1947-04-18 — Page 1

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VOL. II NO. 167

The

HONGKONG For and on behalf of /*" SOUTH CHINA MOK

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Printer and Publisher

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At the

P.G.

Hongkong Telegraph. G

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1947.

EXPLOSIONS RAIN STEEL

HELIGOLAND TO BE BLOWN UP

End Of Old German Naval Base

Cuxhaven, Apr. 17. Six thousand seven hundred tons of high explosives will blow into the North Atlantic

tomorrow the Ocean

tiny fortress of Heligoland, which in two wars protected Germany's exposed flank on the northwest.

When the Brst gong of the British Broadcasting Corporation's hourly time signal from London rounds at 11 R.m. GMT. British Lt-Cmdre Frank a button on the Mildred will press

Lasse nine Ttayal Navy cabin hi miks away from the island.

ON TEXAS CITY

Disaster Kills Untold Numbers

(BY WILLIAM C. BERNARD)

Texas City, Texas, Apr. 18.

New explosions have sharpened the sorrow and misery of this stricken city, coming as they did 13 hours after two blasts took hundreds of lives and injured thousands. The twin explosions which looked like a giant skyrocket, further stunned and dazed the weary citizens.

At dawn searchlights still probed the crumpled steel and debris that covers uncounted bodies.

Just

A blanket of black, billowing smoke covers the city heavier than ever as a result of new oil refinery fires caused by the newest explosions on the vessel High Flyer.'

after I am, I walked into Red Cross Headquarters in n store building where the casualty Washington reported tonight that toll is being inbubated. I closed the the number of known dead door, walked to the centre of the Texas City was now learned to be room and a terrife explosion shook 714

and more than 3,000 counted the building, bringing plaster from injured. the

Reconds later a plosion came with blast.

a

second ex-

The

the

of explosion today thunderous United States freighter High Flyer was described by some people as When the fourth gong sounds, ex-

I yanked open the

door and even greater than yesterday's blasts. Fet off, leaving plosives will be

vacant lot. It was felt as far as at Baton Rouge, plunged outside into u Heligoland a harmies: Ettle harbour there I watched redhot steel stream- Louisiana, over 400 miles away, ac- where fishermen may take shelter ifing into the sky.

cording to reports. the sea is not safe.

A fery block cloud climbed 2,000 feet then steel fragments pinged on the sidewalk and pavement.

In the dock area fell ke rain.

The explosion will be witnessed by Air Marshal Sir Sholte Douglas, com-

British zofic of the mander

of Germany, General McCreary, mill- tary commander, and the naval flag ollicer

Harold Vice-Admirat Slr. Walker, uboard

HMS Dunkirk. American and other Allied officials have been invited as observers, but no Russian observers or correspon- dents were expected.

EVACUATING SAPPERS Ning Dritish ships will assemble off Heligoland tomorrow morning to evacuate the last party of 140 German cappers. The British naval officer in charge, Captain L. P. Skipworth, sald the effects of the explosion were unpredictable, but elaborate prepara tions were made to record them scientifically,

German radios and newspapers warned all coastal towns within a 100-mile radius that windows should be left open to avold shattering in the great blast of air from the explosion.

On the little island of Duna, half a mile away, a movie camera was placed in concrete pillbox to take pictures, which British naval experts sald might rival those of the atomie - explosions- at... Bikini.--

The first explosions will be smali, to scare away the island's teeming birdlife. Some 2,000 human in-

· habitants have nlready been evacuated to Hamburg, for eventual settlement

another on island.

German

jagged pieces

LEG CUT OFF

W. II. Boucher, a volunteer helper blew the buttons off my jacket. A in the deck area reported: "The blust piece of shrapriel cut the leg off man standing beside me. A Red Cross nurse helped me fix a tour- niquet. Her head was bleeding but she didn't pay any attention to her self.

"The man was conscious but didn't say a word, didn't even moan. I stayed with him until they brought up a stretcher and carried him off."

Fifty seconds after the second blast pegurred rescue work got une back again as the workers streamed into the area.

INQUIRY DEMAND

A Washington telegram said that Senator Lee O'Daniel, Democrat of Texas, today introduced

a tesolu tion to the United States Senate call- ing for immediate Congressional in- vestigation into the disaster.

that

have been accidental and 1 do not "I realise the explosions could want to charge or insinuate anybody could have been so mean or debased as to have planned and executed this disaster," the Senator due

asked every Government Agency to cooperate in rellet activity. My heart and the heart of the nation go cut in deepest sympathy to the suffering people of Texas City. - May' God lighten the burden of sorrow which has fallen on the community with such trugle, force."-Reuter.

Vain Attempt

To Save Child

Le Havre, Apr. 17: For five hours Mrs Helen Stafford, 31 of London, held up her two-year-old .daughter as she clung to the wreckage of a plane which crashed in the English Channel to-day.

Then just as a fishing- boat came in sight, Mrs Stafford was so exhausted that, she could not keep the child aflost any longer,

Two persons were also killed in the crash, which occurred during a Guernsey- London flight-the pilot and one passenger,-Reu-

ter.

said. "But in view of the high len- Rabbi's Protest Over

sion in internatidonul affairs and to the rather large number of Ares, railway wrecks and other explosions, disastrous occurrences in the nation

lately, all so

so nearly resembling the

pre-

disastrous occurrences which eeded our entry into the lost war-

due largely to Communistic under- ground activity-I believe it is the full Mar-duty of this Senate to conduct a

and complete investigation into the Texha City disaster," Senator O'Daniel satu.

One of the workers Mrs Clay tin, 30, of Houston, Texas, circulated among the patients working in spite of eight broken ribs,

All day long she had been in the dock area

coffee and distributing sandwiches and treating inflamed eyes of firemen burned by the smoke and gassca.

trained steel out there," she I was lucky said. "It was awful. to get out with just broken ribs." Associated Press,

KNOWN CASUALTIES

New York, Apr. 17. More than 700 persons are now known to be dead and 3,000 Injurėd in Texas City, where new explosions today sent dazed inhabitants stream- The Royal Navy will use 3,500 tonsing out in search of safety. of new explosives and 3,200 tons left by the Germans, In addition, there is an unknown store of German om- munition in the tunnels that honey-

comb the island.

The

expected explosion crumble all of the anti-aircraft guns.

to

the

Red Cross offelals think it is possible that

denth toll will never be known exactly as many of the victims were blown to pieces and some of the port workers des- troyed by explosions were migatory. More teams of trained rescue

which, made the tiny Istaidone

and a cargo ship which had been in mile long and one-third of a mile danger of catching fire has been cut wide--one of the most heavily forti- loose from its pier. fled spots in the world.

President Truman today asked all

Some 140 newspaper correspondents | United States Government agencies will witness the Blast.-United Press,io help in relief work,

Gruner Execution

Jerusalem, Apr. 17.

The Palestine Chief Rabbi, Dr Isaac Herzog, in a statement to- day on the execution of Dov Gruner and three other Jewish ter- rorists in Acre prison yesterday, sald: The action of the' British authorities will be generally declared highly reprehensible. These four Jews were deprived of the elementary rights of every human being in such tragle circumstances to have the comforts of his re- ilgious faith administered to him before the thread of his life is · snapped asunder.”

For Reservations

Tel: 27880

Price 20 Centa

Cabinet Changes

Announced

PETHICK LAWRENCE RESIGNS

London, Apr. 17.

The resignation of the Secretary of State for India, Lord Pethick Lawrence, was announced tonight. This has necessitated several other ministerial changes, Including the replacement of Mr John Hynd, Chancellor of the Duchy. of Lancaster, by Lord Pakenham.

Lord Faltenham will have The Lord Inman comes into the responsibility under the Foreign Cabinet as Lord Privy Seal, and the Minister, Mr Ernest Devin, in con- previous holder of this office, Mr nection with the administration of | Arthur Greenwood, is now Minister the British zones of Austria and without Portfolio but he will con-

tinue with Germany,

the same dutics R The new Secretary of State for before. India is Lord the Earl of Listowel. Mr Wilfred Paling, whose place as The new Postmaster-General is hitherto Postmaster-General, who is

Minister of Pensions now promoted to Cabinet ranic.

is taken by Mr John Hynd,

The announcement of the Cabinet changes from the Prime Minister's office at No. 10 Downing Street said that the King had accepted the resignatiou of Lord Pethick Lawrence and had approved the appointment of the new Ministers.

Frederick Mysberg, 65-year- old Netherlands national, ac- cused of illegal dealings in gold bars and foreign currencies, is shown here at the opening of his trial in the Shanghai District Court. He was found guilty and sentenced to Imprisonment.— Associated Press.

and Lord

BIGGER CABINET Both Lord Listowel Inman-who has resigned from the Chairmanship of the British Broad- rasting Corporation become mem- bera of ย Cabinet whose strength is now Increased by, one.

It has been decided that the minis- terial responsibility for the Beillsh elements of the Control Commission for Germany

and the Allied Com- mission for Austria should henco- forth rest with

State

for

the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and that the

Control Office for

iria should be Germany In the

Bild. Anid

and Aus-

Foreign Office, the announcement from Downing

John Freemen.“

will also Financial hold the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War.

Mr

In a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, Mr Clement Atulce, released tonight, Lord Pethick Law- rence, who is 70 years of age, sald: (Continued on Page 4)

DEMAND FOR BRITISH

TERRITORY

Earlier reports to the Red Cross Headquarters in Washington said that oil tanks were still burning and une cargo ship in danger of catching Are had been cut loose from its pier.

The Rabbi's statement was made, against the Jewish youths, Abraham ben Ellezer

Moscow, Apr. 17. Ninely per cent of all buildings in in refusing the resignation offered Barazani and Meir the city had been damaged and the formerly of Rochester, New York Imprisonment, the

him by Rabbi Jacob Goldman, Feinstein, and Commuted to life Yugo-Slavia today formally de-

death sentence central section of the town pletely blasted.

com-State-as-Chaplain-to-Prisons in the against-Doniel-Moderchai-Azulai,manded the Austrian province of

Holy Land in protest "against the Burazani and Azulal

Carinthia and US$150,000,000 in re- failure of the Palestine Government victed of carrying a bomb during parations from Austria in a hearing to notify me of the Impending the recent period of martial law before the Big Four Foreign Minis-

United Press. executions."

In

a telegram to the Mayor of Texos City, President Truman said: "1 know the Red Cross is ministering to your stricken city and I have

Death Sentence

Commuted

Washington, Apr. 18. President Harry Truman today. commuted the sentence of private Leo W. Christensen, who was court- martialled in Japan on charges of rape, murder and assault, to three years' imprisonment and dishonour- able discharge.

were con-

Bevin Returning

The Palestine Government stated carlier that a Jewish chaplain, who was asked, refused to be present at the

religious executions. Jewish leaders sald that the man described as chaplain វ៉ន a lay reader with no official religious standing.

ters.

FLOOD RELIEF FUND

Donations Rocalvad Already acknowledged American officials said privately (per "H.K. Telegraph")$118,200.05 that if Russia supported the Yugo- Far East Shipping Co. Slav demands, there will be no Austrian treaty.".

Ltd. Ng Mann

S. T. Williamson:

The spokesman of the Jewish HomeNextWeek The demands were placed before Mr and Mrs Lo. Koon Kan

London, Apr. 17, A Foreign Office spokesman

The

spokesman

sald.

the Council at special morning ses Stewart Bros. ...... Agency tonight declared that the

sion. The Yugo-Slav Vice-Premier, Miss, R. Mow Fung... executions were "not a blow against

Mr Eduard Kardelj, and the Foreign Mr and Mrs Fred A.

Simic, terrorists, but against those fighting

Minister, Mr. Stanoje

pro- Xavier against terrorism." He added that

Far East Oxygen

Acetylene Co., Ltd.... radar stations and submarlie pens city. Oil tanks

workers are being down into the Rape & Murder Charges the "executions came at a time when today said Mr Ernest Bevin and sented Yugo-Slavia's case.

are still burning

terrorista were fortelting such party would leave Moscow by

"Slovene Corinthia should be

J. G. R. and Jolin Humble Reduced

sympathy as they might have had train for London next Tuesday liberated from German and Aus-

Mr and Mrs Kopeczky from the public. Now, they have' "or shortly thereafter."

trian domination and reunited with Arnhold Trading Co., Ltd. been presented with four martyrs." The trip by train across Poland the peoples of the republic of Slo-Hongkong Musicians'

- COMMENT BANNED

and Germany will require four or

venla

within the framework of the Union Yugo-Slay federation," Mr Kardell Hon. Mr and Mrs J. B, Meanwhile, the Palestine Govern Ave days.

He sold said that

120,000 Yugo Griffin MA today forbade ment press censor

Starbright Trading Co. Slavs would be transferred back to

.Const Traders, slavin with such a territorial China readjustment.

Ltd.:** Mr Simic repeated Mr Kardeif's Assessment Dept. Staft

East Import officials said Soviet reaction to the

Export, Ltd. Senator year Anglo-Soviet treaty.

demands Some of the present differepces Yugo-Slav

оп AusWassiamull Assomnull & Gillette, President of the American between the Dritish and the trio was Important to the Austrian Co. League for Free Palestine.

Russians

the regarding

revised treaty; if Russia supported Yugo Mr and Mrs John Fleming and reparation Staff: Farmers, Importers, treaty may be of "certain magni-Slavia's territorini tude. the spokesman said,-United demands, there will be no treaty," Exporters, and Bidders Pross.

they declared.-United Press.

of the Government Wholesale Vegetable Market, Kowloon

EDITORIAL

D

No Safe Landings?

China's

The

Peng Isuch-pel, Minister of Information, has issued an interestingly milltzat, but not very tactful statement on the subject of foreign planes fly- ing over Chinese territory. announcement concerns

the in- eldent over the Macao alrüeld last Sunday when a training maching of the Far East Flying Training school, itd., was fired upon by a Chinese machinegun post as it was about to land on Portuguese ter- ritory. Dr Pong 18 elther speak-

himself, for

the er he is

of the Nanking ment. It would not be the subordinate Chinesa first time a emcial has taken upon himself the right of expressing an official viewpoint without first obtain-

16. On the other hand it is fficult to imagine that the Nanking Government would ever lend self to such an unreason- able and stupidly provocative atikude. Dr Peng has said that foreign planes, either military or civil lly over Chinese territory. without first being given permis alon, they will be shot down; not the most graceful gesture from a country, which, during the war

years, depended solely on "foreign planes" to keep the Japanese al arm's length, and which, since the war, has relled on the same "foreign" aircraft to maintain its air force. This apart, there is the Chicago Aeronautical Conven- tion of 1914, to which attention has been previously drawn, and ip which China was ready signatory. Its provisions for, ac- commodating third-power aircraft are so obvious that Dr Peng's at- lude beconies unsustainable. Dr Peng may feel wholly Justified in adopting his threatening and pre- Judichal tone, but should be

ኪ. pointed out that

Chinese commer elal

Fal

of R are permitted the use

Tak Kaj airfield without hind-

rance. It would be most unfor- tunate if it were found necessary to withdraw this privilege because of China's refusal

to accede

to

the, rights of aircraft which are recognised In any

other

part

of.

of the world. For the past eight

there has been a loi years "Give" by foreign nations and an equal amount of "Take" by China; surely li is about time Ninking displayed some reciprocity, even it is only means safe and happy landings on a third power airfield?

publication in the press of comments Bevin, before departing, is expected on the execution of Dov Gruner to have another meeting with the and three others made in New York Soviet Foreign Minister and other Russion ofBelals to discuss the pro- by

the United States Political Action Committee for Palestine,

The War Department sald Chris-o. Joseph Baldwin, Chairman posed revision of the present 20-demands for reparations. American Far

tensen also forfelts all pay allow

ances

Christensen was convicted of kill- ing u Japanese boy with his motor- cycle, raping a Japanese woman and assaulting a Japanese man with his fiats,

He was originally death,

and

ban, which

also lo applied the Government-controlled Pales- line Broadcasting Service, was made "In the interests of publle security in Palestine," an offlefal announce-

ment states. sentenced to

Major General James Lester, com- munding the 24th Division reduced his sentence to life imprisonment.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY

The Review Board and the Under Secretary of War Kenneth Royal

to reduced the charges

rape, assault and battery and manslaughter. Presidential action further reduced

rape charge to assault battery.

Senator. Glen H. Taylor, Ro

Juha-Christensen's publican. of

the

Mr.

ter ople

of

Baldwin had said that the cists "died for the freedom their

Senator Gillette was quoted as saying that the executions showed the British had thrown away "any pretence of justice or military hon- bur."-Reuter.

the

ahip

Mother Murders Her

Baby Daughter

London, Apr. 17.

her

THIRD IMMIGRANT DIES

Mrs Jenkins described in detail Jerúsalem, Apr. 17, A young Jew. died in hospital A stoical mother of 19. con-how she wrapped a dressing gown whenfessed today that she smotheredly around her crying daughter's today, from injuries received

head, burlet under a pile" - pf- Illegal immigrants in and Tidore Herzi resisted Royal her 11-months-old daughter.in clothes and pressed the clothes down

a pilo of damp clothes because on top of her. Naval boarding party or Sunday.

I could still hear, har whimperlag, This was the third Jewish, death the baby made her jealous. ns the result of the clash, in which

Violet Moy Jenkins, charged with 50 I covered her tend up tighter with the the dressing gown and pushed her the Navy used tear gas after Jows murder, lold a London, court had hurled tin cans and bottles on guessed she was sorry..

hend to the bottom of the bathtub. I the boarding party.

covered her again with dirty clothes,

home state-sald "while I am happy

that the threat of death is removed from Christensen, I still feel he was n' victim of injustice.

"He never had a fair trial and on the basis of the record before it, the army has no right to keep him in jail or give him a dishonourable discharge.

"He should be given a complete exoneration or a, new trial."-Asso- 'clated Press.

Disembarkation of the Theodore Herzl's 2,700 passengers. was com- pleted today when 1,100 sailed for detention camps on Cyprus in three British ferry ships Reuter. -

SENTENCES CONFIRMED

Jerusalem, Apr. 17, Maj-Gen G. H. A MacMillan today confirmed the death sentences

"I miss little Norma now," she said sadly. "I wish she was alive."

went into the other rooin and closed the door. Then I went to George's Mrs Jenkins and she was married, | to ien."

Mrs Jenkin's mother said her but admitted that the slain baby did not belong to her soldier husband. daughter “ocemed to think the baby A friend, George Gagg, sho supposed was a 'bit of a tie at times”. was the reason for her jealousy,

The Judge committed Mrs Jenkins "George mide rich a fuss of her. to the Central Criminal Court I suppose 1, was jealous," she said. 'United Press.

Mr and Mrs D. E.. Hind-

marsh

Mr and Mrs A. O. Bartetto Ault & Wiborg Co. (For

East),

R.H.

Mr and Mrs Tean Yung Hongkong Can Co. Carter & Sulton

Chinese Staff: Hongkong & Kowloon Whorf and Godown Co., Ltd. and Star Ferry Co., Ltd.,

100.00

£0.00

1,000,00

100.00

100.00

25.00

200.00

100.00

100.00

60.00

1,000.00

100.00

50.00

23.00

200.00

204.00

50.00

.500.00

200.00

2,000.00

100.00

25.00

·200.00-

30.00 1

250,00..

100.00.

100.00

2,000.00

$127,105.05

Donations should-be addressed) to the General Manager, South China Moming Post, Morning Post Building, Hongkong. Cheques should be mede out

to "British Flood Relief Fund."*. For the purpose of acknow- ledgment will dono kindly. Indicate their names in Block Letters.