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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939
"REDSKIN TACTICS" IN GRIM FIGHTING IN ARCTIC SNOW: PETSAMO LEFT IN RUINS
London, To-day.
FINNS TO
ACCORDING TO A Norwegian correspondent in
Finland, the fighting in the northern part of the ABANDON country is like the "old-fashioned Redskin fight ARCTIC ZONE
ing."
The Finns are ambushing the Russians in thick woods and are taking great toll with long knives in hand to hand fighting,
Daylight in this area is only some five hours long, which imposes severe restrictions on the use of heavy artillery and aeroplanes by the Russians.
Heavy falls of snow are also rob- bing the Russians of their advantages in the field of tanks.
The Russians claim to have ad- vanced 30 miles south of Petsamo, but in the past 24 hours they do not seem to have come to grips with the main Finnish defences.
Reports by Italian, correspon- dents state that before the Finns withdrew from Petsamo, they set the town on fire, leaving the Rus-. slans with a heap of ruins,
Even the shops were cleared of their stocks; they were thrown open and the inhabitants took all the food and other goods before fleeing. Many of the inhabitants of the area are fighting side by side with the regular Finnish troops.
FOREIGNERS SAFE
About 1,000 people-mostly women, children and the aged-have crossed over into Norway and it is learned
Helsinki, To-day. The Finns are getting ready to with- to
draw south of Arctic front and
make a stand around Avalo, where heavy fortifications are being built and
reinforcements are being assembled.
Finnish Ski Troops in the Petsamo area are reported to be wearing
Soviets down.-Reuter.
GERMANY AND THE BALTS
REPERCUSSIONS IN YUGO-SLAVIA
London, To-day.
the
THE RECENT TRANSFERENCES of German popu-
NEWFOUNDLAND MAKES HER CONTRIBUTION
London, To-day.
Tribute was paid in the Com- mons to Newfoundland patriotism by Mr. Anthony Eden when he revealed that besides active re- cruitment for the Navy and Army, Newfoundland iB also making a financial contribution In the form of increased taxa- tion framed to fall on those best able to bear it, and whereby as- sistance required from the Unit- ed Kingdom Exchequer by grant in aid is reduced.—British Wire-
lesa.
SYMPATHY IS
NOT ENOUGH
DRAMATIC APPEAL BY
lations from the Baltic are, according to reports FINLAND reaching London from trustworthy sources, are having their repercussions among the German minorities in Slovenia, whose attitude has under- A desperate appeal to gone a marked change.
the world for help was
Helsinki, To-day.
that a number of foreign employees They now display a definite unwillingness to issued by a Finnish For- leave Yugo-Slavia, and not only refuse to con-eign Office spokesman in duct German propaganda but are actually eager an interview with Reuter
of the nickel-mines, including Bri- tishers and Canadians, are also safe across the border.
On the southern and central fron- tiers, the Russians are still trying to push the Finns back; the Finns are stoutly resisting.
Yesterday morning's Red com. munique claimed
Soviet that troops had pierced the famous "Mannerhelm Line."
The Finns deny this, and neutral reports suggest that the Russians have merely made contact with the Line at one or two points.-Reuter.
PROTEST PROPOSAL MAY BE ABANDONED
WASHINGTON, TO-DAY.
THE PROPOSAL FOR A JOINT DENUNCIATION OF SOVIET RUS- SIA BY THE AMERICAN STATES IS LIKELY TO BE DROPPED IN VIEW OF THE OBJECTIONS RAIS- ED BY CHILE.
any
A statement issued by the Chilean Embassy in Washington declares that Chile would not take part in demarche. There is the fullest sym- pathy with Finland and Chile re- gards the Soviet attack as indefen- sible, but in accordance with Chile's traditional policy of complete isola- tion from European affairs, she is unable to justify an expression view on the Russian action through official channels.--Reuter.
SEARCH FOR ROBBERS
of
to propitiate their Slovene neighbours.
Nazis of Slovene or of mixed stock orgin ardently assert their Slovene and show a desire to change Ger- man for Slovene names.
The waning of German Influence is accelerated by reports reaching the town of Maribor, on the AusB- trian frontier.
The regime is unpopular with the peasants on the German side of the frontier who are openly critical and complain, bitterly of the food shortage.
MARK COLLAPSE
The exchange value of the German mark at Maribor has fallen to one dinar, compared with eight to ten before the war.
AMERICA WATCHING
THREAT TO BALKANS
Washington, To-day. While President Roosevelt is considering the possibili- Styrlan regiments have also given lities of American financial rise to complaints that Austrian units, and other aid to Finland,
The heavy losses in the Polish cam- paign suffered by Carinthian?, and
last evening.
The spokesman said every Finnish citizen was asking what the world is going to do about Finland.
...
"Sympathy," he said, "Comes from all quarters but we must have more than sympathy.
someone
"A small land of 3,000,000 cannot be expected to forever hold Russia with
it 180,000,000, and doesn't come to Finland's aid she will be finished and will suffer the same fate as Poland, or worse.
OSLO POWERS' LIP.SERVICE "What Sweden, Norway and Den- mark are doing is lip-service and is Insufficient. Arms and men must given, and given soon.
would
be
"The defeat of Finland mean far more for Britain and France and the world than the de. feat of Poland, and Germany should stop to think. "Russia may now be her ally, but
if she should succeed against Britain increasing and France?"-Reuter.
particularly those with a strong Government circles are fol- what chance will Germany have even
with re-lowing
Slovene element, wera. dellberately sacrificed while the young men mained safely at home.-British Wire- less.
BRITISH AGREEMENT WITH TURKS
nervousness reports from the Balkans indicating the possibility of a Soviet drive on Rumania.
FALSE PRETENCES
Before Mr. R. Edwards this morn-
The Soviet press attitude towards Rumania is believed to be an ominous prelude to the seizure of Bessarabia. ing. Wong Kong-hul, 26, was charged with its rich oil and agricultural
reserves.
Government ofralaa base their fears not on official reports during the past day or two, but on what has happened In the past an prelude to such action, notably in the case of Finland.
London, To-day.
and The Anglo-Turkish financial economic discussions are proceeding to a conclusion and an agreement in be signed principle is expected to shortly,
The strong resistance put up by the Details of the agreement will
be Finns
has caused the Russians to
+
with obtaining money by false pre- tences.
&
Defendant pretended that he was a court interpreter, and asked a Chinese woman for $10, promising to get · hawker licence for her.
The woman met him in Kau Yu with Fong yesterday and quarrelled him.
The argument was overheard by a constable, who arrested accused. Sentence of, four, months' hard In-
A number of factories and work-worked out later, and are expected lose face, these circles point out, and bour was imposed, and he was order- shops in Kowloon were visited this to include a scheme under which so Moscow may now be preparing to ed to be placed under Police supervi- -morning by police officers, headed by | Turkey will use British credits to make some move in the Balkans in sion for two years,
the Chief Detective Inspector A. E. purchase armaments in the Carey, in an attempt to locate robbers States and Sweden.-Reuter. who raided No. 55, Matauwei Road, Kowloon City, at 9 a.m. and escaped. with $400 in money and jewellery.
The robbers, armed with daggers, were alleged to be Shanghal natives, and all factories and workshops em- ploying Shanghai Chinese were visit- ed.
No arrests have been yet made.
United | order to re-capture Russia's lost pride.
FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH BOMBED
Chungking, To-day.
in
The cession of Bessarabia to Ru- mania at the end of the Great War has always irked the Soviet Govern❤ ment. Reuter.
No casualties are reported.
SMALL AMOUNTS OF GOLD IN H.K. MINES
Hong Kong Mines' output during No- vember amounted to 3751 short dry tons of ore treated, from which 374.51 dry tons of lead cor^entrates produced, averaging. 61.98% lead and and
The French Catholic Church Hulchów, south Anhwei was demolish- A large French ensign was painted 13.21 oz. silver per ton (short) ed in an air raid by Japanese planes. on the roof-Central News.
0.03 oz. per short ton gold.
were