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CHINA MAIL
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.
No. 30,915
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1939 Price: 10 Cts.
环堪
LATE FINAL
NIGHT
INSIST ON
Daisy Brand
BUTTER
Australia's Choicest
BIG GUNS SHAKE MANNERHEIM LINE
COST OF WAR TO GERMANY
•
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Helsinki, To-day.
A TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT of the Mannerheim Line, with huge guns shelling from a range of probably 25 miles has introduced a new factor into the fighting in Finland.
The violence of the explosions at first gave the im- pression that bombers high in the clouds were dropping 1,000-lb bombs, but when two or three of the missiles failed to explode and were ex- amined, they proved to be shells of heavy cali-| bre fired, experts estimated, from at least 25 miles.
Berne, To-day. Germany is spending 3,- 500,000,000 marks a month on the war, reports the Berlin correspondent of the "Neue Zuercher Zeitung," who The points out that in the Great War Germany spent only 2,- 000,000,000 marks a month.
Despite its assurances to the con- trary, the German Government is compelled to meet the deficit by taxation.--
Since the beginning of hostilities the tax on corporations has increased 200 per cent, and income tax 50 per cent.
The high fiscality is justified by financial needs but also by the Nazi policy of tending to decremsa the people's buying capacity, as no goods are available In the Reich.
The correspondent foresees in the near future that the low-salaried man will have only enough money to cover rent and food expenses, while all other money he is able to get will be transformed into taxes and com- pulsory loans.--Havas.
MINES EXPLODE AT CHEUNGCHAU
bombardment was concentrated on the central sector of the Mannerheim Line. It started on the evening of |
SWEDEN TO JOIN IN: RUMOUR
Copenhagen, To-day.
It is being freely rumoured, though no official sanction for the report is forthcoming, that Sweden is likely soon to anter the Bovlet-Finnish war
the side of Finland.-Reuter,
on
Christmas Day and continued all day yesterday at the PLANE LOST
rate of about forty shells an hour, suggesting that the
Soviets have positioned a battery of heavy guns in front IN VIOLENT
of the Mannerheim Line.
At the same time, a heavy attack | Soviet tanks were disabled in a Red was launched, with artillery, tanks Army attack.” and planes co-operating on the Man- nerheim Line nearer the coast.
An
official Finnish communique states that all attacks were repulsed. some 60 machine-guns were cantur- ed and numerous tanks Immobilised.
Seven hundred Russian dead were counted after the engagement.
The eastern front was quiet. patrol activity, but further north,
SOVIET
with 28
GIVES NAZIS A SHOCK
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
PARIS, TO-DAY.
IT IS RELIABLY LEARNED THAT GERMAN DIPLOMATS IN MORCOW RECEIVED AN UNPLEASANT
SHOCK WHEN THE RUSSIANS RE- Two mines are reported to have ex- | CENTLY REQUESTED THEM TO ploded early yesterday morning on the DELIVER TO THE RED ARMY A shores of Cheung Chau Island, caus- NEW MODEL AUTOMATIC WEA. Ing damage to the Cheungchau: Police Station.
The first mine exploded at about 1.10 á.m., smashing glass windows, In the coolles' quarter, and five minutes Inter, the second exploded, damaging the wall plaster in the room of the officer-in-charge.
SOVIET MANAGERS FACE: THE MÚSIC
Moscow, To-day. The official newspaper, “Pravda", yesterday contained a long list of names of oficials and worits managers who have been called upon to appear
PON RECENTLY COMPLETED IN GERMANY AND STILL SHROUDED IN THE DEEPEST SECREOY.
THE REQUEST. INDICATED THAT THE RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE POBBESSES SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN THE HIGHEST GERMAN: MILITARY AND. POLI: TICAL SPHERES.... -- HAVAŞ.
AUSTRALIA TO OPEN
·LEGATION INU,S:
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Washington, To-day. i-is-officially announced that Aus-
before the People's Tribunal to an- tralla is to open a Legation in Wash- swer charges of failure to maintainington in the near future. production levels.-Reuter.
First Minister to the United States will be the Hon. Richard Gardiner DAO. M.C., at present Min-
Havas
as
were
WIDESPREAD AIR RAIDS
was Helsinki
bombed, nearly all the coastal ports in the Gulf It of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia, is estimated that at least 400 Soviet planes took part in yesterday's raids, spread over a wide area, and between 26 and 32 were shot down by Finnish fighters or anti-aircraft gunfire.
Effect of the Soviet ralds was ne- gligible as they were concentrated on towns which had been almost com- pletely evacuated.-Reuter.
HAVE
STORM
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Casablanca, To-day. Investigations show that the Italian aeroplane which crashed near here with the loss of seven lives was com- pelled to make a forced landing in a flerce storm.
The plane rolled 100 yards before crashing head-on into the mountain slope.
The fuel tank exploded, setting the craft on fire and burning the occupants to death.-Havas.
AN H.B.-
HOR
AND THEN
THEN TRY!