1939-12-22 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 22, 1939

WAR DIPLOMACY

EXTENDING

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day. COMMENTING ON THE Japanese decision to re- open the lower Yangtse, the well-known political commentator, Pertinax, writing in "l'Ordre,' points out that the decision will displease both Moscow and Berlin.

Reason is that Germany, which is eager to evade the Anglo-French blockade, is trying to induce the Russians to oppose Britain and is doing her best to encourage the Russians to improve their rela- tions with Japan.

SEVERE SOVIET RAIDS

Helsinki, To-day.

On the other hand, the general im- pression here is that Washington has been gaining ground in Tokyo of late, while Moscow is losing some.

With the arrival here of Mr. Renzo 8awada, the now Japanese Ambassador in Paris, it in

pected

that relations Japan and Britain and

Ox. between France

will take a more favourable turn. Semi-official circles point out that Japan is maintaining relations with fact of a strict matter

Russia on

Soviet warplanes raided towns all along Finland's basis, and Japan now appears to be turning her eyes towards the United south coast from Borgu, 30 States rather than towards the So- miles east of Helsinki, to Abo, | viet.-Havas. 100 miles west of the capital, yesterday.

The Red machines dropped about 60 bombs, 30 of which were rained on Helsinki and the suburbs.

Returning from Helsinki to

the Russian airmen swooped

Abo,

down

on an express train and raked it with machinegun fire.

Two people are reported to have

killed and two' wounded.

been

A second train was also attack- ed but no casualties are reported. Two separate raids occurred Helsinki and the suburbs.

on

WEATHER'S PART IN THE WAR

URSULA

GIVEN GREAT WELCOME

London, To-day. Dockyard workers cheered and naval ratings lined the rails of a submarine supply ship to give a tremendous welcome to H.M. sub- marine Ursula when she sailed into harbour yesterday after her great feat of sinking a German cruiser of the Koeln class in the mouth of the Elbe.

After Ursula had docked and the bearded members of the crew had posed for newsreel camera- men, the news came that they had all been granted special Christ- mas leave in recognition of their services.

Within a few hours all had

homes.- caught trains to their Reuter.

GERMAN VERSION OF COLUMBUS

AMSTERDAM, TO-DAY.

THE STORY OF THE SINKING OF THE COLUMBUS IS GIVEN A BARE SIX LINES, AND CAPTAIN LANDS- DORP'S

LT.COM. BICKFORD AWARDED D.S.O.

London, To-day.

His Majesty the King has decorated the commander and other members of the crew of H.M. Submarine, Salmon, which last week car- |ried out one of the most bril- liant submarine exploits of this war and the last.

Lieutenant-Commander E. O. B. Bickford, the com- manding officer, who at one time in his naval career served in H.M.S. Odin on the been China Station, has awarded the Distinguished Service Order and promoted to the rank of Commander.

It will be recalled that the Salmon first sank a Nazi U-boat and then tor- pedoed two German cruisers, the Lelp-

Reuter. zig and the Bluecher.

VISIT TO THE CANADIANS

London, To-day.

Following his visit to "Hore

Be-

SUICIDE ONLY TWO lisha Palace," the camp in England SHORT PARAGRAPHS IN MOST OF of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, spoke GERMAN NEWS- yesterday, Mr. Hore Belisha YESTERDAY'S

warmly of the discipline and efficiency The German version of the Colum-of the Canadian troops.

"When one sees these

men, one

PAPERS. London, To-day. Meteorological conditions bus incident does not even mention at this season give Britain the vessel is German, and gives no hint has no doubt about the result of the and France a considerable ad- of her size.

When the orthopaedic hospital was hit an operation was in progress.vantage over Germany.

Reuter.

BALLOON

BARRAGE

IMPROVED

London, To-day.

The prefalling winds and the bulk of our wather come from the west. Information is gathered from North America, the west coast of Ireland, sometimes in the Atlantic and also from land and balloon observation in Germany England and France, but

also depends on the latter areas for knowledge of her own coming wea- ther.

The Air Ministry on the outbreak of war therefore cancelled the usual weather became

a carefully guarded secret.-Reuter.

A new type of railway wag-forecasts and the gon, called a "low-fit wag- gon," has been developed for

the transport of gas cylinders AIR BATTLE

for the Balloon Barrage.

Lorries with these cylinders are a familiar sight on Britain's roads to- day, and will now be able to run directly onto the waggons, saving a great deal of loading and unloading.

It was learned yesterday. that 5,500 special troop and munition trains were run by British railways during the

of the first three months Reuter.

war.

GERMAN TYROLEANS GET SHOCK

Berlin To-day. Germans who are being repatriated from South Tyrol are reported to be bitterly disappointed at the news that

of thern are to

be sent: to most German-occupied Poland.

This information was given to a number of repatriates Lon; their ar- rival: at: Innsbruck yesterday by the local Nazi chief, North Tyrol, he told tise, will be available only for a small number of✅ South; Tyroleans, Reuter.

OVER HOLLAND

Amsterdam, To-day. Hundreds of people in the streets watched an air battle fought over Utrecht yester- day between Dutch and for- eign planes.

the of

foreign The nationality planes has not yet been disclosed.

put The foreign machines finally out a smoke-screen and disappeared. In London, it is learned that the Air Ministry has no knowledge the reported air battle.-Reuter.

NAZIS OFFER NEW EXPLANATION

Berlin, To-day.

of

In official Nazi circles, it is now said that the scuttling of the Graf Spee was ordered so as to avoid the risk of technical secrets falling into Kforeign hands if she was interned.

Reuter.

The first casualty lists of German victims in the Graf Spee battle are now creeping into the Nazi newspapers. Reuter.

w

war," he said.

"I think they are quite unbeatable. "I do not think any finer body of men has ever crossed the ocean.' Reuter...

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