Page
THE
WAR.
GREAT WAR BUDGET.
THE HONGKONG, DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29x0, 1915.
MOST STAGGERING IN WORLD'S HISTORY.
WIDE INCREASES IN TAXATION.
FRENCH SUCCESS ON AISNE-MARNE CAÑAL.
RUSSIANS' EFFECTIVE USE OF BAYONET.
REVOLT AGAINST YOUNG TURKS.
RUSSIAN FRONT.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] WAR BUDGET. PRODIGIOUS FIGURES: HEAVY INCREASE IN TAXATION.
[TUROUGH BRUTER'S AGENCY.)
Mr. McKenna said that the Budget would not cripple our resources, despite. the fact that there is no record of a nation voluntarily accepting burdens bearing so high a proportion of the
total national income,"
of the THE DEBATE: ALL RESOLUTIONE
LONDON, September 21st. Mr. McKenna, Chancellor Exchequer, introduced in the House of Cammons today the second War Budget of the financial year.
He must ask the House, he said, to sanction great and unprecedented burdens, and he was confident that if the House assented to the taxes the country woul follow suit,
The figures for the financial year, as now revised were
·REVENUE -- -- EXPENDITURE
Increase over Esti-
matc
272 milliona
1,590
957
ܕܕ܂
The deadweight of debt at the close of the financial year would be 2,200 millions of pounds sterling.
We had to contemplate à Navy costing 190 millions, an Army costing 715 millions and external advances ameacting to 493
millions,
INCREASED INCOME TAX. The Chancellor proposed the increase of the Income Tax by 40 per cent, and that the exemption limit should be reduced to £130 per annum. He proposed an arrange ment fur paymont by instalments, the assessment and collection for employees of all descriptions to be quarterly. These changes would produce in the present year full rovenue of £11,974,000 and for year £37,400,000.
+
The Supertax would be increased upon incomes of £8,000 and upwards to 3/8 in the £. This would produce £2,150,000 this year.
WAR PROFITS.
A Special Tax on profits which had been increased during the year would be inte
duced and extended to all trades and agencies. Fifty per cent. of the profits above last year's figures would be taxed. This would yield £30,000,000 in a full year, but, owing to various causes, only £6,000,000 this year.
SUGAR, TEA AND TOBACCO TAXES. The Sugar duty the Chancellor proposed to increase by d. per b., which would produce £11,700,000 in a full year; and the duties on Tea, Tobacco, Cocoa, Coffee and Chicory to be increased by 50 per cent. Beer and Spirits are left untouched. MOTOR SPIRIT AND PATENT MEDICINES.
The Chancellor proposed that the duty on motor spirit should be increased by 3d. a gallon, and that on patent medicines doubled.
IMPORTED LUXURIES. Imported luxuries, like motor-cars, Alms, plooks, watches, and musical instruments to pay an ad valorem duty of 23) per cent.
POSTAGE AND PRESS TELEGRAMS.
Half-penny Postage will be abolished and Press telegrams will be charged more. DEBT TREBLED: TAXES DOUBLED. The estimated revenue for the year was 305 millions, and for 1916-17 the estimated rovenue was 387 millions, We had trebled our debt and doubled our taxes. If the war continued these proporals would not be our last word. Our great resource was the willingness of the people to bear their
share.
ADOPTED.
The debate on the Budget in the House of Commons showed general acceptance of the proposade as a well-thought-out plan which would benefit the nation at large.
All the Budget resolutions were adopted
FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT
{TAHOUGH KELTIR'U AGENCE.}" INCESSANT ARTILLERY
ACTIVITY.
BULLETIN BY SIR JOHN FRENCH
[RAVES SERVIC
ONE GERMAN SUBMARINE SINKS ANOTHER.
PARIS, September 20th."
{THROUGH BRUTEK'A SORTUT:]
INDIAN WIDOWS AND ORPHANS,
LONDON, September 21st. A German submarine sank another Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Secretary of LONDON, September viat.
German submarine which was being paint State for India) replying to Sir J. D. Field-Marshal Sir John French, ined at the entry to the Gulf of Stavanger. Rees, asid that el extra pensionary [4 telegram from Austerdam published in charges for widows and orphans of Indian bulletin, says that during the past tw
of this wubmarine, but did not mention what vassel fired the torpedo.ED.]
GERMAN INTRIGUES IN AMERICA.
SEORET WAR FACTORY AND PLANS TO BUY AEROPLANE WORKS.
NEW YORE, August 16th The World today publishes the second instalment of documents in its possession illustrating German activities in the United States. It shows that theres hava been efforts by German agents to femanf strikes in American establishments manu-
days the Germans have not ceased their yesterday's issue reported the torpadojas soldiers during the present war would be facturing munitions of war, with the
artillery activity.
The British gunas replied effectively. Our artillery yesterday set ablaze part of the Forest of Houthulst, causing a big explosion,
There were ning air combats on Sunday, and two German seroplanes were driven to the ground ablaze,
ON THE FRENCH FRONT.
PARIS, September 21st, The bombardments were more violent than over, especially the reciprocal bardment in the region of Arras,
THE NEAR EAST
ĮTHROUGH BROTER'S AGENOT.}
REVOLT AGAINST THE
YOUNG TURKS, ...
ENVER PASHA EXCOM- MUNICATED.
ROME, September 21st. Numerous message from Constantinople bom-indicate that there is a regular revolt by
the Turkish Clergy against the Young. Turks, Enver Pasha, and the Germans. It is declared that a Synod of the religious leaders, at a meeting at St. Sophia ex communicated Enver Pasha and his com- panions. The rebellion of the Clergy has enormously impressed the population ent the Army.
The French batteries were most offe tive and there were bumts of fire at several points along the front,
We
The communiqué contains the further interesting announcement that:... gained a footing on the right bank of the Aisne-Marne Canal. The enemy, attempt ing a counter-attack, were compelled to fall back,"
GENERAL
ITEROVON REUTER'S AGENCY.)
The French made marked progress in the Vosges, and there has been grenade GERMAN SPIES IN ENGLAND. fighting especially in the rogion of Hart- mannsweilerkoff.
PARIS, September 2nd. The artillery actions have continued
MAN AND WOMAN SENTENCED
LONDON, September 21st. The Official Press Bureau says that the
met entirely out of the British Exchequer SVEN HEDIN'S BRITISH
·DECORATION.
LONDON, September 21st. Mr. Aust - Chamberlain, in reply to Bir J. D. flees, said that the explorer Sven Hedin is still on the list of honoraty Commanders of the Indian Empire.
MEDALS FOR PRE-WAR
*** OPERATIONS.
connivance of disloyal labour leaders and agitators.
Letters showing attempts to extend sentiment against the shipments of mun. tions abroad include one which gives the names of certain Chicago grattenen, alleged to be friendly to German interests. One interesting communication, written by
a Herr Reisowitz, presumably » Ger man agent in Chicago, to Dr. Albert, "financial director," discloses a plan for the acquisition of the Wright neroplane factories at Dayton, Ohio, for 50,000 dollars on the ground that such, a step would stop the greater part of the exporta of flying machines from the United States, and would prove a lucrat ve financial undertaking.
„PROBABLE ACTION.. LONDON, September 21st.
The old roviews its yesterday's seu- Replying to Colonel Yate, Mr. Austensational disclosures, and continues:- Chamberlain said that the Raj had not yet furnished a list of the officers and mer of the Indian Marino recommended for the medal for operations in the Indian Gulf from 1009 to 1914. The question of eligibi- lity would be determined by the Admiralty after a consideration of the rolls.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE AT TSINGTAU.
QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.
LONDON, September 22nd.
The publication has brought from washington a declaration that the Govern- ment will probably inke cognisance of the. revelations. Until these are fully disclosed. in succeeding chapters in the World the officials of the Government; however, decline trend of the official nquiry. The Depart to comment on them or on the probable. ¦ment of Justice Bas already beguir 20 investigation into the activities of German Agents in this country,
"The World predicts astonishing develop- ments in this eonnection. Tomorrow it will be shown, it says, how a big Ameri ean armis concern, which was purchased by Germany, has been steadily developed and will begin to turn out a huge supply of war munitions on September 1st. This concern has gained control of the output of one of the chief powder companies, and In the House of Commons, Mr. Jako of the available supply of machinery with undiminished intensity in Artois, trini has concluded at the Old Bailey of a King (Somerset, N.) asked Sir Edward between Roye and the Oise, in Cham-man and a woman of German origin, who Grey whether the Chinese Custom-house were charged with attempting to comat Tsingtau had been re-opened, and whe pagne, Argonne, Woevr, and Lorraine.
nunicate abroad information regarding ther the passport introduced by the the British Fleot, with the intention of Japanese at Tsingtau required evidence assisting the enemy. Both were found of the social status of British traders, and whether this affected their commercial
The enemy threw heavy shelle into the saburks of Arras and the outskirts of the old Citadel.
AN EXCELLENT RECEPTION, Mr. McKenna's Budget met with an excellent reception. All Parties in the House of Commons sectoed satisfied at | the distribution of the new taxation and
all showed an equal readiness to bear Our fire pariously damaged the German guilty. The man was sentenced to be shot cheerfully the particular burden affecting | lines,
and the woman, whom the Court regarded as being under the influence of the than was sentenced to ten years' penal servi-
them and their constituencies. The gene- Renowed German attacks on the bridge ral opinion outside the House is that the head at Bapignoul, on the Aisne-Marne new taxes are well spread over all classes. | Canal were repulsed.
Mr. McKenna took two hours to reveal
......
the secrets of his Budget, which he des- cribed as the most staggering and huge in the world's history,"
The Radicals are naturally pleased at the increase in the super-tax, and the Unionists are delighted at the tax on importe luxuries. Thus the Chancellor of the Exchequer's own words that "he would satisfy either the strict Free Trader nor the scientific Tarif Reformer
are almost falsified. Indeed Mr. Me Kenna is said to have achieved a Parlia mentary and financial triumph.
RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. DESPERATE BAYONET
ENCOUNTER.
PETROGRAD, September 22nd A communiqué states that the Russians scored successes against the Germans cast of Vila; also against the Austrians further south, making most effective use of the bayonet and capturing altogether 1,000 prisoners.
The hottest affair followed Austrian attacks on two villages north-west of the town of Wisnevetz. The enemy, notwith-
violent standing
and machine-gun artillery fire, entered the Russian trenches A desperate bayonet fight cheering. ensued, resulting in the expulsion of the enemy with great loss. Then the Russians and pursued the counter - attacked
Several German batteries were silenced
and a blockhouse destryed in Argonne,.
Our demolition fire ja Lorraine prevent ed a German attempt to construct emplace monts for heavy long-range guns capable of shelling the Nancy and Luneville dis- tricts.
Nineteen scroplanes dropped a hundred shells on the railway junction at Bensdorf, and oast of Morhange, damaging building
and stationary trains.
A GERMAN ADMISSION.
COMPELLED TO EVACUATE A POSITION.
AMSTERDAM, September 21st. Tonight's Berlin communiqué contains unusually interesting references to the It emphasises that the Western front. French guns in the region of Arras have kept up an almost uninterrupted heavy fire and it admits that French batteries shot to Iragments a lock on the Marne Aime Canal, northwestward of Rheims, the Germans being compelled to evacuate
position during the night.
NAVAL ACTIVITIES.
{THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.} ENEMY SUBMARINE
DESTROYED.
IMAGINARY POLITICAL
PLOTS.
A
LORD CURZON'S APPEAL..
LONDON, September 21st. Earl Curzon, in a letter to the Daily Chronicle, suvs he is still a supporter of National Service, the believers in which were daily growing in numbers and im portance, but he appeals to the Press to
relations.
Sir Edward Grey replied that his ourly information was a statement from the British Minister at Peking that the Custon House would be opened
On September 1st.
THE "OPEN DOOR" IN CHINA.
BRITISH ADHERENCE.
REAFFIRMED.
LONDON, September 22nd. Sir Edward Grey, replying to Mr. McVeagh (Down, S.) said that no under bakings or pledges likely to adversely
discourage the attempt made in certain affect British trade opportunities in quarters to manufacture discord where anch did not exist and to imagine plots for which there was no vestige of foundation.
NEW SUPERINTENDENT
WOOLWICH ARSENAL.
OF
LONDON, September 21st, Sir H. F. Donaldson has resigned the Superintendency of Woolwich. Arsenal, on taking up more important work in the Ministry of Munitions Mr. Vincent Raven, formerly Chief Engineer of the North-Eastern Railway, succeeds him.
necessary for important work on certals
ehelle.
MUNITIONS FOR GERMANY, Ostensibly, it is dealing with the Allies for the output, but any contracts minde will the munitions will really be made for Ger-. contain un penalty for non-delivery, and many. It will also be shown that Germany obtained a large supply of phenol (Carbolic acid) for use in making explosives through -a secret agreement, which turned over the
products of the Edison works,
the same subject, says:
The World, in an editorial discussing
When pro-German activities appeared to be due to the excessive sympathies of
over-zealous American oitizens of German birth or German blood the President could afford to ignore them in the general inter- ests of freedom of speech, hut when, as has been shown, these activities are direct- ed from Berlin by the official authority of Germany itself, the Government' at Washington can no longer afford to close its eyes.
The World earnestly urges that Germany should be told emphatically that this offi cial conspiracy against the peace and wel- fare of the United States must stop immediately,
TRENCH HUMOUR.
China had been entered into with other CANADIANS' RETORT TO GERMAN
GIBE. It was the intention of His Powers. Majesty's Government that the palley of the "open door in China shall continue to be their policy.
GREEK PASSENGER STEAMER AFIRE.
LIVES OF 500 PERSONS IMPERILLED:
HALIFAX, September 21st. The Greek steamer Jthiase, bound from New York to the Pireaus, has been aban- doned afire in the Atlantic, Five hundred passengers and crew were rescued by two liners,
MINE EXPLOSION IN ENGLAND.
LONDON, September 21st. There was an explosion in a mine at
200 are safe. Ten bodies have been
BULGARIAN SITUATION,
AFFAIRS REACHING A CLIMAX.
LONDON, September 22nd. Owing to the strict censorship in Bul- garia, where martial law has been enforced, PARIS, September 21st. it is difficult to gauge accurately the pro An Odessa telegram says that a Turcsent political position, but despatches from Austrians to the latter's trenches, where German submarine operating in Russian Rome and Bukharest indicate that the douston. Of 250 men who were below waters in the Black Sea has been sunk by putation of opposition parties which wait Russian vessels.
ed upon King Ferdinand was much more weighty than can be gathered from the ball Sofia telegrams. It is stated that these groups, which favour arrangements with the Entente Powers, have been reinforce by the bulk of the Stambuloffists under M. Chendadieff, thus constituting a majority in the Chamber, hence King Ferdinand's
the whole of the assailants fled, ur rendered or were bagoietted.
THE GERMAN VERSION.
AMSTERDAM, September 21st.
In to-night's Berlin communiqué the claims regarding the Russian front are in a minor key.
It is significant that no mention is made of captures in the Vilna district, but it tells of rearguard battles eastwart of Lidm and claims some progress further southward, but the position of Field Marshal von Mackensere in the southern
theatre is unchanged.
RUSSIAN WORKMEN RESUME.
GERMANY NOT ABANDONING SUBMARINE WARFARE. AIM TO EXTEND RADIUS OF ACTION.
LONDON, September 21st.
recovered,
-DUTCH PORTS AS BASE-
INFAMOUS, GERMAN, PROPOSAL TO HOLLAND.
Post
An amusing story of an experience of the Canadian contingent when they first arrived at the front was related to a Daily Chronicle representative by a Canadian staff officer now at Shorncliffe. The story has been told before how the Germans revealed their knowledge of the supposed secret arrival of the Canadiens by calling out, "Hallo, Canadians !! across the zone of fire as the Dominion troops took their places in the trenches.
"The amusing part of the incident occurred two days later," said the officer, when our Mounted Rifles came to the firing lines. The Germans were perfectly aware of what was happening, for they Hallo at once began shouting out Canadian Rifles: Where are your horses ?? Shortly afterwards they hung at toy horse. over the top of their trenches with the inscription, in big lettering, Here are your hors Come and fotel them Our men naturally began to fire at the thing, whereupon the Germans promptly took it down, unly to replace it at low minutes later with bandages round its neck and one of its legs, where it had been wounded.'.
"But our fellows secured the last laugh after all, for they got a lot of socks, filled
and then hung them over the trenches with the inscription, here are your the cut wifir sad to the required shape,
Come and fetch them," a sausages. retort which seemed to rile the Germans immensely."
YOUNG SIGNALLER'S BRAVERY, The same officer paid a warm tribute to the work of the Signalling Corps, whose gallantry and daring, he said, often passed unnoticed. At the time when the A characteristic attempt by Germany Germans gaa attack on the French 16ft inSuence Dutch public opinion has just the Candianis temporarily unsupported, wires connecting the battalion with the been revealed by the Telegraaf, says the the whole of the telephone and telegraph A sintezent by the French Admiral
Amsterdam' correspondent of the Morning base were destroyed by shell-fire.
The ground was simply cut to piecem A Dutch journalist states in this journal by the shells. It was a little hell. But, wtihoat any fuss or delay, one of the Besson, published in Paris, says that Ger-lengthy audience, and his assurance that he
group of Germans to co-operate in influene signalers, quite a youngater, a Ititle over many is in nowise abandoning her sub-would make no decision on the subject of that on March 21st he was invited by a marine warfate. Her great aim is to Bulgaria's attitude without consultinging the Dutch Press in favour of Germany 20, seized a reel of wire and darted with and to hint that the Dutch Government it across the exposed ground to link coming the men would mest no obstacles in public opinion up again
A few minutes later tions of the Allies in hunting down the The Government has summoned a meet-i it permitted what had been refusedy from the other end.
the Belgian Government, meaning the he returned to our trenches and remarked submarines and neutral smugglers supplying of Ministerialist Deputies to consult German occupation of Dutch North Sea to the officer in charge, in the coolest and It's all right now, ports, the use of which would be a neces
ost casual maner, Bity for Germany if she desired to attempt Well, you know, what man deserved demonstra-anything against England at sea,
In rejecting the German proposals th the T.C., and any other decoration the Dutch journalist declared that he refused authorities could bestow upon him," said to take any part in what amounted to the officer. He added that on first going Dutch Prime Minister of Germany's in high treason, and he at once informed the to the trenches it was surprising to for Famous proposal
extend the radius of action. The opera Parliament.
ing them must be intensified. The service Loxoox, September 21st.. Telegrams from Petrograd show that the of numerous small vessels required for this anxiety felt regarding the attitude of the purpose is adequate in the Channel and workmen in connection with the Proroga the Mediterranean, but our means seem tion of the Duma was unfounded. After deficient in the Bay of Biscay. a short strike as a protest the workmen
everywhere resumed.
with them on the situation.
There were great patriotic tions in Sofia and throughout the country Every on Sunday, the anniversary of Bulgarian small steamship in France should be Unity, at which the military were most
chartered and armed.
prominent
with
They the men in such high Epirits. laughed and joked, and seemed to con- sider the experience the best of fun.