The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 8

v-. NAVY' ANDS fR COMBINE r-J -05 RESCUE Six Seamen Taken from Raft I'-- Ka msit the king LONDON Presents and; The Navy, and Air Parties "USEFUL" THINGS IN DEMAND From our London Correspondent Fleet Street, Thursday. This Christmas it is for the; first HOMES guided, the destroyer found the raft-, lowered a boat, and picked up all the men. Some 200- miles away frpm this position another Coastal Command Aircraft sighted a solitary seamap on another loosely The went off his. patrol route for sixty to.

find a cargo ship! -which he. brought up to save the marooned sailor A VIOLENT EXPLOSION The King. and Sir Reginald D6rnian-Smith leaving -thc'-Mmistry" of Agriculture and -Fisheries, yesterday. IN MANCHESTER By Staff. Correspondents Thursday Night.

hampered the progress of pantomimes, and" much hard' work as well- as enterprise still is needed to make up for lost time. Strenuous rehearsals, are going on all day long in an, atmosphere of chaos and exasperation-which would astonish those who know only, the clockwork precision of an opening performance. To see the endless' repetitions of a dress rehearsal, the -constant alterations and experiments, the disintegrating "props," the, premature, opening of trap-doors, and the inert forms of periwigged footmen snoring amid the dust-sheets in the stalls and to know that, it will be all right 'on the night is a heartening, if' disillusioning, experience. Christmas Travel- There is a general belief that fewer people, will travel from hpme this Christmastide. The anxieties of wartime, the "black-out," the commandeering" of hotels and hydros, and, other circumstances are" likely to deter people from venturing-far from their own firesides.

The experience of Sunday, jvhen special excursions were, run to tjie reception areas, suggests, that even the number of visitors to evacuees will not be It is probable' that the majority of the evacuees will come time impossible for the ordinary observer to judge how- much the Christmas trade is worth. One cannot take it for granted that "the most crowded shop is doing a roaring because half the people may be simply sightseeing and" relishing Christmas -atmosphere; while; a half- empty shop may be doing' a larger mail-order business than it has done" for; years. One famous West End firm, tells me "it is' busy with orders all over the country, including tnose irom many new customers. Everyone seems to be buying the less expensive, things. The demand generally 'is.

useful presents, so, though there is not the usual Christmas demand for -finery, furs, shoes are selling -well. This has been a bumper, season for crackers and other things that make a party look gay as possible at a minimum cost. This firm, typical of those doing both: a solid, and a luxury trade, hears continually from its customers that the increased income tax. makes economy necessary, but can form no idea how far Sir John Simon's appeal for saving has affected it, and it thinks that probably Sir John nas naa mqre response from working- ciass people. CHRISTMAS PARTIES Another firm whose catering -department is' always busy in festive seasons tells me that there will be a lot of private Christmas but on- a greatly decreased scale, and' 'wfth' less lavish expenditure.

The numerous, inquiries about fancy dress' indicate that many hostesses are giving fancy-dress dances. In addition to the charity entertainments in many parts of the country to which this firm sends entertainers, usually conjurers-and Punch-and-Judy shows, there are now requests 'from' people; organising Christmas' parties for evacuated children. But Christmas arrangements are not the main pre-becupation; This' firm has. been for plenty of wedding. reception's, these again on a diminished scale, and usually "at such short notice that everything -has-ha'd to lie.

done in a hurry. AT THE HOTELS London's West End looks forward to a igay 1 Christmas and New will be home on leave, Jhe transport companies promise improved and there is to be a moon. Hotels, and' restaurants have, arranged the usual gala' nights, with dancing and cabarets, and'hope to have diners enjoying a final fling at the table before rationing begins. Christmas will not be as hysterical as those, of the last war, but it. will certainly be cheerful.

The Savoy, Claridge's. and Berkeley are all to have festive dinner dances on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Eve, and the May Fair and the. Victoria will have cabarets as well. So will the Dorchester, where there will also be the pipers of-the Scots Guards to pipe the new year in. House is more reticent it promises for New Year's Eve "a spectacular surprise." At the Regent, and Strand Palace and the Corner Houses enjoyment will be less expensive but no doubt as hearty.

RECENT WILLS Gifts to Accrington Charities Mrs. Mary Jane Catlow, of 59, Bold Street, Lancashire, who died on-October 21, widow 'of William James Catlow, left 8.745 (net personalty She left 1,000 to Dr. 'Birntrdo's Homei, ez.OOO to the Hospital for, Acerlncton and District, for wmiwy two beds, one The Noble Bed In memory of her mother, Mmrv Noble, and the other The Catlow Bed In memory of. her 250 apart trust each -to the tfean and wardens or 8t. Junes! Church and St.

John's Church, Accrimrton, to' be applied towards tbe'expense of keepinc the masonry in (bod order. 100 each to the SalTatlon the Blind Inttl- fcuuou, una 01. jooo i Amouiance, Accrinaton. Other, WiUs of VS. Btrfafal SOGthport, Lancashire, steamship manster prraonajcy Jct4.BB7 Bertram of Tim fitWVI.

"Bsmfard. rjuieaahfiw. wnotl, ru peraanaltr 42,745) 43,884 Naoto. Walter (54). of 235, Thornton Arenue.

Sika Park, Ibeeleafleld. Cheahlre. wholesale confectioner inn- pexsonmity KDau nebh, Mrs. jvonlsa Marlon" or Zjala. ararlcn Isortfore (80) of .220.

Horthwood Ba'J, wVoow oftha 3. Bebb. D.D.. -principal of St. Darld's CoUeawlampetcr (net personalty 6,655 6,842 you please remember that Westminster Hospital, the-flrst of the voluntary institutlonsi is, in real and'urgent need of endowments? The 'Treasurer.

Xondon, BREAD DRIPPING HUN DJIEDjt HUNSATVANO HOMELESS HEN AND WOVEN. SICK I Il fllE 'MENBERStf -i For every class of Banking Business EXECUTOR ANI TRUSTEE .5 DEPARTMENT. Thoteaboutto make Will are invited to apply for a copy of a booklet explaining thia section of the Bank's activities, vdiich tnajr be obtained, free of. charge, through any Branch. LLOYDS BANK I IT ED Head Office 71.Lombard St, London, E.C.3 NEW FILMS James Cagney and George Raft X.ONDON.

THTJKSDAY. Tro of the films at "any rate that-will be in -London at Christmas, are hardly meat for babes. Warner. Brothers brilliant idea of putting James Cagney and George Raft together in a film of' crime and and gaol-breaks the film, Each Dawn 'I 'Die," "will open at the Warner Theatre on Friday. There -have been better- of American social" injustice 'Warner Brothers" have' made most" of' them, but it, (is good to see the two compact little toughs' dealing out" their punches and matching each' the other's swagger." 'There are riots' in the film and 'court indi vidual killings and mass killings and, the most horrible picture 'of the Inside" of a gaol since' "I Was a.

Fugitive." It is, 'all wildly unlikely and quite" harrowing. Every M.G.M.-woman' star except Myrna Loy is in The Women" Norma -Shearer, Joan Crawford. Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard. And they make a curiously uneven- of -Clare Boothe's savagely. satirical, comedy.

To Rosalind Russell, for instance, and Mary Boland it is a howling farce to Norma Shearer it is a beautifully sad love' story. It is not entirely the players' fault, though, for the adapters have shifted the play's emphasis 'so that in, the film thef nice woman's divorce becomes This destroys the balance, almost as much as "the long Technicolor sequence of a dress parade does, of what should have been a series of keyhole peeps at. a selection -of extremely nasty and extremely funny people. Paulette Goddard and Rosalind Russell are the successes of the 'piece, and most of. the lines' are Dorothy Parkerish funny.

C. R. MORE BRITISH GOAL FOR SWITZERLAND Talks to December 21. Switzerland is to buy more coal from Britain, it is stated here. This 'is -one -of" results of the negotiations which have been taking place in London.

As a counterpart, it is Britain is making certain concessions to Switzerland, such as the readmission of Swiss watches and embroidery. negotiations will be continued in London in the new year. TALKS WITH BELGIUM Paris, December 21. Agreement in principle" has -Jjeen reached in the trade talks between Belgium and the Allies, it is learned in informed quarters here. The final details are now being-- settled in'Paris, London, arid Brussels.

Reuter. MANCHESTER ASSIZES. ENDED "The Michaelmas sitting oi the Manchester Assizes ended yesterday after occupying five weeks and two days. Of the 221 civU cases in the list. 143 were settled, on agreed between the parties, one was referred to arbitration, and 17 were made remanets to the next sitting of the Assize in.

Onlv 60 of the cases were, trier Under Emergency Powers Act juries dispensed with and this was responsible for a considerable saving in the-Court's time. For -the -hearing of matiimonal. causes-a Commissioner-was appointed to assist Mr. Justice Stable, who sat in theXiviL Court, and for the IS8 dys Mr. Justice' Cassels, in the Crown took civil cases.

Enguna XWgLaT B-t- co-operated' effectively "in the rescue of six Swedish sailors who were drifting on a raft in the North Sea, it was disclosed yesterdays The seamen' were six survivors of the Swedish' st'eamer'Lister (1,366 tons), of Solvesborg. They were first sighted by arf RiA.F. machine, as it was on. its way to an important distant objective. It was essential that the aircraft should go' on to deal ah urgent military objective 200 miles away.

Before it did so it flashed a reassuring message by lamp to' the "shipwrecked sailors-and sent a radio 'signal in code to its- base giving the position of the raft. At once the R.A.F. and the Royal Navy took action to save the Swedish seamen. Another -aircraft was sent-out immediately to keep watch on 'the raft and -the Admiralty ordered a destroyer to the scene. Meanwhile a gale -had sprung up, driving the' raft fast to The rescuing coastal aircraft could not at first find the raft on- the course on which -it ha'd been previously drifting.

SUCCESSFUL SEARCH Taking the originally reported position of- the -raft as a centre, the aircraft searched the sea for 100 miles around. Eventually the aeroplane discovered the raft, with the six men still on the aircraft intercepted the war ship 35 miles from the position in which the wrecked'-seamen had last been seen. Have you siehted the raft' V. asked the captain of the destroyer by lamp to the coastal aircraft. He immediately received a reply giving the new position, ana set on towards it.

As the destroyer came towards the raft the R.A.F. because' of bad visibility, fired into' the-sea to direct it to exact position. Thus THE KING'S At German Attacks The King yesterday)-expressed, his horror and indignation at the '-Nazi machine-gunning of British fisher men. During an hour's to -the Mirustry of Agriculture and Fisheries he mentioned this latest outrage of the war while' discussing with Sir John Marsden, of the British Trawlers' Federation, the terrible hardships and difficulties under which British fishermen have now to do their jobs. In the course of his tour' of.

the Ministry with Sir Reginald Dorrhan- Smith, the Minister of" Agriculture, 'the King talked the fishermen and agricultural workers as well as with trawler' owners and members of the National Farmers' Union. Mr. Dan Hillman, of the fishing section of the Transport and General Workers'. Union, who was one of. those who, spoke to the King, said afterwards to a reporter I had a talk with the King and told him there were fishermen at the moment who are having a hell of a time on account of the tactics now being employed bv the enemy.

I described' in to the King one incident of an Aberdeen trawler which was attacked by German ''planes with bo'mbs and machine-guns, and told him that in the. fishing industry we had to deal with even greater problems than did his Majesty himself." Mr. Hillman added that the King replied that he quite understood and appreciated the situation and had-full knowledge of all that was taking place. Before he left the King saw a new film which will-shortly be shown as part of the Dig for victory campaign. He was very amused and commented that it would help to show 'people the pleasanter side of allotment digging.

AIR ATTACKS ON TRAWLERS German Ruthlessness The return to Lowestoft' of the trawler Dereham, one of the boats machine-gunned, and bombed at the same time as the-crew of the Grimsby trawler Pearl, has brought further confirmation of the ruthlessness of this form of attack. One of the crew of the Dereham described last night how while t.TM children: wholly maintained 3.000 partly supported and gifts are urgently needed crossed), payable to Dr. Barpardo Homes, should be sent" to 57Barnardo House; Stepney Causeway, London, E. 1. OPE TO VISIT KING VICTOR Break with Tradition "7-.

Vatican City, December 'Pope will visit King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, at the Royal Palace.on it was announced here; to-day. It will be the first call any--Pope- has-, made an Italian monarch for 69. years. The Pope will-be returning, the official visit-which King and Queen "of Italy made, to' the, Vatican to-day. Normally this- return visit- would be made by the Papal-Secretary of State.

The King 'anCQjdeen were -met at the boundaries, of I the. Yatican.City-.by' the Governor, 'who read 'an: official message of welcome. The King and" Queen then went to the Papal apartments, where thev "talked with the Pone for forty minutes, and then presented members of their -party. The-Pope, in a brief speech, praised the (Italian Government for permitting Italy, to remain outside war and for developing in Italy its industries and --Then he bestowed his-blessing on 'the. King and Queen, other members of Royal-House, members, of the Italian Government, and all" Italy.

CIANO PRESENT Rome, December 21. presence of Count Ciano, the Foreign Minister, among the royal' suite at to-day's visit of the. King Queen of Italy to the Pope is one. of the chief points stressed in detailed reports published in- the newspapers here this 'Thee-visit by the King and Queen was their, first since December, 1929, when they -were, received by the, Pope six months 'after the signing of the Lateran Treaty. To-day's visit, it is stated, had.

less of a political character. It had been arranged as a practical manifestation of tradition in Italy and of her readiness to uphold Christian principles. Reuter. BRITISH OFFICER DECORATED Service in Palestine The "War Office announces that the Military Cross has been awarded to Second Lieutenant Vernon Cecil Warren Sudbury, 1st Battalion the Sherwood F'oresJers (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire On August 18,. 1939, near Deir Hanna, Pilstine, Second Lieutenant Sudbury displayed dash initiative in leading his platoon.

He "pursued part fl efnrifr urKir.li iuqc. rativmo Ove- rcugh mountainous country covered with thick scrub, -provided- abun dant cover, ana succeeaea cutting them off from the body of the ensriiy. essential to" prevent the escape of another hostile party he-. picked out his fittest men and pushed -ahead. By so doing he incurred considerable personal uauger ana was urea at irom close range, -bujt succeeded in preventing the escape of the' enemy.

V1mmii lit- The story of the crew's unavailing effort' to keen' the Lister afloat- after an explosion was told at a -Scottish' port yesterday by one of the six men' who survived journey on the is a Latvian able seaman. Karl Kalmn. Kalhin's companions on the raft were three Swedes, an. Estonian, and a Pole. Kalnin is the only one who can speak English.

He told a reporter that, when the Lister was struck there was a violent explosion "which blew. the cWhrtei forepart' of the ship almost- to -and scattered the timber, cargo: vessel took a list but kept afloat. One of the lifeboats was blown clean off its davits and floated away. -The crew -of nineteen got into the remaining 'lifeboat and lay alongside the damaged ship until daylight. We then found the ship still afloat." said Kalnin, "and we went back on board.

Steam was gQt up, the pumps were kept going, and she remained afloat. After a time, however, the timDer cargo wonted loose, ana eariy on Sunday the bulkheads gave way and the ship began to sink. We all took to the lifeboat again, but it was too heavily laden. Six of us boarded a raft which, slid off the ship as she We were drifting about for four days, arid not a ship till the destroyer arrived. At night we spotted lights but could" not attract the attention of the ships.

We had. provisions for a week on board the rait, ana began to ration ourselves only on Wednesday morning." INDIGNATION on Fishing Vessels. they- -wre fishing, three German bombers swooped down to examine them. They attacked the Dereham first, each dropping one bomb. The first landed close alongside and the vessel escaped the second owing rolling in the heavy seas, the bomb dropping in the path exactly where the trawler was a few seconds before.

The third bomb 'also missed. The 'planes then made for the Pearl, each dropping two bombs. Only one found the target, this hitting the boat astern, near the galley. The Pearl was severely damaged and the skipper ordered the crew to take to the small boat. As they were preparing to launch the enemy 'planes turned and attacked the fishermen with machine-guns.

One man who died was hit eight times. Another was wounded in the ankle and a bullet passed through the palm, of the hand of a youth aged 20. 'The bombers then made off and the Dereham went to the assistance of the Grimsby men, who returned to their ship but found her listing so heavily that they had to abandon her. Afterwards they were taken into port and landed by the THE SALMON Lieutenant Commander E. O.

B. Bickford, of the submarine' Salmon, who has been promoted, commander and awarded the D.S.O. In Brief, appointed a director of -Westminster T.fVrfl "Wnlifav VnY-oi'rm GamiaifoMv received in audience by the King at Buckingham Palace last night. Mr. Walter Elliot, Minister of Health, is going to a Christmas party at Egham vkjiuj.cj' ui-iuuuw iu -wisn a merry from.

London. Visitors to-the London Zoo during'the year, up to the end of November-numbered 1,699,557 and receipts amounted to 55,156, ---a, decrease, of compared with the same -period -last-year. The" Salvation Army- has'JbeenCpre-sented by Ford-Motor Companywitli a Ford' "Eight" and- Fsrdson 2-ton truck, specially equipped service with the Expeditionary Force in 'France. -The: Manchester. Chamber, of Commerce, announces that no awards are to be made next year under-the Herbert Whitworth.

-Limited. SchblarshiD scheme because war service would 'not give equal chance to all youths eligible unaer tne scneme. The -'president council- of Royal Academvhave" boueht -under the terms of ti 1 Academy, summer exhibition pext year 3 before" being handedwover. -n 'Nearly civil evacuated soonTafter. thenar, train "-'to --London Von1-'? thedrr 'f Oiiisfrbas holidays were given free passes, and; for.

many, of them. time Jhey have -seen5 their' wives-Sand families "since --they went north--three months ago. Most of weekrsi holiday due from; their summer Sir Thomas Barlow. 'On'e' of; Britain's most physicians; Sir Thomas Barlow, who as Physician the Royal Household attended Queen Victoria in her last ill ness at Osborne," was. in Manchester today visiting branch of the United Kingdom Provident Institution, of which, following many years as its chief medical officer, he has been a director -for 'more than forty years.

Though ninetytf our, he undertakes a weekly prty-mile drive into London' to attend board meetings and stays to work through the morning. I shall renew my youth with the eagle," runs the translation of Sir Thomas's motto, to. the appropriateness of which all who met him to-day must testify. Sir Thomas, who was born in Bolton, is a baronet his sons. Sir Alan Barlow and Sir T.

D. Barlow, knights. Accompanied by his daughter, Miss Barlow, Sir Thomas later attended the graduation-day luncheon at the tlniversity as the guest of the Vice- Chancellor. (Dr. J.

S. B. Stopford). The institution will celebrate its centenary next year. Christmas Day Theatres Thisi year's Christmas will appear to last longer than usual because Christmas Day is on a Monday.

Between Saturday lunch-time and Wednesday morning most people will, with any luck, be free for 'the traditional activities. The churches will have their usual services though there will be no midnight Mass in the Roman Catholic diocese ofSalford. Nothing" could interfere with family celebrations of Christmas, except, per haps, a serious food shortage, which does not exist. There will be the usual public enter tainments too pantomimes, cinemas, dances, and the -circus. The Opera Housed Palace, the Repertory Theatre are not open.

on Christmas Day, but the Prince's, Belle Vue, and the whose shows also begin on Saturday, the. concession-of Christ mas Day opening' being a small contribu tion to a merrier war-time Christmas. Music-lovers will have their "Messiah" by the Halle Orchestra and Chorus. on Sunday, and for those who wish to spend some, part of- the; week-end in the open air there is a varied programme of sport' Association, both Rugby games, hockey, and 'lacrosse are all -to' be on Christmas Dav or Boxine Day. On the whole, it seems likely to.

be as "full and happy a Christmas as is possible in war-time. Pantomime Progn 'ess: Pantomimes'- are expensive a the, 'children of all ages "who wul-ensoy one of the four that will' "open on night in Man chester theatres nave to be grateful -both for the. unexpectedly tranquil state of the. home front and for the- optimism of- those who have gambled its persistence. Nevertheless the" war seriously home for the holidays.

'Nevertheless, the railway companies that travel inquiries have already been numerous, perhaps because', as one official suggested, many folk are in the mood to seek relief from the rather depressing circumstances of -life in the bigger cities just now. All the railway companies are increasing their services. The London Midland -and- Scottish Company, for example, put oh 80 extra trains for holiday season: At the Manchester offices of-the company the staff expect to know by to-morrow whether the public-demands have been correctly anticipated. The Table's Last Needs The shops and stores have 'such, ample supplies of Christmas foods at prices so nearly- normal that' 'walking' in' the familiar alleys and avenues on a. crisp afternoon makes the war ably remote.

rBuying was going on briskly totay. The lighter things of the' table' are plentiful." All the dessert-fruits are. being, shown from handsome -pines and-Jaffa oranges to Cox's Pippins andT'luscious English The 'usual sorts. qf, nuts -have come along, and there arevfigs, dates' mus catel and other, raisins, and grapea-from Africa-as well as; home -vineries. Preserved ginger.

in iat -pots is another '-at the delicacies, which suggest That -goods from alar stall: reach -Britain--- Something waswritten here- yesterday abcut-turkeys: arid-o ther 'poultry. 'Pork and hamsYbrk and Eire, bacon from Canada and Denmark, and all such fare as pork pies, Christmas puddings cakes, acid mince pies are ayaUable, to-those who want "something more of the nurooses "which -are -not-'onlv useless but also MutJi-of the nools- mvestment'-isvsDent on publicity. and is used for teaching the young-how to induce their comrades ito-become gamblers. -Apart from 'its effect pcui character; can, anything: more foolish be imagined than "to fallow the spreadingrof thisVpoisonrat" aJ time "when every penny. In trie inevitableiahd Governrneht Lhas made- some; rand' retrieved ithem.V;Will they not correct; this one before it is too -v Sir Edward HiA-' Commissioner Territories.

left Lond) RUiMPTION OF THE POOLS Dn David's Protest 'r5-- 9 1 "When the I'pcols' were suspended in September many hoped that at pne good thine had but of "the writes. tfco Bishop of -Liverpool Davids in Some --milHofls; of; the- ipuia-tionl would-spend their two shillings a would perhaps lend some rit- tqrthe Covernm'sni -inAtln'r hanriincr' it 'all 10 a Iev -promoters. TO6ntbrqr- allowed to begin agairv-and- soon after toatj.the rtartfvt' CJ hoiir.riorl,ilronrJ ia. De iuoii snouid- with" one; voice, exnoru-us to isave and -'to'lena'i allpwrpaAyiTmtTfa-tTMnmteAfitrwas. itiwouldbeincreblejlhafethg.

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