1939-12-21 — Page 15

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The

SECOND EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph.

FOUNDED 1901 No. 16032

WAQ - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1939. 8-+-+- SINGLE CORY 10 CENTS

$30.00 PER ANNUM

Full of Smart - Notions

WHITEAWAY'S

Display of Xmas Gifts

*for Ladies &

Children

R.A.F. Made it too Hot, So Goering Finds Defenceless 'Enemy'

CALLOUS MURDER RAIDS

ON UNARMED FISHERMEN

LONDON. Bre. 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 seen the King since the mithile of August and

the Queen for two months,

ALL QUIET ON WESTERN FRONT

AUNCH WAR COMMUNIQUE.

PARIO, VEDIEGIMY. FO-NIGHT'S FREICH WAR COMMUNIQUE STATES: "THURE HAS

REUTER.. ŘECH 10 EVENT OF IMPORTANCE DURING THE DAY!

-AND HERE IS

REASON THE

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

These conditions have hampered air operations on he Front itself but have favoured long distance flights.

While British planes visited both the German seaplane bases in North Germany, German re- connaissance machines have flown over North, North-west and Western France.

Land-activity-continues with minor local operations and four unsuccessful enemy patrol raids a wide front between the Moselle and Vosges were report- authoritative military ed by circles. to-day.

.on

TROOPSHIP ESCAPES Near Disaster In Collision

LONDON, Dec. 20 (Reuter). A British troopship's recent escape from a disastrous collision fect was disclosed by a few to-night.

Skipper's Vivid Story

Of Machine-gunning

LONDON, DEC. 20 (BR. WIRELESS).—THE RECENT GERMAN CAMPAIGN OF BOMBING AND MACHINE GUNNING. UNARMED TRAWLERS AND SMALL FISHING VESSELS, IS GENERALLY CON- SIDERED TO RESULT FROM THE FAILURE OF THE GERMAN ENDEAVOURS, BOTH IN THE ILLEGAL MINE-LAYING CAMPAIGN AND IN ALL OTHER FORMS OF SEA WARFARE.

Skipper J. M. Hall, of the trawler Isabella Greig, gives an account of how his ship was bombed and machine-gunned by German aircraft last Sun- day-an example typical of many such cowardly and merciless attacks.

"Our trawler was down when two aircraft, which we recognised as twin-engined Heinkels, were sighted coming from the east," he said.

"Our crew of ten men immediately took cover.

"The Nazi aircraft came on flying low, and passed one on each side of our trawler, with the rear gunners firing with their machine-guns,

"Altogether, they circled the Isabella Greig eight times, their wing tips nearly touching the water as they turned.

"Besides machine-gunning us, they also dropped between 15 and 20 bombs.

ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE CAPTAIN TAKES HIS LIFE

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

"During one short respite our crew started to lower the lifeboat, but the aeroplanes returned and opened heavy fire, wounding two men.

~~~~~~meanwhile, with great difficulty, managed to get off a wireless signal

"Finally, our boat was lowered and put into the water. It was riddled with bullets, and the water barrel

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (UP).-Captain Langs-was punctured. dorff, Commander of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf von Spee, committed suicide with a revolver to-day.

His body was found in 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

destiny of his boat although he decided to postpone it long

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

The

Ambassador rushed to the hotel immediately upon being noti- fed. Be personally advised The second ship, also British, whichMinister of Marine of the tragedy. was outward-bound, has returned to

British port for repair.

the

The time of the suicide is not known, but it is presumed that

iti

The incident happened in a dense occurred soon after the issuance of fog. The ships passed so close to the Internment order. each other that the life-boats which

It has been disclosed that Captain

the

swung out on the davits of the Langsdorff yesterday, requested

vessel were stove in and nulliorities permission to "have savaller

heart to heart talk with my men." some actually carried away.

The authorities cleared the hotel of and all except the Graf Spee's crew

drele four oficers who formed

The troopship arrived with slight! damage to her superstructure.

Because of the denseness of the tort. the smaller ship had her life-boats swung out in readiness.

The fog Iminediately swallowed up both strips and it was only when the vutward-bound vessel returned to port that its ideality was established.

11 is understood that the

which the troopship swith collkled was the Samaria,

vessel nearly

NAZIS RE-FLOAT ARK ROYAL!

that the Ark Royal was sunk, to-

day admitted that the ship in will

afloat and in service.

honour.

"Self-Immolation"

INTERNING OF CREW

German "Disappointment" With Argentine

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH

"The crew, taking our two wounded with them, abandoned the ship and the aircraft went off to the northeast.

"When the lifeboat was 500 away from the trawler,

which was still afloat, the air NAZI LIES

craft returned and opened fre

on us again. Luckily without ANSWERED

result. They also dropped three more bombs.

"British aeroplanes then ap peared and the Germans made off in the direction of home.

They Still Claim A

Graf Spee Victory

GERMANY

JOIN MARKS

LEMOIN

WESER

O WIE DO

BERLIN, Dec. 20 (Neuter).-Berr Hitler left Berlin to-day to spend Christmas at Berchtesgaden,

"It is not known whether he means to keep up his usual custom of celebrating Christmas with members of the Nazi Party in the Beer Cellar at Munich.

Know-

You May Not War Nearly

Started S.W.Africa,

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

ca would soon have a German Governor again.

at

The boast was made by Herr

consul Lierau, German Windhook, 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 wham 9,600 are Germans.

About half the Germans 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).

Leader of the Bund is Dr. Hirsçkorn, who might be de- scribed as Nazi Gauleiter for the colony.

OMINOUS ADVICE

Russo-German Eyes On Sweden?

LONDON, Dec. 20 (UP).- The "Exchange Telegraph's" : Pelping correspondent reports

that the local German Bank is

advising all German clients to

sell their holdings of Swedish

kroner as soon as possible.

20

Big Air Attacks SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

Dec. HELSINGFORS, "My trawler was entirely LONDON, Dec. 20 (Reuter), (UP)-It is officially stated that unarmed, and was flying theThe following is a special Russian troops, supported by British mercantile flag and was commentary issued in London hundreds of tanks and under cover of massed air quadrons engaged in fishing.

to-day: The German aircraft gave no

German propoganda alleged that estimated at 250 bombers made warning whatever before open- the Exeter and Ajax ran away and one of their heaviest attacks of ing five and had apparently flown that the Achilles was sunk; and that the war during the past 48 hours

Germany and Uruguay alone knew on the Karelian front. 350 miles from Germany for the the hour that the Grif Spec must

The atlack was centred on the 15 mile stretch between Lakes Muola After the scuttling was suggested, Knuk, where the Finns have a triple set purpose of murdering Scot-leave: tish fishermen."

To-day's evening papers give de-events were precipitated by the action line of fortifications,

of Uruguay:

It is tollably reported that two talls of further similar outragen."

At 7 p.m. on December 18, the Soviet regiments have been wiped out The trawler: Trinity was bombed

an in the Savylcoski region where the and machine-gunned in the North Sea "Deutschland Sender" station yesterday. The survivors, while es-nounced that the Exeter was so badly Finnis were sided by a snowstorm, and caping from the sunken ship, were smashed that she resembled an open bitter cold. machine-gunned in the water by the rowing boat: Nazi bombers. Two of the crew of was ntec Werc killed and one wounded.

Last night the German Radio on nouncer brazenly admitted air al- tacks on 24 defenceles fishing vereatly superior forces: sels and tried to excuse thèm describing the vessel as warships and naval auxiliaries.

At 6 a.rn, on December 19, the same station said that it was the humane decision of the Fuchrer riot to allow the lives of the crew of the Grat Spee to be imperiled in a fight with

The connection with the scuttling of the Graf Spee, and the loss or damage to two German cruisers in three days. the following British naval losses are recapitulated: Courageous, Royal Oak, Gypsy, Blanche, Oxley, Duchess, PLEASE Turn To Page 4.

The Finns claim they captured 10 tanks and downed 20 planes in test Tuesday's fighting on the Karellan PLEASE To Turn Pago 4.

In

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 Poland, 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 Went Africa the same. technique of | under-mining and breaking the spirits

and independence-of-the-people.as.. slie had done in Austria and Czecho-. Slovakia,

Independence Threatened

If Germany had regained South- "West Africa, there was no doubt that the freedom and Independence of PLEASE Turn To Page 4.

LATEST

See Back Page For Further Late Nows

NAZIS HAVE SCUTTLED 23 OF THEIR SHIPS

BERLIN. Dec. 20 (UP).—The deep around their Captain. He ap- purently bade them his last farewell. Internment of the Admiral Graf Spee's crew in Buenos Aires has An official communique issued by ' the German Embassy praised the caused disappointment in Berlin. that It had been hoped that the Captain's action, implying

would be considered as Nazi olliclaldorn considers that he crew by corruiled his career with full being "shipwrecked" and would

to-be released accordingly. The funeral is scheduled for

An authorised source on Monday morrow and will be attended at the German cemetery by 300 of the Gral told the press "the men who arrived It is my crow and German officials, to-jat Buenos Aires after their ship had Spec's gether with members of the German been sunk were unarmed.

personal opinion that under these BERLIN, Dec. 20 (Reuter).The colony here.

The remains are now lying in a elrcumstances they should not be

interned." German Propaganda hiinlatry, which

A spoltcainun of the Ministry of for weeks past, had been reporting sealed collin in the Naval arsenal.

Propaganda told "alted Press on Tuesday night that he had not yet BUENOS AIRES, Dec..20 (Reuter).received any delal news of the The statement was made in A German Embassy communique internment and therefore could make

no comment. message from is de Janeiro to the states:

BERGEN, Well-informed quarters in Berlin semi-official "Trans-Ocean"

The commander of the glorious! newa service, which sated that the Ark erulser, Admiral Graf Spec, Captain believe it is possible that the German Royal and Renown left Rio after a Langsdorff, last night sacrificed his Government will protest against the brief stay..

Ute for his country by voluntary self- Internment.

None, of the morning papers men- immolation.

"From the outset, he had decided tion either the sinking of the Colum- to share the fate of his fine ship and bus or the jaterriment of the Grof

und duo;Spee's crew.

other ways, while 16 have been eap- PARIS, Dec. 20 (Reuter)-A! Total Loss 224,000 Tons only personal influences,

tured by the Allies and three were consideration for his responsibility It is pointed out, however, that the

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" Franco-Japanese agreement is signed) to prevent Spee 100,000 pesor or nearly £0,000 settling the terms of execution of the LONDON. Dec, 20 (UP)-It is seized in Allied ports when war was LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuter)The for the successful disembarkation of German policy he always been to

agreement between the Municipality calculated that the loss of the Ger-declared.

The Columbus ip easily the largest- Air Ministry ounces that the King his crew of more than 1,000 mea, led seattle vessels In order

Expenses of the Interment will be of Tokyo and French bond-holders.man Hiner Columbus brings the total HDB. comunanded that a general ser-him to portione fulfillment of liis in-their felling into enemy handi.

Officers On Parole. 2014 tention until his duty was done and vice medal with a clasp, "Palestine,

charged to the German Government. A Foreign Cles representative German merchant marine losses durvlelim of the sea warfare, the next The officers will remain at Buenos declared: The agreement huppllying the war up to 41 Vessels aggre- being the Wattuhl of 0.521 tous, shall be granted to the forces employ his superiors fully informed of the

CAPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAFH" The mission ended, he bowed to BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 20 (Router). Aires on parole, and the mon will be ends à long disputo and cannot fall gaing 224,000 tons, The Columbus which was scuttled in the Indian Interned in the country but will be to favour close Franco-Japanese; was the 18th vessel to be scuttled. Ocean after she had slipped out on

Four merchanimon were sunk· in). PLEASE TUM To Paren relations." April 19, 1936, and September 3, 1939, destiny brava anilor who has The Argentine Government will both: Inclusive.

PLEASE Turn To Page pay the Interned crois, of the Grafallowed certain liberties.

Palestine Medal To Be Struck

10

ed within the geographical limits of situation, Palestine and Trans-Jordan betweer.

Seamen Machine-Gunnod SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAPH

'Dec. 20 (UP).The British rawler Trinity sank rapidly to-day after German planes dropped seven bombs in the Eierfund yester- day.

The trawler's cro

crew afterwards! mnde efforts to reach the wreckage.)

PLEASE Turn To Pago 14.

in montli

Franco-Japanese Dispute Ends

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

LONDON, Dec. 20 (Domel).--Informed quarters point out that with the sinking of the 32,000-ton liner Columbus, the number of Germaa merchant ships which have been scuttied since the pulbreak of the war has reached 23 ships totalling about 130,000 tons.

German ships which have been seized by the Allied Navies number 19 craft, totalling 88,218 tons.

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