Having to back out, because she was threatened by the flames sur rounding her from all sides, the fire-float Huning fought one of the biggest gasoline fires ever to have been witnessed on the Whangpoo River late on Monday evening, when two liters loaded with the highly inflam-lo liquid were reported on fire near Gough Island just before 9 pin, the fire-float which left a few minutes later, arriving at the scene at 1020 pin.
All hope of saving the two lighters seemed gone, when all available hoses were put into action and due io their efficient work, the firemen managed to save one of the lighters, although the river at times seemed aflame, after a large number of tins had burst and were burning on the surface of the water, At one point, when the side of one of the lighters gave way to the intense heat, burning gasoline completely surrounded the üre-float with ihe result that orders had to be given to back out, for fear that the Huning might come to harm, Another danger which had to be coped with was the fact that many burning tins were floating towards the shore with the resulting danger of fire on land, but this was also eliminated.
Subsequent investigation revealed that six men were known to have been on board the two lighters at the time the fire started, but this could not be confirmed and it wa: believed possible that they may have jumped into the water and may have reached the shore safely, before the fire float arrived on the scene.
The origin of the blaze has not been but detectives attached to the River Police were understood to be investigating the case yesterday Model Plane Contest for Children on Sunday Air-minded Chinese and Japanese boys and girls will vie for honours n a model aeroplane contest to be held at Hongkew Park beginning at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, local Japanese newspapers reported.
Prizes will be awarded to owners of the model craft with the most endurance, according to the new papers.
Japanese naval and military authorities, the Asia Development Board, the Ministry of Communications of the "Reformed Government," the Shanghai Special Municipality, and other organizations are supporting the event, the newspapers said,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.