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"Hongkong Telegraph”
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The
FINAL EDITION
Hongkong Telegraph
FOUNDED 1941
No. 15022
A TRG THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1939. A SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS
$30.00 PER ANNUM
1
Full of Smart Notions
WHITEAWAY'S Display of Kmas Gifts
for Ladies &
Children
RULERS
WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS
ENGLAND Elizabeth and Princess Margaret are to spend:
LONDON. Dec. 20 (Reuter)¦ → Princess
Christmas with Their Majesties.
History of December 25, 1914,
1914, May Be Repeated THIS IS HOW GERMANS MAY OBSERVE A CHRISTMAS TRUCE
Om
Armistice Western Front
BERLIN, DEC. 21 (REUTER).—SOMETHING. IN THE WAY OF A CHRISTMAS TRUCE WILL BE OBSERVED ON THE WESTERN FRONT BY THE GERMANS IF THE ALLIES DO NOT ATTACK.
A semi-official promise to this effect was made by the Nazis to-day. This forecast by well-informed circles
in Berlin yesterday followed the departure of Hitler for his mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden.
The Germans state that their troops will not be ordered to embark on any land offensive during the holidays.
In this connection, neutral observers attack considerable importance to the visit of the Papal Nuncio to the Wilhelmstrasse, Whether it was in connection with proposals for a Christmas Armistice cannot be ascertained.
Reds Still Revolting
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
HELSINGFORS, Dec, 20 -(UP),—Reports of growingTM unrest among the Soviet forces, among whom one battalion have already re- volted and, after killing their officers, have joined the Finns, continue to gain ground.
Seven Russian bombing planes are now reported to have been surrendered to the Finns by the pilots, who have offered their services in the fight against the Communiste.
It 19 niso reported. although unconfirruedly at present, that Italian and Spanish volunteers are now serving as pilots with the Finnish Air Force.
SOVIET ATTACKS COLLAPSE
Finns Gain Control
After Big Battle
*In the first Christmas of the Great War there was a truce)
the Western Front.
UCHIS
Afghans Call Up Troops
Menaced By
Soviet ?
-SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAPH
CAIRO, Dec. 20 (UP)—- along a considerable portion of Afghanistan, the Kingdom of 215,000 square miles It was not ordered by the General buffeted between Sovict
Russia, Persia,
Stafts. just happened.
How Capt. Daihne Scuttled The Columbus
Crew Set
Set Fire
Fire To Barrels of Petrol: Dramatic Finale
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UP)—The dramatic story of the scuttling and burning of his 32,600- ton liner Columbus-third biggest steamor in the German mercantile marine and largest merchant victim of the war-was told to-day by Captain Wilhelm Daihne, when he arrived with 578 other survivors aboard the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa.
U.S. Immigration authorities state that the Germans will be treated as marooned or shipwrecked sailors, and will be granted the customary 60 days permitted under U.S. regulations. At the expiration of that time they will have to leave the coun-. try.
Friendly Farewells
"The Columbus left Vera Cruz
on Thursday with an escort of American destroyers," said Cap- tain Daihne.
always and the
Something Shouted Something was shouted across No north-west frontier of India, Man's Land and someone answered. has decided upon mobilisa-
The crouching soldiers stood up to the full stature of men-and-laid their tion-of-part of its armed.
forces.
rifles aside.
Youthful Germans fraternised with
young men from Britain. The lan- The decision has been arrived Bunge difficulty was overcome by the at as a result of reports of heavy mute understanding of humanity. concentrations of Russian troop
"Right up to the end, there was arie or two American cruisers with us,
"They were very friendly and. as each one left us, signalled 'God Specil, a safe return and Merry „Christmas."
"The Tuscadonsn took up the escort
day before the scuttling.
NEW TRADE PACT
Rumania Joins Up With Italy
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
ROME, Dec. 21 (Domei). -Less than 24 hours after- de- rejecting Germany's
"Ai about 2.30 p.m. on Thursday amands for a new trade destroyer appeared on the starboard
row.
agreement under which she
"I discerned the British maign at would have had to supply 25
Men who were fathers of children on Afghanistan's northern fron-[her stern and gave the 'general alarm3 In Germany exchanged photographs with other men whose children were tier.
to stand by to scuttle and burn the
in Manchester, London and villages Last month it was, reported that ship. that fringe the Yorkshire moors. Russia had concentrated large forces
When night fell the soldiers re- in the Bokhara, area West of the: turned to the trenches and the bust. Caspian Sea, news of war went on as usual.
The Christmas Armistice never repeated.
There have also been rumours of a was secret clause in the Russo-German
PLEASE Turn To Page 5.
ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE CAPTAIN TAKES HIS LIFE
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
per more oil and
cent. foodstuffs to the Reich, Ignored Signals
Rumania to-day signed a "My men had been drilled for a month, and they knew exactly what trade pact with Hitler's to do,
erstwise ally, Italy. "The British destroyer signalled to us to halt.
Negotiations for the Italo- "By International flag, she inform~ | Rumanian agreement, like those ed us that she was sending a board-for the abortive Reich-Rumanian pact, have been in progress for "I ignored the signals. "The destroyer then fired iwo shots some tirne. across our bows, and I immediately ordered the lifeboats to be lowered
lng party across.
"As soon as they were clear of
the ship, I ordered the Columbus to
be scattled.
"The sea-valves were opened. "I kept lifeboats numbers 13 and by for the purpose of taking off the [scuttling crew and the fire brigade. "When the Chief Engineer report- fed that all the sea connections had been opened I ordered, the ship to be
BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 ̊ (UP).-Captain Langs-set re
dorff, Commander of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf von Spee, committed suicide with a revolver to-day.
His body was found in a room at the Immigrants Hotel He left a letter which said that from the moment he had been ordered to scuttle his shpl, he had decided to share the HELSINGFORS, Dec. 21 destiny of his boat although he decided to postpone it long (Reuter)—The series of violent enough to be assured of the safety of over a thousand young men attacks on the Mannerheim Line | who made up his crew. after a heavy and prolonged
The Ambassador rushed to the artillery bombardment all col-bolel immediately upon being noti
·lapsed after a footing had been fled. I personally advised the gained temporarily at several Minister of Marine of the tragedy. pointa,
behind the Linës,
Over 100 tanks supported the attacks and the biggest array of alr- -craft since the invasion began bombed the Finnish positions and towns The Finnish troops fought with grim determination and the Russlanį *ionses were considerable.
Numerous tanks were captured inside the Finnish lines and others were destroyed before reaching the main defence system.
The time of the suicide. is not) known, but it is presumed thin occurred soon after the issuance of the interment order.
all
INTERNING OF CREW
"Disappointment"
With Argentine
Torch Put To Petrol
"The torch was net to the barrels of petrol which had been `placed everywhere for such a purpose, "The 'shlo was well ablaze as the
side.
two feboats cleared from her
"I went down by a rope Inter to the last lifeboat. In which we clrcled our burning ship until we were taken aboard the Tuscaloosa, which two miles away?
They have been in Scotland since before the war and trävelled down to London during Tuesday night.
They have noj soen the King since the middle of August' and the Queen for two months.
BERLIN, Dec. 20 (Reuter).-Herr Biller
GERMANY left Berlin to-day to spend Christmas at
Berchtesgaden,
It is not known whether he means to keep up his waxnl custom of celebrating Christmas with members of the Nazi Party In the Beer Cellar at Munich.
£100,000
An Hour On War
LONDON, Dec, 20 (British Wireless), Britain's groat war effort was disclosed in impressive fashion to-day by the Minister for Supply.
Between September 3, the day Britain declared war on Germany, and December 12, the Ministry has placed orders amounting to the astounding total of £225,000,000.
This works out at £2.250,- 000 a day, or almost £100,000 an hour.
and leather:
Among the contracts signed | by the Ministry are:
Japnese Cabinet Asked to Resign
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
TOKYO, Dec, 21 (UP). The Japanese Cabinet has been asked to resign,
The Jikyoku Dashikai, a Among the contracts signed small independent political by the Ministry are £70.000,-group, which includes a few 000 for raw materials, textiles insurgent members of the Diet, has passed a resolution calling upon the Cabinet to €70,000,000 for raw ma- resign on the grounds of terials, textiles and leathers; its vacillating policy, result- £50,000,000 for guns.ing in the loss of the nation's .small arms and ammunition;
¡confidence. £45,000,000 for cars, trucks and other transport vehicles;
£12,000,000 for machine
tools!
£12,000,000 for optical and scientific instruments: £10,000,000 for general stores; and
£21,000,000_on_assisted. schemes of production, in- cluding the purchase of
plant.
OMINOUS ADVICE
The
Russo-German Eyes On Sweden?
LONDON, 'Dec. 20 (UP).-- "Exchange Telegraph's" Under the terms of the new Peiping correspondent reports pact, Italy will supply Rumania that the local German Bank is with manufactured goods, advising all German clients to machinery, chemicals, dyes, raw sell their holdings of Swedish cotton, wool and rayon, in return kroner as soon as possible. for Rumania's oil, wheat, cattle and eggs.
Franco-Soviet Relations
French Politicians Want Rupture
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPHI PARIS, Dec. 20 (UP)--The
parliamentary group of the Republi-
wascan Federation, which met to-day under the chairmanship of M. Louis "The crew of the Tuscaloosa did Martin, has unanimously voted In everything! possible for us.
favour of a rupture of French re- Intions with Soviet Russia.
It is reported that a meeting of
of
I am sorry my ship had to go. But if you get an order you have to fulfil that order. That' the the Foreign Affairs Committee way it in," captain Dalle ended, the French Senate this morning shrugging his shouldern.
advocated practical as well as morni aid for Finland..
· Survivon Landed NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (Dome!),~~--| The U.S.S, Tuscaloosa niived herei
!
Decision Supported It has been disclosed that Captain. Langsdorf yesterday requested the
Members of the Committee are also SPECIAL TO THE "TELEQĦAP{" heart to heart talls with my men." authoritles permission to "have a
BERLIN, Dec. 20 (UP).—The German. luxury
this evening with 670 survivors of the believed to have supported a rupture
Ilner Columbus of Franco-Russian relations. The authorities c
cleared the hotel of internment of the Admiral Graf aboard,
The
committed discussed the International situation generally, and the Grat execpt
Spec's crew and Spee's crew in Buenos Aires sheim Dalhsie of the scuttled German, situation arising out of the
Upon landing here, Captain Wi-
pakd particular attention to the deep around their Captain. He ap- officers who formed circle four caused disappointment in Berlin. iner told Press that his ship lelt Vera invasion of Finland,
Soviet parently bade thern his last farewell. It had been hoped that the Cruz, in Mexleo, on December 14. At,
It also decided to recommend fur An offcial communique Issued by crow would be considered as 3.05 p.m. on December 19, when the ther attempts at reconciliation be- the German Embassy praised the being "shipwrecked" and would ship was 400 miles off the coast of tween France and Italy. Caplain's action, Implying that be released accordingly. Nasl ofolaldom considers that he
An authorised source has concluded als esreer, with full fold the press "the men who arrived
At Ellis Idland A number of civilians were killed
"I then had no alternative but to NEW YORK Dec, 21 (Reuter). at Buenos Aires after their ship had order the scuttling of my ship." said The Columbus survivors have been and civil property was set nire:
The funeral is scheduled for 10- during the intense bombings of the morrow and will be attended at the sunk were unarmed. It is my the caplain. Various parts of the Innded at the Immigration depot on Towns behind the Mannerheim Line. German cemetery by 300 of the Graf personal opinion that under these ship were fired. The crew drifted Ellis Island.
Large areas were left as blazing, Spee's crew and German officials, to interned.
Fircumstances they should not be about for about one hour before they The arrival of the US.S, Tuscaloosa BAKALPLEASE Turn, To Pago 5.
PLEASE Turn To Pago 5.
were pleked up by the Tuscaloosa, was delayed by thick fogs outside the PLEASE_Tum To Pago.5.
the captain acided.
Tharbour. ------
Reds Lose Many Planes Twenty Russian plants “brought down, 14 by Finnish fighters
and six by AA. 'fire.
were
honours,
Virginia, It was suddenly attacked by
In Tritish 'warship, and two shells
on Monday pierced the bow.
Swedes Fight For Finland SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" STOCKHOLM, Dec. 20 (UP).- Several corps of Swedish volunteers will be ready within a few days to take up arms for Finland,
They will be led by an ex-Swedish Army commander, General Ernst Linder.
2.
There are approximately 5,000 men in the present group.
The total number who have volun- teered to serve with the Finnish forces is 10,000.
In the meantime, the "Koku- min Shimbun" reports. that Ambassador Ott and other high ranking German Embassy mem- bers will soon be recalled be cause of their failure to "take effective measures to enforce Berlin's pro-Japanese policy in coping with the situation arising Soviet German" "rap" from the prochement and the European war."
LATEST
WAR-TIME BILL FOR SWEDEN
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 21 (Router).—- A bill giving the Government wide powers in times of war or a threat of war, was introduced in the Kiksdag yesterday by the Minister of Justice.
The bill aims at offences liable to endanger the defence of the kingdom, national supply, and friendly "rein-
NAZIS RE-FLOAT ons, with foreign Sintes.
ARK ROYAL!
BERLIN, Déo, 20-(Router),——The German Propaganda Ministry, which for weeks past, had been reporting that the Ark Royal was sunk, to- day admitted that, the ship, is still afloat and in service.
The statement was made in A. message from Nio de Janeire to the semi-ofleial 'Trans-Ocean" "news service, which stated that the Ark Itoyal and Renown left Elo after brief slay.
S.O.S. For Stolen Motor Car
An urgent appeal was issued early this afternoon by the traffle depart- ment of the Police Office concerning the theft of a Morris Elght, two- seater car, painted green, which was tuken from outside of Sincere's atore about midday.
The number of the car is 2103, and the police ask anybody who sees it to. notify them immediately.
One of its main objects is to prevent the passing of secret information to unauthorised persons.
'Soe 'Back Pigs For Fortine Lats "Hown