Cynical Suggestion the most amusing pieces, of which has been published recent weeks is to the effect that Berlin is discussing 2 common German-Scandinavian, guarantee of Finnish independence after the resent Finnish-Soviet war is brought to a con-lusian. The suggestion that Germany would join with Norway and Sweden in an undertaking to protect Finland from Soviet Russi Herr Hitler's partner in crime, is all very well der Fuehrer has in the ultimate reje jon of his infamous bargain with Mf. Stalin, but picture of Herr Hitler guaranteeing' the us on one hand and maintaining, the closest lo friendship with Russia on the other is ust another of those things which characterize {hig moat singular individual, Tt will only A Promising Start It is indeed gratifying to see that the special committee formed by the Shanghai Municipal Council for the purpose of investigating the possibility of instituting price control in cooperation with the French authorities have already got into touch with the latter. It is only to be expected that no details should be Jdivulged regarding what transpired at the: meeting between the International Settlement Committee and that of the French Concession, but the fact the two bodies are already in close Vaison is a hopeful augury for the future. Uf the other of the leaders decides that the time ripe again to do something or other. Any ich guarantee system with Herr Iitler a party' to it would be worth precisely as much a3 30 many of his other undertakings, and that not the paper it would be written on. What would happen if after peace has been secured M._ Stalin decided again to. invade Finland furtherance of sume more preposte: mands? Is it to be expected that Jengaged in the enormous struggle Drought upon herself in the west would ornis upon hostilities in the north against the very enemy Herr Hitler secks to avoid engaging simultaneously with Great Britain and France? At the best such a guarantee would merely mean that Germany might refrain from attacking Scandinavia if those countries went to the assistance of Finland ina second war, Even that would not be sure, and, if either Norway or Sweden did in such circumstances go to the aid of Finland, they might very well find them selves just as completely betrayed ay other nations have been by. the indefatigable dis. honoured of commitments at present at the head of the Reich. It is difficult to see what could be put in its place, in view of Scandinavian reluctance to permit' Allied forees to eross their territory in going to the ald of the Finns, and it may be thought in. the capitals of the three countries most closely concerned that it is the only possible protection available, Against that it must be remembered that for centuries the Russians have desired to have a port closer the Atlantic than she has at present, and th; the Norwegian coast is just as attractive now as it was when Russia first sought to expand to the west. IM, Stalin may be reviving the policies of the Czars in his attempt to spread the world revolution of Communism, Germany might. some circumstances seck to prevent him, but that it would go to war with Russia for the Purpose of protecting the Finns, no matter how deeply Herr Hitler' pledged "himself ig quite unthinkable. It is impossible to trust the man and if either Scandinavia or Finland bulld much hope on such a scheme, as the one suggested, for their ultimate protection, and the safely of their integrity they will indeed be building on very unstable ground, Queen Elizabeth at Sea sive' preoccupation in work and interest cone The outbreak of war and the almost exe nected with the national. task of victory, have Jobseured one. aspect of Britain's normed Jcantle tite. That is the shipbuilding. programme launched some years ago to give the British Nast leading representation onthe Adan afte Jo Jong period of decline, The Cunard-White Star liner Queen Mary. was built os an answer to competitive efforts of other countries and the [Queen "Elizabeth, "larger and more majestic leon ception of meretntite marine supremacy, was aid down and launched. In the press of wort time matters this event was. almost forgotten rind itis with pleasant surprise that the so pott received that this vessel has been completed, is Well across the Atantic and will dock shortly New York, where arrangements have beet made to receive her, "The Queen Elizabeth, fehich ts 85,000 tons, was launched on. Septem, ber 27, 1990, four years ater the Queen Alary, ana the original programme. provided that. Atlanie service in the spring for 1940. Despite ihe war amd the diversion of shipbuilding activities to other objectives, the Queen Eli completed. and sombre and "unattractive. guise not generally associated with the magnificence and splendors Jot the 'Trans-Atlante giants, will dock in 'New Yorks, where' the Queen Alary as remained since' the beginning of the ware the year 1040 tke Cunard centenary. year, and although -eit= cumstances do. not warrant Any celebrations, it is' tribute to the company and the Clyde skips building industry that the schedule has been Jarred out. The Queen Elizabeth ly 6,000 tons larger than the Queen Mary and" 2.500 tons larger than the French liner Normandie, ut this commercial rivalry has been abandoned view or a greater mutual task ahead of these two countries, Otherwise "Tank" by Major-General Sir B.D, Swinton regarding Interesting details were made public recent
the invention and development of the "eehuete {er known as the "tanky" wich from i novelty the lat war" has proved (0 be most effective o¢ military wes out wat Maj afirely British fealty, from miliary for a disease, the aiseaze being the' deadly com: bination inaehinesgun and bathed' anglement. wich ok. such huge folk Allie troops as soon they started to advance cognisant-of this detect, he was watching the ftemenstation of the one of the enlist, forms of caterpillar tractors en a farm vwiten i dawn. fat'on him that 1 modiieaton of sue mie chine whicn would overcome al Obstacles, pre-ide with a butleproof protection for its would. be the edits titi and pai for the new invention out of naval funds, The first fleet consisted of 150 tanks. which, und the camouflaged title of the Leavy Sectio Machine Gun_ Corps, was started 191 and in September of that year at certain mber took the field on the Somme, Tt was ily known as a "Iand-cruiser" but the ced for secrecy resulted in qiving. the new weapon the name use of its appear Jance and to deceive the enemy reyardi purpose, Final. indi idea, "the Fren the ori idea, bu well, f was too. tate to compete, although admitted that tanks did a lot to beat the the land, Since the war, tank development construction have been tremendous, each coun try building thousands, but tank defences have iso considerably improved. But whatever 1 fay be given abroad in technical or other we, the original term
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