THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 9, 1939.
Library,
Court Supreme
Page
FRENCH NAVY'S PLANS IN THE EVENT OF WAR
Surprise Attacks Expected
JAPANESE GERMANY'S
NAVAL PLANS IN PROGRAMME
Important developments in France's naval SOUTH CHINA FOR NEW NAVY
policy, in addition to an extensive shipbuilding pro- gramme, were announced by M. Campinchi, Minis- ter of Marine, in an interview in Paris.
Tokyo, To-day.
London, To-day. A question as to whether the The German decisions to mount "Britain is a precious ally," he declared. "But Japanese Admiralty planned to bigger guns on each of our fleets would have its own job to do in a establish
the new 10,000 a permanent naval ton cruiser Seydlitz and to resume The work of the British. Fleet would be so base in South China or else- freedom to construct' submarine great that we could not ask her to carry out the im-where on the Chinese continent, tonnage up to the British total, possible and protect our lines of communication."
was answered in the negative by
war.
ITALY'S ARMY
STRENGTH IN
LIBYA
M. Campinchi said that follow- ing the 35-000-ton battleship Riche- lieu, France was also to lay down two new battleships, one cruiser, seven submarines and 24,000 tons of lighter craft in the current year. "For a country like ours a strong fleet is a question of life and death," he added. "Imperial de- fence is a problem of rare, com- plexity, and the best possible de- fence of our coasts is the effective encounter with the enemy fleet and destroying it before it reaches our The numerical strength of Italian troops in Libya, according to M. Campinchi explained that to eliminate the element of surprise information now received from the an intricate system of coastal de-Italian Government, is between fences had already been organis-30,000 and 32,000. ed in France.
shores."
the Japanese Naval Minister, was the subject of seven questions Admiral Yonai, during a session on the House of Commons order of the Lower House committee on paper yesterday. Wednesday.
They were The Japanese Naval Minister Parliamentary Secretary to
answered by the refused to answer a further ques-
the tion, whether Japanese forces Admiralty, Mr. Geoffrey Shakes- would carry through the immé peare, diate occupation of Hainan Is- land. Trans-Ocean.
London, To-day LABOUR MOTION
OF CENSURE
London, To-day.
It is stated that the Labour Opposition in the Commons have Mr. Neville Chamberlain stated decided to put down a vote of At strategic points there were permanent coastal batteries, he this in the House of Commons at censure on the subject of unem said. But a new organisation had question time yesterday in answer ployment. The motion, it is ex- been set up. Mobile batteries, rapid-to Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour). pected, will be taken next week.— ly transportable to any
No answer was given to a Labour British Wireless. supplementary question whether any information had been received "about German troops which have¦ been sent to Libya recently."
tactical
point, would come into operation.
RIVAL TONNAGES
These batteries consisted of guns Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) of the heaviest calibre, superior to asked if the reduction of Italian: the best known naval guns. The troops in Libya had been at the batteries were organised on the rate of 1,000 a week in accordance most modern lines.
with the provisions of the Anglo- Italian Agreement.
The tonnage of the present French, Italian and German fleets was 500,000, 450,000 and 170,000
Mr. Chamberlain: I cannot, an- swer that question without notice.
respectively, continued M. Cam-Reuter.
'pinchi. The three countries had the following tonnage under construc- tion: France, 120,000 tons; Italy, 150,000 tons; Germany, 250,000 tons.
The 1939 French Budget would show an estimated expenditure of 247,000,000.
"No illusions are possible,” M. Campinchi said. "The opening hours of a naval war would be marked by surprise, attacks by large enemy concentrations,
RALLY TO CALL OF NATIONAL SERVICE
London, To-day.
BURMA AS UNIT OF EMPIRE
London, To-day.
WEALTHY JEWS TO BE ARRESTED
In a long statement, Mr. Shakes- peare made clear that the German decisions were in accordance with the rights conferred upon them in the Anglo-American Naval Agree- ments of 1935 and 1937.
The German Government's stand- point in reaching these decisions, Mr. Shakespeare said, had been stated to be that in the present they were no condition of international affairs refrain from developing their naval longer prepared to
forces to the full extent permitted
by the Anglo-German Treaty.
OVERRIDING CONDITION
He mentioned that "the"increase in German submarine tonnage does
affect the overriding condition in the Treaty that total tonnage of the German Navy should not exceed 35 per cent, of the aggregate ton- nage of the British Commonwealth
IT IS FEARED THAT A NEW NAZI ANTI-JEWISH OFFENSIVE of Nations. ON A BIG SCALE IS NOW BEING PREPARED.
Replying to supplementaries, the Minister declared that the Board The object seems to be to ac-of Admiralty could not agree to celerate the process of emigration exercise by any power of right by making the position of indivi-conferred upon it by Treaty could. dual Jews even more intolerable be regarded than it is at present, and thus threat to Britain or
constituting à any other shocking world opinion
into power. speedier action.
88
With this end in view a number He added, however, that in of Jews who, in the eyes of the au- drawing up the 1939 programme thorities,, have been slow in ex-of new naval construction, the ploring the possibilities of emigra British Government had given full tion, have been arrested. Many weight to all factors in naval de- Stateless Jews have also been taken velopments in all parts of the into custody.
world, and he invited the House to In recognition of the position
It is believed that this is only await the Navy Estimates to see a beginning. According to reliable, what that, programme would con- of Burma as a unit of the Empire, information local Nazi authorities tain. British Wireless. the King has approved a nation- al flag for Burma, which hitherto has had no distinctive flag.
The flag approved is a blue" en- sign bearing in the fly, theem- blem of a peacock in natural lours on a circular gold background. The peacock is generally regard-
have drawn up lists of wealthy Jews, who may be arrested, They will not be released until they cần
arrange to leave Germany immedi THE CLIPPER
ately.
ed as the national emblem of Burma. LORD CHATFIELD'S
----Reuter.
Distribution of the National MANILA WILL HAVE
Service Guide was substantially
FIRST CABINET
completed on Feliriary 2, and up MANY SUPPORTERS for Coordination of Defence,
to February-4;" over 100,000 ap- plications for enrolment had been][ received by local National Service offices, stated Sir John Anderson, Civil Defence Minister, in a writ ten reply in the House of Com- mons: yesterdaylang
AIR MAIL
Sir,-As published in to-day's Mail Notice, the General Post Office will. henceforth close ordinary airmail for the trans-Pacific Clipper service at 7.80 a.m. on the morning of departure, at the G.P.O. only.
London, To-day. For some time past, at the special. Lord Chatfield, the new Minister request of this Company, ordinary air- for Coordination of Defence, who mair has been closed the night before was sworn in to the Privy Council tion of certain emergency regulations, departure. However, through allevia-
on Tuesday, „made his first appear we have been able to withdraw our re- -Manila will have an unusually ante in the cabinet yesterday quest, and the G.P.O have made ar- large number of supporters for the at the ordinary Wednesday meeting, ing public extra time for posting.
rangements to again allow the airmail- interport football match at Chinese British Wireless. New Year.
.
The 5.8. Lanao is due in Hong This figure does not include Kong from Manila on Tuesday next, It is learned that Mr. considerable numbers of applica- carrying upwards of 120 enthusi- Principal, King's College, tions made direct to the offices of aste, come to Hong Kong for the on leave, prior to retirement the various Services, –– Renter. 'special purpose of seeing the game:: In March.
The public
requested, however,
[ as far majkal lg valooft the day be
fore, departure
attention: tá?
Day particular
times or register-