1940-02-19 — Page 6

NELSON

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 19, 1940

TRADITION

Admiralty Action In Altmark's Case Applauded

NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT PUT ITSELF IN WRONG

London, To-day.

BERLIN FIGURES OF LOSSES

Berlin

London, To-day. officially announcem that seven mon were killed In the Altmark Incident and that another is missing, presumed drowned.

Five were seriously wounded. It may be recalled that Ger- man sailors opened fire on the Cossack from the shore and the British destroyer replied.-Reu- ter.

"IT WAS IN THE BEST traditions of Nelson and an action that was fully justified," says both public and press opinion in Britain to-day in connection with the Altmark incident. After recounting the story of the rescue of the Bri- tish sailors, which it calls a "heartening piece of news," the "Sunday Times" says that it is re- grettable that we should have had to do anything to affront a country which as so many claims on EXPERT ON our respect as Norway - but the Norwegian au- thorities on the spot put themselves in the wrong. ALTMARK

that doctor. We tried to find him at the finish to thank him. He bandaged

last night." up our naval rating Router.

They had no business under Inter-, ness and humanitarian spirit. national law to allow Norwegian wa- "If ever I met a white man it was ters to be used for taking British pri- soners to Germany. Why did Norway allow them to use these waters and why did the Norwegian authorities tell the British destroyer commander that there were no British prisoners on the Altmark?

The "Sunday Graphic" informs the Norwegian Government that the whole of British opinion supports His Ma- jesty's destroyer Cossack's action.

The British Press also considers that the Nazi protest has not a leg to stand on.

GERMAN SQUEAL

The squeal that has gone up from

Germany does not alter our judgment in the least, says the paper. When murderers of the high seas invoke le- gal protection for their ships it is time to laugh!

SPANISH BID FOR TRADE IN THE EAST

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

A Spanish Chamber of Commerce for the East is being organized to de- velop trade with the Near and Far

East.

The Chamber is to extend its activi- ties to China, Japan, the Philippines,

INCIDENT

(BPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

London, To-day.

The Amsterdam "Telegrant" con- tains an interview with Dr. Selders, a well-known International jurist on the Altmark incident.

He says that the Altmark's action in carrying prisoners of war into Norwegian waters was unlawful and the Norwegian authorities appeared to have allowed themselves to be too easily deceived. At the same time, not the British Government should themselves have removed the prison- ers. They might have insisted the Norweglans doing so.-Havos.

Netherlands, Indies, Siam, Egypt, DISTINCTION

There is little question that the Bri-Turkey, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Greece tish action aroused misgivings in

and Bulgaria, and will seek to acquire Washington, in view of the difficulties

raw materials needed by Spanish in- the American nations have already dustry in exchange for Spanish agri- been in matters of a naval character. cultural and industrial- goods.Havas... says the Washington correspondent of the "New York Times."

He continues:—"Nevertheless, if the Altmark was a naval auxillary cruis- er-as the presence

British of the sailors on board her would seem to Indicate there is considerable justi- fication for the British action."-Reu-

ter.

Terrible Conditions

On Board Vessel

London. To-day. Interviewed by the B.B.C., one of the British sailors freed from the Altmark broadcast a short account of the terrible conditions under which the Nazis kept over 300 British sailors,

Food was small and scarce, he said. The daily menu ran as follows:-

Breakfast, 7 a.m. Three thin pieces of black bread. Tea, with no sugar

or milk.

Dinner, 2.80 p.m.: A pint tin of soup or tinned potatoes and meat..

Tea, 5.30 p.m. Three thin pieces of black bread and another cup of sugarless, milkless, tea.

That was all.

DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM CAYZER

London, To-day.

The death has occurred of Sir Charles (William) Cayzer, Con- servative M.P. for the City of Chester since November, 1922. He.... was 44 years old. Surviving him are his widow, two sons and two daughters.

Sir William was a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland.- Reuter.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN CANAL

WITHOUT DIFFERENCE

London, To-day.

on

NANNING NOT YET CONFIRMED

Kweilin, To-day.

While official confirmation of the complete recapture of Nanning is still being with- held, private telegrams state that Chinese forces re-enter- ed the city on the evening of Feb. 16.

Remnant Japanese north of Nanning were cleaned up on Saturday.

The main Japanese forces, which left the burning city during the week-end, are now concentrated at Yamchow and Fongsing. Along their attenuated line of retreat, they are being attacked and decimated by concerted Chinese operations.

The "Washington Post" on Satur-

follows: day commented as

"Anti- Communism has proved merely a clonk without basic meaning or sub- stance. Indeed to-day there is ex- tremely little to distinguish Nazi Ger- many and Communist Russia. They are like two peas in a pod. It is no longer Communism but Capitalism which the Nazis regard as the real now and Russia enemy, Germany speak one voice in the realm of ideo- logy." Reuter.

COSSACK APPLAUDED

London, To-day.

The officers and men of H.M.S. Cristobal, To-day,

Cossack have received a message of President Roosevelt arrived at congratulation from Exeter and Ajax Gatun Docks in the Tuscaloosa at 8 for completing the good work done by a.m. E.S.T. and disembarked an hour them when they accounted for the later to inspect the Panama Canal Graf Spee. locks and defences. Reuter. ;

When a desperate attempt at mutiny was discovered, they were all put on *** The Panama defences are, now

· bread and water for two days. -

organised on a full wartime basis. The British sailors tried to keep After the inspection, President their spirits up by starting card Roosevelt crossed the Isthmus of "schools" contract bridge, auction Panama by train and re-embarked on bridge and cribbage all attracting the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa in Miraflores their devotees. There was little exer-Lock.

cise possible, although they managed It is believed that he plans to go to to play leap frog; they had to be the Pearl or Cocos Islands for a few careful not to fumo too high, how days' fishing before returning through ever, otherwise they got a nasty crack the Canal. — Reuter on the bead!

There was also a system of barter. Towards the end, tobacco WAS SO source it was selling at £1 pound! A box of matches cost 6d.

GUS ELEN PASSES

London, To-day.

The famous coastermonger : comè--

Happy - groups of relatives and friends of the British seamen freed from the Altmark gathered at many stations on Sunday evening and gave a "heroes' welcome" to the rescued

men.

A member of the Tairoa's crew said that the Altmark must have travelled 15,000 miles, ranging from tropic heat to Entarctic cold.

Reuter.

BRITISH STEAMER MEETS DISASTER

London, To-day.

Tag captain and freman, lost their

He closed his talk by praising the dian, Gus Elen, has died at the age-lived when the 3,656-ton British steam

Reuter. Nari doctor on board for his kind-of 67,

er "Baron Allso" sank after an ex-

All messages received here agree that the spectacle of the Japanese re- treat resembles that of rout, numerous dead and wounded being abandoned on the roadside, which is littered by an endless line of wrecked lorries and trucks.

East of Nanning, the Japanese forces entrenched in the vicinity of Wingshun have also been withdrawn.

One report states that the Japanese are withdrawning from the south Kwangs! front and will be sent back to Canton.--Central News,

GERMANY'S ATTITUDE

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL”)

Copenhagen, To-day, Despite the sharpness of its protest to Oslo, Germany does not intend to retaliate against Norway over the Altmark case but will probably un- leash unrestricted sea warfare---this is the opinion of most Scandinavian press correspondents in Berlin.

The "Svenska Dagbladet," as well as the "Berlinske Tidningen," believe that week-end conferences in Berlin will result in a new order to the U- boats to sink at sight all neutral ships bound for or coming out of Allied harbours or which have sub-

mitted to Allied control. Havas.

IRANIAN

SHIP SUNK

was

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Teheran, To-day. The Iranian steamer Armanistan torpedoed by a German sub- marine while en route from Belgium to Iran with a cargo of sugar and rails.

An official communique announcing the incident states:-

"The effect of such activities on this country can only be unfriendliness and aversion." Havas.

GERMAN ATTACK ON FRENCH OUTPOST-

Paris, To-day. The official communique issued ́last

night states: "After a very heavy pre- paration with trench mortars, the enemy attacked one of our outposts

to the east of the Mosellé. He falled entirely.

"One other parts of the front, there was patról activity on either side. Reuter

plosion in the North Sea List

The remaining crew of 34 were

Reuter,

cued.