1949-04-11 — Page 1

For the Tropelétidžús

HONGKONG TELEGRAP11, For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA LIORNING POST, LTTK

The

TODAY'S WEATHER; Light Southeasterly winds, cloudy and misty with partial clearance during the afternoon.

Noon Observations: Barometria, pressure, 1010.9 mbs., 20.83 in Temperature, 77.5 deg. F. Dew point, 12 deg. F. Relativo humidity, 85, Wind direction, calm, Wind force, nit.

High water: 7 IL. al' 9.13 p.m. Low water: 2 ft. 8 in. at 2.5

D.II.

Hongkong Telegraph

VOL. IV NO, 84

Tear Gas Turned On DPs

+

PROTEST MARCH

IN MUNICH

Munich, Apr. 10.-Ameri- can military police today used tear gas to disperse a crowd of displaced persons from camps in the Munich area. The displaced persons got out of control after a demonstration in the Koe- nigsplatz. one of Munich's main squares.

The military police were called when the demonstra- tors, estimated to number 6,000. marched in protest

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1949.

MISS ORIENT DISASTER

Ten Die In Derailment

Benares, Apr. 10-The derailment of the Punjab Express near Burna this morning, with to loss of 10 lives, was tonight re ported to be sabotage. A Issued by the

Superintendent

duo

atalement Divisional

of the

Fast Indian Railway sald one rail had been removed from the track.

About 40 people were Injured, ветсл of them seriously.

The

accideni occurred

two miles outside the holy cily of Henares. One coach Wis completely smashed and three others palice overturned. ..The have opened an investiga- 1lon-Reuter.

GRENADES

against "slave labour, con- BREAK UP ·

centration camps, and per- secution of religion in the Soviet Union."

The meeting, called by the

ted States Zone was

from Frankfurt on March 1 by order of the United States Mili-

tary Governor, General Lucius D. Clay.

MEETING

INQUIRY FINDINGS

Master, Officers, And Crew Blameless

RESCUERS COMMENDED

"The Court judges that, in all the circumstances, no blame can be attached to the Master, Officers and crew," stated Mr Neill Garland, Acting Director of Marine, when he delivered the written findings of the Court of Inquiry this morning which sat on April 4, to investigate the shipping disaster in Elliot Reach on the night of March 24, when the my Miss Orient sank as the result of an explosion, with attendant loss of life.

In the findings it was also stated that evidence was introduced in Court relating to the conduct of three vessels which were following the Miss Orient down river. The Court found that without actual knowledge of the obstruction which had possibly occurred in the fair- way by the hulk of the Miss Orient the Masters were the only compe- tent judges of a correct course of action in relation to their responsi bilities for the safety of their vessels, passengers and crew.

اٹھا

ΟΙ

BONA

as

"Union of Ukrainian Political Singapore, Apr. 10.-Five| Prisonery," was forbidden in people were injured when an advance by the Military junidentified Chinese today

The Court, desired to record caused by an explosion at or near vived, which, on all the available the Dent Point busy and did sub- | Information, would indicate that o Government under standing threw two hand grenades at its commendation of the

possible total of 107 persons must exsequently capsize at the southerly policy, but assembled ai the

work performed by end of the short narrow channel be presumed to be dead or missing. a Malayan Chinese meeting cellent same in defiance, of the ban.

From the technical evidence of and French officers of the Chinese Maritime between Haddington

and Mr W. R. K. Collings and the evi- Islanda connecting the Elliot in Ipoh, in Perak.

Customs in Canton, led by Mr anand Passages on the Canton dance of other witnesses, the SPEECHES STIR CROWD One grenade seriously in- H. Abbott, Chief Preventative River, Admiralty Chart No: 2047, Court judges that or about 10.50 occurred close Jured Tan Cheng-lock, lender Officer. These officers were in Canton Jiver, Whampoa to Canton, [p.m. an explosion

and The crowd marched

the ship's port side buge to the

of Straits barn Chinese and strumental in rescuing the pas- Sheet 11).

On this voyage the versel

the was acros

transverse watertight building, which had housed the

Ine member of the

and crew of the MIss commanded by William Anderson, bulkhead dividing Sino-Malayn sengers

Nos. 1 and 2 former Soviet Repatriation Mis Chinese Mining Association.

Orient and in carrying them to Master Mariner, with St Elmo Bur- holds. This explosion produced, a sion in Munich, The Mission

The other grenade was quick-safety by the early forenoon of ray Foricacue Harlett as Chief OH role of approximately 35 square

March 25.

cer, and Shelk. Osman Bux stopped work in 'Munich some

feet in area, which directly opened of No. 1. hold to the sea... Chief Engineer, ali possessed.

anu alu me ago, and the last Soviet picked up and made harmiesa

The Court comprised Mr Nalle appropriate Certificate produced a small hole of about 1

was on board Repatriation Mission in the Uni-by a European sergeant present.

of Competency.

square foot, opening No. 2 hold to Police fired at the assailant, Garland, Acting Director

a intal eraw of 121 persons, in-

the seo. In addition, it caused the expelled

Marine, as President, with the eluding the Master and Guard of lower attachment of the bulkheadl who escaped on a bleycle,

The following Members: Li-Comdr 15 men.

pnasenger number

to 1ho shell plating adjacent to the given in Court comprised 233 per larger halo 10 the seriously dis- J. B. P. Stirling, RN, Capt W. Lumsden. Copt R. E. Smith and kets with a possible additional 50 ng No. 3 hold, to pars into No. 2

in possession of passage tisrupted and permitted water enter Newton.

the Master persons who at the time of Capt.

disaster had not purchased ckela Mariners.

Collings evidence showed Inttowing the custom obtaining Canton, whereby lekets are sold to that 10 port lower deek Imme- persons on board after the vessel: diately above the hole in No. 1

hold was disrupted and leaves that port. There Buren 18- Gether provide a posible maximum opening 12 in length by 6 in width complement, passòngers and crew, was made in it by the explosion. In the judgment of the Court this of 404.

The ship reached Canton from provided adequate proof for the Hongkong on the morning of March Binding of nu explosive cause, and 24, and during the forenoon of that the pattern of the disrupted ex-

ternal were as day discharged her passengers and

platin showed substantial cargo. On completion of these evidence of an external explosion, [operatiuas,"the" holds" were "Mspect-

The damage, which is restricted We find that the single screwed by the Chief Officer on the Man relatively in extent as shown in Ex- motor vessel Miks Orient, a Bri;ter's instructions, and were found hibit 2, does not in the opinion of

ship of 1125,63 gross and 702.83

that the cx- to be completely empty. In the the Court, indicatu net tons, built in 1934, oficial num afternoon of the same day cargo

a mill- plosion was produced by ber 19112, registered in Hongkong (about 22 tons) was and

loaded from tary mine but rather by a sume- un a voyage from Canton to enlighters and consisted of tin Ingots what less elaborate contrivance, kong on the night of March

stowed in Ne, 1 hold, and Chinese Berious ausfpined

medicines, hides, cigarettes and lowed in No. 2 bamboo matting hold. The embarkation of passen-

the afternoon and was completed

Four others were, wounded. Tan Cheng-lock's condition, after an operation, was reported to be satisfactory. He was ad- had surdressing a meeting of about 200 Politlent speeches

members of the Perak branch Mr B. N. Cooper, of Wilkie red the crowd, who marched

of the Malayan Chinese Asso- son & Grist, represented Yu bearing with bannera Soviet

ciation in the Chinese Cham-Ping-yung and Yu Foo-yau, slognas in Ukranian.

Fat Demonstrators distributed hand-ber of Commerce building when both of the Wo Cheung

with the hand grenades were thrown. Shipping and Trading Company, bills printed in German

The Association was recently of 52, Wing Lok Street: the warning: "Beware of

formed

Chinese Bolshevism."

to encourage

THE FINDINGS citizens to resist Communist

The full findings tverorists..

Tan Cheng-lock was formerly follows: President of the All-Malayan

The tear gas-was-used after stones and bricks were hurled

at the German and Amerlenn police.

The demonstrators Council of Joint Action which then dispersed quietly. No ur- disbanded upon the outbreak of

present emergency, rests were known to have been the made and no serious casualties which formerly included Left-

wing groups-Reuter. reported.-Reuter.

EDITORIAL

10-19,

The Budget In Perspective

and local

THE Central Government

taxation will, this year take 40% of Britain's National Inconic. This is the which the British of effort mensure people are continuing to take in their Alght against inflation and at the same time pay for fully comprehensive social service. During the current flsen) year of March 31 next year, the total other. of the National taxation and

It

income is estimated in the Budget nt £3,778,000,000. The main телкови for continuing a high levy of taxation and A substantial budget surplus are three- fold. Firstly, it is to hold in check inflation. Secondly, it is to sell the expansion of exports with particular-

of attention to the increasing sales British goods to North America. Finally these two objectives will be striven for without any reduction in Britain's social services. The methods. proposed are stern and as such have already provoked widespread controversy. But Sir Stafford Cripps, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has taken a clear line

damage

family allowances which provide live and for the second shillings a week subsequent children of every family and financial assistance to those in need- or the will this year cost £763,000,000 equivalent of more than £15 per head of the whole population. In addition, the cost of living will continue to be held in check by food subsidies. Although some of the recent Increases In the prices of certain foods are to be passed on to the consuming public, taxation will provide large subsidies which, though they will be limited to a maximum of £465,000,000, will still represent up to nearly £10 per head. The small changes proposed and the present scale of food prices will, it Is estimated, increase the cost of living by only two percent. Although the proposed changes in taxation are small they are significant, Industry especially is to be given a powerful incentive to, install new plant and machinery by having the initial allowance on such expenditure increased from one-fifth to two-fifths. This will reduce the amount On of taxation payable by businesses. the proposed basis of taxation the total

exceed revenue should

the ordinary expenditure with a surplus of £489,000,- 000 against a renlised figure of £851,000,- 000 last year. Out of this

surplus, provision will, however, be made for enpital and semi-capital expenditure suck payments for the development of Colonini resources, coal mining and so This, it is estimated, will leave a final balance of £14,000,000 which with the £19,000,000 from the sinking fund will be used for the redemption of the National debt. com.

All in all, the Budget can be described an-giving powerful

Britain's progress Rupport to

towards economic solvency.

In his Budget which will gain for Britain her objec lives. The continuation of a high level of inxation will, as it did in the past year, hold in check the personal spending and with it any remaining inflationary dangers. This will help to restrain any

in manufacturing. сонен ди Increase in turn help to strengthen the com. petitive position of British gooda in overseas markets. In view of the drive to reduce the still large dollar deficit manufacturing costs any lowering of should help to increase exports "to the vital area of North America. A sub. stantial part of the British taxation Is redistributed amongst the munity through the comprehensive social Bervices. In fact, in four branches alone of these servicea-education, health,

now

en.

in

hold. Mr

CONTROL LOST

that on

The failure of the telemotor con- trol to the leering gear immediate

Dino

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents...

Tel: 27880

Mind And Reds Prepare

"Matter"

arrives Sculptor, Percy Portsmouth Royal Academy, London, with his twin sculptures,

for Inclusion in "Mind," and "Matter,"

exhibition.

at

the

the

Explosion Wrecks Church: 6 Killed, 40 Injured

Marion, South Dakota, Apr. 10.—A butane gas explosion shattered the little St Mary's Catholic Church just before the 9 a.m. palm Sunday Mass today, killing at least six worshippers and injuring more than 40. A witness said-the-blast-was touched off-as two- altar boys struck matches to light the altar candles for the Mass.

South

Dakota,

Helh

For Big

Battle

ARMIES ON

THE MOVE

China's Fate

In Balance

Nanking, Apr. 10-The Communist Radio reported tonight that four Rod

field armies are massing to fight their way across the Yangtse river in A battle that might decide the fato of China.

The Notionalist defenders were reported to have hurled back the first Communist onslaught today. When Communist · units attempted crossing at Huuyang, 175 miles southwest of Nanking. the government artillery sank 10 Communist junks and repuls- ed the attackers, semiofficial ra, ports sald,

Half a million Nationalist de- the south fenders patrolled bank of the Yangtzo tonight tensely awaiting what the Com- suld would bo munist Radio

200,000,-

crossing to "liberate" 1000 Chinese In Nationalist areas.

A spearhead of 10,000 Com- munist -troops, advancing along the north bank of the mile-wide

to river, was reported within 11 miles of Nanking. artillery was Ιπ of the Nanking- Shanghai railway, threatening the total blockade of the capitol.

Communist

the range

The new onslaught was an- nounced only 24 hours after the Communist leader, Mao Tze- tung had promised "lenient" dealings with the Nationallata.

RADIO'S CLAIMS

The Red radio said that threo armies were massed on ""the" Yangtae's north bank and the fourth was hastening south from Klungau province. The broad- cast said that the troops were An investigation showed that Some 30 jured worshippers seeking "realisation of a true the small briek church was full were rushed to hospitals in peace according to the eight- of gas from a basement furnace nearby Sioux Falls, Yankton point peace terms of the Chinese lenk and that any spark could and Mitchell,

Communist Party and the gom commenced about 5 o'clock in 13 after the explosion is ac-

countable by reason of shock with have touched off an explosion. In addition, Dr W. E.

liberation of 200,000,000 people said that about a dozen other south of the Yangtze river." by par. Although the ship's piping. By this fallure control of possible fracture of the telemotor

The church's shingle root was persons were treated for minor Tho Communist statement Oncers and crew made по дуб- the vessel was lost, and with the lifted in the air and collapsed injuries at their homes here. claimed that the people

aro diately before sailing, the Clunese main engine stopped

Neighbours came running up "zealously

the supporting" towards the left bank and subse- onto pews buckling in the mid- Maritime Customs Authorities and

dle. The brick walls trembled to help the trapped and scream southward advance of the Com- the Canton Gendarmerie did, in quently, grounited forward with her

Kaid They ntern in relatively deep water. Ne crazlly, some falling inward and ing worshippers.

munist armler it said, "All of they come staggering out

highways and country rallways, the church blackened from the roads north of the Yangtse aro Most of the dead were being quickly repaired. blast, struck down at the doorway. Northeast Chino,

war service Amelin Stubbe, who live workers and provisions are

tematie search of the vessel imma-

fact, conduct a thorough search of all parts of the ship.

sho scored

exact explanation for this move- ment has been obtained, but cur- some outward. rent, wind, and rudder position

. Six persons were counted dead POOR VISIBILITY. whose effect tray have been changed The vessel left her berth at the

by the stopping of the screw, would in the first few hours after the indicate that in the narrow chan blast and a crew of 50 workers whard in Canton at 9.20 p.m. on the

nel this movement might not be dug through the debris for 24th, the Master being on the bridge with two Pilots, two Quar- entirely unexpected.

adultional victims. across the street, and other rolling southward in the wake' termasters and four Guarda, ali in-

The almost instantaneous ground. possible ing of the fore part of the vessel About 20 of the Injured were in witnesses told of seeing a great of the formidable army to the side the anti-piracy grilles encies- ink the navigating

on the lett bank of the navigable serious condition. The roof was column of smoke and dust arise banks of the Yangtse. River bridge. The

with from the church before it col-bed have been channel, which night was dark with poor Vilbili-

dredged and the subsequent anu

bulldozers, however, and search-lapsed. There was no fire. The fleets of vessels are waiting to Quarsnite Station at Macao Fort again almost instantaneous slipping

more neighbours moved into the transport the Army across the ahip some 50 Iners believed that (Nam Shek Tau) at 8.40 p.m. and Astern of the

10 witnesSOBA, distance according

victims would be found.

(Continued On Page 8) river."--United Press. receiving pratique was under way by 9.50 p.m. She proceeded down with Nos. 1 and 2 holds flooded, the Elliott Passage at varying was shown in technical evidence speeds and entered the channel by Mr W. Sprague to produce a the vessel's condition, in which leading to Mattinnd Passage between stability won so seriously Impaired French and Reddington Islands at that she became unstable and fell

ty. The Miss Orient reached the width, and is about 240' in dragged away quickly

some tune atter 10,45, proceeding on a steady course at a speed of Court

about six knuts.

2-

over on her starboard side. The

considered the xibility of the

Vessel remall

At or about 10.30 p.m. an explore fur locked in the left tan was heard and felt, causing the and versel To shudder. It was hot a

possibly remaining upright.

had the mala engine been ordered

110

Workmen Still Struggling To Save Girl

heavy explosion and its occurrence 10 full speed ahend. The time avail- toak pince in close proximity to the able, however, would in the Court's Apr.

Who Fell 100 Feet Down Well

.

San

Marino, California, that she was alive. He agreed shoring up 10. -

called Hard-bitten, with Dr Paul Hanson, who They

delivered Kathy, that the three portable microphones, connected, address.system,

the

Into

tunnel. their

Dent Point buoy in this channel. opinion dranitely preclude any such sweating workmen, strug and a half year old child could with a public

Immediately after the explosion

Quartermaster on duty reported action. It is, moreover, reasonable

out of action, and a teleptiche mes

and the vessel being out of swinging to por almort

at an angle of about 00 to

Im-

that

The Court noted from calculations

}*

the Quartier that the telero to assume that her stability, when gling to save the life of survive 48 hours or more with that a cave-in had started, Then they called again: "Don't get for contral at the steering gear was partially grounded, would have been three-year-old Kathy Fiscus, out food or water.

very considerably Impaired and, in

Paul Nelford, a cesspool con- excited or worried. It's just a Lage was passed to the engine-room fact, although the evidence does not today began cutting into the

small chunk.” .0 asking for immediate repairs. Ato indicate, there is a real possibly narrow old castiron well tractor, crawled through

that ve commenced her serious

small funnet and punched two Earlier in the morning, werk the saine, time, the vessel's main

ensing in which the blonde, hales into the 14-inch engine was stopped by, telegraph, listing while partly ground.

casing on the lateral tunnel was de- WELL FOUND SHIP The tide was then at the last of

has blue-eyed tot

when water. been in which Kathy trapped Ite layed four hours the Hood with current control. that at least 462 tons of water would | trapped, nearly 100 foot sald ho saw nothing.

Then seeped into the 104-foot rescue

mediately grounded on the left batik water into No. 2 hold in each minute.

enter into No. 1 hold a minute underground, since Friday Clyde Harp, a well-digger, and shaft and lateral tunnel, Work Homer Blickedsdorfer, a sand- had to be suspended until the out be pumped hog, went down., Harp said he water could bank. in a relatively upright condi- in the condition existing after the afternoon.

a matior explosion. It was tion.

The tedious cutting operation found a alit in the well casing and the accumulated debris re- evidence shown that technical interest to the Court to

receive Bir Sprague's assurance that, began shortly before noon, at about 04-foot level. Inside, moved. thereafter the alid back some dis

had the explosion not ocetired after nearly two days of his debris, but no sign of the girl. it was demonstrated that water listing

there was a he said, water,

"lot of At the same time, however, Inace into deeper

АСТОВА

the transvers bulkhead in breaking and fell on

delays, rapidly to Marboard

Kathy's had it effecla been

not present in parents and her beain ends on to the river bnd. I question and

Doveral thousand He believed the presence of de- was probably over Confined entirely to either Nos, 1 or Everything points to the

of whom had bris indicated that Kathy was the well where Kathy lay. whelming anddenneas of the catas- holde, e impairment to the speciators, some

vessel's stability and flotation would arrived on Friday afternoon, above that point,

Nelford dropped a water gauge trophe, which resulted in the Atan

have been insuffetent to Jeopardise

waited tor and other members of

bertinmediate safely, and tha?

anxiously under the

down the casing on the end of Further cutting operation on!

and it camo inalde crew being trapped

a 130-foot cord the well casing were delayed back dry. brige gellen, from which they capsizing, if it had occurred, would blazing sun

Mr and Mrs have been considerably delayed.

David Fiscus were rescued some 10 minutes later,

when d lateral tunnel. The Court found that the Miss

con- Since the well Is belloved to to give up hope and necting the 104-foot refused

rescue

be dactors, agreed

only 120 feet deep, it was statutory auveral

thero shaft with the abandoned well thought the gauge had probably

The

the

110

end undoubtedly maBY passengers Odent was surveyed and equipped

were caught below

in accordance with the

COURT'S TRIBUTE requirement, and was in fact D WOR still a possibility Kathy where Kathy lay began to cave reached bottom, unless it had It was necessary to store stopped agalhet un obstruction. Dr J. G. Norwood, chairman up the tunnel with heavy tim-As the men worked in relays to

in.

In these trying circumstances, the the time of the disaster. well Court

appreciation found up. The evidence in Court might be alive, records with that there is no evidence of any plowed that the anti-piracy grilles

were not locked before the disaster of the San Marino. Red Crossbers. panic amongst efter passengern or Crew, and that a number of ir and although closed, had stances recurred in which useful standing by. The evidence at which has Indled out gallons of rescue work was underläken. Collings shows that the exits froin coffee and bushels of

by

Gand-

At

ono point,

ready the tunnel and break into. spectators Kathy's underground prison, an operations wore umbulance and three doctors · the passengers themselver and by the passenger spaces on the port wiches to rescue workers. and watching the die crew. Of the 404 persons re-ple were all found to be open at that If Kathy were unconscious | horrified to hear two understood by, ready to rush the, tot pured to be on board, the infor- the time of his inspection.

so that she had not struunted | ground workers report another to St Luke's Hospital in near- mation provided to the Court is n Teakon to believe that the

On Pazo (Continued

ihere was. A bla possiblity I cave-in dientes at some 357 persons sur-

where they were by Pasadena.-United Press.

There

5)