1939-12-19 — Page 1

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The

FIRST EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph.

SINGLE COPY 10 CRANTO

FOUNDED 1 ++ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1939. A PER ANNUM

Full of Smart Notions

WHITEAWAY'S

Display of Xmas Gifts

for Ladies &

Children

Great Naval Feat By Former China Station Officer: Lone

Officer: Lone Attack On Fleet

+

HONGKONG SUBMARINE

SINKS

NAZI CRUISER

DARING UNDERSEA ATTACK ON ELBE COINCIDES WITH MASS AIR RAID Three Warships Hit By Torpedoes: British Air Force Sends 61 Planes In Attack On Heligoland

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH”

LONDON, DEC. 18 (UP).-IT IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT BRITISH SUB- MARINES HAVE SUNK ONE, AND PROBABLY TWO 6,000-TON GERMAN CRUISERS, INCLUDING THE LEIPZIG, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NEWEST TYPES OF NAZI. WARSHIPS.

OFFICER LEIPZIG

THE 6,000-TON NAZI CRUISER LEIPZIG

Soviet Soldiers Mutiny: Officers

It is also claimed that a third German warship has been damaged in a series of naval

The first announcement of the sinking of a German cruiser came with the disclosure that the small submarine Ursula slipped past six German destroyers at the mouth of the River Elbe

and sank an unidentified Nazi cruiser.

Afterwards it was disclosed that the same submarine

thrusts which have coincided with the biggest air battles of the war over German coastal bases. Shot As Battalion Joins Finns.

Argentine To Intern which had vainly attempted to stop the Bremen, sighted Graf Spee Captain, Crew

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 18 (UP).-Argentine has to intern about 700 officers and men of the Admiral Graf von Spee, followed their arrival on two tugs, a barge and

a launch.

a fleet of German warships in the North Sea on December 13.

1.

She immediately attacked and successfully torpedoed the cruiser Leipzig, while two other torpedoes damaged another 6,000 tonner in a group of war vessels which included a "pocket battleship," two battle cruisers, and

three other cruisers.

The submarine, which has now been disclosed as the

It is understood that the crew will be interned at Martin Garcia Immigration-Island-where-the officers-will-Salmon, (670 tons) was commanded by Lieut.-Commander. be accorded special treat- ment.

Officials quoted Captain Langsdorf as saying: "I am. satisfied. I saved all my men.'

Three thousand people along the waterfront saw Captain Langsdorf

GRAF SPEE VICTIMS

and his officers land at 2.43 pm. The Nazi Raider Sank

first Jond of 250 members of the crew landed at 3.25 p.m.

Sightseers View Burning Warship studying the

Foreign circles

arc

legal aspects of the sinking in its relation to the Hague Convention, to determine whether or not the crew will be classified us shipwrecked sailors or coinbatants.

Reports from Montevideo say that at 4 p.m., the Graf von Spee was still burning after 20 hours. It is sur-

Only 48,000 Tons

LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter). At least two British ships scuttled themselves when the Graf Spee tried to capture them,

E. O. B.Bickford, formerly of H.M.S. Odin, China Station. She returned to the scene of the sinkings later and found a patch of oil four miles square, which led her commander to the conclusion that "at least one of the German ships might well have failed to reach port."

AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING BRITISH

LONDON, DEC. 18 (REUTER). —— REPorts of diSSENSION AND EVEN REVOLT AMONG SOVIET SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS ARE RELAYED FROM STOCKHOLM VIA ESTONIA.

ITALIAN POLICY PRAISED

British Press And Ciano's Speech LONDON, Dec.

On Sunday night, it is re- ported, the men of a Soviet battalion north of Lake Ladoga mutinied, shot their commissar and went over to the Tinns.

Finns Gaining Ground To-day there were reports of disturbances among the civilian populations of Leningrad · and Moscow..

Extraordinary security mensures are sald to have been taken and the more important Institutions are being 18 guarded.

Houses are being ralded by the

(Reuter).--The British police and radio receivers are being Press is extremely interest-seized.

It must be emphasised, however, ed in Italian policy follow- ing Saturday's speech by confirmed.

that these reports have not yet been Count Ciano, the Italian Finns Gaining Ground Foreign Minister.

LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter),-The fighting in Finland appears to be at The "Manchester Guardian" its heaviest in the Karellan Isthmus, calls the speech one of the mast Judging from reports coming in from important of the war.

all sources. When the Soviet-Nazi Pact gained ground in that area. BASES

was signed, says the paper, the Italian Foreign Minister was as surprised as the rest of Europe.

AERIAL ATTACKS ON GERMAN NAVAL BASES SAYS THAT ABOUT 65 ROYAL AIR FORCE PLANES PARTICIPATED IN A BIG-SCALE ATTACK ON HELIGOLAND TO-DAY.

ALSO ATTACKED OTHER COASTAL THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN REVENGE FOR THE NAZI AIR MORE ATTACKS ON BRITISH WATERS ON SUNDAY WHEN

THEY

it was learned to-day when THAN A DOZEN SHIPS WERE BOMBED AND MACHINE fuller details of the raider's | GUNNED. career became available.

rounded by excursion boats loaded, first victim, the 5,000 ton with sightseers.

Nazi Protest To Uruguay MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 18 (Reuter) --A protest has been sent to the Uruguayan Government by the Nazi Government alleging that the Uru- Buoyan Government failed to give the Grof Spee the necessary time to muse her seaworthy, thus committing a "gross breach of international law and usage."

The Nazi note takes the same line ns the letter sent by Capt. Langsdorf to the German Minister at Monte- video before he took his ship out and scuttled her in obedience to Hitler's orders.

In this letter, Capt. Langsdorf said that although the fighting powers of the ship were not diminished she waLS not seaworthy as her kitchens and bakeries were damaged,

He could not put to sea with a crew of 1,000 men when she was in that condition.

The Captain's note allegez that the Uruguayan Government, by refusing to extend the Grat Spee's time limit, failed to live up to the Hague vention.

...

Captain's Admission The Captain also admits having fired at a British warship while in Uruguayan territorial waterm

|

steamer Clement was encounter-

ed.

Typical Of Hitler

The Finns are believed to have

They say that they have forced the Soviets back and have destroyed 30

tanks,

This report may be partly confirm- ed by the fact that while Soviet official communiques give details of Hitler gave Italy less notice than the operations in other fronts, they is customary and expected between are suspiciously silent about the partners.

Karelian Isthmus,

These are indications that both sides are now striking On October 7, the Graf Spec's with greater fury through their air forces.

It has been officially announced that the R.A.F. shot down 12 Messerschmidt plancs over Heligoland.

Seven British machines failed to return to their bases. avoid war for some years in

As the German ship opened fire on the Clement, her captain ordered the

ship's destruction of the

wireless. engines and stores.

The seacocks were opened and the crew took to their boats.

The paper stresses Count Clano's reference to the fact that Italy and Germany had agreed that they must their own interests, Nazis Bomb Motor Ship

This says the "Manchester Guar dian," would be disturbing reading LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter). In for Germans if the German people connection with the coastal raids on eete ever allowed to read it. Britain by the Nazair force on Sunday, it is now reported that the March this year Germany had agreed The paper also points out that in motor vessel, Serenity, of 244 tons, not to do anything for some four ur was sunk during the course of these ve years, during which time al10 attacks.

could organise her military resources. Muzzolini Landed

Erecting Now Defences Although the Mannerhelm Line fy many miles deep, the Finns are still erecting new défences miles behind. North of Lake Ladoga, the Finns also seem to be doing well.

Their batteries have destroyed three armoured cars, while Finnish nero- planes have also been busy.

Florco Frontier Battle LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter). Tho fierce battle which has been raging all night south of Kuonjaerl on the Norwegian-Finnish frontier is still progressing.

BIG AIR BATTLE LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reuter). Later they were placed aboard a-An Air Ministry communique, Greek steamer, the master of which issued at 8.50 p.m. to-day, states was threatened with sinking when he that a bomber formation of the refused to take them on board with- Air Force reconnoitred the Heli- out payment:

goland Bight area with the object of attacking any enemy warships found at sea.

No warships were encountered at

Soviet troops have now occupied a One bomb made a direct hit on the solini's efforts to preserve peace. bombers met strong

great deal of Finnish territory along cn, but the fighter forces,

Serenity, but fortunately no one was Hitler replied with a refusal 18 the Norwegian frontier although they Fierce fighting ensued and 12 Mes-injured.

days before the invasion of Poland. have sustained heavy lossca. and British fighters then arrived while serschmidts were shot down

reiterated So much for the often

These losses are unlikely to have November was a poor month, for seven of our bombers are at present drove the Nazis off, spocuring to Naz! Slogan about the "patience of a serious effect upon their ability to PLEASE Turn To Pago 4.

the Fuchrer,"

retain the new positions owing to the it was not until November 15 that unaccounted for.

large forces at their disposal.

Ships Sunk By Bombs Other ships, including the Ashley and Huntsman, were sunk by bombs during October when the Graf Spee crept up on them unawares by dying the French fing.

Her "bag" for October was ave ships.

she came across another merchant- man, the 900-ton tanker, Africa Shell, which was sunk in Portuguese terri- torial waters.

The Grat Speo's capiain told the Con-master of the tanker that for the past two weeks he had been straddling the Australia-Cape shipping_route, but without sighting any British ahlps.

Doric Star Scuttled The Graf Spee, followed by her supply ship, on which most of the Britlab erswo were being kept, con- tinued to cruise around but it was not until December that she sighted another ship.

This was the 10,000 ton Derio Blar which sent out an 8. 0.8, and then opened her, sescocks.

The Uruguayan authorities are now Investigating the way in which the Grof Spee was sunit.

They questioned the Chief Engineer and three members of the crew who were among the last to leave the ship. All members of the Graf Spec's ereenboard the Tacoma will be in- turned.

There is considerable resentment at the Graf Spee's choice of final PLEASE Turn To Pago 4.

The boarding party arrived to find the ship sinking under them, where-: PLEASE. Tum To Pago 4.

The crew, who have been-landed by life-boat, said that the ship was altacked by Nazi planes.

LT. CDR. BICKFORD WAS IN HONGKONG IN 1937

The "Times" praises Signor Mus-

The "Manchester Guardian” also looks forward into the future. The lost war, it points out, was followed by a great epidemic,

What strength will the populations ef Poland and Czroho-Slovakia have to resist the disease?

"And what of the Impoverished

asks.

-The man who sank the Nazl cruiser Leipzig was Lieut. Population of the Reich" the paper Commander E. O: Bickford, who was in Hongkong until late in 1937 and is well known in sporting circles here.

Lleut. Commander Bickford served in Hongkong as First Lieutenant oboard H.M.S. Odin.

He was transferred from Hongkong In 1987. to take up the Submarine Commanding Officers' course at Fort Blockhouse (ILM.S.

Steady Advanco

They have been steadily pressing southward since Friday.

New Contraband out with small field

Control Base

Fifty Finnish soldiers crossed the frontier during the week-end. They stated that the Finnish detachments have taken heavy toll of the enemy. At one point, they claimed, no less than 700 Nussions were taken com- pletely by surprise and were wiped guns and machine-guns.

Claims Soviets Crossed Norwegian Territory STOCKHOLM, Dec. 18 (Reuter)

ADEN, Dec. 18. (Router). A now!

CANADIAN TROOPS LAND IN ENGLAND

LONDON, Dec. 18 (Reu ter)The disclosure that the leading division of the Canadian Army, strongly escorted across the ocean and guarded by our main battle fleet, has disembarked safely and smoothly in one, of our harbours for a period of intensive training before joining their comrades on the Western Front, made by Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in a broadcast to-night.

LATEST

Son Back Pago For

· Further Late News

WDS

tory during the Salmijaervi opern- tions.

He stated that the Finnlah machine- guns stationed on the road bordering the front were suddenly attacked on,

Dolphin, Portsmouth). He received his promotion In August, 1936 British Contraband Control base has General Wallenius, the Finnish Com- ----just over a year age, and was then placed in command of HM been established here to supplement mjere herorthern front, inform the Bank. Salmon on Mediterranean Station. He was still in H.M.S. Salmon those in the Mediterranean.

ed the correspondent of the Swedish | It was impossible that the Russjon" when he performed his remarkable feat of torpedoing two German The base is also to be used for newspaper, Nyheter," that he was tanks, could have avoided traverslag examination of cargoes of German ennvinced that the Russian tanks Norwegian soll since the road was origin on outward bound ships, 4.7 [attacked by way of Norwegian terri- constantly watched.

cruisers this week.,