1949-04-27 — Page 1

-Cold

Belfast Goes To Woosung

The cruiser 1518 Bel- fast teft the Colony yes- terday afternoon for Woo- xultie

She was ordered by the

north

For the Proprietor of fai

#ONGKONG TELLGRAPH,

For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LĪTIL/

Printer-end Pudilabur

The

Today's Weather: Kaglit West er Southwest windo, conilmu- ing, fair and warm.

Noon Observator: Barometric pressure, 1015.6 mbs., 29,99 la. Temperatare, 84.1 deg. F. Dow point, 75 deg. F. Relative hutaldity, 18. Wind direction, West, Wind force, 7. knols.

Low water: 28.1 in. at 4.13 p.m. High, water; 5 ft. 8 in. 10.27. p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph

VOL. IV NO. 97

Fiar ·OMeer Second-in-Command, Far East Station, Vice-Adm. A.C.G. Madden, who is to transfer his fan and staff from, the cruiser London, damaged 'in the recent Yangtse Incident, to Belfast

the

A Naval announcement this morning said that the Belfast is expected to reach

the mouth of the Yangtse tomorrow morning.

It added that the future

the nf movements

not

cruisers

known.

are

two

yet

British Liner Breaks In Two

NO LIVES LOST

Rio de Janeiro, Apr. 26.-- The British liner Magdalena in Rio de broke in two Janeiro harbour today short- ly after being freed from the rock on which she ran aground yesterday. two halves of the 17,000-ton Royal Mail liner are partly submerged,

The new

Brazilian destroyers rushed to

succeeded the spot and

throwing lines aboard in an at- tempt to tow the sections to safety. Many small craft in har- the broken bour surrounded liner, ready to pick up the 230- that had stayed 1337 crew

attend to salvage aboard to operations,

350

passengers All rescued yesterday by a Brazilian

after steamer shortly Magdalena struck a rept

day ship was refonted early today at High tide-after jettisoning some 2.000 tons of oil. It was

were

the The

broke in half just after entering the harbour.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1949.

Churchill Wants Carriers Sent

To China Waters

BARRAGE OF

ON

OF QUERIES YANGTSE AFFAIR

Position Still Fluid Says Mr Attlee

London, Apr. 26.-Mr. Winston Churchill, leader of the Opposi- tion in the House of Commons, wanted to know today how it was that "at this time we have not got in China waters one, if not two aircraft carriers capable of affording protection to our nationals who might be increasingly involved in peril and misfortune --- and capable of affording that protection in the only way which is understood by those attacking, murdering and insulting us, namely, by the effective power of retaliation?"

Mr Churchill, speaking in strong emotional terms, asked this question after Mr Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister, had told a packed House about the shelling of British warships on the Yangtse recently.

One of the many diplomats who heard both Mr Attlee and Mr Churchill speak was the Chinese Ambassador to London, Dr Chang Tien-hsi..

Mr Attlee said that with the position still fluid Britain "reserved her position" on the Chinese Communist shelling, with heavy casualties, of ..four British warships in the Yangtse. Ho dismissed Communist charges that the warships were directly participating in the civil war. as "fantastic and unfounded."

British

in

is

moni would fuce this matter in a "robust spirit and make sure

British day that the respected."

To this Mr Attlee replied that was still fluid, the situation However, the Government would make a statement later,

Mr Churchill then added, "11 clear that whatever

I

Reds' Terms For Safety

Of The Amethyst

Londen. Apr. 20-The Prime Minister, Mr Clement Attice disclosed in Parliament today that the Chinese Com-

British

shoop munists had been prepared to allow the Ainethyst to get to Nanking-on the condition that the 3- sisted them to cross the Yangise River.

was obviously unacceptable", Mr "Such a condition Attles commented amid laughter.

These facts, he rald, were given by Mr Edward Youde, Service, who Foreign Third Secretary of the Brill volunteered to try to reach the Communist forces in the hape of stopping the firing on the British warahips.

Mr Youde, Mr Attlee talu, reached the forward head- quarters of the People's Liberation Army in the Pukow area on April 23, thanks to his courage and determination.

the

"Ile described the situation as he knew it when he left Nanking on April 21' and pointed out to them peaceful and humanitarian nature of the misulon of the Amethyst and requested that she be allowed to proceed to Nanking or Shanghai without furifier molestation,"

Uno Mr Attlee added, "Their headquarters.. took the that clearance had not been obtained from the People's Liberation Army and that she had entered the war area.

They also complained of heavy casualties incurred by

ships. their troops as a result of fire from British refused to admit the Justification of self-defence."-Reu- Ler.

They

Reds Checked In Advance On Shanghai

Shanghai, Apr. 26. For the first time since the start of the present Communist offensive, the Chinese Nationalist armies to- day appeared to have checked the headlong Communist advance west and southwest of this vast Oriental metropolis.

Hard-fighting Nationalist forces were reported to be fighting and holding the Com- munists west and south of Soochow, key rail Another line of hub 50 miles west of here. bayonets stretching south from the Yangtse river barred the Communist advance toward the port of Hangchow, vital "back door" to Shanghai.

Tho

being towed to port here and would like to make it absolutely aware that airerafi are used in not say that all the knowsing in close approaches to the

On

and other

some

with

Dino

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

WAY CLEAR FOR LIFTING OF THE BERLIN BLOCKADE

State Dept's Announcement

Washington, Apr. 26.-The State Depart- ment announced today that the way appears clear for a lifting of the Russian blockade of Berlin and a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The State Department issued a statement to this effect with two qualifications:

no

1. That the present position of the Soviet agency Government is as stated in the Tass release, published in the American press today.

final conclusion could be.. 2. That reached until further exchanges of view with M. the Jacob Malik, the Soviet representative to United Nations Security Council.

for

Shortly after President Tru-points were not conditioned, in the the understanding of the Soviet man had conferred with

roving United States

Am Government, on any of the other bassador

International points which, in the past, had Jessup, prevented agreement upon the negotiations, Dr Philip the State Department issued n lifting of the blockade.

"The statement summarised statement reviewing the talks

bcen going which have

understanding of the three on the secretly between Dr Jessup and Governments of the position M. Malik since February 15. which the Soviet Government

The statement disclosed that took concerning the proposal for on March 21, M. Malik informed litting the blockade and the Dr Jessup that "if a definite meeting of the Council of For- date could be set for the meeting eign Ministers, of the Council of Foreign Minis- ters. the restrictions on trade and transport in Berlin could be lifted reciprocally and that the lifting of the blockade could Lake place in advance of the meeting."

AGREED POSITION The State Department con- tinued: "Taking advantage of Foreigo

of the the presence Ministers of Great Britain and France in Washington, the re- cent developments regard to the Soviet attitude were dis cussed with them.

the

"Its purpose was to make unmistakably clear that the position of the Soviet Govern- ment was as now stated in the release of the Toss agency,

"M. Malik again naked De Jessup to call upon him and at that time again stated the post- tion of the Soviet Government. From this statement, it ap- peared that there were still cer tain points requiring. clarifica- tion.

"As a result of this meeting further discussions took place between the three Governments,

"An agreed position was which have resulted in a more formulation of their reached

three rictalled the among

will be con- There step to protect taken.

could be..!

Western powers, and in order position, which Mr Churchill followed up his every possible

by Dr Jessup to M. communities in China, possible question of apologising

that there should be no misun veyed question by asking for an 25

derstanding in the mind of the Malik."

The State Department state- surunce that the British Cover This had to be borne in mind to the Communists.

clealing with

After a the Yangtse

clash between the

Soviel Government in regard to was Prime Minister and Mr Churchill

This position, a statement ment concluded: "If the present incident.

read to M. Malik by Mr Jessun position of the Soviet Govern- At one

time no fewer than about the responsibility for the

ment is as stated in the Tass nino Opposition members rose orders which sent the British

on April 5.

of this stale- agency release, as published in simultaneously

"The purpose catch to

ships up the Yangtse, Mr Attlee the

the American press this morning, Spenker's eye for a chance to

Said with some asperity, "The

The editor of a Soochow news-ment, which represented Commander on

hatt not Communists the spot took

of the three the way appears clear for the paper said that several hundred agreed position

the

and blockade Minister. question the Prime

was to make lifting of approve his action. succeeded in forging a ring of

of of the Council Ta-ano-question Mr Attlee action.

a.meeting support his action. That does siege--around Shanghai and Communist troops fought a five- Western powers, answered.

quite wel am

time the there were no reports of light-hear battle with the Nationalist clear that the points under dis

Foreign Ministers garrison troops five miles south cussion were the following

"No conclusion upon this can who criticisms warfare but

man on the spot not this is

of Seochow. Sounds of the battle "I-A reciprocal and simul-

unill further ex-' be reached elly.

could orders from i The best information obtain-

be heard Souchow laneous lifting of the restrle- is insured we may make on what I night

cor. The tions Intul-

tions imposed by the Soviet changes of view with M. Malik of making an receiving detailed

the military

throughout the afternoon. The Magdalen

is no suggestion

no led from s London and call the unfortunate handling of matter of warfare at all. There the exact conditions should be

situation this in no

ut Lloyds of

the Admiralty-there nil. We with

battle cuded at 6 pm and the Union since March 1, 1948, ch take place."-Reuter. anywhere milcull

behind ligence and lelephone coverage of sheltering peaceful question

military authorities cald the communications, transportation British marine Insurance com-

mway detracts from our resent-attack

engaged in the

ul outlying towns was that no

fought Reds had been thrown back with and trade between Berlin and panies for £2.000.000 sterlingmont at the atrocious outrage of are

Questions about air cover and baltics were yet being

great "undetermined casualties." I the Western Zones of Germany, It is estimated additional in-

which we have been the victims process of bringing supplies up any commander on the spot."

the

avnilability aircraft within 30 miles of the

of the

was not certain whether the at- and the restrictions imposed by freight

he could not or our determination to press

He surance

the ship's the Government to take effec-

Said that

statement followed and the Premier was port city. further 117y

and Interests may bring

a new peril had tackers were part of the regular the three powers on communi- However,

transportation seamen understood to say, amid total insurance on the live steps to make sure that we make uwners

about protecting the in

no British air-arisen within Shanghai itself Communist armies or members entions, treated with respect

guerilla trade to and from the Eastern liner of £2,500,000. Reinsurance are

still on the Amethyst-stranded disorder. that

the craft were stationed at Shang- souring lubation which brought of the Commmunist salp, which had future."

the Yangtse behind rates on the

it the menace of wide-bands known to exist in the Zone of Germany. £ 100

that bal. In the subsequent barrage of up closed at 25 guineas per

vicinity of Talhu Lake near Brigadier Anthony lead. Con- spread strikes.

Soochow-United Press. Sterling on Monday, fell to five questions, Mr Attlee said that Communist lines-cxcept

servative, was saying that the the Government wanted to take "all possible steps" were being (Continued on Page 5)

country could draw only, one in- ference from these answers when he was persistently interrupted by Labour

our cries of "the Tories want war",

Earlier, when he was speaking about the Yangtse incident. Mr Attlee said that there had been "No question of a punitive ex-

There was no late word on pedition and the British ships

the Communist spearhead re- fired only to silence

the thrown across portedly firing against them".

miles "British Yungise

50 Mr Attlee added.

at Hupu,

London, Apr. 20. The British Consular oficials in. China northwest of here, in an ap-

hope of to get in touch parent

capturing Government intended to "main- vainly tried

as a peaceful Continued on Page 5) Woosung and trapping United tain Hongkong

States and British Naval vessels haven of refuge from oppres- sion, as a great centre of trade in Shanghai harbour,

cultural ned eduen- On the fighting fronts, the and os a Nationalists were reported to be tional beacon," Mr Davis Rees preparing two main lines of re- Williams, Parliamentary Under- sistance-from Soochow 125 Secretary miles westward to Wuhu and Colonies, said here today,

The colony, he said, was "the from the Shuiyang area 50 miles southward to the vicinity Tsingtch.

EDITORIAL

Britain's Working Women

THE profound changes which are taking

women in place in the position of

forcibly lite are national Britain's illustrated by the figures of employment which have just been collated and They are worthy published in London.

menn

of analysis. In general terms it can be said that women now make up more than alf of the total labour force in a number of key industries and provide about one. third of all the paid workers in Britain. which the Emphasising the extent to nation fins maintained in peacetime the unprecedented mobilisation of her labour force reached during the war, it is now a fact that every woman of working age in Britain is working either as a house-

in wife or

paid occupation. In- terestingly enough the ratio is three out of five housewives and two are in pak

house housewives work. And workers, for, as the figures prove, thero Britain are less domestic servants in today than ever before, and it was this situation which called for the establish- 'ment in 1946 of the Government-sponsored National Institute of Houseworkers, the wns to raise primary object of which

If the the prestige of domestle work. achlevements of this institute have not been spectacular, they have, at least been worth while, for about 700 women have been trained and won diplomas for house-

and craft home budgeting, cooking, Jaundry work, crafts, health, education and care of children and the aged. And beenuse industry fä still a strong factor. the Governinent has more recently taken steps to develop as part of the National

Health Service a Home Help Service to assist mothers during confinement at the home, during illness and so on: payment in these cases are according to the means of the family. What then of the two in every live who are engaged in pald work? There are more than Beven million women and girls in this group, who duminate labour in the clothing Industry, represent 59 percent of all the half the labour textile workers, over force in retail distribution, 28 percent of and all

administrative professional commercial services, 26 percent of all workers in the manufacturing Industries

the forces

S'hai Evacuees

Told To Get

other than clothing and textiles, and 15 Their Tickets

percent forestry

arc

are

of workers

in agriculture, In this manner

In

was

HANKOW DEFENCE

Chinese Central China, General Pai Chung-hst, reported to have deployed men on both sides of the Yangtse to of defend the big river port Hankow against the Communista advancing from the north and cast.

COMMUNIST CLAIMS

Colony To

Stay Haven

Of Refuge

at

of State

for

the

at the

of clearing house of commerce and the shop window of democracy East." Despite its Soochow-Wuhu lines in the For The stretched across the northward greatly increased population, I

in the Far bend of the Yangtze like a string was still providing, "the highest 27.-British Shanghai, Apr.

across A bow barring the ad standard of living

the general popula- evacuees for Hongkong already vance of the Communists that East for and fishing.

processed were oficially notified poured across the river on Sun-ilon."" of Britain playing a

Mr Rees Williams was wel- the women

British day in the Nanking area. The this morning by the notable part in making possible the

Consulate-General to call at the north-south line whose northern coming the Hongkong trade mis shipping office of the Consulte anchor is near the centre of the plon to the British Industries industrial and economic recovery of the

a reception today

tickets east-west line was established to Fair Moreover, the increasing share

for steamship nation.

by the block any attempted Red drive Colonial Office. "The thoughts of which will be issued

the Java on Hangehow from Kiangsu all the world are now turned to Krent representative of

bridgehead,

China. There we see a China-Packet Lines Ltd.

people in disorder, great cities in chaos; millions of men, wo- The Communist radio claimed men and children homeless and

and he saki,

the

And Hongkong, a rock and a tiny national vaccination certihentes. chow highway between

villages of Chintan and Insing, picos of mainland, a haven of warned The evacuees were

southeast, of about 65 miles.

prosperity and peace."-Reuter. the that food aboard the evacuation

Nanking and just" north of ship will probably be "in Chin-Saachow-Wuhu defence line. can style."

will Military quarters said today The ship to Hongkong offer mostly accommodation in that the battle for Soochow was Hautzekwan, dormitories

decka. between

St John's, Newfoundland, Apr. Bunks are provided but passen-rall city about eight miles west gers are advised to bring their of the vital rail nub. Telephone 20-The 174-ton Newfoundland between Soo-seating vessel, Wimoda, was communications own bedding, "n

The exact number of British chow, und, Hautzekwan falled crustred by lee and sank off ovacuees is unknown but they and it was not known whether Northern Newfoundland today, are believed not to be consider the Communists had taken the the frat casualty of this year's

fkmnfler town.

Bealing scoson-Reuter. able-Reuter,

of women in Britain's production drive is having as a corollary a greater share in Trade Union activities. Today there a million more women over half members of the Trade Unions than before the war and they form 18 percent of the Union membership. Naturally social prob. lems have attended the peacetime influx of women into Industry from the home; they include the care of children (many" more day nurseries are imperative) and the growing demand for equal pay with They men where equal, work is done.

are symptoms of a social tide which fa crest toward an carrying women on a 'unprecedented, Influence in every sphere

of British life, ·

The British Consulate notice ndvited all intending passengers to bring with them their passare passport and

inoney,

in the Communist spearhead in want. Inter- had reached the Nanking-Hang- "Against this background, we

centred

around

WHALER SINKS

JAMAICA SAILS Hamilton, Bermuda, Apr. 20. one of two HMS. Jamaica, cruisers of the British America and West Indies squadron sta- tloned here, leaves this after- noon for China with a comple ment of 45 officers, and 6530 men. It is expected to

Vin going powers three weeks,

"The fixing of a date to be determined for a meeting of the Council of Foreign Minis- Lora.

"Both the Western

Lako the

wished to be sure that these two Panama Canal.-United Press.

THE HONG KONG DISPENSARY

1949

JANUARY

IS/ AT YOUR

SATURDAY

1940

DECEM

314

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Every day in the year

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