1940-03-18 — Page 27

Monday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

March 18, 1940.

NEW WAR HEAVY FIGHTING FLARES DEBATE ON

CABINET

POSSIBLE

Daladier To Make

Vital Decision

PARIS, Mar. 17 (Reuter)

By Monday night at the lateat,

UP ON KWANGSI

KWANGSI FRONT

According to a "Central News" message received this morning from Kwellin, fighting on the Kwangst front, which was confined in recent weeks to localised engagements, flared up anew during the week-end when the Japanese concentrated several flerce attacks on the eastern sector of the Yamchow-Nanning line.

Japanese forces of some 6,000

were thrown into the operations Vital Lessons Of Finnish War

the country should know in the vicinity of Wingahun; whother M, Daladier has decided cast of Nanning on the upper to re-shuffle his Cabinet or not, reaches of the Watkiang River, The big debate in the Chamber on and at Slutong, near the Kwang- Tuesday on the Finnish situation may tung border, thus assume added importance, with the Deputies taking the opportunity to question the Government on the composition of the Cabinet.

Sanguinary encounters raged throughout the week-end near Fel- lunghu and Sunglin, where after siff resistance the defenders beat the Japanese back to Shapinghu, north of

There was much discussion in poil- cal circles during the week-end with Sungku. regard to the form the changes mightį take.

Most Likoly Move The formation "War Cabinet,"

ot ព of which M. Daladier would remain the head, was considered most likely. This might be accompanied Bentral re-shuffle of the Ministries.

In other quarters, it is though probable that a former Prime Minia- ter would be asked to take over the Foreign Ministry.

It is also considered likely that a member of the present government

ter of Information.

Water-Piping Thefts

Three Men Sentenced

To Prison

On the Siutung sector, the Japan ese advanced to Lukwo on Saturday. They are stated to be held up by the Chinese now.

Kwangtung Offensive

MODERNWAR TANKS NOT SO EFFECTIVE

SPECIAL TO

THE TELEGRAPH"

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN THE FIELD, Mar. 16 (UP)-Although the war between Russia and Finland Lasted 104 days its lessons are already being drawn by other General Staffs for confirmation of the conclusions drawn from the long Spanish civil war.

A third force of 2,000 Japanese in-

High milltary strategists are byfantry and cavalry opened an offen-

sive to the cast on Lingshan, 00 miles of the opinion that the greatest north-east of Yamehow, in west lesson of the Finnish fighting Kwangtung, near the Kwangs bor-was that successful antidotes to der. Their advance has been check-tanks and bomber planes have ed at Sungchinghu, north of Lukwo. been found and that neither will

In North Shanai also, fighting has

reported

Japanese Ship In Distress

SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAPH SAN FRANCISCO, Mar. 17 (UP).

The Dutch steamer Tilbesar, which the Japanese vessel's assistance.

140 miles distant, is proceeding to highest skill. These conditions could

not be replaced.

Equally strong fortifications might

THE WAR

Mr. Horo-Belisha Will Break Silence

LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter). The members of the House of Commons will hold a debate on Tuesday on foreign affairs when Mr. Chamberlain will review the international situation and the progress of the war.

The Rt. Hon. Mr. C. R. Attlee will follow Mr. Chamberlain and will ask n number of questions regarding the Government's diplomatic ond general prospects. He will also ask whether or not the financial and economie re- sources of this country are being properly mobilised.

Belisha To Be Outspokan

Sir Archibald Sinclair, Leader of the Liberal Opposition, will speak for the Opposition Liberals and it is followed by Mr. Leslie 11ore-Belisha who wil expected that he will make his first speech since he gave the reasons

the for his leaving Government.

He will deal mainly with Finland and it.. understood that he will make the same kind of speech as if the House of Commons were discussing the question in secret session.

Mr. Hugh Dalton will wind up the likely that the Prime Minister will speak again at the end of the debate.

Sinclair's Warning

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" LONDON, Mar. 10 (UP)——“We seemed to have passed from a warlike peace to a peaceful war," said Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader,

radio broadcast speech to-day. "However, behind the deceptive A

appearance of quietness Hes the reality of a gigantic conflet. It is idle to say that we should make peace

will be appointed France's first Minis resumed after a long respite. It is play an overwhelming. role in The American President liner re-debate for the Opposition and it is

that Japanese forces based eventual fighting on the western ports that she lins plcked up an SOS at Chinglo and Wutal have started front which imagination has led from the Japanese steamer Kilakuku Maru, which is in distress midway combined

ned westward drive.

us to believe. claimed by the The Japanese, it

Although the gare must be con-between Japan and Formosa.

The Japanese vessel given her posi- Chinese, have suffered serious set-firmed, it is reported from Finnish

tanka on as Latitude 29.37 north, Longi backs owing to staunch Chinese resources that 1,486. Russian sistance and have sustained between,

were captured or destroyed. This lude 120.18 East. 600 al 700 casualties.

made brings tank casualties to more than Japanese forces at Wutal

command three fierce attacks on Chinese post-50 per cent. because military reports tions, but they were defeated by a estimate that the Soviet

concentrated only 2.500 to 3,000 tanks Chinese counter-offensive. retreat they suffered further losses on Use Finnish front.

Faster They Arc,

be bullt round many of the big lakes, now before the great battle with its Thefts of water-piping to the totals the result of Chinese ambushes.

Quicker They're Destroyed

have but these would not block the way great bloodshed begins. The Nazk The Finnish war seems to value of $750 from Shek-Onid

conclusion to the most thickly populated and Government rests on, and respects

on the nothing, but force. Shatin during January led to the

richest area of Finland

"We must be prepared for the con- appearance of three unemployed men,

confirmed the technical Liu Yuk-shing, 21, Lo Sang, 37, and

made during the Spanish war

Captain Falls emphasised once more diet to happen at any moment," he! Li Shui-hlug, 32, before Mr. Sheldon

the faster tanks go the inore vulner-southern const. at the Central Magistracy this morn-f crossing. It was repulsed. by the able they are and that much greater that the mobile tacfles of the Finns, added.

He blamed Norway and Sweden for progress has been made in perfecting used so effectively on the eastern anti-tank guns, tank traps, mines and frontier, would not serve the same "the tragic Issue of the Russo-Finnish ditches for the destruction of tanks purpose in the south, where the war," than there has been made in increas Russians could deploy sumelently to

security.

disregard them. claim they Finnish sources also ing their shol down 587 Russian plaries which would be approximately one third of the total tante. Again the proportion In the is about equal to that use fast phases of the Spanish war and confirms the effectiveness of modern

ing.

Fighting Washed Out

drive from In support of this Chinglo and Wutai, a Japanese unit at Lulin in West Shanal attacked Kuntu, an important Yellow Iliver Chinese defenders,

that

On the North Hunun front, con- Lau and Lo were charged with the tinuous spring rain has completely theft of 42 lengths of water-piping washed out fighting during the last from No. 2 Bungalow, Shek-O, the property of Mr. F. Stafford-Smith, on few days. Large sections of high

ways repaired by the Japanese nenr January 8, and theft of 100 feet of Yoyang have been washed away. water-plpinx belonging to the Mil-

In Hupeh, over 100 Japanese were tary authorities from Shatin, New allex and several hundred others Territories on January 0.

All three were charged with theft were wounded when a Japanese troop of 400 feet of water-piping from train struck a Chinese mine ut Tung

on the hwangten station, Shatin on January 20, the property of Hui Pal-tong, of the Asiatic Dairy, neetion of the Peiping-llankow Rail-aircraft artillery, because the Finns 331 Nathan Road.

way on March

On the same day,

rch 12,

Chinese units Lo denied he had anything to do blew up five Japanese motor lorries with the theft of Hul's property. This plea was accepted by die Police.hene Kwangshul In North Hupeh, A

Sgt. II. J. Baldwin said the pines large quantity of Japanese in each case were connected to re supplies was damaged.

servoirs. After the thefts, defendants

Who

had disposed of the property, and this had since been sold by the pur- chasers to unknown buyers. could not be traced. In the case of the theft from the Military Authorl- been tles, much inconvenience had caused them, added the Sergeant,

Serious Offences

Mr. Sheldon remarked the offences were serlous, and sentenced Lau and Lo to six months' hard labour on each the of the charges against them, terms to run concurrently, and Li four-months.-

Jews Resent Measure

war

Indignant Resolution Passed In London

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH!!

the

several

Norway's Concorn

To Discuss All Aspects LONDON, Mag. 17 (British Wire- less)-Before Parliament adjourns for Easter on Thursday, the House general conduct of the war in its of Commons will wish to discuss the

tary aspects. diplomatic, financial as well as mili-

The demobilisation of l'etsamo and seemed to be more of concern to the Soviet right of way across Norway

The Prime Minister's statement on Norway then Finland because the latter could hardly have defended this

Similarly the railway to be built Tuesday will give a convenient op- area for long. on the Soviet right of way across portunity for debate in which the Finland's walst-line was more of a Opposition will have several ques threat to Sweden, although its main lions to raise.

pose now might merely be for trade.

The loss of Hangoe was not for the purpose of holding Finland in chains, but rather to strengthen the Soviet position in the Baltic, especially in the

Gulf of Finland.

The Government's cold scheme of Colonial development announced last month will be discussed in the House of Lords on Wednesday.

WELSH DRUMMER

IN COURT

posscased very few fighting planes and secured most of their victories from the ground.

The failure of the Russian tank corps to break through the Finnish defences at any vital point contrast- ed with the Germans successful use of tanks in ralding deep into the heart of Poland-one of the main causes of the swift Polish defeat,

But as detailed

It might be that chances were miss- reports of Polish fighting become available ed by the Allies, Scandinavia and the is evident that the German tanks world in general. There might be

cause for self-reproach, but the send were stopped and defeated

ing

expedition would have of a relief

Drummer R. W. McCormick, of the points where the Poles were able to concentrate modern anti-tank bat-been dificult and even hazardous 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusillers, owing to vulnerable communication. appeared before Mr. Macfadyen at teries,

Success might have followed but in the Kowloon Magistracy this morn- Germans Too Lost Heavily! General Sonkowski, now second in an case the struggle would have been ing and admitted that he had been absent from his regiment without LONDON, Mar. 17 (UP) command to General Sikorski inn long and bitter one.

leave. No Place For Optimism army, is

sald that to The Board of Deputies of British training the new Pollah

There was no place for optimism. Sub-Inspector Kellett

been successfully defendant had deserted his regiment Jews to-day passed a unanimous credited with wiping out two divi-

sions of German-tanks-with- one Finland.had. resolution "deeply regreting" brigade of Polish artillery and anti-weakened. It was doubtful whether on June 13, 1037, which was about That action is reported in future she could maintain her the time that the regiment left for the Palestine and regulations which have been introduced "at to have occurred in Gullela where defences without the whole country Sudan. a time when the Jews, the first the Panzer divisions were striting being virtually ruined. victims of Hitlerism, are suffer. eastward along the northern slopes of proved her point.

and reach Lemberg, DUDLIN, Mar. 17 (Reuter). The ing the most inhuman persecu- the Carpathian mountains to turn to to Pollsh reports, coincidence of Palm Sunday and St. tion."

General Bonkowski's forces, before Patrick's Day to-day was referred; Mr.

Cruel Blow Delivered the Prime Minister,

a cruel to by

retreating Into Hungary, destroyed "These restrictions deal

170 tanks, armoured cars and other Eamon de Valera, on Saturday night

motorised units of those two divi- when he said that he believed that blow to the Jewish national home,"

alona,

Tanks succeeded in the this coincidence had occurred only the resolution added.

where they were Polish campaign. once in the last 140 years.

scouting used the role of

in cavalry, Tanks failed in Finland where they were used as mobile arilllery in mass attacks on Finish fortined positions.

1

St. Patrick's Day Coincidence

It added that the regulations barred The usual celebrations in Dublin Jews from the land in all but one narrow confine "one ninetieth of were curtailed by the war.

military parades, that promised by the Balfour de- There were no although a troop of cavalry escorted claration and that it is injurious the President, Dr. Douglas Hyde, lo a to Arab economy through condemn- ing the prohibited and restricted the Arabs special Protestant service.

Mr. de Valera and his Ministers zones to stagnation and attended a Catholle service.

French Balloon

Brought Down

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

BERLIN, Mar, 17 (UP).-D.N.B.

Australian Ship Sinking

to' penury.

Want Mannerheim

As Leader

lank guna.

Western Front Death Traps The heaviest Russian tank losses, were in column formations where the

tanks were trapped in the snow or

ambushed in the roadiess forcsis.

Tank operations on the Western

But she had

Captahs Falls did not think that Russia would ever have embarked on this war had she realised the cost. Her losses har! been enormous,

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WHEN DID HONGKONG BECOME A COLONY?

Poser Facing The Centenary Celebration Committee

Although plans are under way for the centenary celebra-

front will face far greater obstacles tion of Hongkong next January no particular day has been

The rails rise at different

officially fixed for the celebrations.

This, on the face of it, appears to be strange. However,

in thick steel rails bedded in con crete, SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" HELSINGFORS, Mar. 10 (UP) heights above the ground so as to tip reports that German pursuit planes, The suggestion has been advanced by up the front of an approaching tank. on studying various reference books and historical authorities, it Coalition organ, the Sheltered anti-tank guns then get a becomes apparent that the actual date of the cession of this

on the weakest island to Great Britain is not definite. brought down a French observation the National balloon cast of Breisach yesterday. "Uusi Suomi," that Field Marshal direct line of fire

Mannerheim should become Finland's point in the tank's construction-its

The llongkong Administration Re-, Chinese Government formally recog The balloon fell in flames.

underside new leader.

ports evade the issue by shortlynised the cession of the island." Why Finland Lost

Authorities Quote Tho 26th Some reference books take this LONDON, Mar. 17 (Reuter)-Asiating that the island of Hongkongt talk on the military significance of was-ceded to Great Britain in Jan- the Russo-Finnish Peace Treaty was uary, 1841, the cession being con- date (January 26, 1841) as the day given by Captain Cyril Falls, military firmed by the Treaty of Nanking in following the actual cession.

"Picturesque Hongkong" by R.C. correspondent of the "Times," from August 1842,"

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, too, Hurley, states: "On January 25, 1841, SAN FRANCISCO, Mar. 10 (UP).

Daventry to-day, SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

(Domel)- The Russian attack on Finland, he simply states that the island was first at 0.15 am. Sir E. Belcher....fanded Globe Wireless reports that they

Just below the little hill in the centre NANKING, Mar. 18

of the present City of Victoria." have intercepted a SOS signal from

January 21 Chosen

These facts are corroborated in the Australian steamer Kahiki say Wang Ching-wel and other puppet said, had ended as it was bound to ceded to Great Britain, in 1841.

"Hongkong Around and About" by S. ing she is on the rocks and sinking leaders arrived at Nanking to-day by end if sufficient aid did not come in

It, Peplow and M. Barker. In it we rapidly between the southern tip of, aeroplanes which were placed at me.. The reasons why that ald did not come were complicated and were their disposal on Sunday. Victoria and Tasmanis.

find the following: "It (the ceding of

Wang Ching-wei In Nanking

RUMANIA READY TO DEFEND HERSELF

A more definite date, however, was not wholly clear even now, In any reached by the Hongkong Govern- case, these reasons were political and ment in 1891 when the Colony was

Chartor In 1843.

he was not going to discuss them. then celebrating its 50th anniversary. Hongkong to Britain) was accepted

In

Again in a report by Captain connection with the military January 21 was chosen as the date of on January 25, 1841."

was not celebration and a special meeting of Edward Belcher Is the statement; significance, however, ha going back on what he said a short the Executive and Legislative Coun-"We landed on the 28th of January, On the 26th, the squadron time ago, that the Russians had been ells mot on that day and were 1841... pulled together and that their opera addressed by His Excellency the arrived and the flag was holated." tions against the Mannerheim Line in Governor, Sir William des Voeux, the Summa sector were well-directed. K. C. M. G.

The Treaty of Nanking was signed. SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

Apart from the ground which they Another and later date, however,

separato BUCHAREST, Mar. 18 (UP)—A Proclamation was broad- had lost, the Finns were exhausted by is put forward by the Historical and on August 29, 1842 A Royal Charter east to the people of Rumania by the Prime Minister to-day, in the unceasing assaults and the speed Statistical Abstract of the Colony of declaring Hongkong a the course of which he declared that Rumania was prepared to which the Ited Army followed up the Hongkong. In this book it is found Colony with established Courts and

Finnish withdrawals

that "Hongkong was taken over on full legislative powers, and a com- mission appointing Sir Henry Pot- The Finns had no relief troops, January 26, 1841." defend herself against aggression from any quarter.

This date is also. confirmed by the finger the first Governor of the Hongkong Daily Press Directory Colony and its dependencies, Deprived Power

and published, "On proclaimed The Premier urged the necessity These reports are now being re- This was the beginning of the end.

was Charter being granted on April of making Rumania's armed forces vived.

and the January 20, 1041, the island If there is any truth in the reports, The effect of the new even more powerful,

it goes without saying that King loss of the Karellat Istutus the and Chronicle which states:

Thus, although Hongkong was of IL M. Queen Prior to Russia's attack on Finland, Carol would welcome German inter- northern shore of Lake Ladoga accordingly taken formal possession 1043. rumours were widely current that vention If Russia should eventually deprive Finland of much of her power of in the name

ly repudiated by both parties, and it 1041, the actual centenary of the the Soviet had demanded from both agree to a Non-Aggression Pact with to resist any such onslaughts in the Victoria, The treaty was subsequent taken possession of on January 20, Bulgaria and Rumania the right to Rumania, it is believed that it will, futuro.

The siting and construction of the was not until the conclusion of the foundation of the Colony does not establish naval and air bases along be in return for some concession on

Mannerheim Line were work of the Nanking Treaty in 1842 that the occur until April 6, 1843. the part of Rumania. the Black Sea coast.

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