1939-12-15 — Page 1

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The

FIRST EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph

FOUNDED 1001 No. 1017

五拜禮·號五十月二十买港香 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1939.

British Warships Take Up "Death Watch” U.S.

GRAF SPEE DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION?

"Heavy Reinforcements

Arrive at Montevideo

Lost

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH".

MONTEVIDEO, December 14, (UP)—

in H.M.S. Achilles has started a death watch Convoy on the damaged German battleship Admiral

Graf Spee. Mishap

A

II.M.S. DUCHESS, formerly of Chins Sintion, has been lost with all but eighteen of her crew in collision with another ship. presumably whilst on envoy duty. The only surviving officer is Probationary Lieut. J. R. Pritchard, R.N.V.R. Photograph is of one of the ships of the Duchess class.

Luxembourg Goes To Work While

Her Neighbours Go To FightTM Remarkable War Zone Scenes Described

By Ralph Heinzen

UNITED PRESS WAR CORRESPONDENT

The British Navy is de- termined not to permit the Nazi raider to escape to resume her raids on Allied commerce on the high seas.

The British crew are still closed up at their battle stations with gun crews manuing the eight 6-inch

VICTORY HAILED

NEW YORK, Dec, 14 (Reuter). -Newspapers here describe the Graf Spec fight in streamer headlines as the first big naval battle of the war and proclaim Ita British yletory.

It is believed here that the Graf. Spee will be interned in Uruguay for the duration of the

It is reported In messALES from Montevideo that the cap. Lain of the German ship has asked the German minkster in Theamay le momoflote will; the Uruguayan Government for the battleship's Immediate Intern- ment for the duration, on the grounds that it will be impos- sible for her to make the neces- sary repales within the 24 hours that she is allowed to remain in harbour, and that even if the repairs are possible, the vessel could not go to sea again with- aut encountering British war- ships.

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BACKS THE ALLIES

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (Reuter).-Mr. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labour, said to-day that the people of the United States wish to resort to all possible means, short of war, to prevent the triumph of Nazism and aggression in Finland, Poland, Austria and the Balkans. He expressed sympathy for the Allies and said that the British Navy Is now making effective economic war against Germany.

"May God help them and make it completely successful." said Mr. Green, who was addressing an anti-Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden,

Other speakers included Governor Alf Landon and former President Herbert Hoover,

81

KILLED IN RUMANIAN OIL EXPLOSION.

REDS

ENTER VITAL CITY

"Scorched Earth" In Finland

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

KIRKENAESS, Dec. 14. (UP). The Russians have hegun entry into Salmi- jaervi.

The Finns have retreated to within 12 miles of the Norwegian border.

It is reported that Sulmijaorvi is entirely in flames. The re- treating Finns set fire to the villages of Toellevi, Kivolatta and Kolvisjoki the flames being plainly visible from the border,

Explosions have been audible throughout the day from heavy CXartillery and Russian bombers. As

BUCHAREST, Dec. 14 (Router),-Heavy loss of life is reported as the result of an plosion in

a chlorine factory in Transylvania. there are no reports of Firmisli Tanks of chlorine gas blew up during the night.

So far the bodies of 81 factory workers have been recovered.

Others were injured or gassed, Escaped chlorine gas has badly hampered the rescue work.

guns as the British cruiser FURTHER DETAILS OF FIGHT steams

slowly back and

forth at the mouth of the River. Plate just outside territorial Uruguayan waters.

Sister ships to the Achilles, H.MS. Exeter and H.M.S. Ajax,'! are also believed to be nearby. The Graf Spee is anchored in the inner harbour,

"have” foreseen the possiblitty-of the

Retreat

That Became Flight

MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 14 (Reuter).-Further details

It is evident that Ilie British which have now become available regarding the South German raider making a desperate Atlantic naval battle show that the Exeter was patrolling the South Atlantic early yesterday when she contacted A "United Press" survey of the exterior damage to the German shin the German warship in a latitude south of Brazil.

attempt to break to the open sea.

revealed that two shells plerced the thick armour plating of the fighting tower, entering on the port side and emerging on the starboard side.

Armour Pierced

Two sections of thick armour plate were smushed in the forepart of the

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN THE FIELD, ship on the starboard side and five Dec. 14 (UP).The busiest corner in Europe is the tight impacts, apparently from small shells, spot where Luxembourg lies in a wide no-man's land port side. One of two airplanes on between the French and { German armies.

A running fight ensued, during which the Achilles and the Ajax

NAZI HAD arrived."

WEIGHT

"Taffrail" Sums Up were noted on the water line on the

The Battle the ship's flight deck had its tall Ore In Abundanco

shot off and part of the fuselage is

LONDON, Dec. 14 (Reuter). Coal reaches the Alzette Valley gone. The extent of damage to the-A talk on the battle between On both sides and in between mills from the, Saar, and there is stinterior of the ship cannot be ascer-the three British cruisers and

inined because nobody is allowed a century's supply of ore within a few aboard. hundred yards of the blast furnaces 1 is to be had for the work tof scooping it up.

the lines, smoke pours from factory stacks as the Lorraine, Ruhr and Luxembourg Iron and steel mills work night and day, despite the massed presence of rival armies.

On the French side of the border lles the famous Bricy Iron basin and the Longwy steel zone where Lor- raine ore and Belgian coal produce 50 per cent, of France's total eteri production.

At the start of the world war in

Since the start of the war, not one Jour of work has been lost in the small region where more than half of Europe's steel is made. Here is the chief source of munitions, guns and 1914, more than half the Bricy iron tanks with which the rival armies are mines lay stocking.

Wnding through deep red mud under the downpours of rain day after day, I covered the France-Luxembourg border

entire during an inspection of the French frontier defences.

No, Luxembourg Defences Nowhere did I see a single Luxem- bourg dofenco position or a soldier across the frontier, nor were there any Indications that the citizens of the tiny Duchy will try to defend themselves and the integrity of their Slate if the German Farrates. should; repent the 1014 Invasion.

Inside the German

PLEASE Turn To Page 4.

R. A.F. OVER NORTH SEA

Big Battle Over Heligoland

the Admiral Graf Spee was given 'The

Ajax and Exeter, despite from Daventry to-day by Com- reports of serious damage to the latter, naander Taprell-Doring, better procceded to sea early this morning known to his many readers as and are believed to be standing by Taffrail.” outside territorial waters.

The only official German action so

The Exeter, he said, was a far has been the German Minister's request for the crew to be allowed to vessel of 8,400 tons, carrying six disembark, which he made after eight-inch guns, while the Ajax second visit to the warship.

Jund the Achiller were sister- ships of about 7,000 tons cach, and carried eight six-inch guns. All three and a speed of about 32 knots.

The Graf Spec was hit by atļ least a dozen shells.

Governments Consult

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LONDON, Dec. 14. (UP)-It officially announced that the British The Achilles actually was one of and Uruguayan governments are now the two cruisers in the New Zealand the (the other being nctively discussing the question of Squadron the Germnu

pocket battleship Leander, the flagship), and "Tuffrail" Admiral Graf Spec.

ald that as she was chiefly manned,

In the House of Lords to-day, by New Zealanders, congratulations Lord Chatfield. British Defence were due to New Zealand for the purt Minister said: "I do not doubt that she had played in the first reṇi näval the Graf Spee will soon be at sen engagement of this war again.”

Meanwhile, reports from Monte-

Not So One-Sided video state that H.M.S. Achilles is

LONDON, Dec. 14 (Reuter)-patrolling the River Plate from a Unlike the Rawalpind!-Deutschland The Air Ministry announces point outside Montevideo to Punto battle, this was not so one-sided.

Although the Graf Spce was six But everywhere I saw signs of that throughout the last 24 Gorda, apparently as a precaution Intense activity on both sides of the hours considerable forces of the against an attempt by the Graf Spee Knots slower than the British ships, she carried six 11-inch guns, firing froniler, where iron and steel produc-

shells of 716 pounds each with a tlon has been kept up to the maximum R.A.F. have been operating over

range limited only by visibility and distance.

schedule.

tho North Sea.

to escape.

Diplomatic Activity Rear Admiral Gustave Selwoeder;

s

The largest of the mills are within] Their operations Have included a Inspector General of the Uruguayan The Exeter's shells, although of the rifle shot of the French frontier de wide search for enemy surface craft, Navy said: "It the damage to the same range, were only 250 pounds fences outside Luxembourg and the submarines and a close reconnais Graf Spes makes it necessary, she each, while the man-handled steel - town" of Esch, which „Pittsburgh's

out Bunco of the estuaries and fortified may remain for, more Utan 40 hours inch shells of the Ajax and Achilles Pittsburgh even

for islands in north-west Germany.

had a weight of only 100 pounds In port." Boot.

BIEN. 'bout Amstetten konn formation of our airers?t an- Arhardtriasling rain holds soot and gased strong enemy formation at Further reports from Montevideo: A broadside from the Grat Spec, "izeker for a thick fox over the whole

stale that the German Minister is therefore, would weigh about 4,708 Alsoite Valley as the Bossomer plants Heligoland.

seeking permission to disembark the pounds, while a broadside from the "kums: bat: high-grade "armour-plate. In the ovures of intense faliting, German ship's crow, while Washing-combined British ships would only.

slock from ort, which as: tisim pelat i four Messerschanlät fighters and three ton reports say the Argentine Am-weigh 3,136 pounds, Kenn #merely neruped from the mirface of B.A.F. aircraft were shot down.bassador has arranged to visit the None of the four ships was heavily art dirculas open pit by steam All our other formations returned United States Department of State, armoured and a single shell from the

without, los3..

PLEASE Turn To Page 4,

PLEASE Tum To Pago 4.

BRITAIN AND THE

BREMEN

soldiers crossing the Norwegian border, despite the fierce Soviet drive. The Finns are falling back on their main defence positions cast of the village of Skogfoss on the Norwegian border, where they have new pre- pured lines.

Activity slowed down as the Aretic night blacked out the region, which was lighted only by the flames of the burning villages.

At Svanvik the villagers are calm- ly watching the battle In front of

doorstep.

their

LONDON, Dec. 14 (Reuter).

Norwegian border troops have been -The "Yorkshire Post" points strengthened.

out in an editorial that there is The rapidity of the Russian ad- the clearest answer both to the vance was largely due to their light armoured cross-country Curz and neers of the enemy and the sur-Whippet tanks which are able to prised protests of friends regard-skim over the surface of the snow, ing the forbearance of the British and which encircled the Finns in submarine which refrained from small pockets, threatening to cut off torpedoing the Bremen.

If the example of Nazi commerce raiders were followed, Britain would have lost something much more im- portant than a valuable naval prize; she would have betrayed the very eause for which we were fighting.

"We shall not defeat Nazlism by descending to Nazi method of war- fare. says this journal.

Nazis Thunderstruck The Bremen is too valuable and vulnerable to be used as an armed. ralder or a supply ship.

In its summary, the "Yorkshire gradual-Post" ends by saying that the Ger-

The two latter vessels ly forced the Graf Spec south- ward and westward,

Retreat Becomes Rout The British eruisers used smoke- screens and made lightning Brusts with such skill and daring that the Graf Spee was eventually forced to ratreat to neutral waters,

When 12 miles off Punta de Lesta and Jn full view of the shore, the Graf Spee converted her retreat inte apen flight.

their flanks.

Salla Regained:

Front Stockholm, the "Afton Bindet's" correspondent at Teracaa

PLEASE Tum To Pago 4.

LATEST

Cumberland

Off Montevideo

mans are so taken aback by the British observation of International law that they are unable to give con- sistent accounts of the circumstances. Thus "Trans-ocean" reports that the submarine disappeared without at-

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" tempting to attack, while a Zeesen

MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 15 (UP).--- broadcast to France asserts: "The truth is that the British submarine it is reliably learned that HMS. did fire a torpedo, but as it was not Cumberland, a temporary pre-war a German torpedo, it missed the flagship of the China Station, has arrived in Uruguayan waters to re- target."

inforce the death watch on the Nazi cruiser Admiral Graf Spee.

Corman Admission The battleship, with her main con-

BERLIN, Dec. 14 (Reuter) tral searchlights damaged, evidently German communique admits that feared a night attack by the British British submarlhe attacked a German cruisers and made direct for Mon-cruiser in the North Sea but conceals tevideo where she anchored Inside the loss of the U-boat. the harbour at 11.15 p.m.

It is thought here that the Graf Spee will hardly dare to leave Mon- tevideo, and consequently she will be out of helion for the duration of the war.

Brilliant Action

In view of the fact that the British RUTLA cruisers had only six B-Inch against the 11.2-inch weapons of the German battleship, this 15-hour action is regarded here as one of the most daring and brilliant in the bis- tory of the British Navy.

Officers Dispirited

Death For Two Murderers

The Cumberland is a 10,000-ton cruiser armed with eight B-inch.

guns.

It is also reliably learned that a German Note to the Uruguayan Foreign Office hus requested per- | mission for the landing of an armed force from the Grat Spec to bury the thirty people killed in the naval action with the British warships.

Sources clone 10 the German Legation express the opinion that the LONDON, Dec, 14

raider ` will leave the Nver Plate (Reuter)- James Richards

(29)

ond Peter within a week." The ship was not hit below the water-line and ber of Barnes (32) were found guilty

(Under murder to-day on the Coventry ex-machinery is undamaged plosivos charge and were sentenced International Law she cannot remain in port over 24 hours without Intern- Joseph Hewitt (31) and the twoment unless she is so far damaged women, Mary Hewitt (22) ond Brigid O'Hara (48), were found not Kulity, but are remaining in custody pending further charges.

to death.

It was alleged that they murdered four men and a women who were

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 14 (Reuter). -Without food, confusion aboard and her decks a shambles of dead and wounded, the Graf Spee crept intokilled in a bomb cxplosion In Montevideo Harbour last night like Coventry on August 25.

worried by a wounded animal terriers.

Uruguayan officials stated that her

officers were thoroughly dispirited when they reached port,

Members of the British Legation returning from a visit to the British cruisers, which are also anchored in Montevideo, assert that their crews are intact and that they have suffered no casualties.

The

Seo Back Page For

Further Late News

CHINA RE-ELECTED TO COUNCIL OF LEAGUE

included

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" GENEVA, Dec. 14 (UP)—The League Council to-day un- Nelson's Signal Used

animously voted for the expulsion of Soviet Russia from the Press reports state that Com-Lengue of Nations. modore Harwood, before the action, made

Nelson's famous signal, "England · Expools Every Man: to Do HW Duty,” fróm the cruiser AJAX. Prass representatives who made a launch trip around the Graf Spee reported the vessel's state as "shock- PLEASE Turn To Page: 4.

|

Assembly terminnied the vulsion

Britain France. entire session at 4 p.m. following the Belgium, South Africa, Bolivia, Trah, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, election of Egypt and China as non-

and Egypt, ermanent members of the Council.

In the voting for the expulsion 'of The Flanish delegato, M, Holat, Russia "from" the League of Nations, said he abstained from voting in the abstentioners were: China, order not to further complicatez, the -Finland, Greeco and Yugo-Biavla,,^|Russo-Finish" problem andy" aybla" Council members voting for: ex-possible: Incrassed raflitary retaliatibus