Page
THE
WAR.
THE HONGKONG, DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER gier, 1015,
MINING ACTIVITY ON BRITISH
FRONT.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S GRAVE NOTE OF
ALARM.
CANADIANS' PROUD RECORD.
GENERAL.
FALL OF VILNA.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
[ GRAVE NOTE OF ALARM. 'ALL OUR STRENGTH NECESSARY
TO WIN.
LONDON, September 19th.
The Minister of. Munitions (Mr. D. Lloyd George) in a letter to a correspon- dent, enya:-
"You say rightly that the Government ought to give the nation a lead on the question whether the moral obligation of
·øvery · able-bodied man to defend his country should be converted during this-
I CA war into a legal obligation. assure you that the Government is fully. alive to the necessity of giving a definite lead in examining the subject with a view to coming to the right decision.
If
FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGIEUX.] MINING OPERATIONS ON BRITISH FRONT.
LONDON, September 19th. Field-Marshal Sir John French reports that there has been no change on the Since the communique British Iront.
there has been consi- of the 15th inst. derable mining activity on both sides. Our artillery and the enemy's has been active east of Ypres.
BRITISH COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF AND CANADIANS. SPLENDID RECORD WILL GO DOWN TO POSTERITY.
Field Marshal
FIGHTING IN SHORTS. NAKEDEST ARMY EVER IN THE FIELD.
Mr. E. Astmead-Bartlett, writing to the London Frese, in July, from the East ern Mediterranean, says -
The Australians and New Zealanders have been obliged to play the role of a retaining force ever since the first land- ing, but this stalemate cannot last for ever, and when the psychological moment arrives for a big "push" all along the line, we are certain to see the Colonial
corps again playing an active rule, for which they are peculiarly fitted by tem perament and training.
The men are
RESERVE,
DISCIPLINE IN VOLUNTEER keenly, and if he said rather more than he was justly entitled to say the Court In answer to would bear that in mind. the charge, he said that he declined to comply with the order of Sergeant
RESERVIST COURT-MARTIALLED FOR DISOBEDIENCE.
A Field General Court-Martial ascom-Oxberry in the exercise of a right which bled at the Volunteer Headquarters, he was officially informod—~~-~ Gardon Road, yesterday morning, for the purpose of trying Private D. V. Steavor son, of the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve.
The Court was composed as follows:- Major I. B. F. Currie, 97th Company R.G.A. (President), Captain G. G. Wood, H.K.V.C., and Lieutenant A. J. Tiadall, 74th Punjabis. Captain G. K
Hall
Brutton (Adjutant of the H.K.V.R) appeared as prosecutor.
The President having read the author desperately cager to advance, for locallysation of H.E. the General Commanding
they have obtained a complete mastery over and dictate the daily round in the the members of the Court were sworn.
The President then read the following at fire trenches to the enemy, deciding whe
charge to the prisoner:-"You ither there is to be complete quiet or con- stant sniping, bomb throwing and min charged with, on active service, disobeying ing. The Turk bus, in fact, ever since his the lawful command of your superior last ropulse, shown but little aggressive officer, under the Army Act, Section 9, 3r1 Section 2. Do you plead guilty or not noas, and seems content to sit in his trenches rather than try a fresh trial of strength with such a formidable enemy. guilty! This force on his flank bandicaps all his movements to the south, and prevents him from deploying his full strength against the southern army, for in the eyes of the German commander there is the ever pre sent danger that if ho depletes the in- numerable trenches the Colonials may break through.
PEKING
NOTES.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
PEKING, September 9th
THE DRIFT TO MONARCHY. The ovents of this week have not tended to clarify the situation as regards the mon
The President How do you mean by archical movement, but rather to make. the proceedings even more mysterious that "officially informed ? ""
they have hitherto boon." Some people in terpreted the absence of Li Yuan Hung from the meeting of the State Council as an indication of the Vice-President's dis approval of the agitation in favour of a restoration of the monarchical system, but
Prisoner-I will deal with that later, Bir. Continuing, he stated that he and other members of the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve were entitled to such a right as ho claimed by reason of the fact that they
were considered were mobilised and
being soldiers en active service. He would
On the 5th June last at about 5.30 p.m.,
explain how he obtained this information Company-Sergt. Major Bond telephoned
to his house, and said that one of the guard bad not rolled up," and asking him it he would do his guard, He consented, and Sergt.-Major Bond said he had there by done him a good turn, and he would- not forget it." When he reached the Camp at Hunghom, Captain Brutton, who was then officer in charge of the guard, informed him that he had his full complement and that he could return to Hongkong if he cared. The Sergeant of Lance Corporal 3. C. Logan (sworn) the Guard, who was standing by, then stated that on the morning of Sunday,sial that there was an old man amongst the 12th inst, at about 10 minutes to 5. he was awakened by the sentry on duty at the guard-room at the Prisoners-of-War
Prisoner--Not guilty, Sir.
Evidence for the prosecution was then taken."
falling-in reliefs. On coming to Private Stevenson's cet he shook him by the refused, saying he had already done his shoulder and told him to get up..
He
Oxberry). Private Steavenson did not go or guard.
the hopes of the "antis" were dimmed dent had no intention of separating froia when it was made clear that the Vice-Presi his chiof. Thon, as if to confuse farther
110 letter the meeting of dressed & thought on this subject, the President ad- the State Council on Monday in which he An Huei and stated that the present was. disavowed his sympathy with the Chon not the time in which to make the changes This looked like turning down the proposed by the promoters of this organisa- tion, Chou An Hus, but it would be unwise to assume that this is so, at least at this com- paratively early stage.
Until the President declares his own. views on the subject, it will be futile to spervato is to the future form of goveru- meat, or rather as to the name by which it
tainly, his latter to the State Council pa President's mind, and no one can safely say what line of action he will take. Cer Monday was a masterpiece of diplomacy, as he disavowed his desire for a change and ing whether or not a change was.desirable. Naturally, he cannot afford to alienate the laid the onus upon the Council of decil-
whe have identified themselves prominently sympathy and support of the military may with the agitation for a monarchical form of government, and so he prefers not to ex press any opinion of his own, but rather
the guard who desired to be excused, and Captain Bratton thereupon asked him if
guard was falling in preparatory to being agreed to do. On the following morning he mentioned to Captain Brutton, as the dismissed, that his particular Section of the Reserves happened to be on duty in The Captain replied the orening, and asked whether he should No; as you have already done one guard you need not do another this evening. The Sergeant of the Guard supplemented the remarks of the Captain by saying, "You are on active service now, and ifto wait developments.
have to attend.
QUINN'S POST OURS FOR GOOD. Six weeks ago it was an extremely un- pleasant visit to Quim's, Courtony's, and Pope's Posts, but to-day the indefatigable Camp for the purpose of waking up and he would do the old man's guard. This he will be known. No one seems to know the energy of the men from down under have changed all this, and it is possible to reach the fire trenches in comparative safety. In addition, the New Zealanders ing this section of the line, have obtained and the Australians, who are now hold such a fire supremacy over the Turks that they no longer dare expose themselves for guard and intended to do no more. Wit a gecond over their parapets, and cannotness repeated the order and then informed sipe down the valley as they were accus the Sergeant of the Guard (Sergt. tomed to. The proximity of the two lines at these points has made the hand grenade and the trench mortar the chief weapons used by both sides, and very deadly has been. the struggle. For a lon period Quinn's Post was sometimes vecu pied and sometimes a no-man's land, with both sides waiting for a suitable oppor- akilled miners of the New Zealand Brigade who finally got possession of it for good, and who have held it ever sinco, As it was impossible to live above ground they proceeded to dig underground a bombproofs, all supported by beams to regular network of trenches, tunnels, and provide sufficient overhead over to stop tained the time of duty and the post. prevent the soft soll falling in, and to and tried to blow in this new defence but
Prisoner said he did not wish to ask this witness, any questione.
Sergt. J. Oxberry stated that on the
figures demonstrate that we can win with recently visited the Canadian Cavalry tunity to seize it and hold it. It was the night of the 11th he was Bergeant of the they want you to do another guard you can
the Voluntary system, it would be folly to provoke a controversy.
Brigade, including Edward's Horse
refuse."
The present belief is that there will be no change in the form of government. The President, who remembers the Chinese say ing regarding the servant taking the mas The President-Who is the Bergeant ter's place which would be quoted against him if he were assume the throne vacated by the Manchu Emperor, will most prob ably retain his present position and title, and the settlement of the issue' raised will be decided in the form of a hereditary pre-
LONDON, September 19th.
Sir John French
the 2nd King In a speech to the troops he paid a tribute to the splendid manner in which, early in the year, when Voluntaryism has exhausted is atility the Canadian infantry had suffered and nothing but legal pressure can give us greatly, they volunteered to leave their bombs from coming in. The Tarks mined Prisoner drew a ship showing that he had in charge of the Section when he (Private sident, an anomaly which could only exigu
hand
On the other that if figures demonstrate
the Armies necessary to defend the
hour of Great Britain and save Europe from the triumph of · Military despotism I have not yet heard of the man who would resist compulsion in these
circumstances.
"The men who say they would offer resistance to this expedient have not yet If they do I appeared in the arena predict they will not receive the support
of the working classes."
Mr. Lloyd George pleaded for the elimination of all personal recrimination at this critical time,
He scathingly
horses and come out here.
He dwelt on
their prominent part in the battle of Sinus Festubert, and also at Givenchy, then till a few days ago they had been
He
working very hard in the trenches concluded that their record would go down to posterity as one of the most splendid in British history.
INCESSANT ARTILLERY
COMBAT.
PARIS, September 19th.
guard at the Prisoners-of-War Camp, He detailed sentries, as usual, by lot. This custom had been adopted to ensure that there was no favoritism. drew the slips themselves. The slips 007-
The sentries
5 to from
6.33
He cou
Prisoner Bergeant Mackey.
on this statement tinued that it was that he had acted, Sergeant Mackay was you mention?
appearances had been respected. boy would be more or less satisfied as in China. Face would be saved, and every
CABINET CHANGES.
had been in the Regular Army, and had seen service in South Africa, and a remark Their
The report that all was not well between the New Zealanders countermined and to do duty from 7 to 9 pm, on the Stevenson) first joined; he believed he
Sir Richard Dane and the Minister f blew up the enemy instead.
he believed to be truo, and he acted upo Finance have been revived of late, an snipers, having acquired a definite as 11th instant and
from what I can gather they are not al- tery, forced the enemy furthos hack a.m. on the 12th Prisoner.did. bis duty-
Choiz it on this occasion.
without foundation.
not Private Steavenson further said that he together
Hsi Hoveih
has comfortable.
apparently Amongst the other difficulties tuenta.m. the previous witness made a Now Quinn's is impregnoble and quite from 7 to 9, on the 11th, and on the 12th, coming from him in reply to his enquiry Colonials cheerfully face is the creat communication to him, as a result of which
he went to prisoner's cot and instructed wished to emphasize that, the Hongkonghown the roadiness to proceed with labour involved in conveying stores, am are trenches. The whole position is arid him to go on duty, and he replied to the Volunteer Reserve are a Volunteer Force.the reforms in the Salt Administration to be expected, refased to give way in this Consequently it is munition, and, above all, water to the uncultivable barren ground, on which nothing will grow except scrub and stunt effect that he would not go. Witness them It was composed of civilians, members of which were guaranteed under the se ed trees. There is a story that one old warned him that he would have to take the Legislative Council, merchants of organisation loan, and Sir Richard, as was miner went on digging long after his the consequences. He replied "I don't different firms, brokers, shopkeepers, etc. important matter. comrades had abandoned all hope of tap-
When asked why, be care. I won't go." Witness then made The fact of turning on mobilisation and now believed that Chou Heueih Hsi will re- not, he submitted, make them anything is not improbable that Chou Tsz Chi, the They were still present Minister of Agriculture and Com ping a spring.
more than Reserves. This bit of country is just him a prisoner and reported the matter calling them soldiers on active service did gn from the Ministry of Finance, and it I learn also that replied:
Prisoner-Did you give any orders to Jeserves, and civilians, and they would merge, will return to his former position as
always be until they had an opportunity Minister of Financr. like Western Australia, and if there ain't
of acquiring Military discipline. That was Chang Hu has cleared himself, and that sure enough, his trained eyes did discover
me or, to the other sentries when going on
not to be acquired in 12 months, As soon as he may take proceedings in the Supreme any water there's sure to be sold. And, to his superior officer, tunately, in paying quantities, A pecu.
His Excellency the Cavernor mobilised the Court in order to vindicate himself in the Reserves on the 4th August last year they eyes of the public. gold amongst the sand, but not, unfor
came strictly under the provisions of the Army Act. They had no Military dis cipline whatsoever in the Hongkong suppose that since the Dervishes made said "I don't care!" My contention is
Volunteer Reserve. Men repeatedly torn- their last charge at Omdurman no such that I didn't.—I am quite clear those naked army has ever been scen in the field. The British Tommy likes to move and were your words.
Prisoner-Are you responsible for the ed up drunk on guard. He instanced one work and fight with the majority of his
him a lens and speaking to him about it worldly goods hanging round him, no
when the Adjutant came along and sail "Look here, what's this?"
Prisoner-Are you quite clear that I
A communiqué says there has been denounced the mischief-makers, and marked artillery activity along the whole further says:-"I am convinced that front, while in the region of Peronne the nothing but the exertion of our whole Germans, after exploding a very power-liarity of the Colonial soldier which dis-duty-No, the orders were posted.
of French making strength will enable us to obtain the ful mine, attacked, but were repulsed,
so much depends. the victory on which Therefore I am bound to do my best to prisoners. There was secure that effort, without the least fight in the Vosges. regard of its effect on my own political
fortunes. I withdraw nothing I have
said regarding the seriousness of the Naturally I take a hopeful position,
number a fierce grenade
our own men is his dislike of clothes. I tinguishes him in a marked degree from
CHINESE TELEGRAMS.matter what the state of the temperature rumour in the Colony that I assaulted you case where a man on parade was showing
[FROM OUR OWN CORBESPONDENT }
The man
view, but so far events have justifed my THE MONARCHICAL MOVE- | now wearing anything except a pair question had been put to him by a member replied This is a lens I am showing to:
approhensions 1 have felt driven by the jeopardy of my native land to sound the I have done so in the note of alarm. confident belief that if it succeeds in rousing us in time to put forth all our strength we shall win.
MENT IN CHINA. PROBABLE CONVOCATION OF A CITIZENS CONVENTION.
PEKING, September 20th, The Tsan-Cheng-Yuan (State Council) sitting as the Li-Fa-Yuan (Parliament) on THE FUTURE FOR US AND Monday considered seventy petitions tr
FOR GERMANY,
LONDON, September 19th. Lord Seiboro, President of the Bourd of Agriculture, speaking at Norwich, said the outlook was more anxious for He warned thear Germany than for us, against believing the Press statements on the subject of Compulsory Service, and declared there was no idea of legislation with a view to industrial compulsion. He said that Lord Kitchener had decided that skilled labourers on farms would be on the same footing as munition workers.
RUBBIAN FRONT
[THROUGH BEUTEX'S AGENCY.] FALL OF VILNA.
AMSTERDAM, September 19th-
A Gerraan official telegram claims that Vilna has fallen, and that the Russians are retreating.
the Provinces advocating the change to the monarchical system of Government.
The men in our front tronches sit with that morning-No; most decidedly noi.
Prisoner, addressing the Court, said a their packs on sweating in the broiling
him." The officer said "Well never mind. eun, and will dig trenches without moring But to find an Australian & garment.
of the Government, in regard to a supposed Put it away and don't play with it." Ho to be applied in this Colony to the Volun shorts is extremely rare, whether he
teer Reserves it would work great hard. be in the trenches, in a rest camp, or on assault, and he felt rather strongly on the submitted that if the Army Act were going
point. fatigue. One by one they have thrown
Second Lieuterant J. W. C. Boanship, because they were not yet sufficiently aside their various articles of clothing,
The President-But you have always stated that he was officer in charge of the trained in Military discipline.. -AN ARMY IN SHORTS.
known for the past 12 months that it could First, the coats went, then the shirts then underolothes, now a very large num-Prisoners-of-War Camp from 7 p.m. to
5.30 a.m. on the night of the 11-12th be applied.
Prisoner said it had been applied, but puttees, and only a lingering of decency,
teer Reserve that ought never to accur ber have chucked aside their boots and still kept alive by memories of the mixed About 3.15 a.m. on the 12th Sergt. Oxborry
He was not there to find fault, and plea "shorts," which, starting a few months.
was asked to come up there and answer a bathing season at Sydney, preserves the ago as full length trousers, have now arrived half-way up the thigh. In this go on sentry duty at 5 a.m. Previous to this laxity in extenuation, but here he primitive costume the Australians and
I hear that Liang Tuh Yen may vacafe his post as Minister of Communications, but a suitable job has not yet been found to his liking.
CARRANZISTS IN PEKING. Two members of the Carranzist party in tal, but nobody seems to know their parti Mexico are at present staying in the capi- cular mission or whether they have any or not. The recent dispute in Tokyo bo- tween the representative of the old govern- the Japanese Government, and the repres sentative of the new administration has ment in Mexico, who was recognised by
I am told, the emoluments will be divided. hen settled by a compromise in which, so
A LOCAL EXHIBITION. · The exhibition of local products in the once sacred enclosure of the Temple of Agri- culture, a preliminary to the national ex-
came to him and reported that Private things occurred in the Hongkong Volun-hibition to be held next month, has proved
Steavenson had refused to obey orders to
very successful in point of exhibits and of such institutions will do much to foster the patronage, and there can be no doubt that new-born national sentiment in favour of
New Zealanders live and work and fight, leaving the camp, after all had fallen in. very serious charge against Army dis- fostering national industries and purchas-
a
Their huge frames and ginnt limbs are he called out Private Steavenson and now burnt by the sun to a dull brick-red. Someone remarked very truly the other asked him if he had refused to obey
Certain sections are pressing for definite expression of opinion on the sub- jeet by the Li-Fa-Yuan,
It is probable that the decision will be referred to a Citizens' Convention which may be summoned before the month of January.
you."
he had done all the guards at the cipline. He might also say that althouga ing Chinese products Prisoners-of-War Camp at Hung Hom
He replied and also at Gun Club Hill he had never
do duty in the crows' nest for two hours them by doing the duties. He had had to Oxberry had said to Captain Brutton that and ten minutes on occasions. Sergeant he could not undertake longer duty than two hours because it was against the Army The President That is 0, out it is not regulations. strictly laid down. There may be special circumstancea.
A PRETTY TALE.
A pretty tale has been published in the vernacular Press. It relates to the mes at the Sergeant Oxberry's orders, this campaign day that
· 1 had already done my guard." Witness had any orders as to what his duties were.
He had not seen any order, neither halsenger employed by the British Minister Western Hills, Imbued with a sense of Dardanelles has only been rendered toler- able by the excellent bathing. I do not
the importance of his office, he thought suppose any other factor has counted so then said "That's not the point. Did you he ever heard any order read. They could to convey fresh food and other necessaries much in keeping the troops healthy and refuse to obey the Sergeant's orders?"only learn what duties were expected of. daily from Poking to his residence in the clean, and in restoring their spirits after He replied "Yes, I did." Witness then days and nights in the stuffy, dirty, smelly
entitled to the uninterrupted use of tho trenches. Especially do the Australianssad That is all I want. I must report
that he and the camel in bis charge were narrow country road, and so when he met As the latter cap- and New Zealanders love their periodi-
a peasant he ordered the latter to give way and allow him to pass. To them the sea and the sun
The President-When the sentries were ITALIAN MINISTER TO
cal dipe.
From RETURN HOME.
bath are as the breath of life.
sidered that the road was wide enough for earliest childhood they have been nceus going on daty were any orders issued to
each to pass he declined to stand aside and when he came alongside he was assailed by PEKING, September 20th.
tomed to live in the water. The bathing
Таз at Sydney, where as many as 50,000 men, them?-Not by me.
the Minister's man, who is supposed to Count Storza, the Italian Minister to
women and children take the water at the Now
have made all sorts of assertions. same time, is world famous.
inevitable fightersued, and then the police Peking, is returning to Rome.
came on the-scene, but the officer was aat so impressed with the dignity of the mes- procession of naked warriore, covered launch as we were going across..
Prisoner said he would make a state- CONFERENCE IN LONDON ON straight from the trenches, this endless drawn?-The slips were drawn on
with sand and dirt, never ceases from
The messenger is believed No sooner is a sunrise to sunset.
of the peasant. to have pitched" a yarn to Sir John, Colonial released from duty than he ment on his behalf. He wished to preface makes for the water, no matter the snipers his remarks by saying that he felt he was
senger, who clamoured for the punishment. Prisoner was who is said to have made representations up there on a very serious charge, and
The Court then closed. and the bursting shrapnel. For here, in far-off Gallipoli, for a short period each
Sentence will be promulgated in less the incident will not be magnised
into an international dispute. under the southern sun, and return re-in- day, they imagine themselves once more that, being a solicitor of the Supreme Court vigorated and refreshed to the stern work of Hongkong, and a Hongkong resident found guilty and remains under open to the authorities on the subject, but doubt.
for some 12 years, he felt his position very das course. on the hills above.
TIBET AFFAIRS.
PEXING, September 20th. Mr. Alfred Sze, the Chinese Minister to London, has been appointed to represent China at the Conference to be held in London on Tibetan questions,
Were you present when the slips were the
Prisoner further said that he had fre- quently done duty from 7 to 9 p.m. before, but had never previously been called upon to do second, duty. It was the first ocos
drawn cards for longer periods than two sion on which he had seen two separate times placed on a slip. He bad, however, hours.
urrest.