1940-02-01 — Page 1

TAKE INITIATIVE

Attacking Soviet Entrenchments At Rasti

20,000 RED ARMY TROOPS CONCENTRATED

Helsinki, To-day.

IN FINLAND, THE INITIATIVE appears to have passed for the present to the Finns. On the Cen- tral Front, not far from Suomossalmi, the Finns are attacking strongly entrenched Soviet posi- tions near Rasti.

Rasti is nearly 20 miles from the frontier and was

STARHEMBERG GAZETTED

LIEUTENANT

Paris, To-day.

Prince von 8tarhemberg, form- er Vice-Chancellor and ex-lender of the Heimwehr in Austria, has been officially gazetted a lieuten- ant in the French Army "a titre et ranger."

要

This meana that the Prince cannot command French soldiers but only foreign units.-Router.

occupied by the Russians at the beginning of INDIA DROPS

December. About 20,000 Soviet troops are con-

centrated here and the battle is expected to be COMPULSORY

the most important in the area since Suomos- salmi. Unofficial reports from the district north-east of Lake Ladoga say that Finnish troops there have also taken the initiative and have captured the important town of Pitkaranta, tightening their hold on Russian divisions trapped near the town.

(Pitkaranta, which is on un im- portant highway leading into Soviet Russia, is about 20 miles from the border and is on the north-east shore of Lake Ladoga).

PLANES DOWNED

Official reports from the Lake Ladoga area state that many Russians were killed and nine Soviet tanks lost during repeated attacks, There were also Soviet attacks on the Lake Ladoga side of the Karelian Isthmus. Soviet 'planes were not so active on Tuesday, the only bombing being in northern Finland. The Finns claim to have brought five Soviet 'planes down with fighter 'planes and anti-aircraft fire. Reuter.

t MIRACLES NOT FOR EVER

Paris, To-day. "Miracles have happened but you can't expect a serios of miracles," Finland's Minister In

Parla told the Anglo-American press lunch yesterday.

"We are condemned to death unless help comes soon." -Reu- tor.

Soviet Strategy

London, To-day. The Soviet operations in Finland had three main purposes, the Finnish spokesman in London told Reuter yesterday, summing up the situation

at the end of the first two months of

war.

These were to break the Manner- helm Line, or, failing that, to turn its flank; to cut the "wasp walat" in two; and to occupy Petsamo and the hin- terland, thus rendering naval a. sistance impracticable and cutting off supplies by sea.

At the moment it might be said that the menace was being held on all fronts.

The Finnish Staff was confident that the Mannerheim Line would with- stand even stronger pressure than It had hitherto received.

was

MANPOWER NEEDED Finland's most pressing need for more ammunition, war supplies (including planes) and, finally, man- power.

Finland could hold off the Russians -for a long time but ultimately man-

power would tell.

Finland

appealed for volunteers

from all countries who wanted to de- fend the ideals for which Finland is fighting.-Reuter..

WATER SUPPLIES

It is officially. notified that a

stant supply of water will be given ·

in all districts =¦from 15

February 6 to 18 p.m. on Febru 12 in connection with the Chinese

Yent fortival:

SERVICE

New Delhi, To-day.

CONTROL OF PRICES IN BRITAIN

London, To-day.

Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, made a statement in the House of Commons yesterday on the cost of living index.

TB

He referred to steps taken by the Government to control, as far possible, retail prices of the principal essential foodstuffs.

It was due to this action that the cost of food index had remained un- changed between December and January,

The policy of controlling retail food prices by the use of public funda was being continued, and in consequence he expected that any Increase in the present month would be small.

The cost of this policy to the Ex- The scheme for compulsory nation- chequer was very substantial, and at costing £1,000,000 a tish subjects in India has been aban-holding the prices of such articles as al service for all male European Bri- present it was

week. This arose principally from

bread, flour, meat and milk. ter.

doned.

This is because legal difficulties arose which could be superseded only by the British Parliament superseding the British Army Act as it applies to the British Army in India.-Reuter.

GERMAN PRESSURE ON YUGO-SLAVIA REALISTIC

Paris, To-day. ANGLE

NEW YORK, TO-DAY.

STATES PROTEST TO BRITAIN ABOUT SEIZURES OF MAILS, THE

According to a Belgrade dispatch the German-Yugo- COMMENTING ON THE UNITED slav Economic Committee, which normally meets April or May, is now to meet in February.

in "NEW YORK POST" DECLARES:

The official reason given for ad- vancing the date is the need for ad- justing the commercial relations fol- Lowing the customs--union between Germany and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

"Our protesta are for record but let us be realistic enough to avoid heat In the matter and recognise as a hard fact that wa ara not going to take any action beyond a protest.

"Having given up our right to send ships to Germany we are not likely to be going to war with Democratle England in order to enable Germany to send goods to us." Reuter.

Fascist

It is believed that the meeting, which ie insleted

upon by the Germans, will play a part in the economic offensive started by the

DEATH OF SIR Germans in South-eastern Europe.

HERBERT MARLER The new German financial delega- tion has arrived in Belgrade to con-

́(SPECIAL TO "China maiL") duct negotiations in connection with

Montreal, To-day. the pre-war Serbian loans. The

The death is announced of Sir Her- German object appears to be to in-bert Marler, who was Canadian Minis- crease the percentage

which Yugo-ter in Tokyo from 1929 to 1938. slavia agreed last December to repay. Sir Herbert subsequently became

Minister in Washington-Havas.

Reuter.

Rose Room PENINSULA

HOTEL

-

Reu-

COLUMBUS CREW HELD

NEW YORK, TO-DAY. IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS STATE THAT THE CREW OF THE NAZI LINER COLUMBUS, SOUTTLED SE- VERAL WEEKS AGO, ARE STILL INTERNED ON ANGEL ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO.

Thus the report that 500 of the Co- lumbus crew had sailed on board Ja- panese fishing-boats 1s denied,

Rumours, however, are current that a plan exists to divide the Nazi sailors into small unita, soat- ter them along the coast and then quietly put them... on board-Ja- panese ships.

The sailors themselves say they are willing to try the hazardous voyage in order to get home.-Reuter.

SOVIET TRANSPORTING

POLES

Copenhagen, To-day. : As a result of increasing difficulty in maintaining order, the Soviet Gov- ernment has adopted a policy of mass transportation of Poles from Eastern Poland to the interior of Russia. Reuter.

From 9

p.m.

To 1 a.m.

TO-NIGHT

Dinner Dance

WITH ART CARNEIRO & HIS MUSIC

TEA DANCE 5 to 7 p.m. SUNDAY NEXT

THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS LTD-~~~-