1940-12-26 — Page 1

our

IN extending our SEASON'S' GREET- INGS we Bro over mindful of obligation, to the motoring public. The services we have provided for the *coming year will insure you the maximum of safe, comfortable, economical trans- portation. and we hope that we will be privileged to serve you during

1941

FAR EAST MOTORS

High Water.—1B Low Water--12.32.

Manager Hongkong Telegraph" China Morning Post, lid

„Street, Hongkong.

The

FINAL EDITION

Library Supreins

Hongkong Telegraph.

No. 18141

FOUNDED 11E KABAITANT THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1940. 日八廿月一十

HEAVY GUNS BATTER AT BARDIA: FLAMING RING AROUND CITY

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY BEFORE BARDIA, DEC. 25 (UP),—FRESH BATTERIES OF GUNS WITH HEAVY REINFORCEMENTS OF INFANTRY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR THE BATTLE OF BARDIA.

MASSED LINES OF CANNON ARE ROARING DAY AND NIGHT TO FORM A FLAMING RING ON THE LAND SIDE, WHILE THE BIG GUNS OF THE NAVY CONTINUE A MURDEROUS VOLLEY FROM THE SEA.

Greeks

Advance

Towards

Valona

Important Gains

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"

24 (UF) The ATHENS, Dec.. Grecks are reported to be within 15 miles of Valona. while blacked-out Athens resounded to the Christmas greetings of the ficel

Wheezing Athens taxis rolled into the mountabus of south Albania to the rear lines of the Grecks with thoumnds of special gift packages, each containing a bottle of cognac, elguroites, chocolate and worm cocks.

The town itself has thrown up a pall of yellowish smoke, which, with the dust and fumes from the British artillery, obscures a flawless blue sky,

Headquarters Communique

raiders

CAIRO, · Dec. 25 (UP).-To-day's General Headquarters communique says, “In Libya, preparations to deal with the situation at Bardia are being steadily rushed forward despite renewed air activity for support of the beleaguered garrison.

"West from Gallabat our patrols, again inflicted casualties on the enemy.

. "British

made a surprise attack on Valona aerodrome Inst Tuesday and bombed grounded planes and hangars and machine gunned the area from a low level. They departed with the aerodrome engulfed in smoke". A cruiser which put up an anti-aircraft barrage was heavily machine- gunned from a low height."

Churchill's Speech Reactions

Washington Regards It As Timely WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (Reuler). The Greeks are reported to haver Winston Churchill's speech. captured three moro villages and also which

was welcomed here, le con-

The cominunique said that aerodromes at Tmimi and Gazalla on the Western Desert were raided. A large fornia- tion of enemy bombers escorted by fighter planes raided Sollum "causing slight damage and a number of casualties."

Artillery Duel CAIRO, Dec. 25 (Reuter). The speech appears to show that Spasmodic artillery fire from both American and British policy ure sides continued to-day at Bardla,

a "great number of prisoners and warsidered very timely. materiala."

Italians Cut Off

JAPAN- THAILAND TREATY

Text Revealed

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH** TOKYO, Dec. 21 (Domei)............ "a valuable con- Hailing it as

Cx-

toward the political SOFIA, Dec. 24 (UP).--The Greektood that the re-appointment of Mrto dive-bombing allacks by enemy progress of East Asia," Dr radio to-night eported the Greeks William Phillips as US Ambassador aircraft but frontline observers state have advanced towards Velons from to Italy means that the United States that these attacks were mostly in-Nobufumi Ito, President of the Information Board, declared that effective in causing few casualties. Chimura and Jave captured three in changing her peiley there,

Throughout the Western Desert, the Nippon-Thai treaty villages, many prisoners and consl-

which Mr Phillips' return to Rome is be- lieved to presake an effort to get British padres held a simple Christ- went into effect on December 23 dtruble war matielais.

mas service for the troops. They have rift off a number of Italy out of the war.

when ratifications were Italian operating on the Tepelini

Advice To Italians

C.-in-C's. Order of Day changed at Bangkok, would front

CAIRO, Dec. 25 (Reuter)-Gen-form the basis of future rela Coast Region Occupied ATHENS, Dec. 24 (Reuter).-Mr

Churchill's speech prominently cral Sir Archibald Waycil, Commations between the two countries. ATHENS, Dce. 24 (UP)—A Uniled |published in all Greek newspapers der-in-Chief of British Troops in the Press, correspondent at Chimara re- which emphasise that his words will Middle East, in an Order of the Day Dr Ito emphasized that ports that the Greeks now occupy find an echo in all Christmas heurts. to the troops, says that operations treaty "is not in its spirit and the whole region along the const rad The "Kathimerin!"

"Chris have not ended and that further suya: "C from Agrisarunta towarda Chimara.

do not want to let go by efforts with a similar spirit will bring letter such a passive one as the tian nations do

so-called non-aggression treaty The north road has been heavily this opportunity of Christmas without further successes, bombed and shelled from the sea, slowing a will for peace. All we The Order thanks all ranks and but a progressive one." The Grocks are consolidating their want is the resignation of this fool says that success was due to careful positions, repairing the damage and and his criminal gang who oppress preparation, good administration, and rehabilitating the entire area.

the Italian people. The chances of hard training behind the lines as well peace and happiness and indepen-as in the theatre of war.

Only troops trained to the highest dence of the Italian nation are in STRUGA, Dec. 31 (UP)-Reports own hands. If they do not dis-moral and physical pitch, led with "As announced at the time of its

dashing could have carried through the operation so swiftly and successfully and at such small cost.

Greeks Mopping Up

wing is mopping up the Griba moun- to suffer grievous consequences."

Angry German Comment

tains early this morning. The Greeks occupied the village of Joranist, three miles north of Torvoll after a fierce Churchul's broadcast appeal to the LONDON, Dec. 24 (Reuter).-Mr TURN to Back Page, Column 4.

fight

On the slopes of the Kjora moun- tains, the Greeks routed the Italians who are now retreating in disorder to the northeast in the direction of Lepenica.

Buenos Aires Has Wet Christmas

The Italians assaulted the Greek

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" lines three times but were repulsed, after which the

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 25 (UP).- Greeks made The torrential raios and heavy gale counter-attuck and defeated the Italians after three hours of heavy damage estimated at $250,000.

which started early to-day caused Aghung.

It drenched Christmas Eve wor- Five Anglo-Greek planes bombed shippers, interfered with the holding Berat this inoming killing alne per- of mass, and blew the doors off of

TURN to Page 7; Column Five many churches.

Sing War Songs For Carols In Shelters

London's Christmas Eve

....

Spacial to the "Telegraph"

LONDON, Dec. 24 (UP).—At 10 p.m. to-night crowds in the Liverpool street station air raid shelter sang war songs. instead of carols.

the

Purpose Of Pact

Government. statement issued this morning read: spokesman's

The

June 12, the purpose of the Japan- ese-Thai treaty is as follows:

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THE KING BROADCASTS TO HIS EMPIRE

His Majesty the King yesterday broadcast his annual Christmas message to the Empire, when he paid high tribute to the splendid efforts made during the past year by the dominions und colonies. The speech was relayed in Hongkong by ZBW and clearly heard.

Huge Defence

Huge Defence Wants To Know Terms Expenditures For Peace In Europe

SPECIAL TO THE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (UP), -The defence, expenditures for the first six months of the current fiscal year totalled $1,550,000,- 000, constituting nearly one-third of the total expenditures from the general fund, according to data gathered at the Treasury Department.

Defence expenses for October aggregated nearly $300,000.000 compared with the total defence expenditures during the last fisent year of $654,000,000,

During the current year, the Navy led with an expenditure of $770,000,000,

The gross public-debt--wing" $44,997,000,000 on December 20, and le now presumed to be whereas about $45,000,000,000, the legal debt limit is $40,000,- 000,000,

Unofficial Christmas Truce

4

U.S. Senator's Suggestions

Special to the "Telegraph"

WASHINGTON, Dẹc. 24 (UP)—Senator Millard Tydings to-day urged the Administration to try to ascertain Britain's Germany's and Italy's minimum requirements for "just peace" before charting the International course of the United States policy.

He suggested that answers be sought to the following:

"Is it possible to secure a just peace in Europe?"

"What, precisely, are the con- ditions to which Britain, on the one hand, and the Axis Powers on the other will agree to `n just peace ?"

a

NEW LOANS

FOR CHINA

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26 (Reuter)-Three Chinese finan- clers from Shanghai have ar- rived here to arrange loans for He said that if Prezident Roosevelt the reconstruction of China. for Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of They are P. C. Young, of the State and peace impossible, then the Kincheng Banking Corporation; C. S. United States could proceed with Llu, of the China Development and vim and rightly project our own Finance Corporation, and Fred Sto.

of the Joint Savings. Company. He said that a just peace must

They will remain in San Francisco involve firstly the restoration of Nortwo or three days before heading for way, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Washington to confer with Govern- France to political sovereignty and ment offcials and Mr T. V. Soong. independence. "A peace which would the special Chinese envoy,

country's course,"

do less is certainly impossible", he declared.

Secondly, a formula founded pri- No Raids on Britain [marily on national origin and subjects

which would establish the future for such countries as Poland and Czecho- Slovakia was essential.

KING'S SPEECH

Australian Wool

For America

Longmore's Message

Firstly, to respect mutually each CAIRO, Dec. 25 (Router)-Air] other's territorial integrity and reat- Cole Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, firm the peace and friendship exist- Commander-in-Chief of the RAF. in ing between them. the Middle East, In a message to all ranks of the R.AF., Australian and Secondly, to exchange Information South African air forces, sends his and consult one another regarding BPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" Christmas greetings,

any question" of common interest The Air Chief Marshal added that that may arise.

LONDON, Dec. 25. (UP)—At

SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" with ever-increasing recourees and Thirdly, in the event of one of the 8.40 p.m. it was reported that if

LONDON, Dec. 25 (UP),—A White the high morale of the squadrons, we high contracting partles being at a continuance of the unofficial

Paper reveals an exchange of notes shall look forward to a victorious new tacked by any third Power or Powers, truce hinges on the weather, LONDON, Dec, 20 (Reuter).The between Lord Halifax, the Foreign year and a proper Christmas in the the other party undertakes not to there will probably be no British German controlled Danish wireless Minister and Mr H. Johnson, Ameri-

to come.

Hive aid. or assistance to the sald

to-night gave an unusually full can Charge d'Affaires, by which the Italians Dive-Bombing Power or Powers.

or German. raids to-night summary of King George's broadcast, British Government makes 250,000,- CAIRO, Dec. 23 (UP). The The treaty is effective for nve Occasional snow and mist with a Several passages of the speech were 000 pounds of Australian wool avail Italians are attempting to relieve the years. The treaty in one that makes heavily overcast sky are report-verbatim, such as the King's state-able to the United States Government British pressure on Bardia by dive- a valuable contribution toward the ed over the Straits of Dover.

ment that inhabitants of bombed as a strategie reserve against any bombing attacks on British concen- political progress of East Asin now

cities are facing their ordeal in a possible emergency shortage in the trations, but milltary circles are of that Japan in devoung all, her efforts Earlier at nightfall it was re-way of which they can be proud. United States. the opinion that it is very unlikely to the establishment of a sphere of ported that the unofficial truce had that the British plans will suffer the common prosperity in greater East passed the 24-hour mark and that no slightest delay, and that Bardia will Asla.

German planes had been reported

4.

be dealt with in due time. The only In view of the fact that the treaty over England during that period." results of the Itallan ralds have been is not in its spirit and letter such a Moreover, there have been no re- slight casualties.

passive one, it is clear that both ports of R.A.F. bombings since the Japan and Thailand intend to make night of December 23-24, There is this treaty a basis of their friendly some apprehension regarding 10- relations.

night, however because the Channel

LATEST

This Morning's

City Tragedy

A well-dressed Chinese woman crashed to her death, this morning when the either jumped or fell from the third floor of the Asia Hotel in Des Voeux Road Central.

The woman had registered in the hotel with a man on December 23.

Over 10,000 were lying on the floor and benches in two un- finished subway tubes forming one of London's largest shelters.

Five hundred children, with trult The Lord Mayor and other their presenta, wont to bed early, dignitaries have been invited.

The regular inhabitants of the · Quiet Christmas Day shelter spent the day making LONDON, Doc. 23 (UP)-Christ-The man is reported to have left the paper chains and pennants and a Day began peacefully through hotel at midnight last night, and the festooned the curved tube walls. alarma anywhere during Christmas that a quarrel had taken place,

out Britain, There were no air rald disturbed state of the room indicated Two Christmas trees were light. Eve or to-day up to daylight; ed by electricity and were also except for two small coastal raids. decorated.........

Small Scale Raide":

The biggest Christmas celebrations LONDON, Dec, 24" (UP)-(1,30||||| will be held to-morrow when every (Bilka/diere were no air raidh--to- child will receive candy, cakes and | TURN to Back Page, Column 3

Sen, Back, Pagi «For›

It is indeed a source of gratification weather has improved and has be- that the treaty has now come into effect."

•Five Articles

come clear and cold.

Berlin Concedes Truce BERLIN. Dec. 25 (UP) The

The

Crippling Raids On Tripoli Harbour

Special to the “Telegraph”.

CAIRO, Dec. 24 (UP) —Ah RA.F. communique issued to

The treaty consists of five articles German High Command revealed to-day says that Tripoli and Castel Benito were heavily bombed on of which the text read: "Article 1. day what is tantamount to an un-Monday night. "While the attack was being made on the nero- The high contracting parties ahali offcial Christmas Eve truce in the drome where several direct hits were registered, causing loud mutually respect each other's terri-aire announcement said: "The Ger- explosions fierce raids were made on the jetty and seaplane torial Integrity and hereby reaffirm constant peace and perpetual friend-man, air force on the night of the hangars, power station and other ruilitary targets" stated the ship existing between them.

14th and on the 25th undertook no communique." "Article 2. The high contracting offensive operations. The enemy did

Two Ships Sunk! parties shall mutually

LONDON, Doc, 24 (UP), The not attack the Reich territory." maintain

The communique'. added: Admiralty announced that naval TURN to Back Page, Column 5 Few Planes Appear "direct hits were registered on planes successfully attacked Tripoll LONDON, "Dec. (Reuter) the Customs House and several harbour on the night of December There was only slight enemy alr

20-21 where they torpedood and sank activity during daylight to-day over on the seaplane hangars. The two merchant veel Britain,

power station was straddled with

Raids On Continent ine Home Security communique bombs and nine explosions fol LONDON, Dec. 24 (UP)—The Air reports a few enemy aircraft over lowell in quick succession. Therd Ministry to-day announced the the Orkneys and off the Scottish BANGKOK. Dec. 23 (UP)Acoust. One enemy plant was shot was every indication that a large last night ticked(the in- Communique issued to-day mys that down in the Orkney by fighters of quantity of oil who blown up!

vazion ports Belouine, Dunkirk border clashes continued on Monday the Fleet Air Arm co-operating with

aris. Dilendirir: addition ite-Indautelal and Tuesday at Nongkal, Mukdahan the RAF. Four of the crew were "All our aircraft returned Ladwigaven One HANY plane is

· targets in `the, Rhineland",felüdlik safely #

Thailand Border” Clashes

- ནོ; ' SPECIAL TO THE "TELEONAPHlut

and Nakompanom.

captured,

25