1939-12-12 — Page 7

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HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

CABLE

INTENSIFIED ATTACK BY SOVIET ON FINLAND'S "WASP WAIST," BUT FINNS READY TO CHECK RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Heavy

:

Fighting Going

On In Karelian

Karelian Sector

HELSINKI, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-The Finns are continuing

to hold their own at all points, judging from the latest re- ports.

Intensified Russian attacks are taking place at Sou- sussalmi, the narrowest part of Finland, often known as to the country's "Wasp Waist," evidently with a view driving through to the Gulf of Bothnia and splitting the country in two.

The Finns have taken all precautions against the So- viet advance in this sector.

Finns Fight Back Strongly

LONDON, Dec. 11 (Reuter)

People in the Arctic region

of Norway and Finland report hearing explosions from Pet-

AIR BATTLE OFF WESTERN

4.

N.E. COAST

11

LONDON, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-- Machine-gun fire was heard 'in the air off the North-East coast yesterday. afternoon. Some time earlier two planes, belleved to be German, were seen flying high in the vicinity. The challenge of these ma- chines by RAF. Aghters ap- parently explains the firing.

GERMAN PLANES STOCKHOLM, Dec. 11 (Reu- ter)-It is reported here that German planes have been carrying out reconnaissance flights in the Baltic.

"Fight For Independence And Honour'

39.

FRONT

French Claim Victory

POST ABANDONED & RE-OCCUPIED

PARIS, Dec. 11 (Reuter)--- The French claim a victory in an intensive miniature battle which razed throughout twenty-four hours for posses- sion of a small, but highly im- portant, French outpost in the wooded Saarguemines area.

ARTILLERY BARRAGE The Germans opened with terj rific artillery barrage, shelling theį post with heavy stuff and the French troops gave way slowly to

samo and the loud roar of FINNS APPEAL TO the German forces following up

artillery from an area south of that port. This bears out FRIMSY UNIFORMS the reports that Petsamo was raided by Soviet planes at 11 OF RUSSIANS

a.m. and again two hours HELSINKI, Dec. 11 (Reuter) later and also confirms the --The Finns are fighting back Finnish claims that they are strongly in the important still holding Petsamo, which Rovaniemi sector, in northern they recaptured a week ago. Finland, against a strong

AN

the barrage..

THE WORLD

The German occupation of the HELSINKI, DEC. 11 (REUTER)---

post lasted roughly four hours. APPEAL TO ALL THE

French artillery for miles round NATIONS OF THE WORLD NOT TO LET FINLAND FIGHT ALONE. concentrated on the pcst, compel- WAS ISSUED BY THE FINNISH in the Germans to abandon the

later re-occupied. PARLIAMENT, WHICH MET YES- position, which French Infantry

TERDAY.

THE APPEAL DECLARES: "THE FINNISH PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING

PATROL ACTIVITY

Increased patrol activity 1$

11

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1939."-PAGE 7

ALLSOPP'S BEER

A NEW SHIPMENT OF

QUARTS AND PINTS

HAS NOW ARRIVED

100% BRITISH

SOLE AGENTS:

CALDBECK, MACGREGOR & CO., LTD.

21

CHINA WAR NEWS Continued from Page 1"

WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS

Russian attack, according to Red Army's Advance FOR THEIR INDEPENDENCE. noted in the Moselle, Saar River pomts were set on fire and burned

reports from that district this morning.

The Finns have taken Russlan prisoners, many with poor equip- ment and only with the frimsiest uniforms to withstand the icy cold

which is now below zero.

STANDING FIRM

1:

DEFENDING Now Admitted

KELSINKI, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-An official communique, issued at mid- night, admits that the Red Army has made further advances. after severe fighting in the Lake Ladoga and Isthmus Sector. Ground was COPENHAGEN, Dec. 11 Reuter) given at several points, says the -The correspondent of the Nation-communique, though most of the al Tidende at the Finnish frontier Russian attacks were repulsed. states there was headway in the fighting taking place in the Arctic twilight near Petsamo with power- ful searchlights flooding the battle- field. He says the Finns are stand- ing firm:

STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE BUCHAREST, Dec... 11 (Reuter)- Fifteen hundred participated in the latest students' demonstration out- side the Finnish Legation as a mark of sympathy to Finland.

Disastrous losses were inflict- ed on the Russians by the Fin- nish Air Force, rejuvenated by the arrival of Italian planes (and. It is believed, Italian pilots) when a column of tanks and armoured cars was prac- tirally destroyed, forestalling an attack on another part of the Mannerheim Line. *~*

CLAIMS CONTRADICTED

Moscow's continued claims to LITTLE DAMAGE

have smashed through the Man Special to the II.K. Daily Press. nerheim Line are again contradict-

OSLO, Dec. 11 (Heras)-It is re-ed in Helsinki,

The Soviet Air Force has been ported that Soviet planes heavily bombed the Finnish village of active with the improving weather Haukilampi near the Norwegian and the important Finnish fort of Hangce was heavily bombed on two occasions yesterday.

Border. However, most of the bombs felt in the neighbouring woods doing little damage.

Nearly 250,000 men are now mass for a renewed offensive in the The total Soviet fosses during Karellan Isthmus. with Viborg as the two attacks against Fetsamo the principal objective. and Salmijaervi yesterday are. estimated at nearly 500 killed and 200 prisoners while the Finnish losses were comparatively light,

DETERMINED ATTACKS Determined attacks aze also

taking place along the front north of Lake Ladoga, the aim being to

The morale of the Finnish troops outflank the Firmish defences in

LIBERTY AND HONOUR. WE ARE and Vosges sectors and there have out.

sharp skirmishes 100 "NO OUR * RELIGION, been HOMES AND ALL THAT CIVILIS- Man's Land." ED PEOPLE CONSIDER SACRED.

So far we have been fighting alone against an enemy which in- vades our territory, although in actual fact it is a question of de- fending everything humanity holds most precious.

"We have proved our will to do all we can in this fight. Our post- tion as the advance-post of wes-

I

Not Quiet On The Western Front

At Sunmuchang, Berce fighting lasted for more than three hours before the.Chinese withdrew.

COUNTER ATTACK.

LOYANG, Dec 11 (Central)- Chinese forces are making" steady progress in their general counter- offensive in the Chungtiao Moun- tata areas, in South Shansi

Bitter combats are stil} raging In the Machiamião Sector, north- east DI Hstansien where about

tern civilisation, entities us expect WAR COMMUNIQUES 3.000 Japanese are stubbornly

active assistance from all civilised nations."

EXPLAINED

holding out.

Some 300 Japanese at Tsing- NATIONS REACT

PARIS, Dec. 11 (Reuter) shantsun, east of Machiamiao, LONDON, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-Re-When an official communique have been dislodged from their parts from diffèrent parts of the states that there is nothing positions. The Chinese are now world indicate the growing reac-important to report it does making a flanking movement to

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BRITISH

-tr

I.P.C.'S POLICY

tion to Soviet aggression against not mean that there is no bottle up the enemy in Machla- IN WAR - TIME: BETTER

Finland.

In Sweden, the chief of the Geri-

He said: “In the present time. the defence of freedom and the right of self-determination of the Fatherland puts everything else in the başkground.”.../

In Belgium, students of Liege University marched through the clty carrying banners declaring against Sovlet aggression wwwd

On the Eslahsien sector, over

1,000 Japanese are being surround-

ed in the hilly regions "between Hanchialing and Taling.

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

CHUNGKING, DEC. 11 (CENTRAL)--THE BRITISH NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRACE CAMPAIGN, WHICH "HAS RECENTLY SENT A MESSAGE TO GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK, OFFERING CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT CHI- NESE MILITARY VICTORIES, maintains that far more important than righting the wrong of today by compelling the aggressor to accept equitable terms is the establishment of a better international system whereby the recurrence of war is rendered impossible, ac- cording to their recent statement of war-time policy just received here by the China Branch of the I, P, C.

fighting, declared M. Charles mlau. eral Stat. Gen. Terno, has been Morice, writing in the Petit appointed acting C.-in-c. of the Parisien, in regard to fighting Swedish Forces, a step only taken on the Western Front. In time of perl.

Fighting is different from the

The Japanese have suffered last time, but is still fighting. Daly, from one end of the battle heavy casualties in the engage- front to the other, some 40 units, ments. Col. Morito, who was com- 20 on either side, totalling between manding the enemy troops, is re- 1,800 to 2,000 men each, are in ported to have been fatally wound-

ed and subsequently succumbed. contact In Norway, a section of the

Fighting occurs

CHINESE SIEGE In occupied civilian population, mostly women territory between the two advance FANCHENG, Dec. 11 (Central)— and children, are moving south lines of defence which in "some Chinese forces have tightened their from the northern regions.'

In the British L P, C's view, resistance has now become the plaçes are separated by four to five slege on Chuantslao. East Anhwel miles.

town, and Wankiang, Central An- this main objective can only be only alternative to surrender." twet city. Several

achieved by establishing a collec- Japanese

ONLY ROAD TO PEACE tive peace system which 18 "Nothing which has happened in attempts to break through the Chinese cordon were frustrated sufficiently strong, through its con recent week has shaken the faith of during the week-end

trol of collective power, to restrain the International Peace Campaign” any potential peace-breakers; in the policy it has advocated,” CHINESE EXID

sufficiently Just to provide means The statement concludes: "On KINHWA, Dec 11 (Central)-in for peaceful and equitable settle-the contrary, the present tragic a daring night attack, Chinesement of all kinds of international events have proved better-than. units smashed into Kashing, on disputes; representative and de-any argument that the only road CREDIT FOR FINLAND

the Shanghal-Hanschow Railway,mocrütle enough to enlist the to peace leads through the well-

WASHINGTON, Dec, 11 (Eeuter)

in North Cheklang, last week. The loyal support of all the peoples known Four-Point programme of -The Reconstruction Finance Cor-·

PARIB, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-Today's bogus police bureau was wrecked concerned; and equipped for much the movement-fidelity to treaties, poration has announced the grant-war communique says that there is and many puppet policemen were more extensive economic and social a League of Nations combining,"

services than hitherto rendered by measures of defence against HELSINKI, Dec. 11 (Reuter)ing of $10,000,000 credit to Finland nothing important to report.

the League and International aggression with machinery for He added that Herr Graf von Another Communique states that for the purchase of agricultural

Labour Omice.

peaceful change, and as a result. Bchulenburg, German Ambassador, the continued enemy attacks in the surphases and other civilian sup-)

plies.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS of the security and trust thus en- in Moscow. brought Hitler's pro-region of the Taipale River were

Bimilar credits to Norway are

Admitting the necessity of gendered, the progressive reduction posals to M. Molotov, whom he repulsed. There is violent fighting

modifications

and substantial of armament by mutual accord.” strongly urged to start peace nego-at several points on the eastern under consideration.

strengthening additions, the Bri- tiations with Finland, but met with frontier. with the exception of the

tish group is none the less con- Petsamo region. a categorical refusal,

vinced that all the essential élements of the Covenant of 1919

is excellent and the Finns are e- the Karelian Isthmus and to lirik Asiatic barbarity,

2 marked advantage in joying

up with the Red contingents in the being splendid sklers and used to Isthmus. the rigours of the Arctic winter.

ETTLER'S VAIN ATTEMPT

The Finns estimate that the total Russian casualties in the Petsamo region exceed 25,000,

Special to the H.K. Daily Press

LONDON, Dec. 11 (Havas)The Violent attacks by land, sea and Daily Herald's Helsinki correspon-air have been resumed on the dent learns that Hitler vainly at-1Arctic battle-front.

tempted to stop Soviet military operations in Finland.

B.E.F. NOW FACING THE NAZIS

VIOLENT FIGHTING

Soviet aircraft bombed forts' on the islands before. Koivisto.

The Finnish Air Force bombed marching enemy columns and with the assistance of field artillery des- troyed a column of tanks and armoured cars.

MOSCOW CLAIMS

In the United States, a large American manufacturing con- cern turned down a Soviet ør- der worth thousands of sterling for machinery.

In the area, but the Finns say that the Soviet attacks have been repulsed with a heavy loss of tanks, armanred cars and artillery.

FINNISH CLAIMS Finnish reports states that three' Boviet planes have been. Brought A Moscow communiqué clairas

that Finnish planes: advances of between three and down and four miles in every warzone and bombed Soviet troops. The Soviet that the Soviets have occupied the Naval Base at Kronstadt was also town of Kualojarvi, in the direction bombed.

of Ukhta, and the towns of Bobo- The Military Law in Finland now shino and Kirksmuolaa in the applies to civilians while an £8,- Karelian Isthmus.

500 000 loan has been authorised., SCORCHED EARTH

SOVIET COMMUNIQUE

Both sides fight with the ald of machine-guns, hand-gren- ades and artillery. The test of strength takes place un open ground which is enclosed by small posts occupied during the day and is almost always evacuat- ed in the night-time,

..

M. Morice concludes that often it is ferocious fighting.

NOTHING IMPORTANT.

kiledi.

NAZIS DENY SUPPLY OF ARMS

TO FINLAND

Moscow Also Casts Doubts On Report

LONDON, Dec. 11 (Reuter)-An emphatic denial that Germany. erer delivered War materials to

cial German Wireless.

The announéer declared.

that

these allegations were only destin- ed to disturb German-Russian re- lations.

NO COMMENT

Sino-Soviet Cultural Relations

are still indispensable.

aggression.

At a simple ceremony, with

I. P. G. STATEMENT · General Liu Tseng-kwan, veteran "The world war which may re-

WAR. WAIFS IN CHENGTU

CHENGTU, Dec. 11 (Central)- Chiang Kai-shek

Regarding the war now proceed- ing in Europe, the British L. P. C..Generalissimo while expressing an ardent destre nas issued a strict order for the for an end of the war as soon as care and education of the war possible, mentions as two primary waifs in Chengtu. KUNMING, Dec. 11. (Central)—

conditions". the restoration 01 Finland was broadcast by the Off-The Kunming Branch of the Sino-genuine independence to the Polish chwan provincial capital, General

During his last visit to the fize- Soviet Cultural Relations Trutitute and Czecho-Blovak peoples, and nissimo Chiang was struck by the was formally inaugurated here effective guarantee against further large number of child refugees in yesterday afternoon.

the city and their miserable con ditions.

The National Relief Commission chair, a set of regulations govern- for the folly of the governments for the shelter of the walls.

have abandoned the Covenant of the League of Nations

NANTAO OPENED So declares the International

·SHANGHAI, Dec. 11 (Reuter)~. Peace Campaign in a statement on European hostilities, which has Almost two years after the occupa- Just been received by the P. C. tion by the Japanese of Nantao, a China Branch,

Chinese district : bordéring the "The authors of the Covenant French Concession here, was open- foresaw," the statement proceeds, ed today,

NO CASUALTIES YET REPORTED LONDON, Dec. 11 (Reuter)

MOSCOW, Dec, 11 (Reuter/Yunnan military oficer, in the sult is the price that must be paid has appropriated a sum of $40,000 -Reuter's special correspon- dent with the B.EF. states The artillery fire is thought to MOSCOW, Dec. 11 (Reuter) prints the report that Germanying the new branch was adopted, which that for the first time since indicate fighting near the nickel- Uninformative bulletins from the and Italy are delivering arms to and a board of 15 executives elect the war began British troops mines of the city, thirty-miles Red Army during the past two Finland, but does not comment on are face to face with the Ger-south-west of Petsamo,

is

Petsamo. This represents an ad- vance of only ten miles in the past three or four days.

The oficial newspaper. Pravda

ار

ed.

...

chairman of the branch.

In recent years.”

General Lung Yun, Chairman of days do not indicate much this. A Soviet communique man forces. A portion of the that the Soviet troops on

was elected honorary clrims progress in the Finnish campaign, The heading to the article, how, Yunnan, Batur while the B.E.F.

graphic and possibly ever, casts doubt on the truth of under the now

day were thirty-miles south of too revealing, reports

from

war the report, which, nevertheless is French Command occupying a portion of the Maginot Line

correspondents have largely dis- confirmed in Rome. appeared from the Soylet news- outside the British Zone.

papers.

The German News Agency states "that peace was indivisible; that Large numbers of Chinese visit- There has been some patrol

The Russians also claim to have It is stated that the Finns are The Swedish steamer Vindor has that a man, belleved to be respon- once aggression was allowed to go ed the area in search of possible activity and occasional mu- pierced the Mannerheim Line, in laying waste the country before sunk after an explosion caused sible for the shooting of customs unrestrained force would again houses, hoping that they will be tual shelling on this part of the Karelian Isthmus.

retreating, removing their cattle presumably by a mine. The crew officials, was shot after barricad- become the decisive factor in all able to make the rent of houses the front, but there were no

and destroying food and bring the of twenty-one were rescued by a ing himself in a stable, says Ren-international relations. But their cheaper than in the foreign areas British casualties.

villages.

Norwegian vessel.

ter from London,

system was allowed to collapse and where exhorbitant rates are asked

There is no question that there has been heavy fighting

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 11 (Reuter)—