CANADA AND WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20991, 19 December 1939, Page 8

CANADA AND WAR

1,000,000 DOLLARS A DAY

EMPIRE AIR SCHEME WILL HELP IN VICTORY (United Pre3s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 17 An announcement issued by the Dominions Office and the Air Minisfry states that the agreement, which applies to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Britain, and provides for the carrying out of the Empire training scheme was signed at Ottawa early on Sunday morning. Lord Riverdale, head of the British air training mission, signed the agreement on behalf of Britain. The scheme is an outstanding example of Empire co-operation and is destined to play a decisive part in the achievement of victory. The Prime Minister, Mr W. L. Mackenzie King, in a broadcast speech to the nation, gave details of the Empire air training agreement. He revealed that 67 training schools manned by a ground crew of 40,000 would be required. Canada's share of the cost would be 350,000,000 dollars, making the war cost to Canadians 1,000,000 dollars a day. REMARKABLE STORY CARGO STEAMER’S WANDERINGS VOYAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND HID AT UNINHABITED ISLAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 17 The Berlin radio to-day told a remarkable story of the wanderings of the North German Lloyd cargo steamer Erlangen (6101 tons), which left New Zealand for Australia late in August. Learning of the imminence of war, the master of the vessel, Captain Grams, headed for South America and hid the ship for a month at an uninhabited Pacific island. Engineers, technicians and others felled 400 tons of firewood, and offi- j cers and men took it in lifeboats to the Erlangen. Even this fuel was insufficient for the 5000-mile voyage to South America and Captain Grams had sails made from tarpaulins and utilising all currents and winds, was 1 able to reach the Chilean port of Puerto Monte on December 12. “She looked like a proud sailing ship,” commented Captain Grams on the Erlangen's makeshift sails. A frequent visitor to the Dominion in the German service from the Gulf of Mexico, the Erlangen arrived at Auckland from New Orleans on August 1 and completed discharge of her cargo at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. When she cleared Dunedin on August 26 she was ostensibly bound for Port Kembla, New South Wales, to replenish her diminished bunker supplies, more than 1700 tons being required. Before she left Dunedin a shipment of skins for New York was unloaded as insurance covers were not available.

SUCCESS OF FINNS RUSSIAN SHIPS SUNK MANY TANKS DESTROYED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 17 The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says that the Finns are gratified at the success of the coastal batteries against the Russian Army, whose operations will soon be hampered by ice in the Gulf of Finland. The Finns sank the new destroyer Gordi and a patrolship. The Russians continue to advance southward from Salmijarvi. HELSINKI, Dec. 17 It is semi-officially stated that the Finns destroyed 176 tanks. A communique states that Russians who are attempting to cross the Suvanto were repulsed. The Finns continue to advance slowly from Tolvajarvi, which is 30 miles west of Suojarvi. There is fierce fighting twelve miles north-east of Tolvajarvi. Finnish counterattacks on the northern and central fronts have been amazingly successful. Two Russian divisions, comprising 36,000 men, were smashed and nearly all were taken prisoner. The casualties of the Finns in the north are nokmct known. They have withdrawn tIR prepared line, which has been christened ‘‘Lapland’s Mannerheim Line.” HEAVY ATTACKS MANY TANKS DESTROYED GUERILLAS TERRIFY ENEMY VIOLATION OF NORWAY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 19, 3.15 p.m.) HELSINKI, Dec. 18 A communique states: The Russians yesterday, after artillery preparation, attacked with great force the Karelian Isthmus and the Taibela River. We destroyed 31 tanks. More intensive attacks north from Ladoga were repulsed. LONDON, Dec. 18 The British United Press’ Svanik correspondent says that the Russians have driven in the Finns on a line running eastward from Kyro, thus cutting the Finns from the Arctic, but daring guerillas continue to terrify the enemy, one band entering Sftlmijarvi and destroying an ammunition dump. The Finnish headquarters claim that the Russians have violated Norwegian territory, attempting an outflanking movement, but were defeated. w