1939-12-28 — Page 1

SHOCKS FOR RED ARMY

RICKSHAW

BRAND

CEYLON TEA

See Page 7

CHINA MAIL

OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845.

No. 30,916

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1939 Price: 10 Cts.

LATE FINAL

NIGHT

INSIST ON

Daisy Brand

BUTTER

Australia's Choicest

AMAZING RED WOUNDED

EPIC OF THE SEA

London, To-day.

Their ship cut in half by

POURING BACK

urinho FROM FINLAND

a German torpedo, the crew of the London tank-

London, To-day.

er San Alberto returned THE MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT of the "Daily

to the surviving stern half, got steam up and made a bold attempt to sail to port.

This amazing

known last night.

sea story became

The San Alberto WDS attacked without warning on December 9, and

boats the crew escaped in four

minutes before she broke in two.

The fore part twisted and sank immediately.

DRIVING SQUALLS'

15

Telegraph" says that the conspiracy of silence

by the Soviet leaders, to hide from the Russian people the fact that their Army in Finland has suffered severe reverses, is failing.

During these last few days, despite Stalin's birthday and the equally flower-decked ceremonies of the local Soviet elections of unopposed candidates, the war feeling has become alive in Moscow. "You could feel," he cables,

"the secret tension in the SOVIET

street

the strain

Two boats, with the captain in one, among those hiding their real MINISTER

kept together in driving rain squalls

and rising wind, and they could oc- casionally see the other boats could not reach them.

Early in the afternoon the cap- tain determined that the after part would not sink. He return- ed and the crew started to raise steam.

By night time the engines were working and there was electric light.

but

A third lifeboat came alongside but one was still missing.

ATTEMPT FRUSTRATED

By keeping the engines going slow astern they kept the seas from tear- ing the front part of the ship's remains to bits, but every time she came head to sea great strips of plating torn away, and the attempt to make port had to be abandoned.

were

At 10 p.m. another vessel's lights were sighted and an S.O.S. sent.

She was asked to search for the missing boat, which she failed to find, and then stand by.

Next morning this ship, the Bel- gian tanker Alexandre Andre, at- tempted to transfer the San Al- berto's crew.

HIGH SEAS

The seas were running so high that the lifeboat was unable to get nearer than 20 feet.

After two men had jumped into the sea and had been picked up, they dc- cided to wait for the weather to mo- derate.

feelings.

"This was because they were be ginning to hear about the many casualties suffered by the Soviet Army in what had originally been present- ed to them as a mere man-hunt of Finnish policemen by the vastly sup- erlor Soviet Expeditionary Force.

"They have now heard that the of Leningrad hospitals are full wounded, that the schools of the city are being closed, partly

28

EXECUTED

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Helsinki, To-day.

It is reliably reported that the former Soviet Minister to Helsinki, Vladimir Derevia- nov, was shot in Moscow after a summary trial on charges of gross neglect of duty.

an air-raid precaution, but main- ly to provide space for beds.

MORE AND MORE WOUNDED "They have now heard that at M. Derevíanov had constantly re- various points on the Leningrad-ported to Moscow that Finland would Moscow Railway, the local hospitals not resist the Soviet threat, and thus are filling up.

is held responsible for launching the present disastrous offensive.

"They have heard that wounded around are actually being shunted Moscow.

"Finally, they have heard the re- port that one at least of Moscow's biggest hospitals is being evacuated of its civilian patients."-Reuter.

HUNDREDS OF SOVIET ARMY FREEZE TO DEATH

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Stockholm, To-day. The correspondent of the "Dagens Nyheter" reports that the Soviet troops in northern Finland are using German-made tanks.

The correspondant adds That night a destroyer appeared Russians have put into the field 16 and offered to attempt an immediate divisions of 18,000 men each rescue, but the Alberto's captain de-Lake Ladoga to cided to walt for daylight, in spite while the. Finns can only oppose ona of the heavy seas and darkness and battalion against one division.

DESTROYER APPEARS

the breaking

up' remnant of his ship, which was slowly sinking by

the stern..

"At 7 o'clock on the morning of Dec. 11 lines wara passed by the warship and the-craw farried over. In Carlay fonte.

The crew in the fourth lifeboat were eventually picked up by the steamer Maunder and landed after Ava days at sea-Reuter..

WEATHER, FORECAST:———-North winds, moderate" to fresh;

that the

from

the extreme north,

"The suffering endured by the Russians is beyond description.

.SOVIET DESERTERS

"The Finnish army has been com- pelled to create special police detach- ments to assist Soviet deserters roam- ing in the forests in a temperaturé of 35. below. Zero..

"Hundrede of Bovlet soldiers have bean frozen to "death." The "Finnish sufferings are also very hard. Wound-

lom" the advance skiing units are Kamilled topover iongs distanoss to.

an' ambulanos.

avas.

NORWEGIAN STEAMER

SUNK BY MINE

London, To-day. Seven members of the crew of И smell Norweglan steamer which was mined In the North Sea yesterday have been picked up. The other members of the crew went down with the ship.- Reuter.

PARIS A.A. GUNS IN ACTION

Paris, To-day. Anti-aircraft guns in the neighbour- hood of Paris were in action yesterday an unidentified plane flying against high towards Paris.

The air raid alarm sounded in Paris but was over in about 20 minutes.- Reuter.

erals and six junior officers have been executed for failure in the Finnish It is also reported that three Gen-1 campaign-Havas.

FRIGUA

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