ECONOMICAL
THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD 19.40 Flying Standard "8"
OPEN TOURER
DON'T DELAY PHONE 59101
FAR EAST MOTORS
Doline TT.1-3% Mongkong Telograph"
Cala Morning Post, Ltd.,
Wirbel, Hongkong
Low Water—19.49,
The
FIRST EDITION
DUNLOP Fort
Hongkong Telegraphe
FOUNDED 1801
SINGLE COPY-JO. CENT
No. 15010 一拜禮 號八十月二十英港香 MONDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1939. BA† 10.00 PER ANNUM
the tyre
with the TEETH
German Commander Blows Himself Up With His Ship
GRAF SPEE SCUTTLED Exclusive Story Of Sea
Drama
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH".
MONTEVIEDO, DEC. 18.—(UP)—RATHER THAN SUFFER THE HUMILIATION OF INTERNMENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR, HITLER LAST NIGHT ORDERED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PRIDE OF THE GERMAN NAVY, THE 10,000-TON 'POCKET BATTLE- SHIP' ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE.
THE ORDER WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE'S COMMANDER, CAPTAIN LANGDORF, AT 7.25 P.M. (6.55 A.M. H.K.T.) TO-DAY.
THE ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE WAS DYNAMITED AND SCUTTLED FIVE MILES OFF MONTEVIDEO.
WESTERN FRONT
ACTIVITY INCREASES Important Attack By Germans
PARIS, Dec. 17 (Reiler),— The Western Front is showing signs of increasing liveliness.
Further detalls of yesterday's Ger- man raid on a French post east of the Moselle show that it was of an im- portant character and well-prepared.
A German company, which was probably-reinforced-by-additional machine-gunners, lunched a spirit- ed attack, finally forcing an entrance
to the post and taking two prisoners Post Is Retaken
When the French re-entered the
post, they found the body of a Gur- man non-commissioned officers, wo machine-guns and one sub-machine
gun.
This is taken, in the absence at news to the contrary, to mean that;
The warship weighed anchor shortly after 6 p.m., and cleared the Montevideo breakwater at 6.30 p.m., watched from the shore by a crowd of⠀⠀⠀⠀ tens of thousands which included many of the British seamen released from her when she dashed into port on Thursday..
CAPTAIN'S LAST WORDS
Just before the warship left, Captain Lang- dorf turned to Uruguayan officials and said:
"I will try to clear the blockade.
"If I cannot I will sink my ship. Good-bye.” After clearing the breakwater the Admiral Graf Spee headed south...
At the estuary of the River Plate she stopped for half an hour whilst over 900 of her crew transferred to the 8,000-ton German freighter Tacoma.
The Commander remained aboard.
A few minutes later there were two terrific blasts. The sides of the Admiral Graf Spee literally stove in,
the Germans took their wounded with and the warship burst into flames from end to end.
them.
The Germans are also active west
of the Vosges Forest, sending out a
number of patrols, which operated Ull nightfall.
These operations, according to the
latest information, were without re-
Mult.
"Nothing Important"
DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW
Within a few seconds of the two explosions the pride of the German Navy had disappeared from view.
The Tacoma slowly, headed back to Montevideo where, pre-. PARIS, Dec. 17 (Reuter)-A Paris sumably, the crew of the .Ad- communique states that there was re-miral Graf Spee will be interned duced activity and that there was for the duration of the war.
Patrols In Action
nothing important to report.
Contrary to earlier reports, neither PARIS, Dec. 17 (Reuter)-Chlet the Renown nor the Ark Royal were activity on the Western Front is still of Montevideo, the vigil being main- against enemy patrols.
tained by HM.S. Achilles, H.M.S. This morning's French communi- Ajax, H.M.S. Barham, H.M.S. Cum que clates that there is nothing of berland and the French cruiser Importance.
Dunkerque.
The position of the main German concentrations has not changed in the last two months,
RUSSIAN BEATEN-UP
Cowardly Assault By "Puppet" Police
H
But the battleship and aircraft-. carrier were not far away.
Exeter's Losses
Casualty List Issued
By Admiralty
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
LIGHT CRUISERS OF THE GERMAN FLEET AT SEA.
A.R.P. workers en their way to an air raid rehearsal. Uniforms similar to these are to be worn in all men and women engaged on A.R.P. dulles.
Soviet Reverses Continue
LONDON, Dec. 17 (UP) FINNS STUBBORNLY
They unexpectedly arrived at Ria-The Admiralty has issued do Janiero on Sunday, bearing evidence of a forced crossing of the an official list of the dead on South Atlantic from Afrien, where board H.M.S. Exeter. they had been previously reported lust week.
Ask Dr. Gocbbols
Thus, for the second time within ten days, comes · Indisputable con- firmation of the fact that the Ark Royal was not sunk by the Nazis. desplie the insistence of Goebbels' SPECIAL TO THE "TELEQRAPH" propaganda: department and Zeesen SHANGHAI, Dec. 17 (UF).-Radio.
It is reported that Tatao pollce Significantly, Zeeren Radio han beat up a Russian Inspector of ceased ending its English sessions the Chinese General Omnibus with the slogan: "Ask Mr. Churchill Company this morning following Royal!"
what has happened to the Ark an argument between him and two Chinese civilians who are arrived at Rio de Janiero at 6.10 p.m., The Ark Royal and the Renown alleged followers of Wang Ching-the glant aircraft-carrier docking two wel.
hours later in order to take on, fueli The civilians refused to removal and provisions! their bleycles from the bus. They
The names of the officers in- clude:-
Lieutenant-Commander
Bowman-Manifold
HOLDING OUT
HELSINGFORS, Dec. 17 (Reuter).-A communique issued to-day states that the advance continues slowly on John the Tolvajaeri front.
Mechipman John S. Rickard.- Paymaster Sub-Lleutenant Donald LL. Tyler
Marines)
Captain (Royal Humphrey R. D. Woods
Acting Sub-Lleutenent Clyde A. L. Aforze (missing, believed killed.)
Those wounded include: Probationary Lieutenant Jack F. Causton
Temporary
Acting Gunner Thomas Lynn Paymaster Midshipman
+
All Soviet attacks on the Karelian Isthmus were repulsed and heavy losses were inflicted on the Russian battalions at Loimola.
It is semi-officially announced that 176 tanks were destroyed. br captured since the war began. Successful Resistanco
Finns Destroy Soviet Army's Prestige NAZIS LOSE FAITH IN NEW ALLY: SWEDEN'S FEARS
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
HELSINGFORS, Dec. 16 (UP).—Finland's stubbarn resistance has dealt a severe blow to the prestige of the fabulous strength of the Soviet Russian armies. Throughout Europe, even in Germany, the reputation for invincibility of the huge Red military machine has been
··badly-tarnished in the eyes of her neighbours.—
By their valiant defence, the Finns have gone far to unmask the bugaboo and break the Russian steamroller. In one week, the tough little Finnish army has given the Red army reputation -a reputation enhanced by extreme secrecy-a distinct black uyc.
This stubborn stand by the Flints ngainst the colossal Invader may have important political repercus- slons throughout Europe, and an effect on the future progress of the European war out of all pro- portion to the extent of this struggle.
On the Finnish acroplane, on which I came from Sweden to Asbo from
on my original base
the Western Front, I talked with 4 young Finn who had lived in Berlin. He was returning to join the Finnish Army.
Cermany's Doubts
He told me that the people of Germany are already beginning to ask themselves, "What Is this so- called great milliary Power with which we have allled ourselves, when little Finland can success- fully resist? Maybe we didn't
In
make such a good bargain after all in our pact with Russia." He said the mass of
people Germany have been seized with ap- prehension about the eseranchment of Russia in the Ballle. They feel that It is meant to be directed ni and against Germany in the long run and will constitute a future menace to German security,
the
A Finnish girl travelled all Join the Finnish Women's Auxillary Iway from London on my plane to
high feather boots, and breeches, and Army. She was already dressed in hoped to go into service immediately. 80.000 Women War Workers
"We can work behind the lines which will release more men for service, Our organization num- bers more than 80,000 women al- ready. Wo do whatever work is necessary. In order to put more men will rides on the front line." she said. No Important Gains
At Asbo, workmen were busily PARIS, Dec. 17`(Reuter),--Latest
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 17 (Reuter), boarding up windows as protection news here regarding the progress of
The streets against beinb blasts. General Wallenius, commanding the were swarming with dine, Sub-the war in Finland shows that the
smart- Finns are successfully resisting in the Finnish forces in the north, told a looking soldiers in long gray over- Karelian Isthmus. R
correspondent of tho "National coats. In every town along the rail- Near Lake Ladoga the Soviet Tidendo" that the Russians, after 15 road from Asbo to Helsingfors, there Leslie attacks were repulsed. called the Tatao police when the cleared Río de Janiero under forced
Ten hours later the Ark Royal D. E. Needham and W. Penn-Gaskell.
days of war, have attained no object was visible evidence of military pre- Russian Inspector ordered their re draught and headed for Montevideo,
the north, the Russians are of military Importance on that porntions. 61 Killed, 23 Wounded making headway in their attempt to frontier. moval.
cut the country in two. The Tatao police are reported to where, as it turned out, her services
LONDON, Dec. 17 (Reuter)-The
The only gain of economic import have beaten up the Inspector and to were not required.
At least two Russian columns are anne was Pitkarta, north-east of Admiralty announces that five officers solve with this slm in view, and the Lake Ladem, where are Bave taken him to the police station Ark Royal left and commenced on that 86 ratings were killed and korous to the future of the Finish
The Renown docked as soon as the were killed and three wounded, and pluton here is that they will be dan-collulose works.
the big! Swhere ho was ralented at noon! Following "intervention
the all night job of re-provisioning and 20 wounded on H.M.S. Exeter during defence if they contiane to make the by
The Russian strategy, he snki, so the engagement with the Geat Bped. promont headway.
-PLEASE To Tum Pago 4.
Municipat polica
..
PLEASE Turn To Pago 4.
The train itself was on a regular.
schedule, faster than most trains in England these days,
'War's Daikest Blackout Upon arrival in Helsingfors, Fored the most complete blackout I have ever experienced. There
PLEASE Turn To Page..
NAZI PLANE RAIDS ON
EAST COAST
LONDON, Dec. 17. (Reu- ter)--The Air Ministry an- nounced that enemy aircraft appeared at several points off the East Coast late in the afternoon.
A.A. guns were fred for a short time in the Humber
district.
Fighters engaged the enemy and pursued them out to sea.
No air-raid warning was sounded.
LATEST
All Graf Spee Crew Safe
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH”
MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 17 (UP).~~~ The German Legation here has on- nounced that all the crew of the Admiral Grat Spee are safe.