1939-12-08 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939

CHINA PRINCESS

(Continued from Paja 18)

i

will have a, long talk together. That

is is my little girl over there,

it not?" This was Su speaking. Sandro and Fellows had walked away to- gether, leaving a disconsolate crowd of young men behind them,

"Come with me," said Su suddenly in a curious low tone, gripping Strong so hard that the Briton almost winced. They caught up with Sandra and

her escort.

Su did not wait to be introduced. "I think we better have a private talk, just you and I, Mr. Fellows," he said. "Strong, look after Sandra will you, and keep her here till we come back. This is important."

So Sandra and Strong had drinks together and talked of many things, nol welcoming any of the many would-be companions who came over to their table,

It must have been an hour-and-a- half later when a retainer of Su's came to them and announced that the Master was waiting for them.

.

Winter

Warfare

THE JEHOL INVASION

Winter, from the military stand- becomes impossible in wet winter point, may be said to have arrived. | weather. With its arrival the chance of major offensive operations on land before next Spring has undoubtedly gone.

It may be thought that during à Even a subsidiary for preliminary short spell of fine weather a lightning Nazi campaign in the Low Countries attack by mechanised forces such, as

with limited objectives,

were used in Poland might be practi- or Rumania

cable. That might be so if the which might under favourable condi- tions look attractive, is becoming in-ground were frost-bound and advance

by armies were not creasingly improbable.

so highly ganised as to require artillery sup- port in breaking the first lines of re- sistance and breaking therefore the frost crust.

When

they

In the past during the winter, arm- les as a rule drew apart and went in- to quarters in towns or villages where supplies had been collected.

or-

invaded Jehol, the

SHOOTS HER LOVER POWDERS HER FACE

New York, Nov., 21.

A beautiful, twenty-six-year-old Texas girl pumped eleven bullets into the back of her former sweetheart as

Under modern conditions, with good Japanese deliberately waited until the he walked along the street with his

roads and railways to maintain the immense amount of supplies and am- munitions required by armies many times as large as formerly, the com- batants do not draw apart.

on.

DOMINANT FACTOR Fighting on a reduced scale can go Bickering in No-Man's land and minor raids take place but weather conditions are a very dominant fac- tor in prohibiting offensive operations on a large scale. blank

In a sitting-room with a little bal- Fellows. cony outside were Su and The face of the Chinese was and as that of a man who has had a great sorrow.

He turned to the girl: “Sandra, this is your father," and bowed to Fel- lows, then took Strong by the arm, "Come with me, my dear chap."

They went down to the bar d Su ordered a

of powerful dose very

He liquer brandy,

then steered

said: Strong to a table and

"I have not yet thanked saving Sandra last night.”

you for

"There are no thanks needed, Mr. Su."

"Come back to the house with me. There are many things I have to tell you. But you must excuse me if I am bad company to-night."

"I'll come to-morrow." "No, now.

the I need company,

company of someone I know and can trust."

It was in the

study quattrocento that Su told Strong that he-Su- knew that Fellows was Sandra's father. He had found this out fifteen years ago, but the tiny child had dug her Angers into his heart and he could not let her go. She was happy, she loved him, what else mattered, "But I did wrong, grievous wrong," he said, as if talking to himself. "When I saw

I them together to-day, saw that Destiny had arranged the meeting and I felt compelled to tell the English- man the truth."

There came one of Su's silent house- servants who bowed and said some- thing in a low voice.

lows.

"Show them in!" ordered Su, a puzzled look in his eye. There entered a beaming Sandra and a smiling Fel- "Dear Father," she exclaimed and her arms were around the Chinese. You are my father. Mr. Fellows is my uncle. I was an orphan when you

found me."

Su jumped to his feet and almost shouted for champagne. Fellows took up the tale later.

This especially is the case when, as in Western Europe, the weather is and un- liable to change suddenly predictably. There are many days in winter when it would be possible to launch an offensive if all preparations were ready and troops

assembled within striking distance. But battles are no longer a matter of a few hours of intensive fighting.

The struggle, once begun, may go on for days or weeks, and the wea- ther may change before it is over.

Uncertainty to weather as ditions is, therefore, the primary rea- son why winter operations are too risky to be undertaken.

con-

DESPERATE HANDICAP Bad weather may delay and ham- per preparatory operations so that, when a tine spell comes, preparations are not complete; or again, when everything may be ready, a sudden change of weather may necessitate the postponement or abandonment of plans.

For bad weather imposes a desperate handicap On attacking troops and that handicap is bound to increase the longer the struggle takes, as we learned on the Somme and at Paschendaele.

|

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ground was frozen in order to make full use of mechanised columns. But' there resistance was weak.

new girl-friend this morning -and then calmly powdered her face as she waited for the police.

"He's better off dead" she com. mented. is

"It was an awful thing to do, but he had it coming to him."

In Europe such conditions are not likely to occur. Unless a gap formed or exists in the defences, artillery forces have little chance of penetrating

defence lines.

Even could

should they penetrate, they achieve little and must withdraw un- less supported by infantry to hold positions won.

When ground is soft mechanised forces have little

Their chance. movement is generally confined to damaged by artillery roads, easily fire, and on which they are vulnerable to air attack. Armed forces which are unable to

move freely and at speed across country cease to be ef- fective and will probably meet with quite insuperable difficulties, us the Italians learned in the battle Guadalajara.

of

She did the shooting with two long- barrelled six-shooters one in each hand - and apologised for her mark-

"I fired smanship

twelve shots. Sorry the other missed him." she said.

Trouble started last May when the dead man, Brooks Coffman, asked the girl, Corinne Maddox, to elope with him to California. She refused and he stabbed her. Although Corinne spent several weeks in hospital, she refused to bring a charge against him. But she swore to get even.

She came of the old-fashioned, hard-riding, straight - shooting Texas tradition, and to her re- venge was a personal matter-not

something for the police, al-

Winter operations for troops hold- ing a defensive position are, of course, trying, but much can be done to leviate hardship-frequent relief of men in forward positions, good shel- ters, and dry clothes when the men are withdrawn for reserve.

In cold dry weather, the health of the men is generally excellent. Wet muddy weather is the main cause of

sickness.

EFFECT ON MORALE

But commanders and staff are now so well trained to look after the health and comfort of troops that sickness, except in the case of an influenza epidemic, is seldom serious.

In the Maginot Line, to a great ex- tent underground, troops have an ex- ceptional degree of comfort and, of course, have had plenty of time to prepare for winter conditions without interruption.

So she waited and when she saw him to-day with another woman her hate boiled over.

at-

She had made an unsuccessful tempt to kill Coffman before to-day. She told the police. "He didn't know anything about it. I pulled the trigger but the gun just clicked."

VICTORIA LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

The Executive Committee of the Victoria League announce that their willingness and ability to assist students from overseas are in no way lessened by the war.

Arrangements are also in progress for hospitality of all kinds to be shown to

men and women coming

Artillery fire turns wet ground into a morass which limits the pace of ad- vance and exhausts infantry. Yet

In the Siegfried Line, men in small artillery support, infantry attack in pill-boxes will probably have a less the face of automatic weapons is im- comfortable winter. How far their possible. Moreover, shells bury | morale may suffer it is impossible to themselves in soft ground and lose predict. But if it is true that the much of their lethal effect. Tanks, economic conditions in Germany are from overseas to join His Majesty's if they can move at all oyer muddy | giving rise to unrest, it will be diffil-armed forces, and the League will be surfaces, are slowed down. They be come easy targets for anti-tank wea- Dons and have little chance of crossing

cult to prevent it spreading to troops with time on their hands to discuss received from. their

complaints obstacles. In fact, the use of the } families.

tank, not an easy operation under most favourable weather conditions,

me what he had done for her and what type of a man he was, I knew then that I owed him a very great debt of gratitude and also that I could not very well take her away from him, only claim a share in her, so to speak."

"Sandra is my younger brother's only child.

His wife and he died in India, during a cholera epidemic. I happened to be cruising in the East and was in harbour at Bombay at the time. I was bringing Sandra back to England when that storm caught us. There was an emotional moment I did not write that note that was, then, but Sandra broke up the tension pinned to her clothing. Poor old Janet | by saying in her clear, sweet voice, “I McCay, her nurse, did that. Janet may be leaving both of you soon." always called her 'My daughter.'

Whatever do you mean?" the two men asked, while Strong looked his astonishment.

"My own wife had died tragically young and I was going to adopt Sandra, and when I heard that she She smiled and pointed to Strong. had been adopted by a Chinese, 'I was "When a gentleman saves the life of angry. I did not know what sort of an unprotected young girl, the least a Chinese Mr. Su was or I should not he can do is to marry her," she said, have been angry. When he told me and walking over to Strong, took him that Sandra was my daughter, I did by the arm and almost dragged him' not deceive him. But when she told out of the study.

Silky New

Furs

ག་

THE FINEST. PELTS IN TOWN

At the ASIA LIFE BLDG.

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###22

glad to receive introductions of any officers, men or military nurses from. Hong Kong, who may care to be offered hospitality.

In winter warfare, whether offen- The offers from the Empire So- sive or defensive, it is hardship the|cieties are being co-ordinated by a troops fear more than actual enemy | Joint Committee under the Chair- action. The Allies are obviously bet-manship of Field Marshal Lord Milne. ter placed to alleviate these hardships than their opponents.

guerilla warfare. And in guerilla There are, however, two forms of warfare, Germany's newly conquered warfare that can go on without inter- territory may prove a serious adTM ruption in winter, air warfare and |ditional problem for her,

EWO

EWO MALTONIC

If you are run-down, nervous and cannot sleep. drink

a bottle of Maltonic just before going to bed.

You will sleep well and arise feeling strong and full of energy.

For Health, Energy and Enjoyment drink Maltonic daily.

Obtainable from all compradores, dispensaries or from

JARDINE, MATHESON & CO., LTD. TEL, 30311.