ISLAND COLONY'S PLIGHT
Urgent Appeal For Assistance
SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES AND DISSENSION
(trSITED PBESS ASSOCIATIOS —COFrBIGHT.) (Received December 21, 7.10 p.m-1 PARIS, December 20. An amateur short-wave radio operator in the United States picked up an SOS message from the French, trawler, lie de Bourbon, at the island Of St. Paul in tiie Indian Ocean, which he passed on to Admiral Lackey, commander of the American squadron visiting Ville Franche.
Admiral Lackey advised the French Government, which ordered Madagascar to make contact by radio with the trawler.
The trawler left Brittany last May carrying 48 members of an expedidition to establish a lobster fishery for the French colony at St. PauL The SOS message reported that coal had run out as a result of bad weather, and the position was critical.
St. Paul acquired ill-repute as a result of the failure of an expedition in 1929, which was "wiped out by disease.
A French warship is speeding to the rescue of the colony, which is also suffering from scurvy. Dissension among members of the expedition is serious, and each of five married couples, among whom there are two babies. Is living in separate quarters. Members of the expedition had intended to spend three years on St. Paul.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19381222.2.77
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22591, 22 December 1938, Page 9
Word Count
207ISLAND COLONY'S PLIGHT Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22591, 22 December 1938, Page 9
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