Hongkong, June 26.
The dramatic story of the attempted assassination of Mr. Merlin, Governor General of Indo-China during the fateful dinner at Canton has already been told and all people of the world have bowed their hends with grief over the tragedy the outrage involved. The Governor-General narrowly escaped with his life, but five of his less fortunate compatriots fell victims to the assassin's bomb. From the time of BIN. Merlin's departure from the tragic scene to his an revoir on the pier at Hongkong, he was guarded night and day, by' picked and efficient police and soldiers.
His leave-taking at Blake Pier on Monday morning was van awe-striking spectacle. All Hongkong's Police force was on duty. For a istence of 200 yards on each side of the pier, the Praya (Hongkong's Bund) was effectively barricaded by Indian and Chinese Police officers who stood shoulder to shoulder across the roadway, and along the evement forming a hollow square facing the Harbour, In the Har-Dour, River police launches, all equipped with guns, patrolled un-ingly round the" pier and no ik, motor-boat or craft of an kind' was allowed within 50 yards of the landing stage. On the pier 4 detachment of the East Surrey Regiment stood at the slope. Detectives with bulging hip-pockets mixed with the curious crowd which pressed round the barricade of policomen to gain a glimpse of the Governor General. In fact, M. Merlin was s0 closely and effectively: guarded that no possible anarchist could have got at him except from the air. M. Merlin arrived with Sir Edward Stubbs in the Government car, front of the ear came a police motorcycle and side-car and another at the rear. Enh passenger in the side-cars was a crack revolver shot, one of them a Colony champion. Merlin departed without incident and embarked on the s. Chantilly Even on the ship the police had posted detectives whi gone aboard the previous evening. 'M. Merlin showed his gratitude in fan expression he made to Sir Edward Stubbs, He said he greatly appreciated the completeness of the Police arrangements made in con-with his embarkation, Hong:
Governor adds in a letter to the Captain-Superintendent that the police arrangements during the whole of the Governor-General's stay were very satisfactory and reflected grent credit on the force.
The Assassin's Plans.
Latest news from Canton regarding the outrage brings to light some remarkable facts concerning the systematic shadowing of M. Merlin during his tour in the North China and Japan. A letter published in the "Yin Cheong Po" yesterday purporting to have been written by Korean friend of the assassin, states that the bombing originally planned to take place in Hongkong, probably at the Repulse where the Governor-Gene entertained by members of the French community. The writer of the letter states he has worked for a long time for the restoration of his mother-country and met Fan Hung: tel (which he adds is the name of the Shameen assassin) in Tokyo. The Korean further states that when Fan Hung-tai found he had no chance of making his attempt: in Japan he left for Hongkong some. time before M. Merlin and prepared his plans for the attack to made. here. Seeing that the Governor General was always accompanied by other highly-placed Governmen? officials of other nationalities he decided to wait until M. Merlin get to Canton.
The Portuguese Aviators.
The Portuguese aviators, whose flight from Lisbon ended in the: wrecking of their aeroplane near the Chinese border, two hours railway journey from Hongkong, com pleted their trip to Macao yesterday by boat. They left on the gunboat Patria escorted by the gun boat Macau. Residents of Macao have expressed a little disappointment: they had hoped and made aviators fiom the, air but owing te the fact that great difficulty would be found in assembling an aeroplane offered by a Hongkong gentleman, this Inst lap of their journey by air had to be abandoned.
delegation representa ting Macao's residents, headed by Mr. Assumpeno of the Municipal Counil and Mr. Silva of the Macao Reception Committee came to Hongkong specially to persuade Majors Brita Paes and Sarmento de Beires consummate their flight, but _under the circumstances they had to return to the little Portuguese Colony a trifle disappointed. The airmans' damaged machine has been osoned from the Chinese cemetery at Samehun where it Janded and is being packed by the Hongkong and Whampao Dock Company for shipment to Portugal.
Macao last night was ablaze with excitement, The picturesque little lantly illuminated and airmen who were accompanied by their mechanic, Sr. Gouveia, now a Tioutenant, was marked by much re-Joieing und festivity which extended the small hours of this morning. The distinguished visitors were met by the Governor and conducted to the Leal Senado where the celebrations were carried out with gusto, The Weather Again, Hongkong to-day breathed one huge sigh of relief. The sun came out, More than a fortnight of eontinued torrential rains had almost drenched the Colony and except for the biggest reservoir, the vest of the storage dams were filled to overflow-'There were only two hours on nday when no fall was recorded during the 24 hours, a total of me inches registered, The ins have brought their usual land collapses. In Kowloon, a partly demolished building, fortunately vacated by the tenants, collapsed on number of workmen. Ten out of the 11 mon buried were rescued suffering from minor injuries, but the 11th was not dug out until the next morning and he was dead. Though Hongkong has been flooded and with all its reservoirs full, curious situation has arisen. Water is everywhere, but the thirsty are ted. The floods down the hill districts have burst what is technically knows as a flume, a vital conduit which controls the supply in the Chinese quarters. P.W.D. officials are working on the repairs night and day and wi the gap is breached, rationing will have to be resorted! to, A" residence, known ay
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.