have driven 3,000 people from their homes, besides maroon- ing 12,000 inhabitants of other areas, reports reaching here said to-day.

Replying to the Polesine Govern-j Gen Gale tid. If the operation ment's statement that more severe carried on with the co-operation of measures were necessary because of the civil authorities was successful, their lack of co-operation, the two groups said they had not received | The bond-moustached general sald, help from the Government.

"I have nothing against the Jewish said: Their statement

"The population, but I fear certain hard- Palestine Government is now re-

ships to the population.". taliating against the Jewish com-. munity as a whole, although the crisis was caused by a few, desperate ' facilities, but did not indiente when Big British cabinet changes vide gunman. The Government is ecck-telephone communications between ja six months were forecast in the Ing through the imposition of mar-Tel-Aviv, Hinita and Jerusalem Sunday Platorial.. The Pictorial tial law, which is unlikely to deter would be restored. 'terrorists, to punisli the entire com-

political correspondent, referring to Flyors, who answered the SOS The Bolivian government in Ils munity who are the scapegoats."

Galo said the entire food the ill-health of Mr Ernest Bevin, from the Bolivian Government to SOS Bald: "Our appeal is not for supply project would be handled by Foreign Secretary, and Mr Herbert "all America' saying the town of doctors, food and clothing, it is for

Army and civil authorities, -Maj-Gon R. M. Gnte told a. press the

Trinidad was "disappearing", found planes to rescue children: An conference' at Tel Letwinsky. camp | Asked

if tho

Army intended to Morrison, Lord

of the impossible to land near the city American Army. plane from Panama was reported to bo flying to La on the outskirts of Tel-Aviv, "This carry out searches, he replied, "No, Counell, shid that "à change of role where alligators were swimming in

life-rafts, with 50 Plaz,. Holivin, is not yet full-dress martial Inw." definitely not. We found that four for both or either of these Impar- the inundated streets, 19

days of acurches after the bombing *He said the elvil

The eirmen, who included mileach for seven persons, and 300 authorities of King David Hotel did not yield tant mainstays of Attlee's cabinet

Ufefackets, A rescue squadron would continue to function fund

tary pilots from Argenting, any concrete results, wherefore we will necessitate big changes."

Peru four American dying boats the police would maintain their are now following a different plan."

and Chile, In addition to Bolivian ordered to the city of Trinidad "but we will use normal duties,

He declined to elaborate.-

The paper

to be suggested that Sir crows, were flying over the neigh- where thousands were sald fulldress, martial law If necessary".

Stafford Cripps, President of the bouring areas in an attempt to help clinging to trees, roofs and debris, Gen Gale said ho hod ooked

the hard-pressed population. He pointed out that the decree Mayor Israel Rokah

Board of Trade, Mr Aneurin Bevan, to co-operate loft decisions on martial law re- | with the Army, said that apart Minister of Health, and Mr John strletions to the Army. He added from the Mayor, the only other Strachey, the Food Minister, "Wero | foods, caused by the overflowing of disaster" has been. « in «permanent that 8,000 troops in the Tel-Aviv | people allowed to move freely aren werd, expected to find were correspondents of bona fido ikely to Increase in impartance in cabinet reshuffle Associated focal press. and the guilty underground members within agencies

United Presa. 24 hours "If all goes well.

the

Preza

President

of

Was

Food supplies have been cut off The Bolivian Cabinet, which for more than three days by the described the alluation as a "national

the River Mamore.

The latest reports were that the sesalon, directing the rescue efforts.

available torrential rain continued. and the willi all

Router. river was still rising.

resources.