1939-12-18 — Page 1

NIGHT FINAL

INSIST ON

"HITLER

SPEAKS" BEGINS

BEGINS On Page

LATE

Seven

CEYLON TEA

RICKSHAW

BRAND

CHINA MAIL

OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

No. 30,908

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1939 Price: 10 Cts.

Daisy Brand

BUTTER

Australia's Choicest

Exclusive Reports On End Of The Graf Spee

ALL OFFICERS DIE WITH SHIP

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") ·

MONTEVIDEO, TO-DAY.

IT IS NOW BELIEVED, ON THE BASIS OF REPORTS FROM ARGEN-

TINIAN WARSHIPS HOVERING IN THE VICINITY, THAT ALL THE

OFFICERS OF THE "ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE” CHOSE, WITH THEIR

COMMANDER, CAPTAIN LANDSDORP, TO DIE WITH THEIR SHIP

WHEN THE POCKET-BATTLESHIP WAS SCUTTLED BY INTERNAL EXPLOSIONS SHORTLY AFTER SEVEN O'CLOCK (MONTEVIDEO TIME) LAST NIGHT.

She slipped out of harbour barely 50 minutes before

the expiry of the time limit, and was under the waves by 7.35 p.m., three hours later, as the re- sult of three explosions which sent parts of the ship skyrocketing into the air.

She went down within seconds of the third explosion which shook the whole ship visibly and appar- ently occurred below the water-line.

The whole drama was observed from two Argen- tinian warships and Uruguayan aeroplanes which cruised around the estuary of the Rio de la Plata to see that territorial rights were ob- served. She went down five miles off the coast just outside Argentinian territorial waters.

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That it was the intention of Cap-1 terday afternoon reports how tain Landsdorp to blow up his ship observed obedience to a sudden order was revealed by the fact that the "Admiral Graf Spee" was followed Labourers who were working on the to cease repair work on the hull. -out of Montevideo by a German mer- ship laid down their tools and were

chant ship, the Tacoma, which pick-taken ashore. ed up the crew of the battleship after they had taken to the boats.

"CEASE WORK" ORDER The Havas correspondent who cruised round the "Graf Spee" yes-

40,000 KILLED IN RED ARMY

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

The "Cease Work" order is said to have followed a visit by the British Minister to the Uruguayan Foreign Office with a Note from the British Government, the contents of which are not revealed,

Shortly afterwards, however, it was learned that the Government had decided not to extend the time limit for the Graf Spee's departure,

BERLIN REPORT (Confirmation of this is apparent- ly contained in a Havas report from Berlin carrying an official announce- ment by D.N.B. stating that the Graf Spee's captain decided to scuttle his ship after Uruguay had refused grant the ship further delays repairs).

to

for

Amsterdam, To-day. According to a press report at least 40,000 Soviet troops have been killed and 100,000 parently, Captain Landsdorp hoped to Right up to the last moment, ap- are suffering from frozen repair his ship sufficiently to encour limbs in the Finnish hostili-age a desperate attempt to break ties.

The frozen earth, which is as hard as stone, is preventing burial, and terrible epidemics are feared when the snow melts.

The Finnish soldiers are sub- mitted to constant strain, while the Russlan tactics apparently conslat of sending weakly fresh troops regardless of losses, Havap

through the ring of Allied warships off the estuary, but, efforts to obtain further concession of time having failed, the decision to sink the battle- ship was taken, in view of Hitler's order that a second sea battle was not to be risked.-Havas.

1

Buenos Aires, To-day.

A radio message from the Argentine sloop "Independincia" announced that Captain Landsdorp committed suicide when his ship blow up.--Havas,

EIGHT DOCTORS SENT TO FALKLANDS

Buenos Aires, To-day.

It is learned that eight doctors have been sent to the Falkland lales from the Argentine to at- tend the wounded of H.M.S. Exe- ter.

The disabled cruiser has now arrived safely in the British na- val base in the Falklands.

Extent of the damage to the ship has not been revealed.n Reuter.

NEW GERMAN MENACE

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

London, To-day. Observers are of opin- ion that the Germans will probably take ac- tion against Scandinavia in the near future.

Such action will be determined first- Iv by the necessity for support to the Soviet, whose assistance is necessary for the Reich and which at present is losing face in the Finnish campaign.

The German action would allow the Soviet to deal more easily with Finland.

Secondly, Germany does not wish. to let Russia grab Scandinavia's gen- eral riches, and wants to get Sweden's iron ore while she is unable to prevent Russia from occupying Finland's nickel mines. Havas.

REMOVAL OF PREMISES.

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Royal Typewriters. Monroe Calculators. Victor Adding Machines. Dictaphone Dictating Machines. Keclox Carbons and Ribbons.

"GF" Allsteel office furniture and filing cabinets. Todd Checkwriters.

Kardex Systems.

Neison Duplicators.

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Owing to the layout and facilities of the new premises we anticipate offering our customers better service than in the past.

THE OFFICE APPLIANCE co., LTD.

11, Chater Road, Ground Floor, York Bldg.

Telephone 34177.

Managara