Page
THE WAR.
AMERICA AND GERMAN PLOTS.
DIPLOMATIC RUPTURE POSSIBLE.
KING CONSTANTINE'S CANDOUR.
LIVELINESS IN ADRIATIC SEA.
GERMAN INTRIGUE IN CHINA.
ALLEGED MISCONDUCT ON SHAMBEN.
NAVAL ACTIVITIES
(THROUGH REUTER’B AGENCY>) AUSTRIAN WARSHIPS
ACTIVE,
FRENCH SUBMARINE & SEVERAL VESSELS SUNK,
PARIS, December 7th.
The Ministry of Marine announces that according to a German wireless message destroyed the Austrian warship French submarine Fresnel on Sunday, and made the crew of 28 prisoners,
61
An Austrian zouimuniqué shows that the Fresset was destroyed in the vicinity of San Giovanni. It assorts that an Aus- trian cruiser and destroyers on the same day sank five steamers and five large and several small sailing vessels discharging. war material at San Giovanni. Twenty guns ashore heavily bombarded flotilla.
the
Another flotilla on the 23rd November sank an Italian armed steamer and a sailer from Brindisi to Darazzo, fully
laden. -GERMAN SUBMARINE SEIZES BRITISH OFFICERS.
ATHENS, December 7th.
It is confirmed that a German sub- marine removed from a Greek atcamer Colonel Napier, Attaché at Sofia, and Captain Wilson, M.P.
the
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER STE- 1915.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGESOT-] STRUGGLE IN CHAMPAGNE, FIERCE CANNONADE IN ARTOIS.
PARIS, December 8th.
The evening communiqué says:-The Franco-Belgian artillery demolished an enemy work at Hetsas. A cannonade in Artois was very force, and was accom- panied at some points by fighting with heavy bombe. The struggle continued in Champagne for the possession of an ad- vanced trench to the south of Saint Sou- plot. Our counter-attacks have regained most of the lost tranch.
RUSSIAN FRONT.
(THROUGH KRITHE'S AGENOT.] DEEP SNOW IN CAUCASUS.
PETROGRAD, December 8th. The most notable fact in the latest com. muniqué is that there are 19ft. of snow on the mountainous sectors of the Caucasus
front.
THE BALKANS,
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
GREECE'S POLICY.
IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY KING
CONSTANTINE,
NEUTRALITY ESSENTIAL
LONDON, December 7th. The Timer correspondent at Athens ATHENS, December 7th,
was granted an audience of King Con- Greek newspapers state that the Gerstantine, who said he was deeply grieved subitarine stopped Greek that attacks had been made on him cast steamer
removed ing suspicions on his intentions. He was near Messina and Colonel Napier, the British Military bound to keep keep Greece clear of 'Attaché at Sofin
disaster, hence neutrality was essential, The Press Bureau states that it is His Majesty said the pitiable condition Captein Stanley Wilson M.P., who is of Belgium was always before his eyre, captured. He was conveying
and he would only consent to fight if the mortul existance of Greece vend threatened, or if the certainty of victory was such that the rewards would justify the sacrifices. To suggest that Groeco was capable of treachery to England and
letters from the Eastern Mediterranear to Lon- fon. None of the papers taken from him were important. It was an Austrian submarine.
STANDARD OIL VESSEL SHELLED.
[THEODON BEUTER'S AGENOT.). STATEMENT TO AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT.
New YORK, December 7th. King Constantine, in an interview with the Associated Press, has personally given his word the Greek troops will not attack the Allies. He emphasised that if the Entente assure him that if driven back into Greece they will re-embark, and will consi der the Balkar campaign at an end, he wit guarantee them the protection of the whole Greek Army against a Teutonic attack whilst embarking He would not do more than that. He
would not withdraw his troops from Salonika and the frontiers and he would not permit Greece to be forced or cajoled out of her neutrality. GREEK MILITARY MISSION.
ATHENS, December 7th. Colonel Pallis, of the Greek General Staff, has boen sent to Saloniks specially to confer with the Entente military officials and to report in detail to the Government their desiderata.
GERMANS REORGANISED. TO ATTACK ALLIES.
ROTTERDAM, December 7th. Information from Berlin indicates that General Gallwitz's Army, which has a been mentioned for some weeks, has been reorganised and reinforced with a view to attacking the Allies in Macedonia, ENEMY PICTURE OF SERBIAN ARMY.
PARIS, December 7th.
The Serbion Minister at Athens declares that the enemy picture of the Sorbian Army as "a miserable herd of refugees is untrue. With the recruits of the 1916-1) classes the Army would shortly number quarter of a million, and would give the
enemy surprises.
TREACHEROUS" ALBANIANS.
CO-OPERATING WITH
BULGARIANS.
LONDON, December 8th. A Bulgarian communiqué claims that Djakovo has been occupied. It says that the Albanians are co-operating with the Bulgarians in attacking the remnants of the Serbian Army wandering over the Albanian mountains.
GENERAL
[SHROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY-J ALLIED WAR COUNCIL.
JAPANESE REPRESENTATIVE
ATTENDS.
PALIS, December 8th.. Field-Marshal Sir John French (the British Commander-in-Chief) and General Bir Archibald Murray (Chief of the General Staff) were present at the second Allied War Council at the French Head quarters yesterday. The meeting was pro sided over by General Joffre and was attended by Japanese and other Allied representatives,
AFFAIRS IN PERSIA.
STATEMENT BY LORD CREWE.
DIARTIC ACTION NECESSARY.
【THROUGH EBUYER'S AGENCY-]
RESTORATION OF ORDEN IN PERSIA,
PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS NEAR CAPITAL.
LONDON, December 7th. In the House of Commons, in reply to Mr. Dillon, Sir Edward Grey said he was confident that the Persian Cabinet were sincerely anxious to restore order. They had already endeavoured to take effective measures for that purpose. The presence of Russian troops between Kazvin and Teheran was necessitated by a danger similar to that in other places which threatened Russian and British interests The Russian troops had not entered the capital, and the Persian Government were advised that if they were instructed to do so it would only be to protect life and property Sir E. Grey had not thought to have had confirmation of the statement that the Shah had broken his pledges ta Great Britain and Russia and allowed military supplies to be transferred to Hamadan by Persian agents.
GERMAN SCHEMES IN AMERICA.
MORE ENQUIRIES."
NEW YORK, December 7th. The Government has subpoenaed several witnesses to appear before the Federal Grand Jury at New York to testify to the activities of the so-called Labour National Pence Council, which is stated to have carried on a campaign advocating a munitions embargo and other proposals evidently inspired by Germany.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
· [THEOUGH RIUTER'S AGEKOF.] "PEACE TALK?
MR. BRYAN'S EFFORTS..
to
[ROUGH BUBA'S AGENCY.] GERMANS ON SHAMEEN: PREVENTION OF CONSPIRACIES IN CHINA.
LONDON, December 7th." In the House of Commons, in reply to questions regarding the behaviour of Gor mans on the Shameen, Canton, and the interned or expelled, that German conces suggestions that all Germans should be ions in China should be occupied, and the German Consuls and cffcials, arrested fur order to prevent conspiracies similar to those in Persia, Sir Edward Gray said he had no oficial information regarding the alleged misconduct of Germans on the Shameen. The intrigues of Germans in China, however, were being anxiously con- sidered by the Government.
LONDON, December 8th. A telegram from New York states that Mr. Bryans in a manifesto, urges Pre sident Wilson to mediate immediately. Simultaneously with this, a new version of Germany's peace ternig was published in New York, nagy, that Germany shall have full power in the Balkans,, ensuring
rond
Constantinople and Asia Minor, a plate in the sun independent of British sea power, the control of Constantinople and the power to civilize Turkey, the establishment of buffer States between Germany and Bussin, including a new Kingdom of Poland, the streng- thening of Rumania by the addition of Bessarabia, the restoration of the old boundaries in the West, with complete Freedom in Belgium, and a slight Alsatian concession to France
Tokyo, December 8th. It is understood that in view of the HUNGARIAN MINISTER AND disturbances in Shanghai Japan is tak-
PLACE.
SHANGHAI DISTURBANCES,
JAPAN'S PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES.
ing mentres to protect Japanese resi- dents and interests. Several Japanese warships are already on the scenes
RECRUITING IN AFRICA. SUCCESSFUL BEYOND
EXPECTATIONS.
AMSTERDAM, December ch. Speaking in the Hungarian Chaer, Count Andrassy declared that in view of the declarations of the French Pre mier and the speeches in the House of Commons there was little probability of peace. The enemy does not acknow-
CAPETOWN, December 7th, ledge the present result of the war and
General Smuts, in the course of a is doing all possible to obtain a change
I am con
splendid statement in the Assembly, said in the fortunes of war.
"that we
the past fortnight's recruiting had beer vincod" concluded the Count, will be able to continue the war till they successful beyond his best expectations, en
abling the Union to despatch the necessary are obliged to ask for peace."
forces to East Africa and also reinforce ments. He hoped that in a very short time the East African campaign would result similarly to that in South West Africa. (Cheers.)
BRITAIN'S GOLD SUPPLY. LARGER THAN EVER.
LENDON, December 7th- In the House of Commons, Mr. Me Kenan stated that the amount of gold in British Banks was £82,000,000 on June 30th, 1814, and £110,000,000 on June 30th, 1915,
(Cheers.) He added that it was estimated that the amount of gold coin held by the public was £78,000,000 on June 30th, 1914, and £73,000,000 on the same date in 1915.
BRAVERY IN THE FIELD. AWARD OF V.Cs.
LONDON, December 7th. The granting of two Victoria Crosses has been gazetted, M
DA DENUNCIATION. bord de WASHINGTON, December 7th.
The feature of the President's message to Congress, is his scathing denunciation of plots and conspiracies President Wil son does not accuss the Germans explicit though he obviously refers to the Tou tonio outrages. He declares that, grave os the country's differences have been with other nations, "I am sorry to say that the gravest threats against peace and safety have been uttered within our own borders. I blush to admit that there are United States' citizens, born under other flags" | but fully naturalised, who have sought to bring the authority and good name of tho Government into contempt and to destroy Industries for vindictive purposes, Wo had not made preparation for auch a con- tingency. We would be ashamed to do se But the ugly, incredible thing has como about." He deaded Federal laws to crush out such disloyalty and anarchy, and emphasised that it was America's duty to remain neutral, so that some part of the great family of rations should keep the processes of penes alive, if only to preventa economio ruin and breakdown throughout the world. President Wilson concluded by upholding the Monroe Doctrine, citing as an example Mexico, as a test case. He laid great stress on the necessity of an adequate American mercantile marne by the purchase and construction by the Government of vessels to develop Overseas trade, and trade between the American Continents.
WHOLESALE CONSPIRACY.
NEW YORK, December 7th. Five additional indictments have been returned against the man Fay and five other Germans, charging them with con- spiracy to commit murder and assault. They were proviously charged with con piracy to destroy ships.. A Hungarian and an Austria have now been arrested, explosives having been found in their
rooms,
PRIVATE THOMAS KENNY, of the 13th Durhams, was, at La Mousseie on Novem- ber 11th, patrolling in the fog when his Lieutenant was shot in the thigh. Ho crawled for an hour with the officer on his back, trying to find his own trenches, under heavy enemy fire, and firmly refused to leave the officer. Eventually he reached
ditch which he recognised, obtained assistance and saved the Lieutenant, despite German machine-gun and rifle fire and bombs.
CORPORAL J. L. DAWSON, of the En gineers, was on October 13th in the Hohen zollern Redoubt during a British gas attack when he fally exposed himself to very heavy enemy fire in order to clear out the infant from the gas-laden trenches. He rolled three leaking cylinders into the open and fired bullets into them, letting the gas escape, and thus saved many from being gased. · BYE-ELECTIONS IN WARTIME.
BUSINESS GOVERNMENT #0
CANDIDATE.
LONDON, December 8th. Colonel Hall Walker, in consequence. his gift to the nation, will be compelled : It is understood that the authorities ar to seek re-election for Widnes,
considering the investigation of the con- Sir Herbert Samuel is seeking re-elec duct of the North German Lloyd Com-tion. on his appointment as Chancellor of pany following the Hamburg-Amerika the Duchy of Lancaster. He will be revelations.:
Mr. Reginald Knight opposed by
the business Government candidate," who condemns the drink restrictions.
BYE-ELECTION. AN OUTRAGE,
The House endorsed the Government's policy without a division.
FORCED LOAN RUMOUR
DENIED.
LONDON, December 7th. Reports of a projected forced loan are authoritatively described as inaccurate.
BRITISH TRADE FIGURES.
LONDON, December 7th. The increases in importa in November amounted to £16,120,030 and in exports £11,037,347,00
MINISTERS OPPOSE REDUC- TION IN SALARIES.
LONDON, December 7th. It is stated thing a pection of the Cabinet is strongly opposed to any reduction in Ministerial salaries.
RUSSIA'S FINANCES.
CAUSE DELAY IN DUMA ASSEMBLY.
PETROGRAD, December 7th. The assembly of the Duma has been further postponed until the Budget for The Financial Commis- 1916 is ready. able to omplete their labours within the sions, owing to war conditions, are un legal time
DISASTROUS STORMS IN
BRITAIN.
VESSELS WRECKED AND LIVES LOST.
LONDON, December 8th. As the result of storms in Great Britain during the past two days, six vessels were wrecked on the East Coast, and there were many exciting rescues.
Fifteen lives were lost.
ÍNDIAN CIVIL SERVICE. MORE QUESTIONS IN PARLIA- MENT.
LONDON, December 8th. In the House of Lords, Lord Bryce
The State Department has received
LONDON, December 7th.. called attention to the position in another enquiry on the subject of the Persian Gulf and emphasised that the reasons for requesting the withdrawal of
Sir Herbert Samuel, in a speech to the
In the House of Commons Bir J. D. situation in Persia demanded the most Capt. Boyed and Capt. von Papen through electors last evening after the nomina Bees asked what was the annual number drastic action on the part of Groat the United States Ambassador in Berlin- tions, said the gentest in ordinary times of appointmente necessary to keep up Britain and Russia. He hoped that it It is learned officially that the United would be a nuisance, and in a time of the Indian Civil Service at its usual He complained of the indefiniteness of would be found possible to deal gently States will decline to discuss the question was it was an outrage. Certain gentle strength; whether the casualties expected The State Department has been advised the Allies policy in the Balkans, and with the frail fabric of the Persias and, in fact, will refuse to disclose the men had plunged the constituency into in the rext two years would be only au
Monarchy.)
sources of its information.
WASHINGTON, December 8th.
that the Standard Oil vessel Petrolite was shelled by a submarine, which was ap parently Austrian, between Crete and Tripoli. A sailor was injured. A
AMERICAN OIL-TANK STEAMER TORPEDOED.
New Yonk, December 7th.
A message from Rome says that the American oil-tank steamer Communipar was submarined off Tripoli. The ate of the crew and the nationality of the submaring are unknown
FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT
France was an insult.
said that the Graeco-Serbian Treaty only contemplated a Bulgarian attack. He phatically denied the existence of Graeco-Bulgarian Treaty.
a
His Majesty added:"We have Te plied to the Allies' demands by giving the most solemn assurances that nothing detrimental to the Allies need be feared from Greece, but before we can absolutely bind ourselves to a fixed and irrevocable programme we are desirous of knowing the Allies programme.
In reply, we are told that no fixed programma has been decided on."
GERMAN DENIAL.
WASHINGTON, December 7th- Count Bernstorff has issued a denial of the report that German official agents wer concerned in an attempt to provoke a re- volution in Mexico.
DIPLOMATIC RUPTURE AGAIN POSSIBLE. WASHINGTON. December 8th.
Lord Crewe said he desired to correct a misapprehension that General Town. shend had only a Division, because he hal additional troops of infantry and cavalty which were considered by competent authorities to be sufficient for the task. This was no rash adventure of dubious strength, he continued, and neither could a charge, be brought against the leader. ship, while the troops behaved splendidly. The task, however, was bigger than was, anticipated. Lord Crewe dwelt on Turce jp German bribery and corruption in Interest in the controversy with Ger Afghanistan and Arabia, and the efforts, many is intense, because a diplomatic to foros Persia against the Allies He rupture is considered possible in all also emphasised that the Swedish Govern informed circles, ment was in no way involved in the question of the Persian gendarmerie. The presence of Russian and British troops in Persia was designed to support her independ ence. The Allies were prepared to con tinue their financial assistance, and also to help Persia to create a defence force instead of a gendarmerie. He hoped that the, Jonng Persian sovereign would rule later over a well-governed country.
Lord Crewe added regarding Mes
from retirement potamia, that the Caiphon to a strong position down the river was a wise course to adopt, and ought generally to be approved:
Lord Sydenham, referring to the can paige in Mesopotamia, said the one bright spot in a very dark picture was the manner.
INCENDIARISM?
HALIFAX, December 7th.. Saturda A fire was discovered on abroad the steamer Carleton, bound from New York for Queenstown with a cargo of sugar, The Captain proceeded to Hali fax and reported the matter to the Admiralty.
**FORD'S ARK” ABSURDITY,
INTEND TO ENTER GERMANY WITH THE DOVE,
LONDON, December 8th..
King Constantine asked if Greece [TEROUGH REUTEE'S AGENCY ]
could justifiably be invited to remove NEW GERMAN TROOPS.
her troops to other districts so long as POURING INTO BELGIUM.
the Allies were undecided as to whether Lundos, December 7th. they would occupy the evacuated region. There has been speculation in Holland Greece must know the definite plans of concerning the veil of secrecy recently the Allies, though she would not aban- don neutrality whatever these plans may shrouding Germany. No newspapers or
be. His Majesty expressed gratitude at in which General Townshend's forces The Ford's Ark expedition have correspondence have been received for the visits of Earl Kitchener and M. fought at Ctesiphon. Their gallant stand sent a wireless message to the effect that Denys-Cochin, and said his discussion against greatly superior forces, and the they are determined to enter Germany, capture of 1,600 prisoners, was a very fine and they are confident that the Germans feat of arms. The force consisted largely will bow to the Dove of Peace. of Indian troops who had been more than 4 year from Home, and had endured the supreme test of fighting after a long sum- mer. No praise was too great for such men. He thought that General Towns hend, by a wise retirement when he found overwhelming forces against him, saved the force from a great disaster.
several days.
Now it is reported that troops and guns with them had dispersed many clouds. have been pouring into Belgium, mostly at night-time. It is believed that the troops are new formations replacing the
large forces recently withdrawn from the French front
** TIMES' COMMENT. The Times, commenting on King Con starting's statement, says it is marked by praiseworthy candour, but it is not easy to reconcile his assertion that Greece will never abandon neutrality.
SCRUTINISING WAR EXPENDITURE.
LONDON, December 7th. The Board of Control to scrutinise, war expenditure has asked the War Office and the Admiralty to co-operate.
the turmail of an election because they quarter or very much less than the cor thought that five and a half hours dailyl figure; if so, what were the reasons? Mr. Chamberlain replied that 43 appoint was insufficient to drink beer. It was
ments made in 1914 would have been to the present time, the most sordid iscident in the war up
38 in 1916 had not most of the candidates joined the Army The Service at present exceeded the aggregate of províncial cadres. Serious disadvantage was not articipated from reducing recruitment during the war, menentu
whether a Sir J. D. Rece asked
MILITARY HOSPITAL.
GIFT OF MALAY STATES.
LONDON, December 7th.
rulo regarding the
A military hospital of eighty beds has Teply had been given to the petition been established at Blackmere End, Herts, of Indian Chaplains for the cancel under Captain Freer, formerly Senioration of the Medical Officer at Selangor, the funds being provided by the public of the Federated Malay States.
NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT OF MEN.
WELLINGTON (N.Z.), Dec. 7th. The National Register shows that 109,683 have volunteered to fight. The Premier considers the result highly satisfactory..
A DARKENED LONDON. ACCIDENT TO SIR SAMUEL EVANS.
LONDON. December 8th. The Right Hon. Sir Samuel T. Evans. President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Courts, was leaving the Courts when he walks or low by a motor bus and his leg was broken,
Sir Samuel Evans has recently been very busy in Prize Court work.
The accident, like many others, was due to the darkened streets."
1
RUSSIAN APPOINTMENT.
PETROGRAD, December 7th. M. Khvestoff has been apported Minis. ter of the Interior, in succession to M. Maklakof.
addition of three years probation to the period of qualification for pension? Mr. Chamberlain said the Raj had been informed he was unable to accept repre- sentations involving a considerable addi tion to the Ecclesiastical charges,
OBITUARY,
LONDON, December 7th. The death is announced of the 1ste Baron Armitstead.
[The late Baron was for ten years Liberal Member of Parliament for Dundee.]
LHAYAS SERVICE.} RUSSIA TO CALES UR、:1917 CLASS.
PETROGRAD, December 7th.. An Imperial Decree has ordered the calling to the Colours during 1919 of the 1917 class.
NO SEPARATE PEACE.
A Press Bureau communiqué gives an official text of the official declaration emanating from the five Allied Powers binding themselves, by mutual consent not to conclude a separate peace, and to put forward no pence conditions without the full agreement of the Powers who signed the accord.