1939-12-21 — Page 7

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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 21, 1939.

GRENADE ON FRONT

FIGHTS

BALLOON

WESTERN BARRAGE

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day. DESPITE THE SUDDEN THAW after several days of bitter cold, patrols were extremely active throughout yesterday. German infantry were particularly aggressive on the Lorraine front between the Moselle and the Vos- ges, where they made four attempts against the French advanced posts which turned into sharp infantry engagements.

At many points grenade fights took place over the

barbed wire.

Important engagements occurred in

a wood when one German company attacked the French positions but was repulsed after a violent fight in which artillery participated.-Havas.

SLEETY RAIN

The recent bitter wintry weather on the western front has been suc- ceeded by a thaw, and cold sleety rain has been falling.

These conditions have hamper. ed air operations at the front itself but have favoured long- distance flights, while British planes have visited both the Ger- North man seaplane bases in Germany and German reconnais- sance machines flew over north- west and western France..

Land activity continues to consist

of minor local operations, and four

unsuccessful enemy patrol raids on a wide front between the Moselle and

the Vosges are reported in authorita-

tive military circles.

RED IN

THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING

H.M.8.

London, To-day.

Orion and the Gor-

man ... Aruca, which eluded her and took refuge in Port Ever glades,

Christmas exchanged greetings yesterday.

Books and magazines were sent from the Aruca to Orion, and Orion reciprocated.

Orion is still watching outside the harbour.-Reuter.

ARMY SUCCESS

NORTH

NOW

CONFIRMED

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Oslo, To-day.

THE OCCUPATION BY THE Red Army of the entire strip of Finnish territory separating the extreme north of Norway from the Soviet is now confirm- ed in an announcement by the official Nor- wegian news bureau.

AT SEA NOW

London, To-day.

Measures against Nazi mines aeroplanes laying

along the British Coast in- clude not only the nightly patrols over Heligoland, but also operations by the "Bal- loon Navy."

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air- In order to intercept enemy craft, balloons are now made fast to boats around the various "danger areas," and these boats are manned by young members of the Barrage of the R.A.F., tug and fishermen.

Balloon

masters

The danger of the work is illus- trated by the story of how one such boat found itself anchored at night It did not dare move, near a mine. for fear of being blown up, and those their lifebelts all on board wore night.

boat

The next morning, the anchor was hoisted and the

slowly and cautiously moved out of the area,~~ Reuter.

ALASKA AIR

BASES

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Washington, To-day.

In view of the "virtual alliance" be- tween Japan and the Soviet, Mr. An- thony Dimond, Alaskan delegate

to

The new Soviet headquarters on the northern front congress, stated yesterday that he is

have been established at Salmijaervi.

Soviet troops there are reported to comprise 100,000 men in addition to mechanised detachments, against a maximum of 1,000 Finns. Reu.

Last night's French war communi. que stated:

"There was no event of Importance during the day."

ter.

NAVIES IN CONFERENCE

London, To-day. Admiral Darlan, Commander-in- Chief of the French Navy, arrived in London yesterday for consultations with the Board of Admiralty on ques- tions of co-operation between the British and French naval forces.

Admiral Darlan was accompanied by Rear-Admiral de Gouton and two Staff officers.

Admiral Darlan is the first French naval officer to hold the newly creat- ed rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the French Navy.

British Wireless.

TALK WITH MR. CHURCHILL

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

London, To-day. Admiral Francois Darlan, Comman- der-in-chief of the French Navy, land- unnamed harbour on the ed at an Channel coast yesterday, and was welcomed by the Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Sir William James. Admiral Darlan immediately pro- ceeded to London and started conferr- ing with Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty.-Havas.

FRENCH SEIZURES OF NAZI CARGOES (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day.

It is officially announced that be- tween December 9 and 16 the French Navy seized 74,000 tons of German goods.

Since the beginning of the war 201 ships have been examined.--Havas.........

Soviet losses continue to be im-

portant.

From the Norwegian border, songs and dance music were heard from Russian troops gathered around camp fires despite a temperature of 58 Centigrade below zero.-Havas.

ANOTHER APPEAL

Helsinki, To-day.

asking Congress to vote $15,000,000 for the construction of a new air base. Mr. Dimond added that the air bases at Kodiak, Sitka and Fairbanks were not sufficient for the defence Alaska. Havas.

UNIDENTIFIED

AIRCRAFT OVER THE EAST COAST

London, To-day.

of

Finland has made another peace IT IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED that unidentified air- appeal to Moscow.

ed

In a broadcast, the announcer call- on the Russian people to rise against the provokers of war

between Soviet bring peace and Finland. Reuter.

craft appeared for a short time over the Eastern Coun- ties last evening.

and Searchlights were exposed and fighters sent up to investi-

gate, but no contact was established.

Russia

CHINA IN THE NEWS

to

Chungking, To-day. In a leading article addressed foreign correspondents in China, the "Central Daily News," organ of the Chinese Government, expresses grati- fication at the fairness and accuracy of news reports filed by foreign press- men in China in the two years of Sino-Japanese hostilities.

No anti-aircraft guns were in action and no air raid warning was sounded."

The Air Ministry last night denied the German High Command statement that a British flyingboat had been shot down.

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COMMUNISTS BANNED IN CHAMBER

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day. The foreign affairs committee of the Chamber of Deputies yesterday un- animously decided to exclude the two Communist members of the commit- its base. tee, Gabriel Peri and Florimond Bonte.

Havas.

It is stated that a British flyingboat Tuesday encountered a German machine off the Norwegian coast,

The enemy was driven off and the ayingboat returned to

Reuter.

The journal, however, hopes that ANATOLE ZAITZEFF & CÔ.

correspondents, in spite of the war

in Europe, would continue to "cover" FURRIERS: Chinese news fully and also person- ally keep editors in their home offices

actual conditions informed of China.--Reuter.

in

EXPERT TAILORING

INSPECTION INVITED at Asia Life Building

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