SHIPS DIVERTED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21245, 16 October 1940, Page 8

SHIPS DIVERTED

THE MATSON LINERS

EVACUATING AMERICANS NEW ZEALAND AFFECTED (United Pres* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 The despatch of the Matson liners Monterey and Mariposa, as well as the American luxury liner Washington, to the Far East is announced in connection with fresh precautions which are being taken by the United States Government. The three liners can together accommodate 3000 people normally, and many more in an emergency. The Monterey is to sail today from San Francisco for the Orient to help evacuate American nationals. The Mariposa, now in Australia, and due at Auckland next Monday, will discharge her passengers at Honolulu, leaving there for the Far East on October 30.

Passengers on the Mariposa bound for America will continue from Honolulu on the Matson liner Lurline.

Passengers booked by the Monterey for Australia were told that they could have their money back or secure a passage by the next trip. Mails and freight will be held over for the next steamer.

The Washington will leave New York for the East on Saturday. The State Department in Washington has refused to issue or renew passports to Japan, China and Indochina, as well as other places in the East, according to the broadcast. JAPAN AND SOVIET DESIRE FOR FRIENDSHIP AIMS OF AMBASSADOR United Pres* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) TOKIO, Oct. 15 The Hsinking correspondent of the Asahi Shimbun reports that the new Japanese Ambassador, Mr Tatekawa, who has left for Moscow, said that Japan does not need to worry about a reported Anglo-American rapprochement and overtures to the Soviet. He claimed that it was a wiser policy for the Soviet to be friendly with its neighbour Japan than to “ shake hands with distant America.” The Soviet, he said, was undoubtedly aware that it could not ignore Japan’s naval strength, and it would also be difficult for it to continue to trade with America without previously making secure Japanese-Soviet relations. Mr Tatekawa added that he would start negotiations with the Soviet with a clean slate. He was not taking over where Mr Togo left off. BRITON SENTENCED EIGHT MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT CAPTAIN TRIED IN JAPAN (.United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 16. 3.15 p.m.) TOKIO, October 15 The British Embassy states that Captain Charles H. N. James, who had been under arrest since July 27, was tried in the local court and sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, with four years’ stay of execution, on a charge of violating the military secret protection law, also the army criminal code.