British Officers in the South Fighting for Pay Hongkong, Dee. 29, The China Coast Officers Gulld and the Marine Engineers Guild of China this afternoon definitely decided to call a strike at 12 o'clock to-night. The Guilds, who are Agnting against what are called starvation wages, allege that Chinese companies are paying: British masters less than Hongkong stenographers receive, in contravention of the agreement reached in 1019, At present, thirteen river-boats and forty British affeers are affected by the proposed walk-out, Efforts to effect a compromise "were fatally complicated by the discharge of four senior officers from the vessel Yuet lOn, owned by Mr. Sun Pack-min, a well-known Hongkong shipowner, and their replacement by a Norwegian master, a German mate and engineers The Guilds now are thinking of ealling out an additional number of members from other vessels where recognised wages always have been ald.
Striking officers have been ordered by their Guilds to remain aboard their vessels to "protect the property of the owners," the suggestion being that an attempt may be made by non-guild officers to take over the ships.
An attempt by shipowners to secure the Intervention of the Hongkong Government was rejected—Reuter Hongkong, Dec. 30.
According to reliable information, jame of the masters of the river earners are only pald $200 per month, and some captains and chief engineers have been paid as little as '$170 a month—United Press.
Ultimatum Sent Hongkong, Dec. 90.
Unless four senior British officers of the s, Yue Ton, who were replaced by a Norwegian' and three Germans, fare reinstated, 600 European officers board river and coastal boats will be fealled out on strike.
An ullimaturn to this effect was sent to-day to the owners of the Yue Ton lby the China Coast Omcers Guild and the Marine Engineers Guild of China, following @ mass meeting of members.
tense situation prevails along the focal waterfront and It Is feared that unless the four officers are reinstated, the Honglkonog trade will be paralyzed one of the worst shipping strikes in the history of the Colony.
"The Gulls, who are fighting against so-called starvation wages, bout 40 British officers.
Efforts to effect a compromise had been fatally complicated by the dis charge f the four senior affeers from the Yue Ton, which is owned by Mr. Sun Pack-min, Justice of the Peace Jand millionaire Hongkong shipowner. The four were replaced by a Norwegian master and a German mate Jand engineers, The ultimatum sent to-day to Mr. Sun threatened, unless the four Yue Ton officers were reinstated, to extend the strike to all vessels owned by signatories of the wage agreement, The ultimatum expires at midnight on Tuesday.
Tt is anticipated that the owners will attempt to put pressure on the recal-Jcitrant oticers in an effort to prevent them from walking out. The Guilds, however. are confident that, unless their demands are met, approximately
strike, 600, European officers' will join the Striking officers have been ordered by their Guilds to remain aboard their vessels to "protect the property of the Jowners," the suggestion being that an attempt may be made by non-gulld officers to take over the ships—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.