HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
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NAZIS HAVE SUCCESSFUL "FLIGHTS OF IMAGINATION": EXAGGERATED CLAIMS TO ACTIVITY OF
GERMAN AIR FORCE
LONDON, Dec, 21 (Reuter)-At least six German fighters on Monday were of the new type known as M.E.-110. The Germans call thèm “destroyer planes."
German fighters made some forty attacks on our machines. One R.AF, bomber brought down five enemy aircraft.
On its way home it was attack- ed several times and eventually got away with both front and rear gunners wounded and the centre run and wireless out of action.
EXAGGERATED CLAIMS
The Germans continue to make widely exaggerated claims con- cerning flights of their planes.
Semi-official circles in Lon- don comment sarcastically that the most successful Nazi flights are their Rights of imagina- tion!
17 PLANES LOST IN
TWO BATTLES LONDON, Dec, 21 (Reuter)-The German Air Force lost seventeen planes in two air battles over Hell- soland Bight since last Thursday,
The cost of the Nazi coastal de- tence is in sharp contrast to that of the R.A.F. for British coastal detence.
During October and November the Nazis lost 21 machines in raids on the British coast, while the RAF. Coastal Command last not one single machine.
RE-OPENING OF YANGTSE: MANY DIFFICULTIES TO BE
OVERCOME^« comed, says The Times city notes.
PARIS. Dec. 21 (Reuter)—. While noting with satisiac- Hon the Japanese Govern- ment's announced intention of partially re-opening the Tang- tze River, well-informed elt- cles in Paris do not under- estimate the difficulties sur- rounding the question.
CONVOY SYSTEM
CHRISTMAS
TRUCE PROBABLE
BERLIN, Dec. 21 (Reuter) —
CABLE
WESTERN FRONT
PATROL RAIDS. BY
GERMANS
PARIS, Dec. 21 (Reuter)—The recent bitter wintry weather, on the Western Front has been fuc- ceeded by a thaw and cold, sleety! rain has been falling. These con-.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1939, -PAGE 7
COMMANDER OF SCUTTLED NAZI POCKET BATTLESHIP COMMITS
COLLISION
IN FOG
SUICIDE
crew, to die on board in the ex- plosion.
TRADITION VIOLATED NEW YORK, Dec, 21 (Reuter)—
LONDON, Dec. 1 (Reuter) → The German Embassy announced The news. just received, that Cap- that Captain Landydorf, Comman- tain Landsdorf has committed der of the Graf Spee, committed suicide bears out the view pro- LONDON, Dec. 21 (Reuter)-A suicide. He shot himself dead with viously taken that the scuttling of British troopship had # recent a revolver at the Buenos Aires the Graf Spee was directly order-
Something in the way of a Christ-ditions hampered air operations escape from a disastrous collision Naval Arsenal laat night and his ed by Eerr Hitler and that her
RECONNAISSANCE
night.
་་
mas Traces on the Western Front on the front itself but favoured a few feet, it was disclosed last body was found in the morning. is semi-officially promised by the long distance flights, Germans the other side does not attack. This was forecast by circles in Berlin well-informed yesterday following Herr Hitler's departure from Berlin,
NO OFFENSIVES. The Germans, says these quar- ters, will not embark on any land
Tensives during the holidays.
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While British planes visited both German seaplane bases in North
DENSE FOG Germany, German reconnaissance machines flew over North, North-
The incident happened in a West and Western France.
dense fog. The ships passed so continues Land activity
with close to each other that the life- mmor local operations and four beats, swung out on davits on the unsuccessful enemy patrol raids smaller vessel, were stove in and wide from between the some actually carried away. Neutral observers attach consi- derable Importance to the visit of Moselle and the Vosges," it was
The troopship arrived with slight the Papal Nuncio to the Wilhelm-reported by authoritative military
damage to her Der-structure. „ strasse. but whether or not it was circles yesterday, in connection with the slackening of the prosecution of the war unt!! the end of the year could not be ascertained.
CHINESE ENVOY
Un
WAR COMMUNIQUE
night
IN
| ignominious, end la BJ great a SACRIFICED HIS LIFE
violation of the traditions of the BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 21 (Reuter) old German Navy as the cowardly. The second ship, also. British, which was outward bound, has re-A German Embassy communique sinking of defenceless merchant- turned to a British port for repair. states: "The Commander of the man and trawlers.
glorious cruiser Admiral Graf Spee,
UNPLEASANT SHOCK last Captain Landsdorf,
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 21 (Reuter) sacrificed his life for his country-The news of Captain Landsdort's suicide came as an unpleasant by voluntary self-immolation.
"From the outset he decided to shock to German official circles share the fate of his fine ship and Reuter learns from Berlin. only personal influences and due The Propaganda Ministry has consideration for his responsibility, not yet decided whether, or in for the successful disembarcation what form, the news can be of the crew of more than 1,000 published in the newspapers. men, led him to postpone the ful- Special to the H.K. Daily Press (Reuter) Afllment of his intention until his duty done and his superiors fully informed of the situation.
*This mission -ended, he bowed to destiny, a brave sal- lor, who has written another page to the glory of the Ger- many Navy."
21
MILITARY HONOURS BUENOS AIRES, Dec, 21 (Havas) -The Navy Ministry has ordered rallitary honours to be rendered by the Argentine Marines at Com- mander Langsdorfa funeral.
STILL ALIVE › BUENOS AIRES, Dec, 21 (Renter) suicide, Captain-Argentinian newspapers publish Landsdorf wrote a letter to the reports this morning stating that German Ambassador, in which het is being persistently rumoured said that when he received the that Captain Langsdorf is still WASHINGTON, DEC. 21 (REUTER)—THE U.S. WAR SECRE- order to scattle the Grat Spee, he allve and well hours after the
PARIS, Dec. 21 (Reuter)-Last ROME Dec. night's war communique stated weekly air mail service between that no events of importance oc Italy and Rio de Janeiro has been
inaugurated. carred during the day,
It is the nest direct step towards SEES ROOSEVELT Only Moral Re-Armament
the restoration of Shanghai's great entreport trade, but the actual effect of the move is, in reality, unlikely be very great.
The development is a hopeful sign and, as such, has found re- flection in a Armer tendency for the Chinese dollar,
JAPANESE WARNING SHANGHAI, Dec. 21 (Reuter)
China Not So Hard
Can End War- Woodring
Before bis
11
Pressed As Believed TARY. MR. HARRY WOODRING, BROADCASTING ON NATIONAL intended, after disembarking his German announcement of rafeide.
R
WASHINGTONS Dec. 21 (Havas) |--President Roosevelt gave M audience yesterday to the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Hu Shih,
After the audience, Mr. Hu Shih told the press that he had inform-
armies were taking the offensive
on all fronts,
It is pointed out that whether A warning to foreign powers that "the creation of a convoy system a cynical and sceptical acceptance
for the purpose of stopping arms of the Japanese gesture in reopened the President that the Chinese traffic would meet the Japanese ing a section of the Yangtse might case is a problem which must re- embitter Japanese public opinion quite close attention.
and hinder the Japanese Govern- LONDON, Dec. 21 (Reuter)-The ment's endeavours to make further news that the Japanese are to re- concessions throughout China was open navigation in the Yangtse up made by the Japanese Embassy to Nanking to merchant traffic of spokesman this afternoon at a all nations has naturally been wel- press conference,
NOT HARD PRESSED "I also tried to tell the President that we are not so hard pressed as many people imagine.
"The interruption in transporta- tion caused by the recent invasion of southern China was not very Important and we are building new roads to replace the interrupted Ines of communications,
Nazis' Lack Of Confidence In Ultimate Success: Lord Chatfield Reviews The War reports of victory soon."
LONDON, DEC. 21 (REUTER)~-~~-~LORD CHATFIELD, MINIS- TER FOR CO-ORDINATION OF DEFENCE, BROADCASTING LAST NIGHT, SAID THAT THE REASON GERMANY HAS NOT LAUNCHED EITHER A LAND ATTACK AGAINST ALLIED FORCES, OR A VAST AIR ASSAULT ON BRITAIN WAS BE- CAUSE SHE HAS NOT GOT CONFIDENCE THAT SHE, COULD THUS SUCCEED.
One of the vital chapters of the war is now being written. Whatever she might say, Germany needed a short war and her move was to break the British Navy's grip on her supplies and defeat us where we were most vulnerable, yet the strongest-on the sea.
to
"We are starting a series of offensives on all frontiers and are quite confident that we may hear
LONDON, Dec. 21 (Reuter)—Fis Majesty the King received Admiral Darlan at Buckingham Palace,
+
LONDON, Dec. 21 (Reuter)---It was officially announced that uni- dentified aircraft appeared for a short time over the eastern coun- | *ies 'yesterday evening,
QUITO, ECUADOR, Dec. 21 (Reu- {ter)-The Foreign Minister. has telegraphed the League of Nations expressing Ecuador's willingness to TORONTO, Dec. 21 she
(Reuter) lend "all possible humanitarian in-A private citizen of Toronto has aid" to Finland.
When Germany signed the Con- ventions
use submarines and mines lawfully,
had not the slightest
tention of keeping her word. The given $150.000 (about £30,000) toj
mines were designed with all the pay for a hospital in Buckingham-: SHANGHAI, Dec. 21 (Renter).— devilish ingenuity that Germany shire, England.
is capable and had not beex sud-
According to a 'message to the Sin Canada, will thus have its first Wan Pao, preparations are being denly produced. They had long war hospital overseas.
made to establish a branch office been in store like a burglar's jem- The gift was made to the Toronto of the National Reconstruction Branch of the Red Cross Society. Bawings Association in Kwelln,
my.
BLINDING
SNOWSTORMS SWEEP
OVER FINLAND'S BATTLE FRONTS
AS WAR GOES ON
HELSINKI, Dec. 21 (Reuter)-A series of violent at- tacks on the Mannerheim Line after a heavy and prolong- ed artillery bombardment, all collapsed after a footing had been gained temporarily at several points.
Over 100 tanks supported the attacks and the biggest array of aircraft since the invasion began bombed the Fin- nish positions and towns behind the lines.
J
SERIOUS REASONS Special to the HF. Dally Press LONDON, Dec. 21 (Havas)-With the Increase of Soviet pressure against Finland threatening vital lines of communication with the
north and north-east, politicians
here are of the opinion that, the Allies will have serious practical reasons to assist Finland since the
The Finnish troops fought blinding snowstorms are sweeping latter's resistance can contribute with grim determination and the Arctic Zone.
to a decrease in the extent of Bo- vet ald to Germany.
the Russian losses are consi- Snowstorms are also raging on derable. Numerous tanks the Eastern Front, where the Rus Hence, they stated, the Allied were captured inside the alan forces who are endeavouring Supreme War Counefs' decision to Finnish lines and others were to cut Finland's "Warp Wait" help Finland despite the needs of destroyed before reaching the have been reinforced.
the British and French armies, main defence system.
Twenty Russian planes were brought down, fourteen by Finnish fighters and six. by anti-aircraft fre..
A number of civilians were kill- ed and civilian property set on fire during the Intense bombings of towns behind the Mannerheim Line. Large areak were left as blazing ruins after the Red bomb- ers had passed over.
The class of 1899 has now been called to the colours by the Fin- nish Government.
Singapore Chinese Mission To Visit Fronts, Refugees
SINGAPORE, Dec. 21 (Reuter)-Through the intia- tive of Mr. Tan Kah-kee, well-known Singapore Chinese and newspaper magnate, the organisation of an Overseas Chinese Mission to China, comprising 60 members, is un- der way with the view of visiting Chinese fighters at the fronts and refugees at the rear.
#
Large quantities of medical them to despatch delegates to supplies and gifts will be car- Singapore to join the Mission,
The Mission will be sub-divided SEVERE WEATHER
ried by the Mission,
into six sections which will cover Fighting in the North has been Mr. Tan has telegraphed Chinese North, Central and South China. brought to a standstill by severe leaders in Malaya, the Dutch East The Mission is expected to be in weather. It was 54 degrees below Indies, the Philippines, Thailand, China for six months leaving zem at midday yesterday and Burma and Indo-China asking Singapore about March,
SECURITY AND MORAL RE-ARMAMENT, DECLARED, INTER ALIA, THAT THE EVER-WIDENING CIRCLE OF THE CONFLICT NOW RAGING IN EUROPE REPRESENTED THE GREATEST PO- TENTIAL THREAT TO AMERICAN PEACE AND SECURITY,
"Wars, like forest fires” he said, “are wont to spread from small beginnings.
"Security does not rest alone on the size of a nation's armament. her economic wealth and geogra- phic location, but on its moral strength, but in all combined, my first duty is to see that the United States Army is prepared to meet any threat of aggression,
I am also vitally interested in the economic structure of the na- tion and the moral fibre of its people."
Asking why the nations fail- ed to settle disputes round a Woodring council table, Mr. continued: "No war, however just, can end wars. Wars only
weaken and consume civilisa- tion.
"In Europe, ordinary diplomatic contracts are dwindling and there is an increasing need for a com- mon meeting ground between na-
tions.
"American peace and seca- rity rests on the ability of the people to make America strong militarily, economically, moral- ly and spiritually. The fight for moral re-armament gives hope of a war that can really end war," concluded Mr. Wood- ring.
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