1939-11-29 — Page 7

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

A Gallant

Rawalpindi Went Down With Her Colours: Flying After Fight Against The Most Overwhelming Odds

Thrilling Description Of Battle With Two Enemy Warships Before Sinking

LONDON, Nov. 28. (Reuter)-A statement issued by the Admiralty reveals that the Nazi warship Deutschland at- tacked the Rawalpindi, which was forming part of the Nor- thern Patrol by which contraband control on German trade is enforced.

At 3.30 p.m. the Rawalpindi, when cruising to the south- east of Iceland sighted an enemy ship. Captain Kennedy, having examined the vessel through his glasses, said: "Its the Deutschland all right," and the crew were immediately ordered to their action stations.

The course of the ship was P. and altered to bring the enemy un clinging

to enable

the

0. Chitral were found to an overturned life-

the starboard quarter. Smoke-boat. 23 hours after the Rawalpin floats were lit and cast into di sank. The Chitral picked up. the the Rawalpindi's S.O.Sat the water

height of the battle and went to Rawalpindi to escape.

her assistance at full speed. However, a second enemy ship was soon seen to star-! board.

H

FIRST SALVO

CHINA'S NEW

AIR LINE. KUNMING, Nov. 28 (Central) The Eurasia Aviation Cor- poration's new Chungking Kwelyang-Kunming air service will be formally inaugurated on Dec. 1. test flights on the line having proved satisfactory.

The fare from Chungking to Kwelyang will be" $219 and from Kweiyang to Kunming $270.

The flight will be only one way, from Chungking to Kun- ming via Kwelyang.

VALUABLE FLIGHT BY

R.A.F.

WILHELMSHAVEN

& HELIGOLAND

RAIDS

LONDON, Nov.

28

"

(Reuter)—

A survivor said that the German concerning the B.AF. talde on ships opened fire without warnins | Wilhelmshaven and Heligoland a and with their guns battered the few days ago, the Air Ministry Rawalpindi crew had little chance states that one pilot flew 'so low The Deutschland. approaching, or getting into boats. "As the that he was able to take the Nazis signalled the Rawalpindi to stop Rawalpindi was going down for by surprise and get his cameras and when she continued on her the final plunge the Deutschland going before the Nazis opened fire. a shot across her put on full speed and went past many valuable photographs were

the lifeboat almost swamping it."

course. fred bows.

As this warning was rejected.; the first salvo was "fired by the Deutschland's eleven-inch guns at 3.45 pm, at a range of 10,000 | yards

*

:

For hours the survivors from the overturned lifeboat had been crouching on the keel, holding on desperately and they were so exhausted that they had..

only suficient strength to lift their arms and wave.

The Rawalpindi "repiled with all her four starboard six-inch guns. BRIDGE BLOWN AWAY The third salvo

the from

The Chitral landed the survivors Deutschland extinguished all the and 32 German prisoners at a lights and broke the electric win-Scottish port last night.

ches of the ammunition supply. The fourth salvo shot' away the whole bridge and wireless-room.

26 MEN PICKED UP BERLIN, Nov 28 (Reuter)--The Both German ships were now German naval authorities declar-

closing in rapidly and by this time ed that 26 men from the Rawal the second ship had gone round pindi were picked up by German the Rawalpind's stern and was warships but made no mention of

the Deutschland. fring from, the port side.

SHIP ABLAZE

The Rawalpindi maintained the fight until every gun was put out, of action and the whole ship, was ablaze, except the forecastle and poop.

or

taken.

BAD WEATHER

The weather was bad and ice formed on the wings and there were low flying clouds and electri- cal disturbances, making the re- turn fight a difficult plece of navigation.

The planes met with intensive

over fre

Wilhebr- anti-aircraft

both from "Pom-Poms" shaven, and "from "Flying Onions," which burst in groups of red, blue and orange smoke.

NAZI AIRMEN

CABLE

FINLAND'S CONDITIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DEMANDS OF

SOVIET

MOSCOW PRESS OUTBURST

PARIS, Nov. 28 (Reuter)- Finland has agreed to with-.. draw her troops twenty-five kilometres from the Soviet Frontier, if Soviet troops are: withdrawn a similar distance, according to a Helsinki dis- patch.

NAZI DEMARCHES TO SOVIET & FINLAND

made demarches to the Soviet and

NEW FIGHTER

SQUADRON

LONDON, Nov. 28 (Reuter) -The new Fighter Squadron of the the R. A. F. to which Nizam of Hyderabad contri- buted £100,000 has now been formed.

be Its pilots will drawn from Britain, Australia, Now Zealand and South Africa

CHINA WAR NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1939.

Continued from Page 1 STOCKHOLM. Nov. 28 Reuter) will very shortly order a general -Germany is reported to have counter-offensive against the Jap- anese forces which penetrated Finland, recommending an early deeply into Kwangsi territory. settlement of the questions at Issue between them, ·

It is considered here that the Finnish reply to the Soviet note

SUPPLY ROUTE

In the opinion of Gen. Huang the Japanese invasion of Kwangsi

is probably a request to the Soviet is aimed at cutting China's supply.

to agree to an impartial investi-route in the south-west and under- gation over the alleged shelling mining the morale of the people

of Kwangsi.

incident.

Despite the seriousness of the latest development, the Finns do not belleve that peace Is immediately threatened and it is emphasised that the Soviet note was not in the form of an ultimatum and did not contain a time-limit.

that no shot was fired from the Fin

The Finnish Command ins'sts nish side of the frontier and it is

thought that probably Russian

Gen Huang ordered that, in case of the occupation of any city, or hsten by the enemy, the Govern- ment officials should continue to execute their duties from as close at hand as possible. They should in particular regulate the distribu- tion of foodstuffs, disperse and re- lieve the refugees and organise

and train the able-bodied males.

The stability of currency, Ger

Huang added, should be maintain-

War

guns were responsible, but the ed and military expenses should Russians believed. In good faith be adequately provided for.

propaganda should be intensified to that the Finns were responsible,

arouse public patriotism. More new roads should be built to facill tate military transport

SPY ORGANIZATION Uneasiness is caused in Helsinki by reports that a number of persons were arrested following the dis- covery of an extensive spy mr. ganisation According

the to Aftonbladet's correspondent. at least one Finnish officer is volved.

FINNISH REPLY HELSINKI, Nov. 28. (Henter)—-

ZURICH, Nov. 23 (Reuter) The Finnish reply to the Soviet Three German armen, who fled note was delivered to Moscow last into Switzerland from France, night and states that careful in- vestigations, have shown that no shot was Bred from the Finish side of the frontier, but that

have been interned.

When their plane was disabled, they took to parachutes and landed

from the Soviet side.

The Finnish Government Is prepared to appoint a joint com. mittee to investigate the Soviet" charges and is willing to dis- cuss the possibility of with- drawing its troops twelve miles from the frontier, provided the Sovlet is prepared to adopt similar measures.

JAPANESE DRIVE

KIWEILIN, Nov. 28 (Central)— Several hundred Japanese at Pingnganhu, east of Yamèhow.

have crossed the Pingngan River

THE

-PAGE

HONG KONG

PENINSULA - HOTEL;

HONGKONG HOTEL; KEPULAR MAY HOPEZĮ

&

SHANGHAI

ASTOR HOUSE; PALACE HOTEL}

HOTELS LIMITED.

In assoðintian with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lita, Poking.

Something New !

PROTEX

PROTEX THE CIGARETTE PROTECTOR

IT ANSWERS PRACTICALLY EVERY DEMAND,

IN ONE CLEVER ENSEMBLE EASY TO OPEN - EASY TO CLOBE

KEEPS THE PACKET IN PERFECT CONDITION »

●PROTECTS THE CIGARETTE AGAINET DRING CREDED KEEPS TOBACCO, FLATES AWAY FROM DUSTING THE · POCKET.

EXTREMELY LIGHT IN MEIGHT BUT PRACTICALLY HEAVY IN DOTY

CHINA EMPORIUM

LTD.

to drive eastward. They are meet- Australia And Canada Will

ing with stiff Chinese resistance on the east bank.

The Japanese at Yamchow have commandeered many able-bodied Chinese males to construct military

roads.

WEST SHANSI HINGTSI, SHENSI, Nov. 28 (Cen-

Lishih and Lulin towards Chih- kow, on the Yellow River bank. in West Shansi, has ended in a

'sastrous defeat

With the arrival of reinforce- ments the Chinese launched vigorous counter-offensive, routed the Japanese.

8 and

Give Maximum Co-operation

To Britain's

WANTS PACT

WITH SOVIET

War Effort

LONDON, NOV. 28 (REUTER) — THE DETERMINATION OF AUS-

THEIR MAXIMUM CO-OPERA- TION TO THE BRITISH WAR EFFORT WAS EMPHASISED BY THE AUSTRALIAN AIR MINIS- TER AND THE CANADIAN FIN- ANCE MINSTER, BROADCASTING

·FROM OTTAWA ON FRIDAY.

Australian expenditure for the year of the war is four times

FIRE ON BOARD

in French territory, close to the seven cannon shots were heard al-The Japanese drive from HOCHI SHIMBUN TRALIA AND CANADA TO GIVE LONDON, Νον. 28 (Reuter)-frontier. They fed across the bor- There was an outbreak of fire onder before they could be appre- board the Dutch Uner Spaarndam, bended which

the struck 3 mine Thames Estuary yesterday after- After

thirty about

forty

been noon and believed to have minutes of this unequal combat.

sunk. It is revealed that shortly the enemy ceased firing and three after midnight the vessel boats which were not shattered by

afloat. shell-fire, one of which became

The her, which was bound for water-logged, were lowered. It is Rotterdam, from South America. believed that two of these boats,

has been completely abandoned containing over thirty men, were picked up by one of the German with the loss of the life of four

ships.

was

members of the crew and a wo- man passenger.

DRIVEN OFF LONDON, Nov. 28 (Reuter)-The R.A.F. drove two German aircraft out over the North-Sea no than three times when they tempted persistently to make reconnaissance Flight ver

Firth of Forth,

less at-

the

GERMAN VERSION BERLIN, Nov. 28 (Reuter)

The Finnish Government notes, with satisfaction, that the Boviet does not wish to exaggerate the importance of the incident and concludes that Finland is pleased that it has been able to remove the misunderstanding on the day following receipt. of the Soviet

the note.

TOKYO, Nov. 28 (Reuter)—The conclusion of an Non-Aggression No trace of Japanese is now Pact with the Soviet Union is ad-; found On the Chibkow sector vocated by the Hochi Shimbun, first following the Chinese "mopping up" operations.

which states that the signing or £50,000,000, nearly such a Pact will enable the Soviet the expenditure in the first year Any! and Yuncheng, in south Union to extend unstinted assis-of the last war with almost double

tance to Germany by removing the number of men in training. Shans have been bustling with

Twenty-thousand air pilots are activities during the past few days all causes of worry to the Soviet

being completely trained in Aus- as Japanese units at Wanchuan, in the Far East

The paper adds: The Soviet tralia. in addition to thousands of Yungho, Ishib and Lintsin poured Into the two places. Chinese Union will gain freedom of action Australian air fighters to be train- peasants have been pressed into against Britain only when she ed in Canada

concludes a Non-Aggression Pact and an Economic Agreement with Japan.

While admitting the RAF rald Eleven survivors brought in by

Three of the victims were over north-western Germany, Mili- the Peninsular and Oriental liner Chitral swam to the water-logged drowned when they were thrown tary communique says that the other two planes tried get to Heligoland, lifeboat and would probably have Into the sea and the

explosion of but were forced to return in been picked up but for the fact were killed by the

face of intensive anti-aircraft fire. the mine. that at about 6.15 p.m. the ap-

The explosion occurred early in The Official News Agency, D.NB., proach of a British cruiser caused the enemy immediately to with- the afternoon and when lifeboats claims that a German reconnais-wave of fury and indignation has southward drive" in the not dis-

from the shore" reached her the sance machine penetreated into Spaarndam seemed likely to sink France as far as the Maginot Line. bringing back sketches of forti- at any moment.

cations."

draw.

TURNED TURTLE The Rawalpindi continued to burn amidships until 8 pm, when she turned turtle starboard and foundered with hands.

to

fre

24

BLAZING FURIOUSLY *Just before midnight

now blazing furiously off the Meanwhile. the British cruiser Thames Estuary in full view of attempted to shadow the German people Ining the shore. She ap- ships, but in the heavy rainstorm pears to be down heavily by the

her and darkness of the night they head, but

bulkheads s.ft escaped from the scene,

appear to be holding, accounting for the fact she has remained afloat long..

all remaining broke out on board and she is FINE STANDARD

S OF CHORAL

It is added that the Rawal- pind made a most gallant fight against overwhelming odds and went down with colours flying.

DUTCH LINER LOSSES LONDON, Nov. 28

(Reuter)

RAWALPINDI'S CREW

LONDON, Nov. 28 "(Reuter)-

WORK

MOZART'S REQUIEM

PRESENTED

labour services, SOVIET THREAT

Observers believe that the Jap- LONDON. NOV. 23 (Reuter)-"Aanese are preparing for another

swept Lentngard," says the Mos tan future. Chinese forces are cow Radio and adds that spon- on the alert for any eventuality, taneous meetings were held to protest against what is described as "impertinent provocation of Finnish war-mongers."

The Radio quoted resolu- tions reported to have been adopted at meetings of Red Garrisons on the Finnish bor. ders, declaring inter alla. "It the war-mongers force us to so to war, we shall destroy the enemy quickly on his ownl territory."

"WAR OF NERVES” LONDON, Nov. 28 (Reuter)—The

SOUTH HONAN NANYANG, HONAN, Nov, 28 "Central)~~~The lull on the Chang- talkwan sector, in South Honan, has been broken, ga

The Japanese, reinforced by 3,000 men, commenced a drive towards Chencblatien last Saturday. Serious fighting is in progress.

CANADA'S EFFORT

Canadian expenditure for the first year of the war is estimated at £83,000,000.

ed 300 casualties during their re-

Orders already placed since the

the cent invasion of Paknai southwest beginning of

war include of Fahsien, Several Japanese £5,000,000 for supplies and de armoured cars were damaged, fence projects in Canada, £1,000-

· Though supported by more than 000 for supplies from Britain and ten armoured cars and five planes, £2,000,000 worth of aeroplanes the Japanese falled to dislodge the from the United States. Chinese after a day-long battle.

CHINESE RAID

NATIONAL INCOME

Some £6,000,000 per day now being spent on the war, though

The Chinese bogus troops

KAOAN, KIANGSI, Nov. 28 (Cen-greater than the daily expenditure stationed at Yangtien, with west tral)-After a night-long attack, in the later years of the last war,. of Changtalkwan, revolted last Chinese troops smashed into Wupu-represents a materially smaller Saturday. They fought the Jap-cheng, south of Fenghsin, 23 miles fraction of national income.

W west of Nanchang, yesterday morn- anese, inflicting heavy casualties.

A Chinese force attacked Taling, They withdrew after, seizing Boviet Baltic Fleet is taking part kang, north of Hwalyang. in Easta quantity of arms and ammuni- in Moscow's War of Nerves" Hanan, last week.

They broke tion, against Finland, according to re- through the Japanese outer de ports from Stockholm

tences and reached the city limits. Reports state that in addition The Japanese sustained consider to the Naval "Demonstration" in able losses. ald of St. Dunstan's Home for Dis- the Gulf of Finland, the skies abled boldiers, was unfortunately over Soviet territory, near

the L ANOTHER VICTEM

has been BERLIN, Nov. 28 (Reuter)-Very, poorly supported, and the Finnish frontier,

empty hall aggravated the bad "darkened" by Air Squadron German newspapers assert

acoustics, producing öpleasant manoeuvres.

CALM IN FINLAND HELSINKI. Nov. 28 (Reuter)-

A fine standard of cheras work It is officially stated that the distinguished the Hongkong Sing Rawalpindi was manned by merers' presentation of Mozart's Be

of the quiem in the Great Hall of the Four members of the crew and, a chant seamen, Reservists woman passenger of the Spaarn- Navy and men of the Naval Re-University last night,

The performance, which was in dam, the 8.857-ton Dutch liner serve and Naval Volunteer. Re- which struck

a. mine off the serve. Thames Estuary yesterday. lost their lives. Three were drowned and two killed by the explosion.

“VALIANT FIGHT"

that

echoes that did much to |otherwise good singing.

here

the

mar

a Swiss steamer, named Helena, LONDON, Nov. 23 (Reuter)-"In has been sunk by a mine in the a valiant fight a hopeless fight, al Channel and it is believed

His Excellency the Governor, Bir fight, worthy of Grenville, Drake, that the ship referred to s

Geoffry Northcote, Mr. D. J. Bloss, Hawke, Nelson, Jellicoe and Beatty Helene Külukunds. (5,548 tons), Vice-Chanceller of the University the Rawalpindi went down with which is one of the nine ships and Col. A. G. Neville, GS.O. (1)

were among those present.

her flag flying, with a grand tradi- chartered by the Swiss Transport tion safe in her keeping."

Office from a Greek shipping firm for the duration of the war,

It was heroic episode, says the News Chronicle, and by many a British fireside there will be pride as well as grief, **

15

The Dally Express says that the nation will mourn the dead and glory in their heroic fight, out gunned, out-numbered and fought to a standstil

Mr. J. R. M. Smith, the honorary conductor, succeeded in welding

Mr. Colin Clary, Government Statistician in Queensland and a SOUTH HUPEH

well-known authority on national FINGKIANG, HUNAN, Nov. 28 income estimates that Great (Central) Chinese engaged 500 Britain devoted sixty per cent of Japanese at Tsingahanpu, south of the currently produced as national Tsungyang, in Bouth Hupeh, at income to war purposes in 1918. dawn yesterday. No fewer than whereas today this may not ex- 300 Japanese were killed in a ceed forty per cent. three-hour engagement, The Jap- anese retired to Taungyang and Paly kiao,

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION

JAPANESE LOSSES TSINGYUAN, KWANGTUNG, Nov 28 (Central)-It is learned that during the Japanese attack on Leung To Ho, in the 'district

He also estimates that the pre- of Tungkan, on Nov. 19 some 150

CHINESE OFFENSIVE. sent production of British” indus- officers and men, including the The Finnish Government and the commander of a Naval Landing SZEWUI, KWANGTUNG, Nov. 28 try is about half as much again people are taking a calm view of Party Fukuda, were killed in (Central) The Chinese are laun-as in 1918.

ching an offensive in the Kong- A column moon-Sunwut sector. has recovered Machung and is advancing on Kongmoon while

the situation in Finland..

action.

Authoritative circles here state that they are ready and willing for any investigation to be made

AT PAKNAI YINGTAK, KWANGTỪNG, NOT.

The ship was bound from the the voices into a fine chorus, such into the alleged trouble in the 28 (Central)--The Japanese suffer- another has" reached the south-

Я

United States with cargo cereals. :

DANGER AT SEA

of

as none of his predecessors has Karelalin frontier and that Fin- done.

The choir was small in land is confident that this inves-T numbers, but did very well, though tigation will show that whatever that the Finns are doing nothing The Finnish Government Was BERLIN. Nov. 28, (Reuter)-The In the solos and quartets lack of happened, Finland played no part to disturb this state of affairs.

to meet yesterday to discuss the Rotterdam Lloyd liner bajak, training and tiredness were evident in it due to leave Rotterdam on Nov. 25 The programme began with for the Netherlands Indies is not Elgar's hymn, To the Fallen, and AELSINKI. Nov. 28 (Reuter) Soviet demands in connection with com. M. Erkko, the Finnish Foreign the alleged incident and is ex- FIRED WITHOUT WARNING leaving at present owing to the in concluded with the same LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuter) The creased danger at sea, according to poser's arrangement of the Nation Minister, reaffirms that the Finnish pected to forward a formal reply

frontier is, and has been, quiet and immediately, cleven survivors picked up by the an Amsterdam message.

al Anthem

- FINNISH STATEMENT

eastern outskirts of Sunwut, alle Bome 1,800 Japanese reinforce- ments have arrived in Kungmoon

from Canton,

TRAIN DERAILED CHUNGKING, Nov. 28 (Central)

Thus, it is clear that £6,000, 000 a day does not represent the maximum effort of which this country is economically capable, whereas Germany has "already martialled practically her full economic reserves and cannot make a greater effort.”:

A Shanghai-bound train on the last Baturday owing to sabotage Shanghai-Hangchow Railway was work on the railway Chinese mobil

Linping, north-east of Hangchow, were killed and wounded," derailed between Kiench so and units. Between 40 and 50 permat