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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER. 19, 1939.
GRAF SPEE VICTIMS SCUTTLED BY THEIR CAPTAINS
London, To-day. AT LEAST TWO BRITISH ships scuttled themselves when the Graf Spee tried to capture them, it was learned yesterday when fuller details of the raid- er's career became available.
On October 7, the Graf Spee's first victim, the 5,000- ton s.s. Clement, was encountered. As the Ger- man ship opened fire on the Clement, her cap- tain ordered the destruction of the ship's wire- less, engines and stores; the sea-cocks were opened and the crew took to their boats. Later, they were placed on board a Greek steamer, the master or which was threatened with sink- ing when he refused to take them on board with- out payment!
Other ships, including the Ashley and the Huntsman, were sunk by bombs during October when the Graf Spee crept up on them unawares by fiving the French flag. Her "bag" for October was five ships.
November was a poor month, for it was not until November 15 that
she came across another merchant- ship, the 900-ton tanker Africa Shell, which was sunk in Portuguese terri- 'orial waters.
STRADDLED TRADE ROUTES The Graf Spee's captain told the master of the tanker that for the past 'wo weeks he had been straddling the Australta-Cape shipping route, but without sighting any British chips.
The Graf Spee, followed by her supply ship, on which most of the British crews were being kept, con- 'inued to cruise around, but it wis not until December 2 that she sight- ed another ship. This was the 10,- 100-ton Doric Star, which sent out an "SOS" and then opened the sea- cocks,
SUNK FROM THE AIR
A boarding party arrived to find the ship sinking under them, where- upon the Graf Spee shelled and tor- oedoed her.
A few days later, she saw the Talroa, which tried to get away.... and did not stop until the life. boats, steering and officers' quar- tere had been shot away. She, too, was sunk by bombs from the Graf Spee's aeroplane.
The Graf Spee then returned her supply ship and transferred her all crews on board, with exception of officers.
GERMAN PROPAGANDA BANNED
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Buenos Aires, To-day. The Radio Control Commls. slon of Argentina has banned the municipal radio station broad- casts of now bulletins supplied by Trans-Ocean, the Nazi news agency.
Reason la Trans-Ocean's ten- dencious Information on the European war Havas.
MISSING
BRITISH ENVOY
LONDON, TO-DAY. REGARDING THE REPORT THAT MR. GORDON VEREKER, BRITISH MINISTER-DESIGNATE AT LA PAZ, HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS FROM A NEUTRAL SHIP IN THE BALTIC, NOTHING IS YET KNOWN IN OFFICIAL QUARTERS IN LONDON OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Mr. It cannot be confirmed that to Vereker is in Germany, though it is a fact that he was in a neutral ship on the way from Tallinn to Stock- holm which was Intercepted by а German warship.
to
the
BAG OF NINE Finally, on December 7, she sank, by bombs, the Streonshalh, her last victim.
If Mr. Vereker has been detained despite diplomatic privilege, the In two and a half months, she United States Government, which accounted for nine ships, totalling | has taken charge of British interests. 48,000 tons, which is less than half in Germany, will be asked to take the damage done by the Emden, up the matter and procure his re- which was only one-third the Graf lease. Spee's size, in the last war.-Reuter.
BITTER WEATHER AT THE FRONT
•
-PARIS, TO-DAY. BITTER WINTER WEATHER PRE- VAILS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, WITH LOW TEMPERATURES, SNOW AND STRONG WINDS.
Military activity yesterday was less than on the previous day, except in a fairly large area between the Saar and the Vosges, where numerous patrols have been constantly patrolling.
The Germians made another raid in this area but were driven off by French fire, and the raid's result was completely negative.-Reuter,
·SHARP ENGAGEMENT
Mr. Vereker was coming home from Moscow to prepare to take up his appointment in Bolivia.-British Wireless.
AJAX CASUALTIES
London, To-day. An Admiralty announcement - re- garding casualties sustained in last Wednesday's action by H.M.S. Ajax confirms that seven were killed.
crew
The announcement gives the names of two other members of the seriously injured, and adds that eleven other men received minor injuries only and all are progressing satisfac- torily-British Wireless.
CHIEF INSPECTOR
INJURED.
Chief Inspector (Kowloon) Houri- han was injured on Saturday night while directing police trafic control at * Paris, To-day. the disastrous"fire in Shek Kip Vil- Last night's French war communi- lage, Cheungshawan. He fell into que says that towards midday ahole and injured his leg, and it was sharp engagement, occurred in the learned this morning that he will Vosges between one of our recon- probab have to remain in hospital' "noitrine “parties and German- units.
prisoners, includ- * District
· has
1
THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 19, 1939.
SOVIET TROOPS VIOLATE
NORWEGIAN TERRITORY
Oslo, To-day. REPORTS FROM HELSINKI confirm that in north- ern Finland the Finns are retreating southward towards Pitajaervi, burning everything behind them.
LOOK
AT
Many Finnish soldiers who had been cut off from THIS
their respective units by the Russians have cross- ed the Norwegian border, where the Norwegian authorities interned them.
The Norwegian General Staff deny reports that the Red Army has violated Norwegian territory.
In Moscow, the Soviet claims to have advanced as such as 75 kilometres south of Petsamo.
In the Ukhta region, it is claimed, the Red Army has occupied Kursu.
In other sectors actively has been reduced-Reuter.
SOVIET SUCCESS
London, To-day.
Sunday
A fierce battle raged all night on the Norwegian-Finnish fron- tlor south of Kuosjaervi and is still progressing.
Soviet troops have now occupied a great expanse of Finnish territory along the Norwegian frontier, - al- though they sustained heavy losses.
These losses are not likely to have a serious effect upon their ability to retain the new positions, owing to the large forces at their disposal.
700 WIPED OUT
They have been steadily pressing southward since Friday.
CONTROL BASE AT ADEN
Aden, To-day.
A new British contraband base has been established here to supplement those in the Medit- terrannean.
The base will also be used for the .examination of cargo of German origin on outward bound ships. Reuter.
fact that while the Soviet official com- muniques give detalls of operations on other fronts, they are suspiciously and
Fifty Finnish soldiers crossed the totally silent about the Karelian Is- Norwegian frontier at the week-end.thmus. They stated that Finnish detachments
NEW DEFENCES
Although the Mannerheim Line is many miles deep, the Finnd are stil
have taken heavy toll of the enemy.
At one point, they claimed, no less than 700 Russians were taken com-erecting new defences miles behind. pletely by surprise and were wiped out with small fleld-guns and machine- guns.-Reuter.
HEAVY SNOW
Helsinki, To-day. Heavy snow is now falling on all fronts in Finland, tremendously help- Ing the Finns in their battle against Sovlet aggression. On the northern and central fronts, the temperature is well below freezing point.
Finnish circles in Helsinkl expect dramatic developments in the nor- thern front before long.
from
North of Lake Ladoga the Finns also seem to be doing well. Batteries have destroyed three armoured cars and Finnish aeroplanes have also been busy. Reuter.
REDS ON NORWEGIAN
TERRITORY
STOCKHOLM, TO-DAY. GENERAL WALLENIUS, THE FIN- NISH COMMANDER ON THE INFORMED FRONT, NORTHERN
CORRESPONDENT OF THE THE
It is reported that in one Finnish withdrawal in the northern area, a Finnish machine-gun company re-
town mained hidden in the which the main body had withdrawn. The first Russian company to en- ter the town was machine-gunne. and killed to the last man.-Reuter,SIAN TANKS ATTACKED BY WAY.
30 TANKS DESTROYED
London, To-day.
The fighting in Finland would ap- pear to be at its heaviest in the Kare- lian Isthmus, judging from reports coming in from all sources.
The Finns are believed to have gained ground in that area; they say that they have forced the Soviets back and have destroyed 30 tanks. This 1e- port may be partly confirmed by the
SWEDISH NEWSPAPER "NYHETER |
THAT HE WAS CONVINCED RUS
OF NORWEGIAN TERRITORY DUR. ING THE SALMIJAERVI OPERA. TIONS.
He stated that Finnish machine- gunners stationed on the road border- ing the front were suddenly attacked on the flank.
It was impossible that the Russian tanks could have avoided traversing Norwegian soil, since the road constantly watched.-Reuter.
was
COUNT CIANO'S SPEECH WOULD DISTURB GERMANS
London, To-day.
THE BRITISH PRESS is extremely interested in Ita- lian policy, following Saturday's speech by Count Ciano, the Foreign Minister.
* "The Times" praises Mussolini's of- forts to preserve peace. Hitter-ropiled with a refusal 18 days before the in vasion of Poland. So much for the often reiterated Nazi ulogan about the
The "Manchester Guardian" calls March this year, Germany agreed not his speech one of the most important to do anything for some four, or, äve of the war. When the Soviet-Nazi | years, during which time she coul pact was signed, says the paper, the organize her military resources. Italian Foreign Minister was as sur- prised as the rest of Europe. Hitler gave Italy less notice than is custom ary and expected between partners.
The paper also stresses Count Clano's reference to the fact that Italy and Germany had agreed that they must avoid war for some years in The "Manchester Guardian" ulso The their own interests. That, says the looks forward into the future. "Manchester Guardian,” would be dis-last war, it points out, was followed turbing reading for Germans, if the by a great epidemic. What strengt) German people read ft. -
The pape
"patience of the Fushter!"
NA ever allowed to will the populations of Poland and
Czechslovakia have to resist disease
BLOGAN
also points out that.
-and what of the impoverished po pulation of the Reich?¿ Reu
VALUE