1941-02-11 — Page 41

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 11, 1941- -

America Awaiting

Surprise Worl Hitler's Surprise Stroke

ADMINISTRATION leaders in Washing- ton believe that the next eight or 10 weeks will tell whether the United States will be plunged into actual warfare against the Axis because of President Roosevelt's unprecedented pro- gramme to "guarantee" a British victory.

Actually, it is war right now without any shots being fired and there is an alliance be- tween the United States and Britain without any seals or signatures.

Chancellor

1

however; know just as Wa hap lan knows. that the United States capitoi des. liver navalupe he" of arms to Britain before sty 10onth. F year, and hence Chancella: Hitler may tempt a kreitout blow a Britam before United States 'plane, gunship and tanks can be delivered tities.

sufficent qua-.

FIREWOOD

PRICE CONTROL?

The retail price of fire-

I found high Government offi- wood soared to a new re-

i

arrives write:

cials cutely apprehensave fest acord height this morning test the Brith ability tour- vive comes before sufficient and when only 22 catties could # correspon- be obtained for one dollar. dent. Diplomatie, military and naval leaders told me they believe

Government, the "China Mail" Britain will be able to turn back about to adopt effec- Was gren to understand this any German invasion

tive m'asures to remedy the situation

One high official said the "odds Nazi undertaking arg on such a eusily 60 to 40 in Britain's favour."

"Total Destruction"

Those close to President Roose- velt fear that Chancellor Hitler's surprise stroke may be even worse than an invasion, that he may try to knock Brita 011 by "total destruction" from the air. for

rehearsals.

Wholesale and retali prices of this everyday

necessity may be fixed by Government within the next few days,

SILK STORE

ROBBERY

5 MILLION MORE BATTLE-SUITS

Contracts have just been signed, states the Ministry of Sup- ply, for the largest single order for serge battle-dress placed since the war began- 5,000,000 blouses

and 6,000,000 trous- ers. Nearly 250 cloth- ing contractors, in England, Wales, Scot- land and Northern Ire- land, will be engaged on the work. The 9,000 miles of serge, taking 10,000 tons of wool required, will be manufactured by 150 firms. Nine thousand miles of lining materi- al will also be used. More than 200,000,- 000 brass buttons will be sewn on uniforms.

FISHERMEN

the

AMONG THE MINES

for

which Coventry and London For breaking into the Hariram Five fishermen appeared before bombings may have been merely Silk Store last Wednesday andhe Marine Magistrate, Comman-

stealing a large quantity of piece der T. C. Stiff, this morning, goods, four Chinese were sentenc-anchoring in the Tathong Channel This attack of "total destruc-ed to three months' hard labour

Minefield. tion," it is believed in the United, each and ordered to be expelled naval authorities and handed over Defendants were arrested by the States, may cone after or siniul- by Mr. E. Himsworth at Kowloon to the police. taneously with a German invasion this morning. of Ireland sometime in March,

Commander Stiff said it was a Accused broke into the shop by serious offence and pointed out United States policy of all the back door and were arrested that charts

showing the prohi- out" aid to Britam is a direct re-

later on the roof of a house inbited areas had been issued for a sult of the explorations of the Hankow Road later. Part of the long time. Under-Secretary uf State, Mr. goods were recovered by the po-

Defendants were

fined $20 Summer Welles, a year ago in lice.

three weeks umprisonment, Rome. Paris, Berlin and London, Mr Welles came out of Germany last year bearing what was tanta- mount to a blunt warning from Chancellor Hitler that if the Unit- ed States knew what was good for her, she would ! hom skirts clear of any etranglements such as aid for Britain.

Hitler Sought "Peace"

That

the was

time of the

edly originating from Rô chỉ vir

POSSIBILITY OF SECRET WEAPON

PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF phoney war" and reports, reach-BRITAIN AGAINST INVASION TAKE. FULL ing Mr. Roosevelt, some purpes ACCOUNT OF THE POSSIBLE USE OF GAS Marshal Herman Goering, that BY THE GERMAN ARMY AND AIR FORCE Chancellor Hitler was in a mood AND STEPS ARE TO BE TAKEN TO COUN- to negotiate peas were heard time and again. These "feelers" TERACT THE ATTACK WHICH WOULD COME even contended hat Chancellor CHIEFLY FROM THE SKIES AND SEAS. Hitler wus willing to step aside as dictator if any equitable peace for Germany was devisable.

Mr. Welles learned that Chan-

cellor Hitler was willing to nego- tiate a peace, but that following the conquest of Poland the Fuehrer wanted a "victor's peace."

Or

Britain has pledged herself under the Geneva Protocol of 1925 not to use gas unless this is first inflicted on her in war.

Thus the initlative in its use field conditions. must remain with Germany who Also statistics show that

even

fatal casualties and permanent disabilities from gas was lower than from any other cause. Reuter.

In private conversation with introduced this weapon in the in the last war the percentage of Chancellor Hitler. Mr. Welles lis- 'last war. tened to the Fuchrer paint a grim word picture of German 'planes reaching beyond Europe, a picture ranking the United States as a ri- val of Germany, whether or not the United States entered the war.

President's Challenge

t.

Germany also pledged her- self not to use it again but may follow the example of her Axia -partner, Italy, in the conquest

of Abyssinia.

The Germans are not believed

to possess any new gas.

Indeed, scientists consider new gas which can be used

no

·in

be some

Mr. Welles returned and Mr. chemical warfare exists. What Roosevelt flung down the chal-would be new would lenge that there can be no recon-hitherto unforeseen method cillation between the Axis "tyran- using this weapon. ny" and the Democratic "way of life."

QUIET TRADING ON

STOCK MARKET

A general strength in gilf-edged of securities and Indian irredeemable stocks on the mobilisation' of In- the dian, dated issues provided tor-

feature of to-day's market on the London Stoolt Exchange.

: Wholesale usa of gas to rories the clvillan population is "hardly-likely for this is a won- „pon which, recoils on the user

like a boomering,

དྷྭ་ཛ

Safety Of Masks Complete safety against all

Elsewhere, the market was quiet, the early buoyance follow❤ Ing Mr. Churchill's broadcast be- |ing mostly not fully maintained | owing to the quietness of trading. Industrial Issues were narrowly.

The barricade had been thrown up but there had been no shooting, In this race against time" to um Britain, however, the United States undoubtedly will be com÷} pelled to take, bolder, steps than any disclosed thus far. The Ad-polson gases: It provided by the irregular and home-rails attract- ministration's programme is being service gas mask and the civilianed small buying, while among for pushed ahead on the principle that gas-mask, the only difference be-eign bonds, Belgian and Japanese if shots are to be fired, it must be tween the two being that the issues improved. Germany, who fires the first ono,

former is designed to stand up to Wall Street was Arm-Reuter,

SEE AND TRY THE