HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
"OLD-FASHIONED
REDSKIN
CABLE
FIGHTING"
PROCEEDING IN NORTHERN FINLAND AS
FINNS ENGAGE IN
CLOSE COMBAT
LONDON, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-According to a Norwegian correspondent in Finland, the fighting in the northern part of the country is like the "old-fashioned Redskin fighting." The Finns are ambushing the Russians in the thick woods and taking a 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 planes by the Russians. Heavy falls of snow are also robbing the Russians of advantages in field tanks.
The Russians claim to have advanced thirty miles south of Petsamo, but in the past twenty-four hours they do not seem to have come to grips with the main Finnish defences.
Reports by Italian corres- pondents state that before the Finns withdrew from Pet- samo they set the town on fire, leaving the Russians with aa heap of ruins.
53
About 1,000 people, mostly women and children and the aged, crossed over into Norway and it is learned that a num- ber of foreign employees of the nickel mines, including British- ers and Canadians, are also safe across the border.
central
STOUT RESISTANCE On the southern and frontiers, the Russians are still trying to push the Finns back and the Finns are stoutly resisting.
Yesterday morning's Red .com-| munique claimed that Soviet troops had pierced the famous Manner- heim Line. The Finns deny this and neutral reports suggest that the Russians merely made contact with the line at one or two points.
Heavy Mists Prevent
Air Activity STOCKHOLM, Dec. 8 "(Reuter) Heavy mists again prevented air activity on either side in Finland and the recent flights by Sovieti planes over Finnish territory are believed to have been undertaken to explore the possibilities of land- Ing troops, by parachute.
The Finns are undismayed, "for A network of watches, with rifles loaded. stands ready day and night to deal with parachutists and anti-aircraft batteries have al-
ready proved effective against Russian planes.
Russian warships are reported to be searching for Finnish warships off the coast of Sweden,
Telegrams from Haparanda report that a fierce battle (de- scribed as the bloodiest that has yet occurred) in the vicinity of Petsamo.
It is estimated that there were 7,000 Russians in the field' when the battle was begun and that they have already lost 2,000.
RUSSIAN
POSSIBLE DRIVE ON
RUMANIA
DIFFICULT POSITION FOR CHINA,
LONDON, Dec. 8 (Renter) WASHINGTON, Dec. 8
-The Chinese Ambassador (Reuter)-While Mr. Roose-in London, Mr. Quo Tai- velt is considering the pos-
chi, left for Geneva on sibilities of American finan- Wednesday night to attend cial and other aid to Finland, the League meeting. Government circles are fol- lowing, with increasing ner- vousness, reports from the
Italy Intends Balkans indicating the pos- To Safeguard
Sea Traffic
ROME, Deo. 8 (Reuter)-The Fascist Grand Connell communique instifies the decision taken on September 1 Justifying the estab
Ushing of "non-helligerency of
Italy" on the following grounds
Firstly, the immediate DTECE- dents of the war;
Secondly, the character of static war assumed by the war itself on the Western Front;
sibility of a Soviet drive on Rumania.
OMINOUS PRELUDE
The Soviet press attitude to- wards Rumania is believed to be an ominous prelude to the seizure of Bessarabia, with Its rich oil and, agricultural re- serves.
Goverriment circles base their fears, not only on.omcial reports
during the past day or two, but on what has happened in the past, as a prelude to such action, notably in the case of Finland.
LOST PRIDE?
The strong resistance put up by Thirdly, its development, more particularly in the economic field the Finns has caused the Russians by the blockade and counter-to lose pace, these circles point out, and so Moscow may now be pre- blockade of trame:
paring to make some move in the Balkans in order to recapture Russia's lost pride.
Fourthly, the changes which occurred in the territorial situation and in the relation of the forces from the Baltic to the Carpathians,
The cession of Bessarabia, to Rumania at the end of the Great War has always irked the Soviet
The Council says that the dect-Government. slon of September, 1 has hitherto averted the extension of the con- diet to south-eastern and Mediter- ranean Europe.
CONTINUED PRESS
ATTACKS
The communique asserts that Moscow, Dec. 8 (Reuter) The Italy intends to safeguard sea Pravda echoes, in its issue publish- traffic in the most definite mannered yesterday, the attack on Ru- both for prestige and the indis-mania and Turkey shrieked by the putable necessaries of life.
"Communist International" organ of the Comintern.
FINLAND'S
DESPERATE APPEAL
HELSINKI, Dec. 8 (Reuter} A desperate appeal to the world for help was issued by the Finnish Foreign Office spokesman, in an interview with Reuter.
He said that every Finnisn citizen was asking what the
world was going to do about
Finland. Sympathy
comes
from all quarters, but they
must have more than syn- pathy.
The attack adopts the same line of threatening to rescue Bessarabia from its Rumanian. persecutors, of minorities and describing. Turkey's alliance with Britain, and France as a danger to Turkish Indepen- dence.
TROOP CONCENTRATIONS A message from Rome states that reports reaching there confirm
Soviet concentrations Bessarabian frontier.
on
The Chinese in London find themselves in a dim- cult position.
While naturally sym- pathising with Finland, they cannot fail to re- cognize that gratitude is due to the Soviet for sub- stantial help afforded „tö
China in her struggle against Japan.
Pedestrians
Killed In Shanghai
SHANGHAI, Dec. 8 (Reuter) — Two Chinese pedestrians were killed and one wounded this morn- ing when a gunman In the Settle- ment tried to
the escape from
scene of an attempted attack on Ku Shou-cheng, mid to be "a high
Tatao Police Officer,"
While Ku was waiting for a bus at Welhafwei Road. the gunman approached and red one shot Ku jumped to cover and managed to escape.
The Settlement Police chased the gunman who discharged his Mauser pistol wildly in an attempt to shake of his pursuers,
BRITISH ON SCENE
The gunman was brought down by British members of the Police, Sub-Inspector Bretherton and Ser- geant Cornwall who happened to be on the scene on motor-cycles.
An ambulance rushed to the scene and within the short dis-
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1939. —PAGE 7
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WORK OF LIFE BOATS INCREASED
."
WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS
LONDON, Dẹc. 8 (Reûter)—The work of lifeboats throughout the British Isles has been greatly in- creased since the beginning of the war, Seven hundred and seventeen lives have been rescued which is five times the amount saved in the same period last year.
Lifeboats along the British coast) were called out 300 times in sorne | of the worst gales experienced,
Mutually Advantageous System
tance of a block picked up four BRITISH CHARTERING
Dec. 8
(Reuter)---It
pedestrians shot by the gunman
OF NEUTRAL SHIPS in his fight, two of whom were
LONDON, the hit cn the head and found dead.
The others, including the gun- man, were sent to hospital, ví
AMERICA RESERVES ALL RIGHTS
HISTORIC MEETING
was officially confirmed in Lon- don yesterday, with reference to the statement made in the House of Commons by the Lord of the Admiralty regarding the British chartering of nentral vessels, that the 'Ministry of Shipping has al- ready arranged employment for several millions of neutral ton- LONDON, DEC, 8 (REUTER)--Anage. HISTORIC WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (Reuter) PLACE IN A FRENCH PROVIN-
ENCOUNTER TOOK - MANY ADVANTAGES A small land of 3,000,000-It is learned that the United CIAL TOWN BEHIND THE LINES neutral ship-owners. n that the Such action is advantageous to people cannot be expected States has reserved all rights, un- YESTERDAY, WHEN THE HEADS British Government takes over the The Finns are, stated to be fight-forever to hold Russia with der international law, in connec- OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND liability of war risks the profits ing with cold and methodical 180,000,000.
tion with Britain's order to stop FRANCE CLASPED HANDS. German
guaranteed fury.
being made His Majesty exports
not speculative the King enter- and the vessels chartered will be | through neutral countries.
tained M Lebrun and M. Dala- conducted from port to port by It is understood that this reser
dier vation was communicated to Lord Gort, the Duke of Gloucester and Royal Navy.
to lunch, which Viscount the effective convoy system of the Lothian for transmission to Lon-other high French and British don. - It is said to be strictly "noti
COLD FURY
According to the Aftonbladet, the Soviet steam roller on the Karelian Isthmus has apparently been checked and may even be stuck.
It is reported from Helsinki that heavy engagement occurred north- east of Kemljaervi where 3,000 Russians were driven back,
The retirement of the Finnish troops brought them to their, main line of defence in this sector.
GOVT, FUNCTIONING "
Government de-
The Finnish
"If someone does not come
to Finland's aid she will be finished and wilb, suffer the same fate. 25 Poland or worse," he said. “What Sweden and Norway and Denmark are doing is lipservice and is In- sufficient Arms and men must be given and given soon.
RESULT OF DEFEAT
"The defeat of Finland will mean
י
officers were present!- in the nature of an open protest"
Cordial toasts were exchanged. and is based on two points:
Firstly, the question of principle says Repter's special correspon
dent with the BEF.
under international law (in the World War the United States, as long as she was neutral refused to
far more for Britain and France accept the British blockade on and the world than the defeat of Germany); Poland and Germany should stop
partments are still functioning at and think. Helsinki, using secret addresses
"Russia may now be an ally, but and changing telephone numbers what chance will Germany have constantly in order to frustrate even if she should succeed against possible, espionage.
Britain and France?"
It is stated that 2,500 Swedes have offered to serve. with the Finnish Forces.
SWEDISH RESPONSE
Becondly, the United States really needs some of the articles she once purchased from Germany, in- cluding fine precesion instru ments.
It is understood that Britain is willing to make a concession on STOCKHOLM, Dec. 8 (Reuter) such essentials to permit them be At a meeting In Stockholm, ating sent from Germany. tended by 6,000 people, M. Erkko, MANNERHEIM LINE (the Finnish Foreign Minister, was
cheered to the echo.
·GIVING WAY
ALLIED ARMAMENT
FOR TURKEY ISTANBUL, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-The purchase of armaments and war material of the most modern types from the Allies was announced by Gen, Orbaş, who has returned from a mission to London and Paris.
He said they had brought back FINNISH-AMERICANS excellent results and emphasised that the Allied statesmen had ex- When an appeal for funds to help RALLY TO COLOURS pressed the warmest admiration of
HELSINKI, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-confidence in the Turkish Army. total of 230 Finnish-Americans, Gen, Orbay added that the many of whom have never seen economic mission, headed by M. Finland, arrived here yesterday to Menemencioglu, now in London, Join the Finnish Army as volun hoped to reach a very satisfactory teers. They "left New York early agreement shortly.
HELSINKI, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-Finland was made, even wedding Thousands of men were "sacrificed rings were thrown into the collec- by the Red Army yesterday morn ton boxes. ing in a desperate attack on the Mannerheim Line, It is now, ad- mitted, however, that, as a result of the violent regardless-of-loss attack, the Soviets have gained a footing in the Mannerheim de- fence system.
ATTEMPT TO CUT FINLAND IN TWO
Last month when it became ap- HELSINKI, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-It parent that the Russians were is believed here that the Russians eager to pick a quarrel."
are attempting to cut Finland in News of the Soviet Invasion of two by driving a wedge through Finland reached the contingent Brovaniemi, 120 miles from the while they were at sea. Soviet frontier, to the Gulf of Bothnia.
11
ANGLO - TURKISH
FINANCIAL PACT.
Merchantman Lost Off Nova Scotia
are
Experience in recent weeks suggests that British ships proceeding in convoy are safer from
Indiscriminate. German attacks than neutral vessels travelling unaccompanied and peacefully on normal commer- elal business,
ALL FACILITIES . Neutral ships are finding êm- ployment in British trades on the same footing as British ships in respect of bunkers. repairs and other facilities, which mean auch to shipowners even peacetime and become mcreas- ingly important in war.
SO in
It is thus clear that the system of chartering neutral tonnage by Great Britain operates to the ma- tual advantage of both parties,
ITALIAN & BRITISH PLANES
LONDON, Dec. 8 (Reuter)-The
Finnish Air Force has taken de- livery of some fifty to sixty Italian planes.
British factories will be sending thirty fighter aircraft to Finland shortly and also a large quantity of war materials,
Orders for these were placed sometime ago and the ship- ment are in „fulfilment of "private contracts and it is em- phasised In London that the British Government has no connection with these ship-· menta
Turilling accounts of the battle are coming through. Wave upon wave of Russian infantry, led by tanks, burled themselves against the Fin- nish defences for fifteen hours and a terrible toll was taken. by machine-gun fire. One machine-gun nest conceal ed in village on the edge of the Mannerheim Line, held up a Bo Finnish sources declare that mic discussions are proceeding to merchantman" "name not given) | states that President Roosevelt viet Brigade for more than four the "Russians only advanced a conclusion and an agreement in off Nova Scotia, hours, the village streets being twelve miles and are still over 87 principle, is expected to be signed strewn with Russian dead,
miles from the raffroad..
shortly.
The Russians claim to have reached within 97 miles, of Bro- vaniemi arid within 25 miles.of. the railroad, the cutting of which would be an important victory.
OTTAWA, Dẹc) 8 (Reuter)-The Naval headquarters announced that LONDON,, Dec. 8 (Reuter) nine Ures are believed to have bee Anglo-Turkish financial and econo-lost in the sinking of e British
A message from Washington
Hopes to be able to help the Finnis The victims died of exposure by supplying them with surplu after their lifeboat capsized.
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