HÙNGKONG DAILY PRESS
Hitler Orders Pitiless Warfare On Virtually All Neutral Ships
Nazi Excuse For "Blank Cheque" For Destruction.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-New instructions that mean pitiless warfare on virtually all neutral vessels have. been sent to German submarine commanders, according to news reaching here from Berlin.
The Dutch vessel, Bergerdijk, which was sunk" on Feb. 12, is believed to be the first victim of these new measures.
BITTER COMMENT
BOMBING
CABLES
SOVIET TROOPS OCCUPY ADVANCE POSTS IN THE
MANNERHEIM LINE
HELSINGFORS, Feb, 15 (Reuter)-A Flanish official communi. que' issued last night admits for the first time that the Russians bave occupied advance poŝts in the Mannerheim Line.
1
OF ITALIAN Another official" communique issued today states that on the
MISSION
JAPANESE PLANES RESPONSIBLE
CHUNGKING, Feb. 15 (Reuter)— The Telegraaf's Berlin cor- An alleged official document, which respondent, reporting what was received from the Italian he was told at the Wilhelm- Catholic Mission In Hanebung. BY NEUTRALS
strasse, formulates the Ger-South Shens), is stated to confirm OSLO, Feb. 15
that Japanese aircraft, and not (Reuter)-Ger-man standpoint as follows: many's ruthless war
Chinese, neutral
ES previously reported, shipping continues to draw bitter
were responsible for the two bomb- commen from neutral news-
ings of this city last October, papers.
RADIO REPORT The document states: Two months after the raids, a radio station in Germany quoting a
#
ort:
The leading Nerwelgian ngws- paper, "Tidenstern." makes
а
drastic suggestion that the Dowers
dinavian seamen.
EXCUSE
"If a neutral ship is home- ward bound or bound for a neutral country, it will be tor pedoed if it has contraband aboard."
BLANK CHEQUE The correspondent believes that
in Oslo must stop trading with the commander of the submarine) despatch from Rome, broadcast Germany "unlesy the Relch which sank the Bergerdijk could news to the effect that Chinese guarantee the Hves of Scan- not have acted on his own respon-planes were responsible for bomb- stbility since the action was op-
ing the Catholic Mission buildings posed to all traditions of the Ger-in Hanchung on Oct, 25 and 30. NAZI
man Navy Hence he must have This report was picked up by a The latest German excuse that been acting on
rellable news agency and relayed instructions neutral ships may be sunk even amounting to a sort of a "blank around the world. when they are being taken com- cheque" for destruction.
"When this Mission read the pulsorily to an Allied contraband The Germans say that the Bri-report, it wrote to the local Chi- control harbour is rejected by this tish must hold up ships to search nese authorities testifying that newspaper, which says that" if | them at sea instead of taking them the report was without founda-- Germany, continue to adopt this to a control point in the Downs attitude the neutrals will have to revise their attitude toward the
Reich
TERRIBLE PROSPECT Dutch ships are thus faced with the prospect of being mer-
without
ex- Britain's
This German claim was re- cilessly torpedoed peated yesterday when it claimedplanation if they enter that the sinking of the Dutch sphere of sea control which, prac- vessel, Bergerdijk, was legal. tically speaking, extends over the
whole world.
American.
The Captain of this ship stresses the fact that the U-boat com-
mander refused to examine his
papers.
·
BRITISH PLANS
Theoretically,
ships
touching at Gibraltar are liable to be torpedoed under the new rule. Feeling in Holland is particu- LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)larly bitter that Germany persis- "We are ceaselessly engaged with tently picks out grali neatrals) plans for putting into execution for attacks and leaves the big defensive measures and counter-ones alone.
measures
These can only be
STORE-KEEPER LOST judged by results," declared Mr.) LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-The Winston Churchill, First Lord of engine room store-keeper who went the Admiralty, when asked in the up to the star-board engine room House of Commons today whether, tunnel just before the ship was he had taken adequate measures struck was the only member of for the defence of trawlers and the crew of the Bultan 'Star who fishing boats.
was lost.
Seventy-two survivors were land-
tion.
"The Mission also requested the Italian Government to file a protest with the Japan- ese Government for its indis criminate destruction of third- power property."
HEAVY CASUALIIES Thirty-five Japanese planes are said to have bombed Hanchung on wounding seventy. Oct. 25, killing eighty-three and hundred buildings were stated to About two- have been destroyed.
In the raid on Oct. 30, Japanese planes are reported to have drop- ped eighty bombs, which resulted fn ten casualties. The Italian Mission buildings were said to have been damaged in both raids.
CHINESE VISIT HONGKEW SHANGHAI, Feb, 15 (Reuter)- Many Chinese took the oppor: tinity to visit Hongkew, Yang-
"Mr. Churchill added that he. hoped that a very great measure ed at a West England port today; tsepoo and Chapel today as the of protection would be afforded to two of whom were suffering from Japanese decision that no passes men in the North Sea in a very slight head injuries.
would be required for these areas short time..
The Captain said: "The" wire- came into effect. Naturally attacks on unarmed less operator stayed at his post and small vessels could not have until the ship's funnel was under areas for the first time in two- been expected, but it now appear water and was then picked up by and-a-half years since the start of ed that every small vessel must one of the ship's boats.”
the local hostilities in 1937, - be effectively armed to resist mur-
der.
an
forced into British
AMERICAN SHIPS WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (Reu- ter)Government quarters state that U-Boats could legally
sink American ship which Was control por: only after it been ascertained that the vessel's cargo exceeded Afty per cent of contraband destined. for Germany's enemies.
Little concern is shown by the authorities at the, statement by a Berlin spokesman in defending and saying that American ships, holding the same status, would be fair victima,
SEQUEL TO SPEECH BY DR. GOEBBELS
ZURICH, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-A big campaign in Germany, against the freedom of the neutral press,
The majority are visiting the
Chinese Unity Will Persist Despite Japanese Statecraft
LONDON, Feb, 15 (Reuter)-It is probably true in Japan that they no longer expect victory, either through battle or seizure of territory, writes the Manchester Guardian. Their hope is that China will fall to them at last by sheer exhaustion and disunity.
The sufferings of China have certainly been immense and may be worse. Nevertheless, so greatly are the rulers and peo- -ple changed since the days when they were the tools of any strung unscrupulous foreign power, that their essential unity persists" despite everything the Japanese can do.
What their arms have not accomplished, the Japanese think they can achieve by statecraft,
'The plan is simplicity itself. Generalissimo Chiang sufren- ders and becomes, with Wang, Japan's Instrument for establish- ing her New Order in East Asia. The only difficulty is that the plan seems to have no particular relation to facts.
盯
is expected to follow Dr. Goeb- JAPAN'S MAN-POWER WANG'S NEW
bels' speech, according to the
Nene Zuercher Zeitant's Berlin
correspondent.
REASON FOR OUTBURST
DRAINED BY THE WAR
trip..
to
ACTIVITIES
"PEACE & NATIONAL
RECONSTRUCTION LEAGUE"
CHUNGKING, Feb. 15 (Central) The reason for Dr. Goebbels' outburst is believed to be primarily foreigner who has just return- the indignation aroused ined to Shanghai from a Scandinavia and Holland by the Japan stated that the war in submarine campaign against neu-
heavily draining Japan's man- power.. trais.
This correspondent says that According to information де CHUNGKING, Feb. 15 (Central) the satisfaction felt over the gathered, conscription has been A Shanghal message states that neutral shipping losses can be held in Japan up to 36 times skace a so-called "Peace and National clearly read between the lines of the beginning of the war, the German press.
bodied men between 25 and 35 remaining in the country are now only about 15 per cent of the total population,
The German pubile are not allowed to know that the ships are being torpedoed without warning,
LAMAS PRAY FOR CHINA
for
Karelian Isthmins the enemy continued their heavy attacks on Tues- day
SOVIET TROOPS MASSING IN CAUCASUS
LONDON, Feb. 15 (Havas) -Persistent, but uncon- firmed, rumours assert that Russia is massing troops in the Caucasus, notably in the vicinity of the strategic Baku oil fields and the Baku-Batum pipe- line.
It will be recalled that such concentrations took place at the beginning of the war, but the Red troops withdrawn as. а friendly gesture to Turkey after Sukru Saracoglu's visit to Moscow.
were
This Is A World War
CHINESE ENVOY TELLS BRITAIN
INTER - ACTIONS OF
Only
on the Summa Sector, states the communique, has the enemy succeeded in
occupying some of our foremost supporting points but a thrust checked them in front of our supporting points." ATTACKS REPULSED Everywhere else, the enemy's at- tacks were repulsed with heavy losses for the attackers
Thousands were killed and dozens of destroyed tanks were left in front of our lines. The fighting is continuing.
North-east of Lake Ladoga our troops dispersed all enemy at- tempts to thrust forward and a tew tanks were destroyed.
PATROL ACTIVITY In the direction of Kuhmo (Central Finland), one Russlan battalion was mown down and several "nests" were destroyed.
There was lively patrol activity In other sectors,
可
&
AIR BATTLES The communique also mentions that the Finnish air defences
involved yesterday in were number of air battles and Finnish planes continued to successfully. bomb the enemy, concentrations. and encampmenta
Among other places, the Rus- alans bombed Viipuri.
It is estimated that during the!
day several hundred enemy planes
·were in action over the country.!
The Finnish fighters and air de
fences shot down 17 enemy planes, according to confirmed reports.
COUNTER-ATTACKS
It is officially announced that successful counter-attacks were
rried out today on the Karelian Ischmus. The fighting is stated to have been particularly sanguin, ary.
CONFLICTS IN CHINA & EUROPE LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)- At the National Liberal Chib yes- terday, 250 were present at a Inncheon in honour of Mr. Quo ed the "Mannerheim Line,
The Russians fiercely bombard-
Tai-chi. the British Ambassador in London.
WORLD WAR
Speaking on the inter-action of war in China and Europe, Mr Quo said. "There is no European war. There is no Asiatic war There is a world war.
"Whether here, where you have hardly started fighting, or in Asia, where we have already drained our blood and our resources, it is the same war, waged by the same opposing forces.
CAVEAT ENTERED
$
"So my first desire is to enter caveat against the thinking which in effect would say 'Get the thing settled in Burope and everything else. shall be sided unto it..
-A European settlement,.however achieved, settles nothing by itself even for Europeana.
"The Chinese coast means s much to you as the Baltic and the Balkans in every vital Interest that you have.”
NINE-POWER TREATY
Referring to ME R. A Butler's re-assertion in Parliament on. January 31 that Great Britain
A NEW SPIRIT STOCKHOLM, Feb, 15 (Reuter) At the opening of the third weer of the Russian aliensive the Finns are fighting with some- against the Mannerheim Line, thing like religious fervour, which seems to be lending them strength beyond the ordinary powers of endurance.
A Finnish officer, who has re- ned from the front, says that the army has undergone a sriking change of spirit since the begin- ning of the war. The heavier the fighting, the greater the unity,
ADVANCE OVER ICE Attempts by the Russians to ad- vance over the loe towards the flanks of the Mannerheim Line apparently met with disaster, as the Finns put up shells throwing men and tanks through the ice, into the water.
Although the Russians have now installed advanced posts on de Sümma Front, they are still faced with about ten miles of continuous blockhouses, tank traps, and other formidable de- fences.
CABLE NEWS
Intends to adhere firmly, to the IN BRIEF
Nine-Fower Treaty, Mr. Quo Tri-
chi, said: "Every year since 1922 New Colours:
maxes that Treaty's provisions LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-His
ore useruf and
more Indis-Majesty the King on Tuesday pensable to international order presented new colours to a
bat- and prosperity, especially to talion of the Irish Guards on the Anglo-American security
and parade ground at. Wellington prosperity as well as to Chinese Barracks.. welfare.'
WAR MINISTER IN FRANCE
Over Stanley, Minister for War, LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-Mr.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1940. -PAGE 7
THE
HONG KONG
PENINSULA HOTEL;
HONGKONG HOTEL; REPULSE BAY HOTEL;
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In association with the Grad Hotel dey Wagons 7its, Peking.
How Hitler Uses Victims Of Conquests: Terrorism
In Occupied Areas
LONDON, Feb. 15 (Reuter)-A variety of topics was discussed by the British Press on Tuesday.
Commenting on Herr Hitler's use of his victims of con- quest, the Manchester Guardian points out that a year ago, M. Coulondre, the French Ambassador to Germany, at the time when Herr Hitler was taking over Czechoslovakia, was asked what was the real significance of this move,
In a letter on March 19, 1939, he suggested that Herr Hitler wanted to have at his disposal, at the time of war, a great reserve of labour power and that the Czech supply would help to fill up the war faps,
PROPHESY. FULFILLED This prophesy, says the Man- chester Guardian, has come true. Not only has Herr Hitler got the
BROADCAST TO
NAZI GERMANY
Australia's Faith In British Cause
CANBERRA, Feb. 15 (Reuter)—
Czechs, but also the Poles. These Mr. Archie Comeron, Leader of
coolies and the description is an broadcast from labourers are called Herr Hitler's the Australian Country Party
apt one.
A new decree gives labourers under Nazi control, who are not Germans, a special wage raté substantially below the Ger- man rate. This is how Herr Hitler proposes to reorganize Europe, the paper concludes."
Australia to Europe yesterday. He addressed his remarks, in particular, to the German people
WAR, AIMS Discussing fundamental war alms, he saidthas the British Empare desires nothing from Ger- man owners. In the past, British NAZI TERRORISM
countries provided homes for Ger- The Times comments on German
of whom iman emigrants, many terrorism, which, it says, aims at had been welcomed in Australia eliminating the bravest, most dis-and were now part of it. tinguished, most learned and most able of the trihabitants which
The British Empire merely in-
come under Herr Hitler's controlsisted that Germany's neighbours shall be allowed to maintain their || CURIOUS RESULT
the curious result of the evacua-
The News Chronicle discusses state of liberty.
independence and state their own
tion of children
LESSON UNLEARNT from danger areas. This evacuation has given tralia again, with little learnt Germany was now meeting Aus-
town children a taste for the
country, it has improved their health and brought town and country children together.
But there is another result, of a more questionable value. the impact on dialects, for In- stance, the impact resulting from the meeting of the cock. ney boy and the west country boy.
Impressive Scenes
In Ottawa
FUNERAL OF LORD
Lord
TWEEDSMUIR
from the last war, Australians left, as they did in the lass war, that they were participating in it, not because the Government ordered them to, but because they believed in the justice of the British cause. Seven Australian Division fought in the last war and others, will follow them this time."
THE FUTURE " Looking to the fucure, after the war is over, Mr. Cameron said they hoped political, civil and religions freedom would be established in Europe and that the small states could exist side by side with big ones without feeling a threat from one man or profit of a few.
SOVIET ENVOY HEARS STATEMENT IN COMMONS
OTTAWA, Feb 15 (Reuter)—-A- LONDON, Feb. 15 (Beuter) ---- striking tribute to the late Lord A general boense has been grant- Tweedsmuir's nobility of character ad to British subjects to enlist in was made by his pastor and friend the Finnish Force and license has in conducting, the funeral service been granted for recruiting or at the Presbyterian Church yester- ganisation to be established in day afternoon.
London, declared. Cap. 0. Feake, The Bev. Ferguson quoted from Under Secretary for the Home Tweedsmul's writings office in a written reply to a ques- show his Christian faith, and nobi- tions on this subject in the House of Hity of character.
Commons yesterday, He then went to the Tower of Deeply impressive scenes, were London where he presented colours withnessed in the snow-covered to a battalion of the Welsh streets as the procession passed covernment was carefully con-
slowly through densely packed |
sidering this matter in the light of On both occasions His Majesty crowds, with bands of the Font
aresolution wore the uniform of Colonel-in Guards and Air Force playing The Assembly of the League of Nations passed) by the Chief of the Regiment”
Guards.
Dead March in Baul,”
* LEAGUE REVENTION Peake added that his Majesty's
Able Reconstruction League" is being arrived in France today accom Orders have been issued for the were fired as a salute as the cortere consistent with the spirit of that
organised by Wang Ching-wei.
WANG AS PRESIDENT
AIR H.Q. VISITED
panied by Field Marshal Lord Milne, He will tour the area oc- It will include the "Hain Min cupled by the British Expedition Qualifications
Hu" (New People Society) of ary Force. conscripts Peiping, "Ta Min Hu" (Great have been lowered in order to People Society of Nanking, the draft more men.
*New Chinese Youths Party" and With large numbers of men
other pro-Japanese organizations LHASA Feb. 15 Central most of the work. More than 30,000 lamus partici pated in a religious service at the Ta. Chao Lamasery here Jester day to pray for China's victory.
Gen. Wu Chung-hsin, Chairman;
JAPAN AND ANTI- COMINTERN PACT TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuter) The
43 president.
NEW DELHI, Feb 15 (Reuter) Indian Forces:
raising of three inore battalions for the Indian Territorial Forces. Recruiting starts as soon as pos-
sible.
Mr. Eden:
The pall-bearers were chosen on Dec, 14 on the subject of the from the Navy, Army, Air Force provision of assistance for Finland, and Mounted Police Nineteen guns It would be in thely view
railway station, where piper wan: who wished to volunteer for Bas- proceeded from the Church to the resolution that British subjects ed a lament as the cofan was vice in Finland should be blader placed in the train. The tramed by the provisions of the Foreign then left for Montreal where the Enlistment Act, seeing that the body was cremated. www.act. contains the power to grant
SOLEMN OBSERVANCES dispensations.
**Thanticipation of this state- |_ LONDON, Feb. 15 (Router)--It | Bolemn, observances were also
Tuesday that Mr. Anthony Eden Lady Tweedsmuir did not attend bassador in London, was seated in was reported from Ankara on beld yesterday throughout Canada ment, M. Masky, the Boviet Am- would visit Turkey before. : 10-
the church, Mr. Mackenzie King, the Diplomatic Gallery, turning home from Erypt This the Premier, and the Diplomatic
TUNKI, ANHWEI, Feb 15 (Ceny officially denied in London. Corps were at station when the
train, departed, mily
tral)--Iwo Japanese transports A BODY CREMATED Dutch Loan:
passing by Tungliu, in Bouth MONTREAL Feb, 15 Reuter-Anhwel, while steaming up the Lord. Tweedsmuir's body had been Yangtze River were shelled and crema ed
damaged by Chinese batteries early attended by Lady Tweedsmuir, Mr Five other enemy transports
The brier, simple service was yesterday morning. Allstar Eachan (Lord Tweeds passing there shortly after noon mair's son) and a few other mour-were also shelled, suffering several
away fighting women are doing as members, and will elect Wanz which controls activities of RAF Air Headquarters at Army GHQ squadrons working in co-operation Meanwhile preliminary ar- with the Army have been visited by rangemen's are being made for Air Marshal Barret, Air Officer the formation of a bogus Central Commanding-in-Chiet RAP in Political Council which will create France. The first task of these the puppet Central Government
squadrons in the war was to pro- tect the B.EF. Its transport, sup- plies, and provisions, and they con- The Second Chamber of the tinue to perform this duty, as well Netherlands Parliament passed a as the more recent one of provide Bill authorising the fame shortly ing the Army Command with in of a semi-compulsory loan of 300 formation about enemy dispost-0000.000 gullders. The Commu tions(BWB).
nists voted agains, the BiU.
of the Mongolian and Tibetan Government has no fntention of Affairs Commission, who is here seceding from or denouncing the as a special envoy to attend the Anti-Comiatern Pact, declared Mr. A caution was registered against enthronement of the 14th rett-Arita. Foreign Minister, answering C. Lauritsen, of the Dragon Ma carnation of the Dalai Lama, was questions on the Tripartite Anti- tors Company, for stopping his present at the service. He made Comintern Pact in the House of car in Des Voeux Road Central huge cash donations to the laman Representatives.
longer than necessary on Jan, 12
THE HAGUE, Feb. 15 (Reuter】–
LETS.
direct hitä.