MARINERS WARNED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 April 1937, Page 11

MARINERS WARNED

JAPANESE “SPY FEVER” LONDON, 22nd April. British merchantmen are warned by an Admiralty notice that liberty of anchorage on the Japanese coast is more restricted than in other parts of the world. British authorities maintain that the notice is merely a routine measure. Marine circles, however, inform the “Telegraph” that the reason for the warning is that Japan is gripped by a "spy fever.” Port authorities in Japan are said to be enforcing their sea laws to the letter. Admiralty Notice No. 557, included among those for the week ended 10th

April, says: “Mariners are warned of the position in regard- to liberty of anchorage in ports and territorial waters of Japan and Japanese possessions. Even when anchorage is made on account of stress of weather or force majeure, liberty of anchorage is different from that obtaining in any other part of the world.” The notice then lists the open and naval Japanese ports. Of the naval ports the notice says that only in exceptional circumstances, and after obtaining special permission, are vessels allowed to enter. “Masters who infringe the Japanese regulations run a grave risk of heavy fines or imprisonment, or the confiscation of their ships and cargoes,” the notice continues.