THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 30, 1939
FEAT OF "SUICIDE SQUAD”
Break Through And Cut Murmansk Railway Line
RED ARMY NOW RETREATING IN DISORDER
London, To-day.
THE REPORT THAT A Finnish "suicide squad” has penetrated the Russian lines and cut the Mur- mansk railway proves correct, writes Reuter's military correspondent, and the food and mater- ials of the Soviet forces in the north will be endangered.
The Russian supply organisation has never been good, and with such a strategic railway out of action even temporarily, a debacle equivalent to a major defeat on the battlefield might well be produced.
1
In Helsinki yesterday the Russians, tral (Soumoussahmi) front and south were reported to be retreating in of the Mannerheim Line. disorder in the Hoyenjarvt region, in the far north, mainly 15 a conse- quence of the shortage of food sup- pliès, rendering the troops less able to withstand the intense cold.
Russian planes were again active
the along
in the coast morning, but little damage was done and no casualties ported.
are re-
No air raid alarm was given in the capital; the fact that Helsinki has not been subject to a determined air at- tack during the past few days is leading to the belief that the Russians Icar reprisals against Leningrad, which is reported to be practically without anti-aircraft defences. Reuter.
SOVIET TROOPS MASSING IN TWO SECTORS
Helsinki, To-day.
on
The Soviet acroplanes took ad- vantage of the fine weather in sou- thern Finland to carry out many air raids, the important town of Hango getting its 45th raid of the war.
Fighting
the Karelian Isthmus has been bitter during the week. On Wednesday, the Soviets lost two whole companies In an attempt to turn a flank on the northern end of the Manner. helm Line.
The concentration at the other end leads to the belief that the Soviets
through to
have abandoned the attempt in the northern part of the line and are now going to try and drive Viborg.
During the night, Soviet long-range artillery resumed the bombing of Viborg.
It has been silent for some days, and the Finns were beginning to think that possibly they had put
Soviet troops are reported to be the Soviet guns out of action.-Reu- massing in two sectors, on the Cen- ' ter.
NEW YEAR
1940
Greetings
We Wish All Our Friends
A Very Happy New Year
The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd.
SOVIET'S NEW C.-IN-C.
IN FINLAND
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
London, To-day.
The Moscow correspondent of the "Daily Express" says that the War Commissar, Marshal Klim Voroshllov, has decided to ap. point General Stern head of the military operations in Finland, re- placing General Merejkov.
General Starn was appointed commander-in-chief of the Boviet Far Eastern army a few months ago, and commanded the Red troops at the time of the incidents on the Soviet-Manchukuo bordar.. -Havas.
AIR RAID CASUALTIES VERY FEW
Copenhagen, To-day.
"ATHENIA" STILL IN THE "NEWS"
FUR-
WASHINGTON, TO-DAY. "THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS STILL HOPEFUL THAT THER DETAILS REGARDING THE SINKING OF THE ATHENIA WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A CON- CLUSIVE REPORT ON THE MAT- TER," SAID THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MR. CORDELL HULL, TO REUTER YESTERDAY.
Mr. Hull was referring to a report in the Hearst newspapers that after the Investigation "by United States agencies" no definite evidence had yet been produced that the Athenia was torpedoed.
Privately, American omeinis be- lieve there is little doubt that the Athenia was sunk by German sub. marine, but in view of the darkness and confusion at the time of the sink- ing it is felt it may be not be possible to draw up any indictment of the German action based on testi- mony acceptable in a court of law, despite the moral certainty that Ger- many was responsible.
In an interview with a Danish pa- Nobody believes the German pro- per, the Chief Air Raids Precautions paganda story that Britain sank 011e Oficer of Finland said that they had of its own ships, mainly Alled with lost only 100 civilian casualties dur- | British people and Canadians. ing the war in air raids.
He attributed this low death roll to the well-organized air raid shelters and defence, and to the fact that over half a million people had enrolled in A.R.P. work before the war began.-- Reuter.
NAVAL
Reuter.
THE GAZETTE
The following offcial appointments, etc. are gazetted:-
Mr. H. J. Pearce to be an Assistant Director of Public Works.
Mr.
C. W. E. Bishop
VOLUNTEERS Executive Engineer.
His Excellency the Governor has approved the relinquishment by the following gentlemen of their Com- missions in the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force:-
Lieutenant Gerard Horace Gandy. Probationary Lieutenant Robert Lucian Moncrieff, November, 1939.
Acting Lieutenant John Douglas, Acting Sub-Lieutenant John Jackson, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Hugh Camp- bell Frederick Dawes, D.S.O., O.B.E. Acting Sub-Lientenant James Ernest Harvey, 1939.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Cecil Her- bert Hooper, 1939.
His Excellency the Governor has made the following appointment In the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force: To be Acting Sub-Lieutenant, Cedric Arthur Lacy Rickett.
H.K.V.D.C. PROMOTIONS
to be an
Dr. N. C. Macleod to be Deputy Director of Health Services.
Mr. C. W. Jeffries resumed duty as Director, Royal Observatory,
Mr. B. D. Evans resumed duty as Assistant Director, Royal Observatory.
Mr. G. S. P. Heywood resumed duty as Professional Assistant, Royal Ob- servatory.
Mr. H. A. Mills resumed duty as Assistant Postmaster General, etc.
Mr. H. Barrett to act as Superin- tendent of Prisons.
Inspector J. C. S. Fender to be an Examiner of Weights and Measures, etc.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE AND THE WAR
Helsinki. To-day. His Excellency the Governor has
While Soviet sources continue to be been pleased to approve the follow-reticent about the progress of opera- ing promotions in the Hong Kong tions, and rather suggest that little is Volunteer Defence Corps, 1939:- | happening,—all of which seems to bear Private John William Fitz-Gerald out reports of the Russian public's to be Lieutenant of an Auxiliary lukewarmness towards the war-the Unit; Company Sergeant Major Wil | Finnish official news agency ́yéstérday, liam Stoker to be Second Lieutenant
confirmed that Soviet aeroplanës bombed and' 'machine-gunned their own troops on the Central Front on Wednesday.Reuter.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased, under. fnstructions from His Excellency the Governor has the Right Honourable the Secretary approved the following appointments of State for the 'Colonies, to appoint to an Auxiliary. Unit of the
Hong Mr. James Roger Godfrey Wyatt to Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, with act as Nanutical Surveyor and Ex-effect from the 16th day of Decem aminer of Masters and Mates," with bar, ¡1939-Captain Ivan Beinard effect from the latị January, 1940. Trevor, Captain John Patrick Sherry, His Excellency, has appointed Mr. Lieutenant-Janes Smith,--Lieutenant Donald Gordon Cairns to act as Chief Arthur Edward-Parry, «Lleutenant - | Boarding Officer.
Walter Charles Clark,