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The
SECOND EDITION
Hongkong Telegraph
FOUNDED 1881 No. 10021
CENTS
EM WIR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1939. [1-4. SINGLE COPY 10 CEN
Berlin Believes Aerial War On In Earnest
NEW MASS AIR RAIDS ON GERMAN NAVAL BASES
SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAPH”
+
LONDON, DEC. 20 (UP).—QUICKLY FOLLOWING, YESTER- DAY'S ENCOUNTER, WHICH THE GERMAN AIR COMMAND' DESCRIBES AS "THE GREATEST AIR BATTLE IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION," BRITISH WARPLANES HAVE LAUNCHED NEW MASS ATTACKS ON THE NAZI NAVAL BASES.
Reports from Toender, one of the Jutlands, state that Royal Air Force planes thrice bombed the island of Sylt to-day.
Heavy bombs were rained on the naval bases at Rantum and
Hoernum.
Each raid lasted fifteen minutes.
The British bombers, which were not escorted by pursuit planes, appeared from the west, unloaded their bombs, and disappeared in a southerly direction.
Messerschmidt pursuit planes tock off to give battle and the dog-fights continued as the planes disappeared from sight.
Apparently, all the British planes escaped unscathed.
Berlin still continues to make fantastic claims regarding yesterday's great battle, in which over a hundred planes participated.
The D.N.B. (Official German News Agency) claims that Britain's losses were “over 36 planes.”
Lieut. Schumacher, commander of the German squadron involved in the fight, estimates that "his men" shot down 40 R.A.F. bombers.
AIR WAR IN EARNEST
·STOCKHOLM, Dec. 19 (Reuter). The recent increase in air activities has prompted Berlin to believe that an air war is beginning in earnest.
Attempts will now be made by the German air force to show their capabilities in carrying out large-scale attacks, says the Berlin correspondent of the “Dagbladet.” Air force officials claim that German reconnaissance planes have obtained
comprehensive aerial photo-, graphs both of Britain and
THRILLING France.
DETAILS
Pilots Tell Of Big Air Battle
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LONDON, Dec. 19 (Reuter). -More detalls of yesterday's air battle at Heligoland indicate the probability that British bombers shot down more than 12 Messer. schmidis, "Reuter" learns.
Attack On Nazi Base
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
LONDON, Dec. 19 (UP).-Reports from Copenhagen state that another big air baltic occurred to-day over 4! German naval base on the north-west) German const.
Apparently the Royal Air Force were again attempting to launch an attack on the island of Sylt,
bomber
However, neither Britain nor Ger- many has announced any important) action although a Heinkel
the North Shet- was reported over
anda.
The German claim that 36 British aircraft were brought An R.A.F. pursuit plate took to down is effectively disproved by the air in search of the raider, the fact that the total numberparently without success.
of British aircraft engaged was
nothing like that figure.
One Brilish bomber alone account-
ed for five German fighters.
The locder of the British formu- tion said:
"I could see them waiting like Aies to attack us."
25 Messerschmidts Attack
No air raid alarm was sounded. Planos Over Shotlands
(Reuter) LONDON, Dec. 19 German planes were reported off the Shelland Islands this after-
noun.
TA.F.. Bghters went up to give battle.
Nazis Admit Attack LONDON, Dec. 19 (Reuter)-A
Between Heligoland and Witholm-German communique in Berlin claims shaven, 25 Messerschmidts were seen. that the RAF. made a rald on the Germany on Even when the battle had begun, northwest coast of the British crews continued on their Monday, trying to reach the Frisian course, determined to collect all the Islands between 5.40 p.m. and 9.40
p.m.
information possible.
were
-
They also met heavy anti-aircraft;
In connection with the earlier ruld first from ships and shore.
thefin which the Air Ministry announced Some Germans hung on to
shoti British bombers when the latter were that 12 Messerschmidts
www.down and seven RA.F. bombers had returning.
One British machine became de-jnot been accounted for, a full account tached from the others and seemed cannot be made until the reports of the British pilots participating in the to be an easy prey.
Messerschmidts attacked. It inroid have been collated.
force.
One of our bomber formations went
The pilot dived and akimmed the to attack enemy warships. sea surface with the enemy on its
Fantastic Naxi Claims
THE 32,600 TON CERMAN LINER COLUMBUS
LUXEMBOURG Third Biggest Nazi Liner Intercepted CUSTOMS HOUSE|| At Sea, Dostroyed By Her Grew
HIT BY SHELL
LUXEMBOURG, Dec. 19 (Reuter). The Customs House town of Remich on the south-east frontier was hit by a shell early to-day.
It did not explode but passed through a building, penetrated the roofs of two houses and fell in the market place.
An official enquiry is being held.
250 Milliards For War
Enormous Expenditure By France In 1940
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" PARIS, Dec. 19 (Router)—— tail:-
Two Mosserschmidts venturing tool
The bombers found no warships but France expects to spend at least close were immediately shot down almost immediately were attacked by 250 milliard francs on
MEMO
Remember Danlop
Fort the tyre
with leth
ALLIES TO AID FINNS AGAINST AGGRESSION
SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAPH"
PARIS, Dec. 19 (UP)--The Allied Supreme War Coun- cil convened throughout this morning.
Subsequently, it was announced that the French Premier, M. Daladier, congratulated the British_Navy on "Its herolo vistory, en- talllng, the destruction of the Admiral Graf Spec,"
I is really stated that the Council arrived at no decision with respect to the Russian Invasion of Finland.
The Counell is believed to have discussed a tentative list of ur« kent needs submitted by the Flous.
Finland is now preparing a complete list of her needs for sub- mission to the Allies.
This list was requested by the Allies in fulfilment of the Lea- que mongestion that other Powers should give all moral and material ald to, the victim of Russian aggression,
Goering Orders High Seas Murder
A
SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAPH"
LONDON, Dec. 19 (UP).—General Goering, Chief of the Nazi Air Force, is obeying his master's voice, as Admiral Raeder did before him.
Unrestricted warfare against British and neutral
shipping, which has
prison "somewhere
In the Home Counties
now use an Governmen offices. In s cells tele graphic
сеп-
sors keep tar on the cables that leave this country.
A
secretary walking along сло of
the raised gang- ways outside a row of cells to her office.
COLUMBUS AFIRE IN MID-ATLANTIC
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (Reuter). The 32,600-ton N.D.L. liner Columbus, third largest ship in the German mercantile marine she is exceeded in size only by the 51,700-ton Bremen and the 49,000-ton Europa-has shared the fate of the Ad- mirai Graf Spee.
The Columbus, intercepted by n British destroyer, was set afire In mid-Atlantic this morning by her crew.
She is still affout, a mass of blazing flames.
at hand, American warships are ready to sink her by gunfirq if she becomes a danger to navigation.
400 Of Crow Rescued---
FLEES TO SAFETY
Another N.D.L. Liner Intercepted
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LAUDERDALE, Floridu, Dec. Four hundred of the cruty have (20 (UP)—Another N.D.L. liner, the been rescued by the US.S. Tuscaloosa, Military War Bill next year, it which, in a radio report to the US.S. the 2,400-ton Arucas, was Inter-
York with the survivors.
day.
by the rear gunner, but thé ammuni-wave on wave of enemy plance. tion was spent.
The Germans are stul making ex-was revealed by the Financexas, says she is proceeding to New cepted by a British warship to- A moment Inter the front gunner was wounded, whereupon the re-aggerated claims and giving the Minister, M, Reynaud, in a re- serve pilot scrambled from the rear, figures, of their own "amazing suc port to the Chamber Finance standing by the blazing liner. turret to the front gun, where he cesses," they claim to have brought Commission to-day. found plenty of ammunition and down more British planes than fook made full use of it.
[part in the raid.
The British aireraft: finally slidok Four Airmen Rescued
its pursuers and reached home.
Claimed Five Nazis From diving, to escaping,' it had scoounted for five Germaní.
Another Drillsh aircraft, returning,
PLEASE Turn To Page 4,
LONDON, Dec. 19 (Router)Four British alrmen, who are believed to have taken part in Monday's big air zaid battle, have been pleked up at sea in a collapsible boat.
Naval trawler landed them at an
East Coast part."
The chilet war-credits for the Arst quarter of 1040 are:
War Ministry, 22 millard francs;
Navy, 8% milliard francs; Air, 121⁄2 müliard francs,
An unidentified British destroyer is Af 11 o'clock E.S.T, the Columbus was still burning fiercely her huge carro of petroleum sendling •, the flames and a cloud of black smoke hundreds of yarda into the sky, There are no indications, says the
She escaped by entering American territorial limits.
Subsequently, when it became evident that the British warship
ㄜˋ
already been carried RUSSIANS
out in defiance of Inter-
national Law by the Nazi U-Boats, will in future be applied by Goering's bombers.
REPULSED
Finns Hold On In Many Sectors
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" Hitler has decreed merci-
HELSINGFORS, Dec. 20 less war on civilians at sea (UP). The Finns have repulsed nd, as applied by Goering's all Russian attempts to gain a air force, it includes the foothold in the Karelian machine-gunning of helpless Isthmus, according to an official
Finnish cominunique, eople in lifeboats as they save their sinking vessels.
"The enemy was repulsed throughout Monday, despite Latest casualties to this form very heavy artillery prepara- of mass murder are two British.tlons and feverish attacks in a Norwegian, a Danish and anforce throughout the day," the Italian steamer. 28 well as communique claims. several-mall British-fishing The Russians have also suffered. trawlers.
tremendous losses in personnel and tanks in the Muolaa and Valk Lake The 4,373-lon British steamer City | regioną. A Russian attack on the of Kolw was mercilessly bombed and castern front between Kolring and strated by Nazi warplanes to sea, Jasalkyviarvi was also repulsed.
New Phase Of Terrorism
Finland still continues to take the offensive in the Lake Agiljaervi re- gion where, according to an ofcial The sinking of the Norwegian | communique, numerous prisoners steamer Glitrefjell (1,508 tons) and and considerable booty have been the British steamer City of Kobe taken.
43373 tons) in-day indicated a new
Exchango With Warships phase of U-boat activity, both ships Coastal batteries at Koivisto have being torpedoed. Survivors of the had lively exchanges with enomy City of Kobe said two days before aircraft and destroyers, which have they were sunk they had been bomb-carried out extensive bombardments ed and straffed by German planes. since the week-end.
A third ship sunk to-day was the Danish steamer Jytic (1,877 tons) bellevedly by a mine, the Nazis op- parently mixing mining and torpedo- ing tactles depending on the success of the Allied counter-measures.
telephone message from Buanvak to Bergen alates that military experts believe that the Russian offensive on the far
(Petsamo) northern
front will shortly come to a standstill. The Russians, they point out, must Air Bombing Intensified
shortly
pause to consolidate their Arctic
which gains,
have carried Intensifestion of the latest Nazi them to the Norwegian frontier. weapon of air bombing and straffing Additionally, Finland's defence lines small curface craft in seen in the in the "old Finnish territory" should unnouncement that several fishing be capable of stubborn defence.. trawlers in the Fortrose arep havo been attacked, at least one being sunk and two others damaged.
From the Gitrefjell, thirteen sur- vivors have been landed, seven of
whom are injured. Five of the crew were drowned.
From the Jytte Iwo only have been Junded and ten are missing.
From the City of Kobe eighteen | survivors have been landed.
From the fishing trawler Etruria three were killed and one injured, while from the other trawler Activo PLEASE Turn To Page 4.
LATEST
Soo Back Page For Furthur Late Nows
RUSSIAN AIR ARMADA STRIKES AT FINLAND
TO SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" HELSINGFORS, Dec. 20 (UP).--A Soviet air armada roar- ed over the Gulf of Finland to-day in a mass bombing raid on the Finnish capital.
Anti-aircraft Bre was so intense that the Russian airmén were not able to attain their objectives in elther. Helsingfors or Abo....
Abo was bombed three times in, Thirty-two bombs wera dropped in
shrapnel.
·Armaments, 33 millard francs; radio-report, from the USS, Tusen-would trafl her until she left the four rolds. No casualties were re-the vicinity of Helsingfors (5) Elevén
loosa, of any in-neutral act on the 300-mile noutrality umit, the part of the British warship.
The Columbus was set afire, either Arucas turned back and put into Much larger credits are contem-by-bors or torch, Just inside the 200- Port Everglades, where she is
PLEASE Turn To Pago 4. now anchored."
plated.::
ed although several persons were exploded in open fields and soveral
by falling others were dudukan wounded, presumably by
Many houses, however, were set Unconfirmed reports-slates that-n"
Soviet raider was brought down and two were thot down
afre by incendiary bombs, Ons zolder was brought down, ak
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