STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 24008, 6 October 1941, Page 10

STOP PRESS

SEA BATTLE REPORTED. RIO DE JANEIRO, October 5. —A moonlight sen battle during ■which an unidentified ship i« reported to have been sunk and another to have steamed off under cover of a smoke serecn is described by travellers returning from Maragogipe, says the United Press. Tho engagement occurred on Friday in full view of the Brazilian coast in the same general area where United States planes and warships are searching for the raider which sank the J. C. "White. The populace of Maragogipe witnessed the combat but neither the nationality nor the type of the ships involved was known. The combat is said to have lasted 30 minutes, in which the gunfire shook houses ashore. Then the ship nearest the shore sank its opponent and sped off behind a smoke screen. The Embassy and naval shipping sources in Rio said they had receivcd no information of the reported battle nor had the navy spokesman in Washington any information. FAILURE TO REPORT. A Palmerston North Association message states that James Erskine Allen, charged with failing to report for military service, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment by Mr Lawry, S.M., it being stated that accused was called for overseas service. Richard Nolan Eric Learmouth, who was charged with failing to present himself for medical examination, also received a mouth’s imprisonment. Neither men appeared in court.

LOG AX PARK FATALITY. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Thomas Walter Ford, whose charred body was found among the debris after the fire which destroyed the Logan Park grandstand, was resumed this afternoon. Kessie Ford, wife of tho deceased, described the movements of herself and her husband prior to the latter leaving at 4.30 ostensibly to garage the car in South Dunedin. During the evening it had been arranged to take two friends for a drive next day. Francis George Thomson, dangerous goods inspector, said that he was unaware that the practice of storing petrol underneath the stand was going on. He was under the impression that the necessary stocks were drawn either from the pumps at the Works Department or the E.P. and L. Department. There was no license in existence permitting the storing of any petrol underneath the stand. A license could not have been granted had application been made unless the petrol had been contained in a properly constructed depot. The inquest was proceeding at 3.30 p.m.