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FOUNDED 1801 No. 10999
MONDAY, MARCH 一拜禮 號八十月三英港香·
18. 1940.
FIRST EDITION
Therry, Shpreme Courh
日十月二
HITLER AND MUSSOLINI
FOR VITAL TALKS AT
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
ROME, MARCH 17 (UP) —IT IS OFFICIAL- Attack On Forth Bridge repulsed: Civilian Casualties LY CONFIRMED THAT MUSSOLINI WILL CONFER WITH HITLER SOMEWHERE NORTHERN ITALY.
IN
A BERLIN REPORT SAYS THAT HITLER AND RIBBENTROP HAVE ALREADY LEFT BERLIN. MEETING CONFIRMED
ROME, Mar. 17 (Reuter).—The Italian Press Office announces that Signor Mussolini left Rome to-day with Count Ciano to meet Herr Hitler.
It is officially announced that "the meeting between Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler, which was arranged during Herr von Ribbentrop's recent visit to Rome, will be held to-morrow morning in the Brenner Pass.” DIPLOMATS IGNORANT
LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter).—Nothing is known in diplomatic circles here of the reasons for the reported departure of Signor Mussolini for Northern Italy.
There is little doubt, says Reuter's Diplomatic Cor- respondent, that Herr von Ribbentrop's visit to Rome was undertaken partly for the purpose of taking advantage of
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NEWS
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TO MEET BRENNER
WESTERN FRONT BEF LEAVE
CANCELLED
RUSSIAN AIMS
Peace Terms Influenced By Trade Ambitions
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPHI
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LONDON, Mar. 17 (UP).— STOCKHOLM, Mar, 17 (UP).` Further indication that n GerIt is learned that the Russian SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
man offensive on the Western desire to improve her trade posi- Front is belleved imminent was tion with the Atlantic played a' LONDON, Mar. 16 (UP)—In addition to raiding given to-day with the War Oflee large part in the final peace Scapa Flow, where a bomb slightly damaged one warship, announcement that all home terms presented to Finland.
leave for the British Expedition- Nazi planes on Saturday night launched raids on objectivesary Force has been cancelled. all along the coast of Scotland.
Pentland Firth
SCAPA FLOW
British fighter units took to the air as soon alarm was sounded and succeeded in beating raiders.
Thurso
Wick
CAITHNESS
Mr. Sumner Welles' tour to launch a peace offensive Raids On
Rumania
On Guard
Recognition Of Rights
Essential
The "New York Times" to-day reported from Rome, that pres- sure was being exerted on Mr. Sumner Welles "to induce the United States to throw its weight) behind a negotiated peace."
Marshal Bulbo's newspaper,
*Courier Epadano," also linked Mr. Sunner Welles visit with the possible
lity of an early pence.
Mr. Summer Welles has repeatedly emphasised that his mission is solely to establish facts and not to make any proposals or enter into any commitments on behalf of his Gov-
ernment.
BUCHAREST, Mar. 17 (Reuter).-"We want peace but a peace which respects our rights. Therefore we are on the watch," "declared
Welles The Inspiration the Premier, M. Tatarescu,
ROME," "Mar. 17 (Reuter).—The in an important speech general impression in Italian political which was broadcast to- circles is that a Mussolini-Hitler mecting at present must be connected night.
with the activities of Mr. Sumuer Welles, particularly his interviews yesterday with King Victor Emanuel, Signor Mussolin! and Count Ciano.
Our main concern this year, he said, must be the
strengthening of our Army and defence generally,
Strained Relations
as the off the
One of the objectives was the Firth of Forth bridge, but the Nazi Heinkels could not even get within bombing distance of the bridge, owing to the formidable opposition
encountered.
The raid on Scapa Flow was launched at 7.50 p.m., the raiders meeting with heavy anti-aircraft fire from ships and shore, and with opposition from pursuit units.
Scotland May
Start Air Blitzkrieg
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
on
of
LONDON, Mar. 17 (UP).—The German raid Scapa Flow is expected to bring an end to the war boredom and inaugurate the long-awaited attempts at an aerial "blitzkrieg" both sides.
from:
It is significant that Britain's Sunday press is already clamour- ing for a more active prosecution | of the war. This is expected to be intensified with a huge public outery for retaliation.
It will also, in all probability In- volve bitter debates in Parliament.
The British public first heard the
DEBATE ON THE WAR
The name of the warship hit by a Nazl bomb is not disclosed, but the
damage was slight.
No military objectives were hit anywhere ashore on the Orkneys or in Scotland,
It will be recalled that the Ger- October, when they damaged H.M.S. mans last raided Scapa Flow in
Iron
Duke, the last survivor of the 1914 Grand Flect. The Germans lost two planes in that raid.
Churchill
Recently, Mr. Winston surprised Parliament by announcing that the British Navy had abandoned Scapa Flow as a base since H.M.S. Royal Oak had been torpedoed there with the loss of 800 lives..
́First Civiliän Casualty LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter).----- The first civilian casualty of the war in the Orkney Islands, if not in the British Isles, occurred during the raid
raid on Benpa Flow.
Mr. Hore-Balisha-Will Break Silence LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter). news of the rald over the I p.m.-The members of the House of Commons will hold a debate on B.B.C. broadcast.
The raid may also form the spring- Tuesday on foreign affairs when aerodrome at Stromness was killed by Aman residing near the civil board for the long-awaited reorgani Mr. Chamberlain will review the a high explosive bomb while standing! sation of the Government into a war international situation and the within the doorway of his home Cabinet. PARIS, Mar. 17 (Reuter)-Well- Commenting on the developments, progress of the war. informed circles here believe that ther
J.
Garvin, of the An extraordinary credit of 30 meeting arranged between Herr Hit- "Observer" said: "Wake
Sunday The Rt. Hon. Mr. C. R. Attlee will up to follow Mr. Chamberlain and will ask by on exeaping enemy plane.
The bomb was one of 19 dropped milliard lei had been allotted to ler and Signor Mussolini has been The conduct of the War. Total number of questions regarding the the Army in the Budget, he de-inspired by the strain which is being Effort and speed up wanted. A real Government's diplomatic and general
put on Italian and German relations. War Cabinet wanted." This strain has been apparent below) The present defensive position is or not the financial and economie re- an
prospects. He will also ask whether the surface for some time.
too passive and, in some respects, too Fources of this country are being It is said to have become particu-negative," he said. "We will have to properly mobilised. larly evident during Herr von, Rib- and wield it ourselves.
wrest the initiative from Germany bentrop's visit to Rome. This is sup-
"What stands in the way?.
clared.
M. Tatarescue declared that the output of the mines and oilfields must
be increased to the maximum,
Internal Pacification
He thought a great part of the ported by information from Rome to difficulty facing the country had the effect that Italy does not intend Nothing but the delay of Total Effort come to an end owing to the Govern- to change her attitude towards Rus-and decisive direction." ment's efforts 10 consolidate sla, Rumania's position internationally and to make her strong internally.
Alluding to the reinstatement of the Iron Guards, the Premier said that the policy of internal pacification was beginning to bear fruit in restoring peace among all the sons of the nation.
Italy. And Rumania
At the same time it is understood that authoritative circles In Rome ect the meeting of the two Die- lators with Mr. Sumner Weiles. The exact connection, however, is defined.
not
It is understood that diplomatic
ed by Mr. Sumner Welles' second visit than by his first visit.
- SPECIAL TO the "teleGRAPH"
BUCHAREST, Mar. 17 (UP)-In a speech to the Rumanian Senate
Though not much hope is enter yesterday, Major Sidorovich said that tained in Rome for a successful peace Mussolini had promosed him during move it is belleved that such, a move a special audience in Rome that Italy will be made.. would come to Rumania's it! If she were attacked,
Belisha To Be Outspokon
Sir Archibald Sinclair, Ledder of the Liberal Opposition, will speak for the Opposition Liberals and it is expected that he will be followed by Mr. Leslie Hore-Bellsha
who wil make his first speech since he gave Government.
DUTCH CREW the reasons for his leaving the
BOMBED
watching tracer bullets and anti- aircraft shell-bursts,
Leave Widow And Son infant pon. The dead man leaves a widow and
The same bomb injured two of his neighbours, both men, who were standing at their doors, and the
This announcement coincides with the report that Hitler is rushing more and more troops up to the West Wall where already a large French army and a substantial British Expedition- ary Force face bly German troop concentrations.
War Office Explanation LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter).—The
Access to Bolle and Scandinavian ports was another profound influence. Two special demands, a_rallway and transit rights through Petsamo, have as their original purpose an im- provement in Russia's trade position, although It ja also
recognised that they could eventually becoma Of strategic importance.
The railway is required to supple- ment the famous White Sen canal
sinking Leningrad and Katıdalalaksja: at the lip of the White Sea.
Warning To Scandinavia Commenting on the peace treaty to- War Office announces that owing to
de- unforeseen delay men coming home day, the "Helsingin Sanomat" un leave from the B.E.F. have been clares: "The new conditions of the territorial peace treaty, relating to temporarily retarded.
Normal leave will be resumed as surrender in the north, and the or- early as possible, says the announce-ganisation a strategie railway from ment.
Murmansk to the Swedish frontier are, together with indications of in- creased interest regarding northern Norway
Activity By Patrols PARIS, Mar. 17 (Reuter). There has been renewed patrol activity on the Western Front during the past Saar region und west of the Suar. two or three days, particularly in the
German patrols were out day and night and at times came fairly close to the French lines.
French heavy artillery dispersed several largo pariles.
neighbours our Scandina showing what Russla alming nt."
The comment continues: "The pre- tent peace is only one stage of the
Moscow, for the time being, i content to halt and walt hero for an opportunity to continue her nurch to the West."
There have also been exchanges of
Defensivo Alliance fire between casemates on the Rhine.
STOCKHOLM, Mar 17 (Reuter). -Reference to the proposed defen- German Communique SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" sive alliance between Norway, BERLIN, Mar. 17 (UP): The Sweden and Finland was made by Command's official M. Gunther, the Swedish Foreign German High: communique to-day said:
"An| Minister, in a speech on Saturday enemy patrol was to-day repulsed 15 night.
It was an extremely complicated miles southwest of Zweibruecken.
own matter, he said, and required inten- "On March 10 one of our patrols destroyed a French observa-sive study Lon post on the Sanr Front. There! That study had been begun as far
as Sweden was concerned.
were no German losses.
"Our air force carried out recon- haissance flights over the North Sea,
NEW WAR CABINET POSSIBLE
He declared that the Swedish Government was fully convinced that if Allled troops had gone through Sweden; Sweden would have been dragged into the war.
Germany could not be unaffected by the establishment of British and French troops in
In the north. As far back as January 29, Gunther sald, Moscow had said in her note that Russia in principle was not opposed to a settlement with the Finnish Government, but the intter must put forward proposals to form
Daladier To Make the basis for negotiations.
Vital Decision
M.
London Minister Leaves LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter).—M. Gripenberg, the Finnish Minister to
same batch of bombs wrecked the PARIS, Mar. 17 (Reuter). London, left for Helsingfors cottage of an elderly woman, who By Monday night at the latest, Saturday, crawled from the wreckage and collapsed on the road. Another woman and an elderly man were also injured.
:
on
the country should know It is not known how long he wil whether M. Daladier has decided stay away..
to re-shuffle his Cabinet or not. The big debate in the Chamber on Tuesday on the Finnish situation may thus assume added Importance, with the Deputies taking the opportunity to question the Government on the composition of the Cabinet.
..
LATEST
EXPLODE
More than 50,high explosive bombs, as well as many scores of smaller Ile will deal mainly with Finland incendiary bombs, fell in the west of and it is understood that he will make the Orkneys... the same kind of speech as if the House of Commons were discusing
Magnified Claims LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter)It is
There was much discussion in poll- AMSTERDAM, Mar. 17 (Reu- the question in secret session. quarters in Rome were more interest ter). The crew of the Dutch debate for the Opposition and it is might that "the fact that the German regard to the form the changes might|
Mr. Hugh Dalton will wind up the stated in British naval circles' to- tical circles during the week-end with motor ship, Nettie, 477 tons, likely that the Prime Minister will High Command is so eager to magnify take.
Most Likely Mova which arrived at Flushing, stated speak again at the end of the debate. the air skirmish over Scapa Flow and that she
the ridiculous claims they have made was bombed
Sinclair's Warning and
The formation of a "War Cabinot," of inflicting damage on units of the SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
of which M. Daladler. would remain machine-gunned by a German
British Fleet betrays undue nervous- the hend, was considered most likely DRIFTING MINES LONDON. Mar. 10 (UP)-We ness and an almost childish desire to This might be aeroplane off the south-east seemed to have passed from a warlike have something to boast about.
accompanied by Well-informed eireles lay stress: jcoast of England.
general re-shuffle of the Ministries. peace to a peaceful war," said Sir Nobody was hurt and no damage Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader, eastern and northern bases are sub-. "It is always recognised that our made to-day in
In other quarters, it is thought probable that a former Prime Minis-i In a radio broadcast speech today. Count Clano's newspaper "Telegrafo" was done.
TWO tremendous explosions, be- ject to air attack but we are confident ter would be asked to take over the leved to have been caused by drift- that the war may last a very long
The Nettie landed two castaways
"However,
behind the deceptive from the British ship, Melrose, at sppearance of quietness lies the os the fighting proceeds, time,
of giving a
g a good, account of ourselves. Foreign Ministry. Zeebrugge. The Naxi Version.
It is also considered likely that ang mines, rocked Cheung Chau reality of a gigantic conflict. It is s
"It is very significant that only a member of the present government, Island last night. kille to say that we should make peace small portion of the forces which the will be appointed France's first Midia-| Only meagre information could be SPECIAL TO THE “TELEGRAPH"
now before the great battle with its BERLIN, Mar. 16 (UP),—The fol-
enemy despatched upor lowing official communique has been
The others must Government rests on, and respects have missed their way. issued:
nothing, but force.
"Even of those which arrived, the "We must be prepared for the con- bulk were content to kill and wound flict to happen at any moment," he civilisha in the smail vilages five or
He blamed Norway and Sweden for face the fire
six mics from the harbour rather 12an the tragle issue of the Russo-Finish batteries,"
The Humanian press has not pub- upon a statement lished this part of the speech, neither has it been officially acltnowledged. Diplomatie circles here refuse to be- lieve that Mussolini mennt this as an offer to Rumania or as a guarantee; to her integrity.or. a guarantee against Invasion.
Major Sidoroviel receive a round of applouse when he referred to Italy as Rumania's big brother.
No Promiso From Hitler
·SPECIAL TO THE "TELEQNAPH"
"As
Q
Congress Deplores Assassination
great bloodshed begins. The Nazi come into action. Upon it cared to ler of Information...
added.
result of reconnaissance activities during the past few days strong fghting units of the German RAMGARH, Mar. 17 (Reuter).- Air Force made a raid on Scapa Flow At the instance of Mahatma Gandhi, BUCHAREST, Mar. 17 (UP)-It on the evening of March 16. Three the Indion Congress Working Com- war has been officially denied that King battleships and one cruiser were mittee has adopted a resolution ex- Carol has received a security proposal struck by bombs and badly damaged, pressing deep regret at the death of from Hitler, an official spokesman Two other warships were probably Sir Michael O'Dwyer and the wound-
ing of Lord Zetland. asserting that there is no basis for damaged, such reports. However, is under- stood that Berlin is,
"The Committee does not attach cager to put
any polical' significance" to this un- Rumania's nerves at
Australian Ship Sinking
of the ships and
St. Patrick's Day ation
obtained as this Edition of the "Telegraph" went to Press, as the Police authorities refused all inform-
The first explosion occurred shortly
midnight,
Coincidence | after 11; p.m.; and the second after
DUBLIN, Mar. 17 (Reuter)~~The] Windows, as far apart as Kowloon coincidence of Palm Sunday and St. Tong and the Peak rattled violently: Patrick's Day to-day was referred, as the mines exploded. to by the Prime Minister, Mr.
BRITISH RAID ON Eamon de Valere, on Saturday night
HELIGOLAND
"Moreover, airfields at Stromness In order and Kirkwall, as well na anti-aircraft fortunate act. Nevertheless it wishes Glebe Wireless reports that they Air Ministry announces that in the :SAN FRANCISCO, Mar, 10 (UP), LONDON, Mar. 17 (Router)The emplacements, were bombed.
to reiterate the conviction that all have intercepted a SOS signal from course of yesterday's daylight recon- and pursuit planes,, the German air-cause," stated the Committeo.
"Despite strong anti-aircraft fre such acts are injurious to the national the Australian stearder Kahiki zay-naissance aver Heligoland Bight, ing she is on the rocks and sinking British machines bombed a number craft carried out their orders and re- The resolution will not come before rapidly between the southern tip of of German naval patrol vessels be- tarned without a single loss,"
open session.
Victoria and Tasmania,
tween Borkum and Heligoland.
to bring about the proposed lerno billsation of half a inlillon or more Rumanian soldiers to work in the fields and thereby produce a big PLEASE Tum To Page 7.
when he that that
coincidence had
occurred only once in the last 140 years.
The usual celebrations in Dublin) were curtalled by the war.
·
although a troop of cavalry escorted There were no milliary parades,
the President, Dr. Douglas Hyde, to special Protestant service, wh
Mr. de Valera and his Ministors attended a Catholic service.
a
Ses Back Pugo For
- Further' Late News
W