Page
2
Y
SUNDAY'S CABLES
THE GREAT BATTLE IN
FLANDERS.
A CRITICAL TIME: STIRRING
BY SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
(Reuter's Service to the China Mail!
BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS,
CONTINUOUS HEAVY FIGHTING.
NIMTISH TROOPS PUSHED
BACK.
LONDON, April 12, 11.55 p.m. 'Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
reporta:----
The enemy maintained a strong pressure throughout the day south- wand and south-westward of Bailleul, making constant attacks in great |
force, which are still continuing.
REPORTS.
Scottish Fusiliers, the Black Watch, PRESS CORRESPONDENTS' the Gordons, though singled out for special incidents, were but repro- sentative of the conduct of the whole ·
+
LONDON, April, 12. Army. Particular praisa is accord Reuter's Correspondent at Hend- fed for the fighting for Messinos Ridge quarters telegraphs The Battle of Lof Scots and South Africara. The Flanders continues this morning in Times, mentioning the latter in an brilliant sunshine with-cloar visibility,
APPEALitorial, for their conduct on Thurs
day, describes it as just as fine as on Wednesday, when their counter attack recovered the ridge. Despite their losses, on Thursday they thrust back the Germans from the high ground of the ridge to the Messines
**EVERY POSITION MUST HOLD TO
THE LAST MAN.”
FIELD-MARSHAL HAIG'S ELOQUENT APPEAL TO THE TROOPS.
ACRITICAL MOMENT.
Lorvos, April 17. 9.25 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig,
Wytschuete ood and held them there against rupeated counter- attacks.
with a fiercenes which has scarcely
AIR-RAID ON ENGLAND. THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE MAN-POWER BILL
MIDLAND DISTRICTS ATTACKED.
DETAILS NOT TO: HAND.
Lovnos, April 18,
26lm,
Details are not available. The raid is progressing.
THE WAR.
SIGNIFICANT SPEECH BY MR: TAFT..
ALBANY, April 13, The Press Bureau states:
Mr. Taft, addressing the New York Hostile airships aroused the East State Legislature, advocated that the flagred since it began. The situation Coast in the evening and attacked United States should as soon as pos- continues indefinite at many parts on a certain Eastern and Midlands dissible put an Army of five or seven very wide part of the battlefeld, there tricta.
millions into the British and French fore only a general incompleta outline of
One or two riders penetrated fur-lizes. This would probably take twe the position is possible. Thers has been
oppreciable change from Givenchy ther inland, where some bombs were year, but, when accomplished, vic
tory should be won, The Americans dropped. o the river Lawe. During the past.
should pccupy the centre and bear twenty-four hours we successfully beat
the brunt of the battle as they ought off a heavy attack upon Loisac, we also
so, for, after all, the Allies had been -A drainatic glitupse of the desperate attacks launched in big wares repulsed, with immense enemy losses,
fighting America's battles for the past tion of the fighting is afforded by an
three years. episode in which the Headquarters front of our line is strewn with corpses. Dear Vicille Chapelle. The ground in
Staff of tuo Brigades opposing: General Bernhardi's troops on the river Lawe, plunged into the struggle with rifles, while oue General led his orderlies to the fray.
Emphasising the gravity of the position some papers point out that
THE OFFICIAL ACCCOUNT.
LATER.
The Press Bureau states:- Four airships participated in last night's raid.
مرة
The Legislature passed a resolution in favour of the United States join
CLAUSE AUTHOBISING RAISING" AGE-LIMIT PASSED.
LONDON, April 13.
Tu the Touse of Commons in Con- mittee on the Man-Fower Bill the frit clause of the Man-Power Bill'authorising the general raising of the age was carried by a largy majority. The Government andertook not to take action as regarit those who are liable over 30, without. Parliament consent.
*
MR. ASQUITH EXPLAINS. HIS ATTITUDE.
Losnos, April 12. In the House of Commons in the course of the frish discussion, Mr. Asquith, explaining why he did not ask his followers to Tote against com- pulsion in Ireland, said the situation was far graver than when he last spoke in the House. He could not be a party
Further north our line has been withdrawn to a more advantageous defensive position, about a thousand
Two penetrated a few miles inland,ing after the war a League of Nations to safeguard the peace that must be yards west of Beaupre, through while another reached the Mid- Nearberquin, thence in a north-westerly lands. The fourth nearly reached won, by the joint Allied... military | ment from concentrating entirely upor direction to Lavernier. Thus the enemy. thongh I hear the enemy is still pressing. salient has become considerably acuter,
the North-West coust.
The raiders travelled at a great
forces.
to any procserting in the House which if successful, must prevent the Gorem-
1sving from disaster the cause of the Allies.- (Lour cheers).
in a special onler issued to-day to the enemy now is only thirty miles on the town of Mervilwa.. We counter- height, but did not attempt to pene Republican sentiment for a vigorous interval between the passing of the Bill
the troops in France, sayi:-
**Three weeks ago today the etiny began his terrific attacks on a 30-mile front. His objects are to separate us from, the French, to take the Channel ports and to destroy the British Army.
from Dunkirk and forty miles from Calais while apparently the positions
attacked Ister, south-westward for trate the defended areas.. Ishe direction of Bailleul and from the north towards Steanwerck bus did not
Most of the bombs were dropped or Messiner Bidge have turned the succeed in pushing back the enemy, on open country. whole Northern Army's communica.although we punished him heavily. The Germans are throwing in reserves tions which are imperilled.
Others a little more hopeful point out that the mone German Divisions that are engaged the casier will be Gaperal Foch's task. are
They state that is still too soon to use
We have been slowly pushed back in the continuous fighting to posi- tions in the neighbourhood of the Bailleul milway, where beavily engaging the enemy.
There was sharp fighting, also northward of the La Bassee Carai,
T
The enemy slightly progressed. between the Lowe and Clarence
rivers.
Eberhere our positions have been maintained.
Over 110 German Divisions have so
- far been engaged since March 21st, of which over forty have been throww into the battle, twice and three..
LONDON, April 13,
2 p.. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:-
Heavy fighting developed last even. ing in the neighbourhood of Neuve Eglise and Wulterghem and was still continuing late last night. ---
We advanced our line slightly in the-neighbourhood of Festuhart, securing a few prisoners.
The enemy launched a strong attuck, preceded by heavy bombard- ment, eastward of Locon und auc- ceeded in entering our lines at cer-
106
Despite having thrown already
Divisions, into the battle
and having endured the rest that the direct thrust in the North
reckless sacrifice of
life, he
Four houses were demolished in
in the same prodigal manner as during one place. Otherwise, the damage the opening days of the present was inconsiderable. offensive.
Prisoners unanimously agree that the object of the German High Commands is to swamp the British by sheer weight of numbers. The enemy detarminedly attacked along the Messines ridge where the South Africans, hardly rested after their splendid share in recent southern fighting, did such grand work in restoring the situation on Wednes
for the Channel porte has become the enemy's major operation. The has yet mede little
process inreased activity of German artil-day sfternoon. The enemy succeeded toward his goals. We owe this lary astride the Somme points to a to the determined fighting and renewal of the contest on a larger scif-sacrifice of our troops.
scale. Words
fail me to express the admiration that I feel for the splendid resist- unce offered by all ranks under very trying circumstances. Mary amongst us are now tired. To those I would say: Victory De- longs to the side holding out the longest.'
The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our support. No other course is open to us but to fight it out. Every position must hold to the last man. There must be no retirement. With our bucks to the wall and believing in the justice of our cuuse, each one of us must fight on to the end, for the safety of our homes and the freedom of maa-
FRENCH OFFICIAL
REPORTS.
FRENCH TROOPS.
ATTACK CARRIED OUT BY TWO
ZEPPELINS.
Loxoox, April 18, 7.15 a.m.
It is unofficially stated that two Zeppelins raided the Fast Coast of
in gaining some ground, but the South England last evening. · Africans again drave him out by a spirited counter-attack in combination With British troops.
AIR-RAID ON PARIS.
1
The speech and the resolution ure significant as showing the strong
prosecution of the war.
AUSTRIA AND ALSACE- LORRAINE.
EMPEROR KARL SUGGESTS MISINTERPRETATION
OF HIS LETTER.
AMSTERDAM, April 13,
Mr. Asquith auggested that, in the
and the application of compulsion in Ireland the Bill, based on the report of the Irish Convention, should be passed by both Houses. MR. H. E DUKE'S CONVICTIONS. Mr. H. E Duke (Scéretary for Ireland) said nothing would please the Government better than that Parliament should be erected at Thiblin before any Irishmen went to the: Colours. He hoped that when Irishmere saw the Government resolved to settle,
It is now significantly admitted in Vienna that the Emperor Kari bad sent some kind of a letter as regards Alsace the Irish question, and that it is open Lorraine, the explanations, taking the to them honorably and as citizena to. form that the latter was zaivinterpreted participate in the defence of the Empire. or falsified.
SCARCITY IN HOLLAND.
BREAD RIOTS AT ROTTERDAM AND THE HAGUE.
wwwww.c
they would again rally to the sacred Cause as in 1914. MR. DEVLIN AND SELF-GOVERN. MENT FOR IRELAND.
Mr. Devlin declared that the action of the Government was fraught with the greatest peril, and urged the withdrawal of the Irish clause at the earliest moment. If the Government There were collisions between the introduced a broad measure of self- Government satisfying the Irish
AMSTERDAM, April 18.
Enemy artillery opened a heavy bombardment at 2.45 this morning from 11 KILLED AND 80 WOUNDED. east of Ploegstrrt. No report has yet arrived of subsequent infantry develop
PARIS, April 9. ments. German guns have also been FURIOUS FIGHT FOR HANGARD.plastering the Danestrasse area, early
In last night's air-raid 11 were killed this morning. Our artillery has been and 50 wounded. AMERICANS CO-OPERATE WITH kept intensely busy, our airmen in
LATER. great numbers rendering, invaluable aid.
German aeroplanes crossed the The Germans are developing great artillery activity in the southern area, lines and proceeded southwards. mob, the police and the Military national aspirations and called at the A French communiqué states:-
which possibly heralds farther infantry Only two reached Paris and, dropped during the bread riots at The Hague, carliest opportunity Parliament Following an intense artillery pre-shelled foth three till day-light. The attacks. Bray-Corbio road was Bercely
some bombe. The casualties are where a crowd pillaged the shope.representing Ish citizenship, Govern paration, the Germans this morning valley west of Sailly-le-Sec was unde
still unknown. attacked our frout at Hangard-en- Arterre and Hourges. A furious fight, heavy are all night. lasting all day, developed. The enemy GERMANS CLAIM 20,000 PRISONERS in froot of Hourges did not progress
LONDON, APM 13.
The Germans after several fruitless attacks, ceaselessly fed by fresh troops, entered Hangard.
Counter attacks brought us back to the western part of the village, where fighting continues desperately.
There was active artillery frieg in the Noych sector.
The Germans bombarded Rheine,
tac points, but were driven out by kind depend alike on the conduct where several firos broke out, notably
of each one of us. This is a round the Cathedral. critical moment.
a counterattack. We heut, off a second attack later in the night and also repulsed an attack westward of Merville :.
The situation on the remainder of the northern buttie.front J UT] - changed.
Sharp local fighting occurred yes terday south of the Somme in the; neighbourhood of Banguni, Anglo- counter-attacks regaining positions into which the enemy had penetrated..
French
The enemy's artillery is more
aetive north of the Somme.
BATTLE IN THE AIR.
BRITISH AVIATORS BUSY.::
Losos, April 12.
THE APPEAL PROFOUNDLY STIRS THE NATION
LONDON, April 13; 7.20 a.in.
The enemy in the Forest of Apremont strongly attacked our positions at Bois and Brule and gained a footing in
the advanced elements.
AT ARMENTIERES.
LONDON, April 13.--
12.45 am... A wireless German offgial report states >——
In the capture of Armentieres as 3,000 men laid down their arms after a English garrison with 50 officers and brave resistance.
We have exptured 13 guns amongst other booty:
Several casualties' were reported. There was also rioting at Potter-
LATER.
in the evening and the "all clear."'
The alarm was given at 10 o'clock | dara.
signal at 11.
GUNS FIRING EIGHTY MILES.
MUNITION FACTORIES TO CONSTRUCT THEM.
LONDON, April 12, Mr. Macpherson stated in thei House of Commons that it was pos^"" sible to construct a gun firing over Bighty miles.
Necessary steps had been taken in
The total of prisoners in the battle of Armentieres is now 20,000, including an English General and 200 guns. A sharp counter-attack by the French The French assault westward of and Americans, acting in combination, Mareuil broke down, leaving 300 immediately ajected him.
prisoners, who were subsequently killed this connection. by the French artillary.
The Americans took 22 prisonera, belonging to six different unita. ...
Two German seroplanea and a captive balloon were felled, and 12 were driven down, damaged in the air-fighting.
Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's grave moving, appeal to the troops bas profoundly stirred the nation,
We dropped 16 tons of bomba on the indicating that the struggle has station at St. Quentin, the aviation reached a point that may even be ground north of Montdidior, and decisive in the war. The words ere Sangara and Champien
1)
made the tex of articles, in the ITALIAN PREMIER'S CONFIDENCE papers, urging every man and woman
IN THE ITALIAN ARMYIC
in the British Isles to tuke then to
that the noble Armies which have
nothing undone that the men can do
and, with the French hurrying to their aid, will yet save the day.
A
IT FALLS WILL FIND.
US READY
THE GERMAN COMMANDER IN THE
ARMENTTERES SECTOR.
い
FRENCH VIEW OF THE SITUATION,
PARIS, April 12.
THE FUTURE OF BELGIUM....
GERMAN GENEAL ADVOCATES ANNEXATION.
trented
Forty to fifty, including policemen, have been wounded in the food riots as the Hague Wa
· A, Humben soft shops have been plar Bered.
COMPULSORY CIVILIAN SERVICE IN HOLLAND.
ment would get from Ireland what it got from South Africa. If the Gorery- ment did this, he would join the the Colours as a private, would constitute himself a leader, and would do his utmost to rally young Irishmen to the Government's support. This was 's' time of bitter trial-(Land Nationalist cheers.)
SIR MARK SYKES STIRRING SPEECH
Sir Mark Sykes (Unionist Member for Hull) made a speech, which was received very warmly by every part of the House He pointed out that as the THE HAGUE, April 13. Government had decided to stand or The Government has introduce a } fall on the question of Irish conscription, Bill establishing compulsory civilian
it was the duty of the Members to support the Government,” but the service during abnormal conditions Government must bring in a Hom for. Dutchmen, and unmarried and Rule Bill of an adequate character. childless Dutchwomen in the mother country between the ages of 17 and 60.
FIGHTING IN PALESTINE.
ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO FENE- TRATE POSITIONS FAIL.
LONDON, April 12.
A Palestine official report stat Throughout the day fighting was
to say if the Irish nation is in the war He appealed to Sir Edward Curson
and whether Ulster jain the Irish nation. Siuulein would then be dead, and a wave of enthusiasm would accurre the Irish Army far beyond the hopes of Government. A ANNA
Mp Hugh Law (the Nationalist) paid warm tributs to the speech of Sir Mark Sykes as showing a brave, cour ageous and noble spirit
AMSTERDAM, April 13.. The Koelnische Volkgeilung states that
AMSTERDAM April 12 General Ferdinand von Quast, who is General Kein, for three years Mi- tieres sector, is 68. He commanded an of Limburg, in a speech at Berlin, char commanding the Army in the Armentary Governor of the Belgian ProvinÇO
Mr. Bomar Law claimed that the Government was doing nothing r Army corp in the invasion of France,
just. The Government had decided also in the Aisne, Champagne and acterised the restoration and indemnifi. cation of Belgium as monstroue.
that from the military point of view heart, while breathing confidence THE ENEMY'S BLOW WHEN Somme battles
which alone could be considered, it He became the Commanding General Belgium had only been Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Hagniready proved their nettle will leave
of the Prussian Guards at the beginning, according to the laws of war. Military, in progress in the sector.
was an advantage. They would bu of 1917.
economic and political guarantees in On Wednesday the Turks and Cravens if they failed to carry it out. reporting or aviation, saya:-
When the mist cleared, there was
Rouz, April 18.
Belgium were impossible The annex Germans penetrated the advanced The American Government, in re- spouse to our urgent appeal, had great activity on the whole imat.
ation of the Flanders coast with the positions in the direction of Beruinn allowed, its battalions to be brigaded We made several long-distance
Signor Orlando (the Premier), after
necessary hinterland and the conclusion and Elkfer, but were eventually with ours. There was conscriptio recorinainances, taking photograpba The Press Correspondents add visiting the Front, has telegraphed A semi-official statement saysThe of a German peace with indemnities
of the Americas, many of whom little to Reuters sccount of the to General Diaz. He wished that German attack on the British in Flanders are indispensable
ejected. berole fighting of the British but the the copfidence that he visit had in- was originally intendedesa diversion,but
We advanced our lines to several wer Irish Ware wo entitled to points, and inflicted substantial urge the United States to conscript Irishmen when Irishmen at home details they, give emphasise the spired in him should spread through- owing to the initial inccess it has been changed into an attack and pushed of ours, reported missing yesterday, supreme courage, with which small out Italy and tile Army, which was through to the full with fresh divisions.
We took a few Turke and Germans were not called up 2 Bodies have held on to outposts, never more worthy than in the pre-
prisoners, carg We dropped over eight tors of sometimes isolated, and sometimes sont hour of the supremne crisis
A Turkish attack on the cast bank pamtion and the Government would Eorbs last night on Bapaunys, i thinly in touch with other bodies, The enemy's blowhen it fall would be very rash for the enemy to
of the Jordan in the vicinity of Elghoy to carry it simultaneously withi
the Man-Power Bille loges southward of the Somme, and
Raniyeb on Thursday broke down military objectiven at Ostend and but all the time inflicting bloody will find us ready,
with heavy losses under our artillery A Nationalat amendment was
then rejected and the Clause apply Zeebrugge. One of our machines is losses.
Our mounted troops pursued the ing compulsion to Ireland Rus retreating my within short dis adopted by 281 voles to 1152
of much of the fighting..
We brought down 21 planes and Grove down 14. 2007
Four of ours are inishing and two
have since returned.
missing.
Be The Ninthy and Filty-First Divisions
We successfully bombed Sablon are, prominently mentioned in these
and the railway station of Metz to account The Liverpool battalions
day dropping 22 boary bombs, sil
LONG-RANGE. BOMBARDMENT OF PARIA.
Plats, April 189
of which burst on the railway sidings and other Lancashires, the Durhasa The long-rungo gun yesterday
All our plane returned.
Infantry Royal Soots, Koyal killed 2 and wound
The threatened objective is specially the mining district of Bethune for it aimat reaching Dunkirk Itis impossible to foreses the issus, but it should be contemplated confidently, for the British possess second very powerful position which they have not yet reached on
which their resistance would be consider ably facilitated. Moreover, the arrival of reinforcement cannot fall to re establish the situation.
THE FATE OF A GERMAN
BATTLESHIP.
AGHOUND OFF AALAND ISLANDS.
COPENHAGEN," April 18, The Social Demokraten states that the Gorman battleship Rheinland is aground of the Aaland Islands,
Another source sports that the Rheinland struck & he and ank
Fin
fance of Shunet Nimrin
The Home Rule Bill was in pre-
An attack, satnde the Jericho- The Nationalist anténdment Nablus ad westward of the Jordan Against Conscription in Ire was also repulsed
rejected by 280 to 108)