THE BATTLE OF SOISSONS.
FEARFUL EXECUTION,
Despatches just to hand reveal the sanguinary nature of the battle of
A German account states that General von Lochow was commander, and that Prior to the combat the opposing trenches were near each other on the top of a wooded height overlooking Crouy; also they were entrenched in the quarries forming the western spur of the Tregny Plateru
The French artillery was well posted on the edge of the plateau. Officers, sitting in trees behind armoured plates, directed the French Are. The worst execution took place on Christmas Day
Some of the Gernian machine guns were buried by the bombardment of the trenches on January 7th, and the French then charged and occupied the tronches. Heavy fighting followed-man against man-day and night, until the 11th. The Turcos fought bravely with rido, bayonet, and knife Sheath instead of The Germans, on the 12th, instead of attacking the wooded heights, stormed the observation posts The French fire immediately slackoned, and trenches were captured. The Fronch occupied fresh positions half-way down, and apparently expected further attacks from the German
right..
The French brought strong reinforce monte by rail and motor cars. The Ger mans, on the 13th, however attacked Vreguy, completely surprising the enemy The attack commenced at noon, and the first line of trenches was taken in three minutes, and the next ten minutes later The whole plateau was captured late in the afternoon. The position of the French nivancing against the German right was then desperate. The French surrendered on the 14th. Finally the French were driven back from two to four kilometres upon a front of fifteen kilometres.
The Kaiser, on the battlefield, decorated General von Lochow with the Order of Merit
ODDS FOUR TO ONE.
A Paris message says:-Stirring narra tives of the fighting at Boissons are told
by the French wounded.
BELGIAN ATROCITIES.
BRUTAL INVADERS.
GRUELTY TO CIVILIANS.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12TH, 1915.
The seventh report of the Belgian Com mission of Inquiry into the German atro cities has been issued.
It is first of all established by numerous reports of medical witnesses that wounded were found on the battlefeld who had been shot by explosive bullets Formal and categorical reports of many university professors make this clear.
REUTER'S JUBILEE FIFTY YEARS OF THE GREAT
NEWS AGENOTE
Router's Telegram Company has issued a loaflet containing the following interest ing information with regard to the accom plishments of the company in the past lifty years
effect, because the newspapers and public INDIAN AFRICAN
bodica interested have known that what ever small defecte, the Router service might have they could look to it for plain, fair and prompt record of events as soon from London, and not as viewed from Berlin. During the present great war all Reuter's relations with the Ger mau Agency have been severed, while, on agencies of the Allied Powers have been the other hand, its connections with the drawn closer
In February, 1913, Reuter's Telegram Company will celebrato its Jubilee, hay ing renched the 50th anniversary of its foundation. The Reuter Agency, whose Beuter's Telegram Campany has acen the In the course of its his of £fty years, business the company, which was formed whole face of the world change, so far as in London in 1665, tools into its charge, nowa gathering and its transmission are There is much evidenco of a thoroughly had already been fourteen years in exist concerned, Men, who are still in the trustworthy character that the Germanence, and had fought its way to name and service of the Ageuoy well remember tho troops in many places abused the use of fame. Everybody knows the story of days when telegrams to Australia cost the white flag
to London with little money in his pocket to India 5/ and so on in proportion. how Mr. Julius Router came from Cassel word, to South America even more, The following is a list of definite cases where civilians were employed in operabut great ideas in his brain. The world In those happy times the sender of a tions of war JANAC was growing space, and to a man of keen telegram could not despatch less then political perception it yes apparent that case, he had to pay for twenty. If he sent business capacity
and remarkable twenty words to Australia, or, in any great held was opening up for an twenty-one words he had to pay for quick gathering of nows and its speedy days to compress news, which had to go enterprise which should embrace the thirty Many were the struggles in those distribution to a body of subscribers. in code into minute globules, and Anyone who likes to turn over the old curating, indeed, were sometimes, the files of London newspapers of the fifties expedients used to save expense of an in the last century can see numbers of additional ten words. And now to-day short despatches from the principal we have a moderate press rate to every centres of Lurope printed as having been part of the world, and every feature of received through Mr. Reuter's Agency" the great European condict is transmitz The sowing of the seed took long, but ted, subject to the extreme rigours of Router had prepared the ground well, the censorship, to all the Britains beyond of fact, avoiding every expression of besides, which are kept as well informed. Always confining his news to questions the ecas, and many other countries opinion, and being constantly first with as London itself.
The soldiers Coffin, Heyvaerts, and Hertleer state that, having been made prisoners along with other men of their company on August 6th they were dragged by the Germans with their hands tied behind their backs. Encountering af Baive a Belgian company of the 19th Regiment of the Line, the Germans placed them in front. At a given moment they ordered them to cry out, Belgiane, don't shoot, or you will shoot Belgians. Two of the prisoners fell, shot by the bullets of our own soldiers
Itymen, of Schaffen, was forced, with two On Monday, August 17th, Joseph inhabitants of Meldert, to marca in front
TRADE RELATIONS
ABROAD.
A NEW STEAMSHIP SERVICE TO INDO CHINA.
of the German troops to the town of Diest, all the important intelligence of the day, and afterwards to take these troops to be gained the confidenos of the news Montaigu. On the same day a German papers and of the public, and this won patrol of ten men, commanded by a lieufidence became for gyer assured when he JAPAN'S tenant, arrived at Thildouch with a
startled the world by publishing tho Belgian workman in front, whom they had Napoleon III. to the Austrian Ambassa compelled to serve them as guide dor foreshadowing the war which follow- portentous speech of the Emperor At Namur the Germans forced the ed in the crisuing year. Buccess followed inhabitants of the outskirts to dig near the success, and when the need arose for cemetery of Warisoul trenches which were capital to dovelop and extend the grow. exposed to the fire of the forts. Thoing business Router's Telegram Company inhabitants of Bierwart were compelled to was formed in London and book its place work upon defence works all along the at once as the representative British highway
fications of the company have spread to News Agency Since that day the rami the uttermost parts of the earth. To the old-fashioned house in Old Jewry, with itu narrow passages, steep stairways and low pitched ceilings, there comes day by all parts of the globe, and this in its turn day an incessant flow of intelligence from passes out to all the newspapers of Great Britain, to all the principal centres of the Continent of Europe and, according to its importance, to the British Colonies and Dependencies in all the Oceans.
On August 23rd the Germans placed women and children in front of their attacking column at the bridge of Lives, opposite Bicz. Women and children were hit by the Belgian shots. N were German troops forced civilians, both mon In numerous places in Hainnut the and women, to procede them; A German column traversing Marchienne forced along in front of it several hundred civis lians. It proceeded to Montigny-Le Tilleul, where occurred the first important engagement with the French army
A force of 10,000, it is stated, were fight ing 40,000 Germans. The bridges at Missy and Vonizel were swept away on January 12th. The engineers strove hard to repair thern, though subjected to long-range artillery. They worked day and night, and several were drowned. The bridge at Missy was repaired by dawn on January 14th, on which date the general French force retired. The Germans attacked in close formation. Two battalions were annihilated by the defenders of the bridge from behind the wall of the glass works Some of the Germans actitally seized the rites of the French protruding from loopholes, The French riflemen were almost to their last cartridges when their mitraillouses were brought into action. These forced the Germans to fall back, and Bo the rearguard was enabled to retreat. Four gans remained on the northern bank. When the last shot was fred a wounded officer ordered the guns to dragged to the edge of the river and fung into the mud.' This was done, and the last six gunners ran across the bridge and escaped.whole male population was taken by the On August 25th, at Eppehoghem, the
REPORTED LOSSES,
A. Geraan comminaqué states:—“It ja four weeks since General Joffre published his general order to attack. The French have lost 26,000 dead, 17,800 prisoners, and 107,000 wounded, exclusive of the sick, without substantial advantage. The Ger mans have not lost one-fourth the number in the same period.
DARGAI A FLEA-BITE.
BRILLIANT CHARGE BY GORDON HIGHLANDERS
Sergeant Major Hands, of the Gordon Highlanders, in a letter, narrates how the Gordons were ordered to storm some German trenches, which were loopholed, and fitted with harbed-wire entangle ments, while the Royal Scots seized a wood.
After hellish fire, from 270 British guns for 45 minutes, the Gordons charged through a hail of machine gun and rifle fire. Men dropped in heaps, but the Tartans kept on, and, after a bloody struggle, won the front trendies,
When the Gordons mastered, in a dip within 20 yards of the main Gorman posi
GERMAN THREAT TO HOLLAND.
CIVILIANS FORCED UNDER FIRE at Grimbergen in their houses Jean On August 22nd the Germans arrested Olbrechts, Arthur van Campenhout, and Auguste van Cappelen. They kept them for eight days, during which the men were compelled during the day, under artillery fire, to go in search of material of war which had been abandoned, and, with other inhabitants of Grimbergen, to dig trenches
his brother Joseph, and their fathez, 07 On August 24th Michel de Vleeschouwer, years old, living in the same locality, were driven in front of a troop of Germans to protect them against the Belgian cannon free
me
QUEEN VICTORIA'S APERECIATION.
Queen Victoris was quick to perceive the promptitude and accuracy of Renter's mand every telegram of importance news service, and by Her Majesty's com received by the Agency was telegraphed to Windsor, Balmoral, Osborne or whe ever the Court at the time happened to be. In her published diary, the Queen records the anxiety with which she awaited and the rejoicing with which she read Reuter's telegrams from the baital of Tel el Kebir, in which her son, the Duke of Connaught, the ubiquity of Renter's service of the was engaged. An interesting instance of present day is to bo found in Mr. Winston Churchill's record of his visit to Uganda and down the Nile to Alexandria For a few weeks be was out of from home away on the White Nile, in the very news, but when he reached Nimule, for Germans and compelled to work in the three weeks accumulations of Reuter's heart OF Africa, he found awaiting him trenches. At Semptst men and women telegrams, which had travelled through during the fight of August 25th were the Dark Continent, and which incident- placed by the Germans in the front lineally told him that Parliament would not of fire.
On August 25th the Germans compelled and that he had consequently more time meet until later than he had expected, nearly 200 persons--men, women, and to spare than he had anticipated march in front of them. On the Tervueren which told London of the relief of Mafe children of the village of Hofstade to The Reuter's telegram from Pretoria road Belgian troops were encountered at king, and which led to the extraordinary a distance of 150 to 200 yards off. The scene that gave a new word to Belgians shot from the side, so as not to the language, was cabled back to hit their compatriots.
South Africa, and brought to On August 20th the Germans took along Lord Roberta the first news of with them (their hands bound behind this success achieved by British arms their backs) a company of more than at a great distance from all other British Seventy inhabitants of Louvain. At forces. It was to Reuter's Agency, again, * Herent the first racks of these, a slight that, a year or two ago, the Imperial engagement taking place between infan Government and His Majesty the King try came under ire On the next day owed the first news of the dastardly they were sent on to Malines, where they attempt on the life of the Viceroy of were told they would have a taste of the that Reuters Telegram Company has India at Delhi. During all the yours Belgian machine-gun fire. They were only existed, it has served its great purpose released when the Belgian outposts were of spreading abroad news of everything reached. Four hours after their arrival that interests and concerns the British at 3falines the bombardment of the town Empire Attacked over and over again began plan for being pro this and anti that, the
On August 29th, at Herent, the Agency has pursued its serone way, know- Germans forced to march in front of the ing full well that in its incessant effort army 500 women and children preceded to set forth facts as they are, it was by the priests of Wygmael and Wesemael, certain to encounter the opposition of
PRA BRUTAL AND DRUTEEN.
those who looked at things through glasses Numerous inhabitants of Louvain were coloured by their own inclinations. obliged during several days to take part
FASURA" BRITISH INSTITUTION,
In order that news from the
At a general-nesting of the Yokohama Chamber of Commerce, held recently, the agenda paper included the representa tions to be addressed to the Premier and Ministers of Communications and of the inauguration of a direct steamship Agriculture and Commerce in favour of service to Siam and Indo-China, and of the COD, parcel postal service between Japan and the United States.
LINE.
Cargo carried on through Bills of Lading from HONGKONG to BEIRA, DELAGOA BAY, DURBAN (Natl), EAST LONDON, FORT ELIZABETH DAPE TOWN with transhipment at COLOMBO to Steamers of the INDIAN AFRICAN LINE
FROM HORGEONG
26th Feb
PROPOSED BAILINGS
Connecting with "GUJABAT"
FROM COLOMBO 17th Mar.
EXCELLENT A CCOMMODATION FOR 1ST AND 2ND CLASS PASSENGERS,
ORIENTAL AFRICAN LINE.
Regular Direct Service from JAPAN, CHINA and STRAITS to BEIRA, DELAGOA BAY, DURBAN, EAST LONDON, PORT ELIZABETH and CAPE TOWN, calling at MAURITIUS en route, and affording the Quickest Freight Transport from the ORIENT to SOUTH AFRICA.
PROPOSED BAILING,
From Hongkong "SALAMIS" 5th March,
FIRST CLASS ACCOMMODATION FOR PASSENGER
FITED WEB WIE186T31 GEAPHY, For Halos of Freight and Passage, apply to
211
THE BANK LINE, LIMITED,
MANAGING AGENTS
ELLERMAN LINE.
JAPAN, CHINA AND STRAITS
230
MARSEILLES, LONDON AND LIVERPOOL.
A Frequent Eervice of Fist Cargo Steamers will ke maintained between above Porta, commencing with the
6.8. CITY OF DURHAM," Sailing from Hongkong on the 18th February, to be followed by the 8.8. CITY OF CORINTH," in the 29th March and other high powered Steamers at frequent intervals.
For rates of freight and further information sply to
Hongkong, 8th February, 1910.
the former representation is coushed in THE TAIKOO Japan and Siam and Indo-China hne con. the following terms Trade between siderably increased of late years, the trade with Siam now mounting annually to .7,000,000, while that with Jado China is estimated at Y.26,000,000. Notwith between Japan and these places, trado standing the volume of trade, there is at present no direct steamship service being carried on by means of foreign
B
French steamship service to Brigon, the
camera. Although there exista cargo for Bangkok must necessarily be transferred to another steamer at Singa- pore. Not only are the tradel ralations with these two districts important, but they are destined to become more so in future Should the Franco-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation be applied to Indo-China, the trade between inoteaso. In order, therefore, to promote Japan and that territory will certainly tradal relations with Siam and Indo- China, we sincerely desire that a regular direct steamship service, with Saigon and Bangbok as ports of call, be inaugurated
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Bunday, 14th Feb.
Chinese New Year Day. Monday, 15th Fob →
Public Holiday.
6 pm-Concert at the Italian Conrent. 9.15 p.m.-Italian Grand Opera Co., at the
Theatre Royal Trovatore."
Tuesday, 18th Feb, *-**
Public Holiday.
D
THE BANK LINE, LTD,
GENERAL AGENTS:
[230"
DOCKYARD
AND ENGINEERING CO. OF HONGKONG, LTD, TAIKOO DOCKYARD. HONGKONG. SHIPBUILDERS SALVORS AND REPAIRERS, BOILERMAKERS. BRASS AND IRON FOUNDERS, CONSTRUCTIONAL,
WELDING AND CUTTING OF METALS BY OXY-ACETYLENK ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.
AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS.
Estimates given for quick construction and repair of Ships, Engines, Boilers, Railway Rolling Stock, Bridges, and all OlasseB of Engineering, Iron and Wood Work. GRAVING DOOK-787' by 86' by 34' 6"
THREE PATENT SLIPWAYS (sking voxels up to 3,000 tons displacement, providing.
Pumps Empty Dock in 2-3/4 hours.
conditions for painting ships with most efficient results, 100-Ton ELECTRIC CRANE ON QUAY ELECTRIC OVERHEAD CRANES
hroughout the Shops ranging to 100 Lone
50-Tont Hydraulic TESTING MACHINE for Chain, Wire Ropes, Rivets, etc,
AGENTE FORM
JOHN I. THORNYCROFT & CO., LTD.
PETROL and KEROSENE MARINE MOTORS 7-1/2 to 160 BEP
Ar supplied to the Eritish Admiralty and War Office.
MOTOR VESSELS, LIGHT DEAFT CARRIERS, GUNBOATS, LAUNCHES:
HOUSEBOATS and PLEASURE CRAFT OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, Dockyard Managers, can be seen between the hours of 11 A.M. and 12 Nocx
MOTOR PUMPING and LIGETING BEJS, MOTOR VEHICLES, Ero
at the Town Office.
6 p.m.-Concert at the Italian Convent, 9.15 p.m.-Italian Grand Opera Co., at the TELEPHONE NO. 212.-
Theatre Royal--La Traviata,” made Wednesday, 17th Feb. ---
9:15 pm-Italian Grand Opera Co., at the Theatre Royal-Cavalleria Rusticana," and Pagliacci.”
Thursday, 18th Feb.:-
3p.m.-Auction of 40 H.-P. Font-Cylinder Limousine Car at Sales Rooms, by Messrs Hughes & Hough,
9.15 p.m.-Italian Grand Opera Co., at the
Theatre Royal-"Rigoletto,”
Friday, 10th Feb,
Antique China and Carics at Baler Rooms, 2.30 pm. Auction of a Valuable Collection of
by Mr. Geo. P. Lammert. 9.15pm.-Italian Grand Opera Ce, of the
Saturday, 20th Feb.:--
Theatre Royal-"Faust."
11.30 .m.Humphrays Estate & Finance Co Ltd Meeting of Shareholders at the Hongkong Hotel Noon-Hongkong and Shonghat Banking Corporation Meeting of Shareholders st City Hall
2.30 p.m-Auction of a Valuable Collection of Antique China sad Curios at Sales Rooms. by Mr. Geo. P. Lammert,
tion, it was found that 55 per cent, had
Allied with all the great News Agencies fallon. The Gordons retreated, carrying thousand inhabitants of Wygmael of the Continent, Reuter's Agency has in forced marches daily or to dig trenches. thair wounded.
Field-Marshal Sir John French and two men, women, and children were com- always been recognised as a British genorals; who witnessed the charge, said pelled during ten days to accompany point of view, just as Havas speaks for institution representing the English that the Gordons had made history, and German troops during the fighting. France and the Petrograd Agency for atenmplished more than was expected.
On September 12th, at Erpe, a German The sergeant major added that the column of 200 to 900 men, attacked by a Continent should always be treated from charge of the Gordon Highlanders at Belgian automatic machine gun, seized in the British side, Reuter has take cara Dargni was a mere fea bite to this.
their houses twenty to twenty-five men, to have competent Englishmen, trained including young men and a boy of 13 in its own service, at all the principal They marched these in front of the column European capitale, and the activities of in the middle of the road. Two of the these correspondents have maintain d young men were wounded in the Router's news service at a high level of upper part of the thigh. The operator accuracy and information, Seme people, of the machine gun, observing the pris who note only that the Agency bears a omers, ceased fire. A witness adds that German name, have been disposed from at a given moment he heard the order time to time to accuse Reuter of having given clearly to shoot all the prisoners if German leanings. Nothing could be the Belgians continaed to fire
farther from the fact. The present Banos tor of the Company for the past forty de Router, who has been Managing Diree years, was born and has passed his whole life in England, was educated at Harrow Tuesday, 23rd Feb staff, and the correspondents are British Wednesday, 24th Feb. Englishman. The directors, the editorial and Oxford, and is in all respects an Hongkong Race Meeting-nd Day.
pure and simple, and so, with the excep Hongkong Race Meeting-3rd Day tion of a score, are the 1,300 shareholders, Saturday, 27th Fob. One has only to read the German papers to learn that if there is one British con
HEIR BALLIN'S DEMAND FOR A NAVAL BASE.
Replying to the Frankfurter Zeitung's request for a New Year's wish, Herr Ballin, the chief of the Hamburg-Amerika Line, writes:
"The war has shown us that we have an insufficient base in the "wet triangle constituted by the portion of the North Sea between Heligoland and the mouth of the Elbe, as it is proved that in that ares we can be easily bottled up. There fore Germany must secure outside that nres a base for the fleet, giving us, at any
fight at Alost, the Germans drove in front On Saturday, September 26th, in the of them during an attack on the Belgians overal of the inhabitants. The Belgian down on their faces, a German fired upon soldiers, having called to these to drop one, wounding him.
It is officially notified that in German S.W.A. and rebellion Union forose corn in the world that is regarded as
W. A killed and died of wounds, 19: Agsucvbat its Brit sustained 703 casualties to date, namely, violently anti-German it in
9.15 p.m.Italian Grand Opera Co., at the
Theatre Royal" Carmen."
Hongkong Race Meeting 1st Day.
Monday, 22nd Feb. ----
Hongkong Race Meeting-Off Day.
1 is Router's Thursday, th March~-~~-
rate in this part of the world, the same wounded, 38; wounded and taken prison-ombat its British influence in the]
possibilities that England has and ruthlessly."
ers, 44; tuken prisoners unwounded, 968 Far East and, indeed, in other parts of rebellion, killed, 105 wounded, 220, the world, the German Government has
Annual Flower Bed Vegetable Show of the Hongkong Horticultural Society in the Botanic Gardens,
The Veure p Courant adds Rebel losses are difficult to estimate, but for years heavily sub idised a competing Frily, 6th March- to Herr Ballin's significant statement: it is considered that over 150 have reon German news service, the aim of which
Our readers can easily find out what portion of the coast Herr Ballin has laid his eyo on."
killed and over 300 wounded. In addi- was, by offering its news supply at a very tion over 6,000 rebels are in gaol and low price, to oust Reuter from the field. about 4,000 surrendered rebels on parole. But these cadeavours have failed of their
Annual Flower and Vegetable Show of the Hongkong Horticultural Boolety in the Botanic Gardens..
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE. HONGKONG, CHINA, AND JAPAN, AGENTS. Telegraphic Address-TA1R00 DOCK"
JAVA-CHINA
JAPAN LIJN
REGULAR FORTNIGHTLY SERVICE BETWEEN JAVA, CHINA AND JAPAN.
ЕХРИСТЕР
ON OB ABOUT
130
STEAMNA
FROM
WILL LEAVE JOB
ON OR ABOUT
JIMANOEK
TJIKENDANG
TJILI WONG
TJIBODAS...
TJIKINI
TJILATJAP
NITAROEM TJIPANAS
JAPAN
JAVA
JAPAN
JAVA
JAVA
JAVA
JAVA
Fist ball of Feb First half of Feb Second half of Feb Second half of Feb. First half of
Etor nd half of Mar
SHANGHAI
JAYA
JAPAN
JAVA
SHANGHAI
JAPAN
SHANGHAI
First half of
Feb. First balf of
Second half of
-Feb.
First half of Mar. First half of
First half of
Second half of
Becond half of
JAPAN
Focond half of
Mar.
Mar
The Steamers are all fited throughout with Eletric Light and have secer modation for A limited number of Saloon Farrengers, All steamers carry a duly qual-fed surgeon, Cargo taken at through rates to all roits in Netherisedz India and Australia."
For Particulers of Freight and Passage, apply to the
York Buildings, la Floor.
Hongkon, 5th February, 1915.
THE
JAVA-CHINA-JAPAN LIJN.
Telephone No. 1574,
18
AUSTRALIAN ORIENTAL
LINE.
HONGKONG TO PHILIPPINES AND AUSTRALIAN PORTS
Steamer.
"TAIYUAN
"CHANGSHA
SAILINGS (SUBJECT TO ALTERATION);
Arrives Hongkong from Australia.
17th February,
25th March.
Saila Hongkong
for Australia.
20th February.
6th April.
These Steamers are £tted with Refrigerating Machinery, ensuring a plentiful supply of Ice, Fresh Provisions, etc. and have superior accommodation with Electric Light throughert and Electric Fans in the State Rooms, A daly qualified Doctor in carried. Reduced Fires Cargo booked through for all Australien, New Zealand and Tasmanian Ports,
For freight or passage, apply to
Hongkong, 8th Febrary, 1915,
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE. TELEPHONE No. 36. AGEKTA
1264