1939-12-07 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 7, 1939

OUR TROOPS CONTRABAND

ARE READY FOR ACTION

British troops everywhere in France are working hard maintaining their fighting training writes an observer.

This is what forcibly impresses an observer as he moves from camp to cump.

Along the roads of France our in- fantry tramps on route marches, and in camps they continue intensive training in weapons of every kind.

Valuable exercies in concealment from the air and camouflage are con- stantly being carried out.

One day I accompanied a party of French writers round several British units. All the afternoon I heard "magnifique," "formidable," and so on. They were deeply impressed by the soldierly conduct of the men they

saw,

In one farmyard a morlar was un- packed, put together, and sighted in a remarkably short time.

WEAPONS, ALWAYS READY

Everywhere it seemed weapons were always ready to hand and the men waiting only the word of com- mand to spring to action.

The British equipment won the in- stant admiration of the French visi- tors. They exclaimed enthusiasti. cally at the quality of the material and at the fact it is all so perfectly up to date.

But the turn out and bearing of the men impressed them almost more.

Their reaction is typical. All Frenchmen, I have talked to laugh with contempt at the German radio attempt to claim that France is fight- ing Britain's battles.

CONTROL OPERATIONS

London, To-day.

Since the beginning of the war the Allied Contraband Control has intercepted and detained approximately 735,000 tons of contraband.

Of this total 476,500 tons has been detained by Great Britain and appro- ximately 260,000 tons by France,

During the week ended December Control 2 the British Contraband intercepted and detained 13,700 tons of contraband goods, of which there was evidence that they were destin- ed for Germany.

This total included 4,500 tons of iron pyrites; 1,750 tons of skins; 1,200 tons of coffee; 2,800 tons of other foodstuffs; 850 tons of timber; 500 tons of cotton; 400 tons of petroleum products and 250 tons of chemicals.

Other commodities detained in- cluded oilseeds, oils and fats, cal- clum, magnesite, tanning materials, wool and rubber.

FRENCH SEIZURES

During the fortnight ended Novem- ber 30 the French Contraband Con- trol also detained 35,300 tons of con- | traband, including 18,148 tons of foodstuffs and feeding stuffs; 12,651 tons of metals and ores; 2,236 tons of textiles; 107 tons of wool; 99 tons of hair; 107 tons of timber; 253 tons of resin; 147 tons of turrentine; 100 tons of cork; 220 tons of fats; 214 tons of oilseeds; 583 tons of wire and 273 tons of chemicals.

Other goods included jute, sisal, silk, rubber, and hides and skins. of your British Wireless.

"We have seen a sample army," they say, "and we can see that it means business. Whatever Germany may pretend, we know that we are both fighting for the same thing."

THE ARMY'S "LARDER"

I was surprised when I visited the main "larder" of our troops in France. It is a vast hall with a stage at one end-in peace-time it is used for en- tertainments. Now it is stacked from floor to ceiling with food. Outside requisitioned lorries (from all parts of the British Isles) come and go all day bringing in food and sending it out to the scattered units.

I arrived at the same time as a lorry which normally transports cement in Newcastle. It was piled high with cabbages. The unloading yard was always thronged with lorries from Glasgow. Sheffleld, Aberdeen and Bishop Auckland, all laden with pota- toes.

In the centre of the hall are kept huge round yellow cheeses nearly a yard in diameter which look exactly like brand new motor tyres still wrapped up. The troops have already

nicknamed them.

Nearby stand great crates of tea. Cases full of tinned goods are ranged alone the walls. Matches and ci-

In

MOSCOW STATEMENT ON LOSSES

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

MOSCOW, TO-DAY. WITHOUT MENTIONING ANY FIGURE, THE LENINGRAD MILI- TARY DISTRICT COMMAND DE- NIES THE FINNISH CAPTURE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF SOVIET TANKS.

has

It is added that the Soviet lost only two planes, while 11 Fin- nish machines were shot down over Soviet territory.

of

The Red Baltic Fleet Command denies that the cruiser Kirov and a destroyer were hit by the guns Hangoe Fortress, whose batteries, the Russians assert, have only a range of 25-kilometres against the 35 kilome-

warships.

tres of the Russian Havas.

garettes occupy a whole section. FINNS BOMB

one corner there is always a mountain of British Army loaves,

The cooks are delighted that turnips are already washed and scraped. It saves hours of time. There are plenty of oranges and bananas and the troops have an issue of half a grape-fruit each to see how they like it.

LETTERS TO SOLDIERS

The War Office emphasise that only letters and parcels for forces serving overseas can be dealt with by the Army Post Office.

SEAT OF

PUPPET REGIME

Rome, To-day. Terijoki, seat of the puppet Fin- nish "government," has been evacu. ated following a bombardment by members Finnish ́planes, according to reporte anywhere from Helsinki.

with

Letters and parcels for ∙of H.-M. Forces stationed

in England have to be dealt by the civil Post Office.

It is most Important, it is stated, that the address "C/o Army Post Office" should be restricted to latters and parools for men actually serving overseas.

Russian forces advancing on Pet- samo are being machine-gunned from the air by the Finns.

The Finnish Parliament mot twice yesterday at an unrevealed place.

loan of

The budget commission submitted Neglect of this rule will cause delay proposals for a long-term and may result in non-delivery -01 | 700,000,000 Finnmarks and a short- correspondence. Parcels for troops term loan of 1,000,000,000 Finnmarks. serving abroad cannot be registered, ́ Reuter.

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INDEPENDENT SPRINGING (changes riding into gliding) CONTROLLED SYNCHROMESH (you can't help making a good change) NO DRAUGHT VENTILATION

(fresh air without shivers) We will provide an adequate trial run on any Vauxhall model, and demonstrate its petrol economy

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