London, Jan, 10. In a fresh outbreak of terror tactics against merchantmen, fishing smacks and other peaceful vessels yesterday by German airmen, by far the most murderous attack was that on a Trinity House vessel, which was unusually full as it was on relief work.
Injured men told how. a German plane dropped bombs, several hitting the vessel, and then, as the men raced to lifeboats, the machine swept down and machine-gunned them until the boats were riddled, and injured lay all over the deck. Some of the in-
Many Changes Made To Procure Increased Income The French Concession Budget for the fiscal year of 1940 having been increased to $16,800,000 from $11,988,000 for 1939, important changes in taxation, licensing and other means of revenue had to be made to cope with this increase which was caused mainly by the depreciation of the Chinese currency, the increased cost of imported materials and last but not least, the increase in freight and insurance rates on such imports, the "North-China Daily News" learns.
Far-reaching changes have thus become effective as from January 1 particularly in the method of iand taxation and licensing of certain business and other establishments. In order to facilitate the collection of the lard-tax, the Concession has been divided into three sectors:
Sector I: Which extends from the Bund to Boulevard de Montigny, where the existing land-tax of eight per thousand will continue to prevail; Sector LI: From Boulevard Montigny to Route Pare Robert and Route des Soeurs, where the new tax will be nine per thousand; and Sector III: all areas west of Route Père Robert and Route des Soeurs, where the new tax will be ten per thousand, To these taxes, must be added the surtax of one per thousand which has already been effective for some time.
Rates on rentals have been increased fron: 18 pdr cent, to 15 per cent, to which must be added the already existing surtax of 2 per cent. making 17 per cent.
Adjustments have also been made in licence fees of most commercial establishments in keeping with the prevailing cost of living while, in order to distribute the need for income which the Concession requires for its functioning more evenly among the residents, an ordinary professional licence has also been created and is required as from January 1.
Motor car and other vehicle licence fees have not been increased though it may be expected that this will be done in ce-operation with the Shanghai Municipal Council soon as the budget for the new fiscal year will have been approved by that body.
The defence surtax which was instituted two years ago, will remain in force.
After testifying before the committee, Admiral Stark told the press that Guam might be immensely valuable to the United States, not only for naval sea and air purposes, but for commercial airlines. "Guam fortified might be worth two or three battleships to us," he declared, Admiral Stark placed the cost of equipping Guam as a base for seaplanes, submarines and small warships at $80,000,000. Full fortification of the island, he said, would cost $250,000,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.