1939-12-21 — Page 1

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High Water:-17.38. Low Water: 10:45.

The

FIRST EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph.

YOUNDED 1801

'No, 18022

# *-A THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1939. B-+-+

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS $30.00 PER ANNUM

Full of Smart Notions

WHITEAWAY'S

Display of Xmas Gifts

for Ladies &

Children

Nazis Use "Mystery Planes" To Attack British Bombers

PLANES ACTIVE ON BOTH SIDES OF N.

LONDON, Dec. 20

(Reuter). - Princess

ENGLAND Elizabeth and Princess Margaret are to spend

Christmas with Their Majesties,

They have been in Scotland since before the war and travelled

down to London during Tuesday night.

They have not seen the King since the middle of August and

The Queen for kwo months,

WESTERN FRONT

Bitter Wintry Weather

PARIS, Dec. 20 (Reuter)......... The recent hitter wintry weather on the Western Front has been succeeded by thaw and cold. A sleety rain has been falling.

These conditions have hamper- ed hir operations on the Front;

FINLAND'S APPEAL FOR PEACE

HELSINGFORS, Dec. 20 (Reuter). Thland has made another peace appeal to Moscow.

In a Russian broadcast, the announcer called on the Russians to rise against the provokers of the war and bring peace between Sovict Russia and Finland,

Raiders Appear Over Eastern Counties

LONDON, DEC. 20 (REUTER) —IT IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT APPEARED FOR A SHORT TIME

OVER THE EASTERN COUNTIES THIS EVENING.

Searchlights wore exposed and fighters sent up to investigate, but

there was no contact.

Seaforth Faces Serious Charge

SHANGHAI, Dec. 21 (Reuter).

No anti-aircraft guns were in action and no air-raid warning was sounded.

The Air Ministry to-night denied the German High Command statement that a British flying boat was shot

Private Eckford, of the Seaforth Highlanders, will be tried by a British Supreme Court on Janu down. in connection with the death of Lance: Corporal Davies the night of November 4.

DI

itself but have favoured long di Graf Spee" Commander Commits Suicide

tance flights.

While British planes, visited both the German seaplane bàses in North Germany, Gerinan reconnaissance machines have flown over North,

North-west and Western France.

Land attivity continues with minor tocal operations and four unsucces- l enemy patrols raids on a wide

front between the Moselle and Vosges were reported by authoritative mill- tary circles Lo-day.

Western Front Is Quiet PARIS, Dec. 20 (Reuter).—To- night's communique said that there was no event of importance during the day.

Yangtse Reopening

LANGSDORFF TAKES HIS

OWN LIFE

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH” BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (UP).-Captain Langs-

It was stated that a British flying boat yesterday encountered a German machine off the Norwegian coast. The enemy was driven off and the flying boat return- ed to its base MYSTERY PLANES

At least six of the German fighters on Monday were of the new type known as, ME-110.

The German call them "destroyer planes."

The German fighters made some 40 attacks on our machines.

+

One R.A.F. bomber brought down five enemy air- craft.

On the way home, it was at tacked several times, and even-

the centre gun and wireless out of action.

SEA

MOLLAND

PLAN LAURE

BERLIN, Dec. 20 (Router).-Herr Hitler

GERMANY left Berlin to-day to spend Christmas at

Berchtesgaden,

It is not known whether he means to keep up his usuni custom of celebrating Christmas with members of the Nazł Party In the Beer Cellar al Munich.

You May Not War Nearly Know- Started In

That the Nazis, recently boasted that South-West Afri-

ca would soon have a Cerman Governor again.

at

The boast was made by Herr Lierou, German consul Windhoek,. S.W.. Africa, who before he went to Africa was active in Sudetenland,

South-West Africa, now ad- ministered by the Union of South Africa under a League of Nations mandate, has a popu; lation of 333,000 Africans and 32,000 Europeans, of whom

9,600 are Carmona, mutt

About half the Cormans are naturalised South Africans. It

is the other half who cause all

the trouble.

They are organised in two bodies the Deutsche Sudwest Bund and the Pathfinders (for the German youth).

Loader of the Bund is Dr. Hirsekern, who might be de- scribed as Nazi-Gaulelter for the colony.

dorff, Commander of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf tually got away with both front and rear gunners wounded and OMINOUS

von Spee, committed suicide with a revolver to-day.

His body was found in a room at the Immigrants Hotel. He left a letter which said that from the moment he had been ordered to scuttle his shpi, he had decided to share the

enough to be assured of the safety of over a thousand young men who made up his crew.

The Germans continue to make widely exaggerated claims concerning the flights of their planes.

Semi-official circles in London. comment sarcastically that the

Difficulties destiny of his bout although he decided to postpone it long most successful Nazi lights are

Foreseen

The Ambassador rushed to the hotel immediately upon being noti- the

French Comment Ond personally advised

Announcement

He Minister of Marine of the tragedy.

10

ARMY CAR

ON PEAK

.

Chinese Sappers Have Miraculous Escape

Seven Chinese sappers of the

their flights of imagination.

The best of all German stories, however, concerns R.AF; attacks on the island of Sylt, which the RAF. denies having attacked.

The Nazis suy that the R.A.F. dropped bombs on two towns in the Island, the attacks being made at 2

p.m.

In actual fact, however, the RAF. says, no British machines were within a hundred miles of Sylt at the time.

17 Planos Lost

The German air fores has lost 17 plants in two air ballies over fellroland since last Thursday, The cost of the Nazi coastal defence

The time of the suicide is not SOMERSAULTS It known, but it is presumed that occurred soon after the issuance of PARIS, Dec. 20 (Reuter)-the Internment order. While noting with satisfaction

been disclosed

that

Captain the the Japanese Government's an- Langsdorff yesterday requested

permission authorities

"have a nounced intention of partially heart to heart talk with my men." re-opening the Yangtse River, The authorities cleared the hotel or well-informed circles in Paris do all except the Grat Sper's crew and not underestimate the difficulties officers who formed a circle four

deep around their Captain. He ap-Royal Engineers were injured is in sharp contrast to that of the surrounding the question, parently bade them his last farewell. and taken to the Queen Mary R.AF. for the British coastal defence. During October and November, the An offelal communique Issued by Hospital this morning when the Nazis lost 21 machines in raids on the the German Embassy praised lorry in which they were travell British coast. Captain's action, implying

The RAF Coastal Command lost Nazi officialdom considers that he ing to the Peak leapt over a 16 has concluded his career with full foot embankment, and turned a not one single machine.

complete somersault before land- The funeral is scheduled for morrow and will be attended at the ing on its four wheels.

it is tell here that the matter is one which primarily concerns Britain because of her river traffic, although Erance and other European countries and America, are also concerned,

Inevitablo Issues

orms to the army of Chiang Kai-shek,

honours.

that

to-

"Naval Victorios" The Nazis are now claiming as The driver, Leung Shul-wat, 22, "naval victories" the attacking and It seems inevitable that such ques- German cemetery by 300 of the Graf tlons must arise as the presence of Spee's crew and German officials, to-escaped with a few scratches, while sinking of defenceless fishing boats The fishing boats are called British Japanese troops along the banks of gether with members of the German four other sappers were badly shaken, by their planes.

The vehicle was on open type the Yangtse, river barrages, Japanese colony here. demands for a strict watch on muni The remains are now lying in a United Delivery lorry which was patrol forces.

under contract to the Military, and To-day they Jubilantly announced tions in order to stop the supply of sealed coffin in the Naval arsenal.

was proceeding to the Peak with the that the British had lost 23 patrol

boats, imppers und a load of sandbaga.

The calm is completely untrue. and Japanese control of the Customs

Stearing Locked

Only six, and not 23, were lost. It is pointed out that' whether the

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (Reuter). The driver stated that he was They were fishing boats and had creation of a convoy, system for the German Embassy communique turning from the lower part of Stubbs nothing to do with Britain's defence purpose of stopping the arms truffle

Road at the bend of the petrol station would meet the Japanese caso lạ' 'h The commander of the glorious to go up Stubbs Rond, when the steer-

The Admiralty announces that the problem which must require close cruiser, Admiral Graf Spee, Captain ing locked, and the vehicle went over Navy has not lost a single ship in

Langsdorf, Inst night sacrificed his before he could straighten it. life for his country by voluntary suit- The incident occurred about-ten the past few days. immolation.

attention.

NDL Liner May Be Seized

slates:

"Self-Immolation"

due

forces.

ADVICE

S.W.Africa,

Says Smuts

STANDERTON, Trans- vaal, Dec. 20 (Reuter). If the South African Govern- ment had not taken over the Police of South-West Africa, the world war might have broken out, not in l'oland, but in South Africa, declared General Jan Smuts, the South African Premier, in a speech to his consti-

tuents.

General Smuts added that but for the Government's quick action, an outbreak of war might have occurred on the borders of South Africa

Germany had followed in South West Africa the same technique-of Junder-mining and breaking the spirita and Independence of the people as she had done in Austria and Ciecho- Slovakia.

Independence Throatoned

If Germany had regained South- West Africa, there was no doubt that the freedom and Independence of

Russo-German Eyes South Africa would not have lasted

NAZI LIES

ANSWERED The

They Still Claim A Graf Spee Victory LONDON, Dec. 20 (Reuter). The following is a special commentary issued in London to-day:

German propagonda alleged that

...

On Sweden?

long.

Loud applause greeted General Smuls' remark that Germany, aga neighbour, was a threat but that Eng- and was South Africa's greatest friend.

LONDON, Dec. 20 (UP)

"Exchange Telegraph's" Peiping correspondent reports General Smuts déclared that there very strong documentary that the local German Bank is was advising all German clients to evidence to show how German eyes

PLEASE Turn To Pago 4. sell their holdings of Swedish krener as soon as possible.

Big Air Attacks SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH!*

Dec. HELSINGFORS,

20

the Exeter and Ajax ran away and (UP)-It is officially stated that tant the Achilles was sunk; and that Russian troops. supported by Germany and Uruguay alone knew hundreds of tanks and under the hour that the Graf Spee must cover of massed air squadrons leave:

After the scuttling was suggested, estimated at 250 bombers made events were precipitated by the action one of their heaviest attacks of the war during the past 48 hours of Uruguay:

At 7 pm. on December 18, the on the Karelian front.. "Deutschland Sender station an- The attack was centred on the 10 nounced that the Exeter was so badly mile stretch between Lakes Muola smashed that she resembled an open Kauk, where the Finns have a triple

line of fortifications, rowing boat:

At 8 am, on December 10, the same It is reliably reported that two station said that it was the humane Soviet regiments have been wiped out! decision of the Fuehrer not to allow in the Savykoski region, where the the lives of the crew of the Graf Finns were alded by

snowstorm and Spee to be imperitied in a fight with bitter cold.

The Finna claim they captured 10 greatly superior forces:

The connection with the cutting of tanks and downed. 20. planes In Jast the Graf Spee, and the loss or damage Tuesday's fighting on the Karcilan to two German cruisers in three days, Isthmus in which they said the Rus- the following British nat losses are slans used 30 ton tanks.

fresh recapitulated: - Courageous, Royal Meanwhile, thousands Rawalpsy. Blanche, Oxley, Duchess, Soviet troops and a large number of few nuxillary now tanks are reported to have ar. patrol vessels:

rived on the central front, presaging The Ark Royal, Repulse, Renown, a major Soviet offensive. Southampton, Hood and other ships. alleged to be sunk or damaged, are still employed in their lawful duties, some of which are now revealed:

Oak

and a

Superior Aircraft Alr attacks on novel vessels are completely futile. No naval vessels are sunk by this method:

British alreraft have proved vastly

Men born in 1899 have been call- ed to the colours, by, Finland a the Russians"Veglo the third week of Incessant hammering on the Mannerheim Line.

LATEST

Sou Back Faga For Further late' News

NAZIS HAVE SCUTTLED

23 OF THEIR SHIPS

minutes past eight; and Traffic Ina- Fighting Murder Minos"

Mensures against Nazi planes lay- "From the outsol, he had decided pector Saunders and Sub-Inspector to share the fate of his fino ship and Clarke were on the scene a few ing mines along the British coast in-

minutės tater.

clude not only nightly patrols over and only personal influences,

Damago to the lorry consisted of Heligoland but also operations by a consideration for his responsibility smashed radiator and bonnet, front "Balloon Nuvy."

In order to intercept enemy air- MIAMI, Dec. 20 (Reuter)-The for the successful disembarkation of mudguards, crumpled, and the alde of

craft, balloons are now made Enst to Imperiat Sugar Company of Galves his crew of more than 1,000 men, led the lorry slightly torn.

boats around various danger areas, ton has filed suit for attachment iontion until his duty was done and him to postpone fulfilment of his in-

bonts are manned by against the German freighter, Arauen, non eriors Cully, informed of the GESTAPO CHIEF members of the balloon barrage of the superior. Even bombers, are more jikan u match for German fighters. RAF., tug-mastery and fishermen. Florida, Jesterday, after being' puré situation.

This mission ended, he bowed to IN ITALY The danger of the work is lus Witness Sunday's fight when 12 Messerschmidts and fighters were

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" destiny, brave salior who has SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH trated by the story of how one such

boat found itself anchored at night last, and only seven bombers, where- The Company claims that it had writton another page to the glory ROME, Dec, 20 (Doniel)-lerr near a mine.

LONDON, Dec. 20 (Donici),—Informed quarters point out that as normally bombers, unassisted by many tons of sugar aboard three of the German Navy

Himmler, chief of the Gestapo, un=. It did not dare to move for fear of fighters, are at a great diendvantage with the sinking of the 32,000-ton liner Columbus, the number of Hamburg-Amorika Line Trolgliters Before his suleide, Capt. Latiga- oxpectedly arrived here from Berlin being blown up and those on board "gainst wave after wave of more, German merchant ships which have been scultlod zince, the outbreak which put into neutral" ports at the dorf? :wrote a letter to the German {to-day,

wore, their, ilfe-belts all-night,

rapid fighting aircraft: beginning of the war without deliver Ambasador in which he said that it is understood that he will make

liver when he received the order to arrangements for a meeting between him next maming, the owly and have been against unarmed merchunt

The anchor

The principal German Ruccesses of the war has reached 23 nhiös totalling about 130,000 tons

German ships' which have bY DIENT BY HANGS PLEASE Turn To Page 4.3.liler Hitler and Signor Mussolini'

PLEASE Turn To Pago A... cautiously moved out of the area.........

number 19 craft, totallar: 880113 ir

which put Into Port Evergladan,

kued by an English warship,

zahe suit involves a sum of $38,000,-

"