THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 9, 1940. .
War Council Eulogy by The Prime Minister CHAMBERLAIN
SUMS UP WAR
SITUATION
LONDON, TO-DAY.
LUBECK FIRE
Paris, To-day.
The Parls radio learns that an important Industrial plant at Lu- beck has been destroyed by fire Cause of the blaze is unknown. -Reuter.
GREETED WITH CHEERS WHEN RISING TO MAKE HIS SUMMARY ON THE CANADA'S
WAR POSITION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, SAID THAT IN RECENT WEEKS WINTER HAD GRIPPED EUROPE, HALTING THE OPERA- TIONS OF WAR AND INTERRUPTING EVEN THE NORMAL ACTIVITIES OF NATIONS, SO THAT THERE HAD BEEN FEW EVENTS OF IMPORT- ANCE TO RECORD.
Referring to the meeting of the Allied War Council |
in Paris on Monday last, Mr. Chamberlain said BRITONS
members did not gain much from the laconic communique issued after the meeting.
VOLUNTEER
"I wish indeed that I could light the darkness and give FOR FINLAND
the House an account of our proceedings, but I know that no-one will desire me to be guilty of making such generous gifts to the enemy.
London, To-day.
COMMDR.- IN-CHIEF
The appointment of Major-General McNaughton to command the Canad- fan Forces is of significance from Imany points of view. Not only is he a distinguished soldier with a brilliant war record, but he is a leading figure in the world of Imperial Research.
His nomination reflects the import- ant part which science is destined to play in the present conflict. As head of the National Research Council of Canada, he has been responsible for controlling lines of investigation into innumerable scientific problems con- nected with such varied topics as the
detection of flaws in metals, the as- sessment of stress, the improvement
The Finnish spokesman in London told Reuter yesterday that British subjects were volunteering to fight for Fin-of meteorological instruments and
and land and were being register- the development of new
efficient types of aircraft equipment.
Among his many enterprises been the invention of a cathode ray direction finder.
"It could, I think, be useful for me to say a little about the background of the meeting and the general impressions brought back with me from France. "In the first place the Council was! Mr. Chamberlain, referring to the larger than on previous occasions, Balkan Entente conference and the
"I have indeed the impression that decision to renew the Entente fored. as the weeks go by the Council is seven years, said: "This announce-
There were a number of air pilots steadily growing in importance and ment indicates the determination of
among the volunteers who, he said, has become not merely a convenient the governments of these countries to
might be particularly useful as the the views of do everything in their power to main-Russian menace from the air was be- means of harmonising the two Governments but a vital in- tain the stability and security of
coming increasingly serious. strument in the successful prosecution south-east Europe. of the war.
"As M, Daladier said, the Council now conduct their business almost As if they wer ethe cabinet of a single government.
ESSENTIAL FACTOR "That is not to say that the govern- ment of either country has in any way surrendered its responsibility, but that an understanding has been reach- ed which will prove to be an essential factor in the eventual victory of the Allles.
"The decision is most welcome of especially if the other states south-east Europe have this im- portant object equally at heart. "His Majesty's Government warm- ly sympathise with the efforts which they sincerely hope may be attended with success."
Not a single Finnish town had escaped Russian bombing.
In the week ended Fab. 3 the
on
enemy had bombed the country systematically, concentrating the north during the first fow days and on the south-west during the second half of the week. In reply, the Finns bombed Rus- GREEK SETTLEMENT
sian units and supply services, this Referring to the financial discus- being the most they could manage sions with the Greek authorities, Mr. with the small number of aircraft at Chamberlain said that satisfactory present available.--Reuter. agreement had been reached on-a and economic interest to the
"The value of the Supreme Coun- number of financial cil's proceedings is not in my judg-question of mutual ment confined to the value of the two governments. business discussed,
"Much else is gained from the friendly Informal contact between res- ponsible leaders of the two nations.
"I have returned from Parls with the conviction that the bond be- tween our two countries is some- close thing greater than even the alliance which the common pur- pose and the common danger have enforced.
"It has become a deep and lasting friendship between the two peoples. (Cheers).
ATTEMPT FAILS "Our enemies have lost no oppor- tunity, by every means of propagan- da at their disposal, by sprending false rumours and by ceaseless lies
(Cheers) of seeking to divide Britain from France. In that attempt they have failed." (Cheers).
The Prime Minister said that suf- ficient answer to the enemy's efforts to sow dissension between us was a phrase he had heard so often from his French colleagues Nous sommes d'accord” (“We are in agreement").
These included a settlement regard- ing the service of the Greek external debt for the duration of the war negotiated between the Greek Minis-
and the Council of ter of Finance Foreign Bondholders and the League Loans Committee.
was
He went on to say that there the military no change in
Western Front. situation on the In the air, wintry conditions had exposed men and material to the sternest test of - adequacy. The strain on the Royal Air Force had been severe, but it had bean borne without flinching (cheers).
NAZI AIR ATTACKS Mr. Chamberlain then referred to the U-boat sunk when trying to at-
tack a convoy and to the three Nazi planes shot down on February 4 and added: "We know that at least one other was so badly damaged that it was probably unable to reach its base."
The extent of successes claimed by Germany for this method of attack bore no relation to the facts, said the Premier. For example, on February FINNISH HEROISM
3. It was asserted that in an air raid The Finnish people, Mr. Chamber on that day along the East Coast no lain went on, continued their heroic less than nine merchantmen as well ́struggle against an enemy who was as other vessels were sunk, and that using his huge air fleet in a vain en- the British ships sunk were all in deavour to shake their spirit, by burn- convoy. ing the homes of the poor, scattering The facts are that in this raid, one with high explosives hospitals full of Norwegian merchantman was sunk wounded men, and pursuing defence- and no British merchantman - lost.. less citizens with machineguns. (Cheers).
The success which hitherto had at- tended the Finnish arm had evoked the admiration of the world, and "we rejoice to think that the help given from this country has been of real value to Finland, Further help is now on its way." (Loud 'cheers).
"SMOKESGREEN`..
CONTRABAND CONTROL
THE
more.
has
The General is also a great believer In the value of scientific co-operation, and only a week or two before the war headed a delegation of Canadian manufacturers to Britain to discuss with the authorities the contribution they might make to Britain's rearma- ment effort. The proceedings were private but it is already clear that the results will be of far-reaching importance.
Technical detachments accompany the first drafts, a further indication of that welding of science and military technique which General McNaugh- ton's appointment ---so - vividly-illus- trates.
NAZI AIRMEN BURIED
LONDON, TO-DAY. THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE STATES THAT DURING THE WEEK ENDING FEB. 3 CONTRABAND COMMITTEE CON- SIDERED THE CARGOES OF 114 SHIPS WHICH HAD ARRIVED SINCE JAN. 28, AND 22 OUT- STANDING CARGOES FROM THE TLE OFF THE NORTHUMBERLAND
PREVIOUS WEEK.
In 90 cases the entire cargoes were released.
Ships dealt with during the week and included 32 Dutch, 29 Italian eight United States.
There were 30 neutral ships in the three United Kingdom control bases on Wednesday 21 of them had been detained five days or leks.--Reuter.
the crews at elevations which make it quite clear that there could be no doubt as to their identity are now all too familiar.
LONDON, TO-DAY.
· THREE GERMAN AIRMEN WHOSE BODIES WERE WASHED ASHORE DURING THE WEEK WERE BURIED ON WEDNESDAY NEAR THE SCENE OF SATURDAY'S, AIR BAT-
COAST.
The R.A.F. squadron which over- came the raider provided a guard of honour at the funeral. The coffins were draped with swastika flags, while the commanding officer, officers and other ranks of the R.A.F. squadron sent a wreath-Reuter.
DYING FATHER SAID "BOX ON"
After spending all day at the bedside of his dying father, a Birkenhead boxer went straight into the ring at Liverpool.
a
The German wireless statement on that the British naval, January 31 patrol vessel, "East Dudgeon" had
• "Box_on," were his father's last been sunk by German aircraft words, and so Charlle Smith gave falsification Intended to cover up from death-bed promise that he would do the world a deliberate and savage at- tack on a lightship. Seafaring folks 50, and he went to battle with Tom- my Armour, welter-weight champion of all nations are well aware that the
of Ireland. “East Dudgeon" is a lightship and its
But, though he fought gamely, Smith identity was unmistakable. She was
was forced to retire at the end of the naturally unarmed.
Afth round.
鲁
"These vauntings,TM
ngs,” said Mr. Cham- "We have always shared with other berlam, “are poured out like a smoke- civilised nations (cheers) the view| screw tas conceal stories of callous that lightships because of the nature brutality an inhuman as any, yet on of their servios, are outside the scope record of an enemy" (Hear, hear). of hostilities
The bombing of unarmed merchant-lightships, ships and fishing boats from the air report the followed by the machine-gunning of in thair
"All the time I felt I was fighting under Dad's Instructions, he said arter the night" "I thou on seeing him there Smith's" father:
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