NARROW ESCAPES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 8

NARROW ESCAPES

SHELLS IN IRISH TOWN FLEET AUXILIARY FIRING ACCIDENTAL BOMBARDMENT DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS V By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 3, 5.46 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3 Five houses were damaged and Beveral people narrowly escaped death during an accidental bombardment from the sea of Bangor, County Down. A shell penetrated a house in which three children were sitting on a couch. It flung the couch endways. A second shell wrecked a perambulator in the garden next door, from which a child just previously had been removed. Another shell struck a garage and damaged some cars insido it. The Admiralty states that when the Fleet Auxiliary was engaged in firing practice at the entrance to Belfast Lough shells fell in Bangor. Nobody was injured, but some houses and buildings were damaged.

PROTEST TO BRITAIN SEIZURE OF MAILS AMERICA INDIGNANT ALLEGED BREACH OF RULE WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 The United States Government has formally protested to Britain against the seizure of American mail bound for Germany. The Note gave details of four instances of seizure, affecting 1250 sacks addressed to Germany and neutral countries* It also stated that tho United States readily admitted _ the right of Britain to censor mail originating in or destined for the United Kingdom, or mail which normally passes through the United Kingdom for transmission to a final destination, but could not admit the right to interfere with American mail on the high seas. Tho Hague Convention was cited as recognising that the mails of neutials and belligerents were inviolable on the high seas. It was contended that tho same rule obtained for mails on ships which were required by tlie British authorities to put into a British port. Tho Note added that the United States Government regarded the practice of taking mail from vessels induced to call at British control bases as "particularly objectionable," and concluded: "The United States Government feels compelled to make the most vigorous protest against these practices and to express tho hope that it will receive an early assurance that they will be discontinued." HONGKONG ALARM CLOSING OF HARBOUR MESSAGE FROM PATROL BOAT SHIP MOVEMENTS SUSPENDED (Received January 3, 6.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. Jan. 2 Britain closed Hongkong Harbour as "a necessary defence measure" after an offshore patrol had sounded an alarm, the cause of which was not disclosed, says tho Hongkong correspondent, of the Associated Press of America. Ships of all nationalities wero forbidden to enter or leave pending further orders. The Admiralty also withdrew two gunboats of the Yangtse River patrol, leaving only three of the original 13. IMPERIAL FUNDS SULTAN DONATES £IOOO British Wireless LONDON, Jan. *2 The Sultan of Lahej, to mark tho New Year, has given 13,500 rupees (about £1000) as a contribution to tho Imperial funds for use at the discretion of the King. This generous gift has been gratefully accepted and the King has directed that the money bo passed on to the Treasury to aid in the prosecution of the war. His Majesty has suitably acknowledged the loyal and sincere message of friendship from the Sultan which accompanied tho gift. Lahej is a small State in south-east Arabia, under British protection.