1939-12-15 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 15, 1939

"TAFFRAIL" DISCUSSES THE ODDS IN THE FIRST REAL NAVAL BATTLE OF WAR

·London, To-day. SHANGHAI

A TALK ON THE BATTLE between H.M.S. Exeter, Ajax and Achilles and the Nazi pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee was given from Daventry last night by Comman- der Taprell-Doring, better known to his many readers as "Taffrail,'

The Exeter, he said, was a vessel of 8,400 tons carrying six 8-inch guns, while the Ajax and Achilles, sister-ships, were of about 7,000 tons each and carried 6-inch guns. All three have a speed of about 32 knots.

The Achilles is actually one of two cruisers in the New Zealand Squa- dron (the other being H.M.S. Leander the flagship) and "Taffrail" said that, New as she was chiefly manned by Zealanders, congratulations were due to New Zealand for the part she played in the first real naval engage- ment of this war.

Unlike the Rawalpindi-Deutschland battle, this one was not so one-sided. Although the Admiral Graf Spee is 6 knots slower than the British ships, she carries six 11-inch guns firing a shell of 718 lb. each, with a range limited only by visibility distance.

FINNS CLAIM

VALUABLE

SUCCESS

Helsinki, To-day.

communique

A Finnish of

BROADSIDE HITTING POWER The Exeter's shells, although the same range, are only 256 lb. each, while the man-handled 6-inch shells of the Ajax and Achilles weigh only 100 lb. each.

the Finnish counter-attacks

STRIKES SPREAD

Shanghai, To-day.

Several more businesses are involved in the strike which is slowly spreading through- out the city.

SCOUTS IN BATTLESHIP

A doopsoa Rover Scout' oraw, numbering forty-three, has been formed "In a British battleship and is doing very fine work.

This is the largest doop-zon crew in the movement.

DOG-FIGHT IN THE NORTH SEA

London, To-day.

Three R.A.F. bombers were

Yesterday morning some 800 em- shot down and four Mes- ployees of the National Products Com-serschmidt fighters fell victim

pany, began a sit-down strike, pend-

ing a reply to demands for increased

case

salaries.

Workers of the U. R. Brewery join- ed the strike yesterday morning.

The first

of looting of rice shops, occurred yesterday. Further riots are feared to-day but the police are taking precautions. The price of rice is slowly falling.-Our Own Cor- respondent.

states that at Tolvajaervi RUMANIAN

crowned with success, DISASTER

were

A broadside from the Admiral and after a three-day battle Graf Spee, therefore, would weigh it is confirmed that two So- viet regiments were destroy- ed.

ships

about 4,708 lb., while a broadside

combined from the

British would only weigh 3,136 lb.

None of the four ships were heavi- ly armoured, and a single shell from the Nazi ship might well have sunk one of the British ships. But, in the traditional style of the Royal Navy, our ships did not hesitate; they at- tacked the German vessel and forced her to take refuge, in a battered con- dition.

It is Impossible to say what the final end of the Admiral Graf. Spee will be, continued "Taffrall." International law permits her to remain in a neutral port long enough to make the necessary re- pairs to become seaworthy and to take on enough fuel to reach the nearest port of her country- but nothing else.

WON'T BE LEFT

If the German warship is interned, she will be out of action for the dura- tion of the war. If she attempts to leave, she will be shelled by the British cruisers which, now they have found her, will not leave her.

The next few days should see some interesting developments.

It is interesting to note, concluded "Taffrail," that the man after whom she is named, Admiral Graf Spee, was defeated at the Falkland Islands on December 8, 1914, 25 years ago.-- Reuter.

CONSUL'S STORY OF THE CLASH

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA. MAIL”)

The district of Tolvajaervi is again in the hands of the Finnish troops, who are pursuing the Russians. In the course of local fighting Karelia, II Soviet tanks were stroyed.

in

de-

On the castern frontier Sovlet troops continue their attacks at Kooronoya, a station between Tit- karenta and Kitetas.

The Russians used gas at Suomus- salmi.

↓

The Soviet fleet bombarded Koivisto, and Finnish coastal batteries replied. The Soviet vessels with- drew.-Reuter.

MOSCOW REPORT

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Moscow, To-day.

It is claimed here that Soviet troops have advanced 105 kilometres with- in Finland in the direction of Ukhta. In the region of Petrozavodsk, it is alleged, Red troops

have taken Kitera, on the railway between Pit- karanta and Serdobol

Bad weather restricted air activity yesterday.--Havas.

TANKS CAPTURED

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL").

Helsinki, To-day.

In the course of violent fighting in the Tolvajaervi region the Finns cap- tured five Russian tanks, many auto- matic arms and other war trophies.

Near Lake Ladoga the Finns dis- persed enemy detachments-Havas.

Montevideo, To-day. RATIONING

The Graf Spee was in

Uruguayan waters when she IN JAPAN?

opened fire on the British

cruisers.

TOKYO, TO-DAY. INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF Interviewed by Havas, the British THE GOVERNMENT FAVOUR CON- Vice-Consul at Punta del Este stated ¦ SIDERATION OF A A. TICKET the German: battleship opened fire | RATIONING SYSTEM FOR THE while she was 12 miles off Maldonado. | PRINCIPAL DAILY - NECESSITIES,

She was immediately attacked by ACCORDING TO THE "ASAHI.” the three British cruisers, which were This move, the newspaper 'within 10 miles of her.

is being considered for adjusting sup- The British cruisers are now an-ply and demand and to overcome the chored, 90 miles out of ・ Montevideo | hoarding of rice, coal, charcoal, cloth- outside Uruguayán and Argentinian ing, sugar and other commodities.--. territorial waters.--Havas.

Reuter.

BUCHAREST, TO-DAY.

A HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE IS RE- PORTED AS THE RESULT OF AN | EXPLOSION IN A CHLORINE FAC-

TORY IN TRANSSYLVANIA.

to the British planes in the course of a big aerial battle over Heligoland.

Announcement of the battle is con- tained in an official Air Ministry com- munique, which says that throughout the last 24 hours considerable forces of the R.A.F. have been operating over the North Sea,

Our planes were carrying out a wide search for enemy surface craft and submarines, and made a close reconnaissance of the tuarles and fortified Islands north-west Germany.

INTENSE DOG-FIGHT

CB-

In

was

One formation of our aircraft engaged by a strong enemy formation over Heligoland.

In the course of intense fighting, in Tanks of chlorine gas. blew up which the British units were heavily during the night and so far the bodies outnumbered four Messerschmdit

of 81 factory workers have been re-fighters and three R:A.F. aircraft were covered.

Others are injured or gassed. The escaped chlorine gas badly hampered the rescue work.Reuter.

shot down.

All our other formations returned without loss.-Reuter.

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