Page
THE WAR.
AR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY. PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBEK 18m, 1915,
BRITISH TRIALS IN BALKANS.
"DESPERATE FIGHTERS IN A CORNER.”
GREATER ACTIVITY IN THE WEST.
GERMANY AND
GREECE.
DELICACY OF NEUTRALITY.
HEALTH
OF THE KING.
THE BALKANS
(THROUGH MUTER'S LENCY.)
BRITISH TRIAIS IN BULGARIA.
DESPERATE FIGHTIRS IN A CORNER,
LONDON, December 14th Restor's special correspondent in Mac doxia, in his first stirring story of the fight against enormous adds, telegraphi that here, as in France and Gallipoli, the British soldler has proved himself to be
desperate fighter in a corner.
(THROUGH REUrena"a mennedy,]
GERMANY AND GREECK.
QUESTION REGARDING NEU- TRALITY.
ATHENS, December 14th It is unofficially announced that the German Government has asked Greece whether the new facilitita afforded the Allies compromiso Greek neutrality. The position is extremely delicate, though there is reason to believe that this Ger- mans do not desire to bring matters to head, recognising Greece's exceptional circumstance.
SIGNIFICANT GREEK *MOVEMENTS.
CONFERENCES CONTINUE.
SALONIES, December 14th. Conferences between the Greek and Allied staffe continue.
It has been reiterated that the Greeks will retire if the Bulgarians cross the frou- tier, but reports from the point where the Bulgarians are threatening to violate Grock territory, show that the Greeks are BETTER.moving up with the evident object of dis.
puting passage.
[TROBOT MUTER'S AGENCY.)
SITUATION
MUCH
BULGARIANS AND GERMANS WILL
BE EASILY HELD.
PARIS, December 14th.
A Salonika.telegram shys that the situa tion is much better.
General Mahon, who returned on the: 11th from an inspection of the Anglo- French front, is of the opinion that tho
Franco-British troops, who are abundantly supplied with msnitions and food, wi't easily hold the Bulgarians and Germans
force will be considerably increased,
FORTIFICATION OF SALONIKA,
FRANCO BELGIAN FRONT
Bur
(THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.]
ENEMY POSITION S
BOMBARDED.
LONDON, December 14th. An official despatch from Headquarters
enemy mine-shaft north of the La Bassee Canal There has been some fight- ing in the neighbourhood of the Sommo, with trench mortars, rißes and grenades. The weather is bright but cold.
GENERAL
ĮTHROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.}"
WAR FINANCE, FOREIGN SECURITIES TO BE PLACED AT DISPOSAL OF TREASURY.
LONDON, December 14th.
In the House of Commons, Mr. E. Me Komaa, on the second reading of the Bill enabling foreign securities, especially American, to be placed at the disposal of the Treasury, said that the mobilisation of there surities would enable us to restore. the balance of trade, to meet our liabiliti in the United States and improve the con dition of exchange. The Government would purchase American and Canadia secruities at current New York middle prices, with five year five per cent Exchu quer bonds issued at par. It was estimat ed that the tofal of these securities varie] from 800,000,000 to 400,000,000, and ́he-dil not doubt, but what they would be spfficient for our requirements.
HEALTH OF THE KING, RESUMING WORK WITH CERTAIN LIMITATIONS,
LONDON, December 14th.
The King's doctor has issued the follow- ing bulletin.-The King has sufficiently recovered to resume work with certain limitations. His Majesty has lost serious |3} tim? weight, and until normal health is attained it will be essential for him to avoid fatigue. If has been necessary, on medical grounds, for the King to take a little stimulant daily during his convales.
BLOWN UP.
OVER HUNDRED KILLED.
{THROUGH REUTER'S AGRIYOR.]
THE CENSORSHIP.
BUSPENSION IN FOREIGN MATTERS,
LONDON, December 14th, The Press Brňan announces the suspension of the censorship in matters relating to foreign affairs, but the direc tory of news agencies and newspapers will be responsible for this.
LONDON ANTI-AIRCRAFT
CORPS.
LONDON, December 14th. In the House of Commong Mr. H. J. Tennant said that the London Anti-air craft Corps had been transferred to the control of the War Office. Six Porey Scott was no longer in charge-
PLOT TO ASSASSINATE PERSIAN MINISTER.
TEHERAN, Dember 14th,
A plot to asasinate the Persian Minister of the Interior has been dis covered and some arrests have been made, The plot was instigated by pro-German refugees at Kum
FIGHTING IN PERSIA,
TEHERAN, December 13th. The Russians defeated the Persian rebels at Avch, and they are now nearing Hamadan
BRITISH MINISTERS,
GIVEN CORDIAL BEND OFF AT
PARIS,
1
PARIE, December 14th. Lord Kitchener and Sir Edward Grey
They were given a most cordial farewell by M. Briand and M. Gallieni, and by the large crowds which were presen
CHINA FAVOURS A MONARCHY.
in France hat night stated. Last night we blew up i mine on the Givenchy fron., and occupied the crater. Today there but as soon as his health is quits have left. in check The British forces are increas-was considerable activity at several points. restored His Majesty will resume total There is only one motor road in this
abstinence, which he imposed upon him region. The rest of the ground, aparting, and it is hoped shortly that the French We bombarded enemy positions cast of
Ypres and ʼn the neighbourhood of Freself for public rensone. from gont tracks, is rough and hilly, and
linguien, and shelled with heavy howitzers BELGIAN POWDER FACTORY covered with thick serub, making all move. ment difficult. Some idea of the diffic ties of the position can be gained from the fact that it took a couple of hours to reach men who were only a mile away from the track. The bitter cold is also most trying 30 the men, who have been suddenly dung into a bleak wildernes fresh from the torrid hent of Gullipoli, and they are naturally exposed to cruel harl- ships. At least the snow md frost have disappeared, but these have been replace! by wastent mięte.
FIGHTING QUALITIES OF THE IRISH.
of
SALONIKA, December 14th- General Sarral has informed Greece that he will immediately, begin the forti, fication of Salonia.
ANGLO-FRENCH RETIREMENT:
FIERCE REAR GUARD ACTIONS.
SALONIKA, December 14th.
The Anglo-French retirement process Is regularly and in perfect order. There are pocasional rear-guard actions, one of which yesterday between the French and the Bulgarians, was of a most feree nature, the Bulgariane, e usual, losing heavily.
TROOPS FOR MESOPOTAMIA.
LONDON, December 14th.
In the House of Commons, Sir J. D. Bees naked a question regarding the stato ment that the troups going to Mesopotam u were stopped for political reasons,
Mr. Austen Chamberlain said he did not know what the gatement referred to..
HELP FOR SERBIAN REFUGEES,
|
ARTILLERY ACTIONS.
PARIS, December 14th.
1.49 B.m.
A communiqué states:-There have been sharp artillery actions in Artois, north of the Aisne and in Champagne. We des troyed a German work south-west of Beaurain, and seriously damaged a black- honse north of St, Mihiel, also the only bridge at & Mihiel.
MINOR FRENCH SUCCESS.
PARIS, December 14thi
5 p.
A communiqué states. There has been only a minor French success is Chame
pagne.
THE NEAR EAST
[TRAQUGE ZAUISE'S" 'ACESSET.]
SHARP CANNONADE AT DARDANELLES.
PARIE, December 14th. There was a sharp cannonade at the Dardanelles on Saturday and Sunday, and an explosion of two mines on Sunday badly damaged Turkish defences. Our heavy guns subsequently severely punished the reserves which were brought up, and the defence.
Yesterday week the Bulgarian pressure became stronger, and their forces were rapidly increased from two to four din sions, with a cavalry corps. These began to bear most heavily on the point of junction of the Franco-British lines. especially threatening the Strumnitta road, forming the main artery of our pai tion. Their first onslaught was not pressed vigorously, and was easily repulsed, but with constantly increasing strength the enewy soon began to make things hot for our first line, opening a murderous artil- Jery im at close range. Exposed to this
LONDON, December 14th. hot gruelling, which threatened a part
In the House of Commons, Lord Robert the fank owing to the French retirement,
Cecil said that the Allied Governmen's Thera- our position became untenable.
were collecting ample supplies for the fore, the men of the Irish division wer
Serbian refugees, There were great diff withdrawn to the second line, which was prepared a long time in advance. In thculties to surmount, but he believed that the numbers of the refugees were less than course of these engagements the fighting
was at first supposed. was often hand-to-hand, but the Irishmen have proved themselves better men, that the latters the Bulgars, even with favourite weapon, the bayonet. They re
PARIS, December 14th. peatedly drove off the enemy, who was
After repulsing Bulgarian attacks all heavily punished. The importance of our Saturday, the French troops on Saturday stand it is difficult to exaggerate, because night and Sunday morning continued sunk. had the Bulgarions suceded in pushing their retirement without fighting The through it would have cut off the retreat movements, notwithstanding the diffoul- of the Anglo-French main body. The ties of the ground, were effected in accord- splendid tenacity of the Irish division
'ance with the decisions of the Commander, defeated the enemy's hopes, and gave the and all the material was saved. Wa Anglo-French command ample time to occupied on Sunday the line from Chev proceed with the withdrayal.
gheli to Kilindis
WITH THE FRENCE.
RETIREMENT CONTINUES.
NAVAL ACTIVITIES.
ITEMUCH RZUTKE'S AURJOY.J
SUBMARINE WARFARE.:
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK.
LONDON, December 14th, The British steamer Pinegrøte has been
Twenty-two of the crew were saved.
AMERICA'S NAW.
SUBSTANTIAL FIVE YEARS'
FROGRAMME.
WASHINGTON, December 14th,
In bis annual Navad Report, Mr. Daniels says that the five stars pro gramme will
PEKING, December 14th, The Legislative Council, after the final examination of the votes of the represen- tatives of the citizens, have found that a the 1,993 votes favour a Constitutional Monarchy with Yuan Shih-kai as the first Emperor
WAR NEWS.
“THE LAST OUNCE WINS.!
Viscount Murray of Elibank, in ad interview with the Now York Times can- berning the remarkable harnessing of Britain's engineering resources,” statća that over a million men and women are indomitably labouring to turn out a com- tinually increasing quantity of guns and shells, and other munitions. The women's enthusiasm is unbounded, and the men ang working 60 and 70, and even in special nace 100, hours a week. Every-
one
his lordship adds, is conscious that the last ounce wine, and Germany will find herself overwhelmed by her own special weapons."*
SERBIAN HORRORS,
A Paris official wireless message saya the Serbian refuges, who have reached Salonika, supply the most terrible da tails of atrocities committed by the Bul gar soldiery, which surpass ch worst horrors of the war of 191. All Serbiane captured have been massacred, regard less of sex or age, with the utmost, refine ment of torture. There were unnawcable cruelties at Nish, where hundreds of wo mon and children were burnt alive in. churches, where they had sought refuge. Not a house was left standing in Mace donia, after the Bulgars had passed,
So ghastly were the Bulgarians' atroci. ties at Pirot that the Austro-GeraOS intervened and policed Nish to save the innocent population
BRITISH SUBMARINE OFFICER'S ESCAPE
HOW DANISH GUARDS WERE OUTWITTED.
The Admiralty state that Lieutenant- marine B18, which ran aground in the Commander Layton, of the British sub-
sound at the entrance to the Baltic some weeks ago, escaped from the Danish bar- racks, in which he had been interned under strict guard. He was parole.
not on
The Politiken (Copenhagen) states that Lieut. Commander Layton bold the bar- racks commandant that his promise not. to escape only applied to when he was outside the barracks. The guard was, Lin-Commander Layton retired to bed therefore, ordered to keep a strict watch. at 0.30, saying he was taking a sleeping draught on account of a chill.
He apparently escaped through a win- dow and got away with the help of a friendly boat. He left a dummy in his bed with a sponge for the head.
Two other officer's attempted to escape at the same time, but were caught climb ing & wall.
FORCE OF 750,000 REQUIRED IN BALIANS,
The Observer states that King Con- stantine is virtually governing by coup d'etat. He may, the paper says, have forgotten that Britain, France, and services and Russia rendered such favours to Greco as no other nation had received. The protecting Powers later The form of Government will not be had had an awakening, and the guaran- changed till next year.
[TROM CUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]
HAVRE, December 11th.
-(DELAYED IN TRANSMISSION.I There was a terrible explosion this morn
at the Government's powder works Fin the Graviile suburb, while work was a
full swing. Besides the factory buildings," the buiments adjacent for the men were also destroyed. Up to the
present it has been certained that 110 men have been killed, of whom 107 are Belgians. The injured are roughly estimated at 1,001, many being only slightly injured.
RECRUITING BOOM.
100,000 IN THREE DAYS,
LONDON, December 14th. Although official figures are not forth- coming the recruits from London for the last half of the week are estimated at
The expenditure of the Imperial house- 100,000, of whom 50,000 were enrolled on hold is expected to be $300,000,000, Saturday
Lord Derby, has sent a message to the Press warmly appreciating the news papers efforts. PREMATURE PEACE DISASTROUS AS WAR The Labour Leader, Mr. Hodge, M.P., at Birmingham, said that a premature and inconclusive pesce would be as dis- astrous as war itself. It would be better to have compulsory military service than to endanger our liberty.
LORD DERBY'S SCHEME AN UN- QUALIFIED SUCCESS.
PEKING, December 14th, The Ministers of State and Councillors offered their congratulations yesterday morning
A National holiday will be proclaimed, and e lantern processsion is being arranged.
The Vice-President tenders his resigna tion.
KUALA LUMPUR RUBBER COS
REPORT.
borg were compelled to ask in their turn for unmistakable and unbreakable guarantees.
As to Roumania the Observer says that. her prent policy is untouched by senti- ruent, and entirely determined by cal- culation. A strong pre-German minority in Bucharest is pressing the cases more vigorously than ever. We must now," the Observer concludes, "use every in ducement in Bucharest. The only induce
ent capable of turning the scale will be a delnite undertaking that Britain, France, and Russia jointly shall employ at least three-quarters of a million meni in the Balkans at no distant date."
SINKING OF FRENCH TRANSPORT.
INCREDIBLE INHUMANITY,
An officer of the steamer Zuby Plymouths tells the story of the French transport Galvabs, which was sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean. He states that they picked up a boat containing 46 me. The report of the Kuala Lumpur Rub-A short, distance away was some floating ber Co., Ltd., states that the profit for wreckage, to which men were hanging for dear life. It was wonderful how they the year to Juns 30th amounts to 264,298, to which has to be added the balance managed to hang on so long. They were at credit, of profit and loss account of trenches for 15 months, and who were brought forward, £11,669, making a totai French soldiers, who had been in the
was going for a rest £75,068. Of this amount £28,280 absorbed by the interim dividend of 12) per cent, paid in May, leaving an avail able balance of £40,718. The directors re commend that out of this balance a final dividend of 17 per cent. be paid, without deduction of income tax, making 30 per cent. for the year. This will amount to £36,750, leaving £12,968 to be carried forward
French officers stated that they saw
three soldiers, after losing their hold on a raft, swim to a submarine, which they clung to, hoping to be taken abcard. The submarine's officer, wearing gold laces kicked the men's hands. Their comrades were obliged to look on helpless while the men drowned. Some of the rescued were terribly cut and bruised, and were won- derfully grateful to the rescuers, kissing them repeatedly
LONDON, December 14th.
The yield of rubber during the year The recruiting authorities this after amounted to 1,286,673lbs. (market weight).
The Laly Plymouth saved 53 out of 800 noon declare that Lord Derby's scheme us against an estimate of 1,400,000 lbs. is beyond all question an unqualified The shortage is attributable in part to the who were on board the Caluab. There
adoption of a more conservative system of are no tidings of the remainder. success. They are now devoting their tapping; it is also to some extent the im
mediate effect of the thinning-out of energies to direct enlistment.
trees. The growth of the trees and the MR ASQUITE TO MAKE STATE condition of the estate continue to he
MENT
In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith said he hoped to make a statement on the the results of Lord Derby's recruiting scheme on Thursday.
AUSTRIA'S NEED OF "MEN,
ZURICH, December 14th, The Austrian 1917 class has been callsd
satisfactory.
The yield of rubber for the year to June 30th, 1916, is estimated to reach 1,575,000 lbs (market weight),
HONGKONG TRAMWAY CO. The approxmate statement of trafo receipts for the week ending 11th December
is as follows
He sugg000 sterling up and the Landeturm have also been This year.
TERRIFIC BULGARIAN LOSSES. GREEK TROOPS WITHDRAWN.
SALONIKA, December 14th.
two Dreadnoughts yearly, As a result of the agreement between one battle cruiser, two scoute, ten de- the Greek and Allied staffs, the Greek stroyers and eighteen submerine. Thus, troops have withdrawn, giving the Allies in 1921 the United States will have freedom of movement in the Salonika- twenty-seven battleships,
battle
ON THE BRITISH FRONT.
LONDON, December 14th. The special prrespondents at Salonika are unanimous that the Bulgarian losses on the British front are terrific, inasmuck as they attacked in German formation, in massed battalions.
Deiran zone. The Allied military autho, cruisers and twenty-five mond line rities to-day took over a portion of the battleships, besides ten armored cruisers
Balonika Customs House,
servic
called up for serv
CONFIDENCE IN ITALIAN
· GOVERNMENT.
Rowe, December 14th.
The Chamber, on the financial provi- siens, passed a vote of confidence in the
Government by 391 votes to 40.
Last year Increases.. Decrram
Receipta
for week.
$10.745
·024
Aggregate receipts
for 5 weeks 657,715
£77
PRO-RUSSIANS IN BULGARIA.
DEAMATIC EVENT AT VARNA,
A message from Constanza states that. when a Russian feet of one battleship and other lighter units bombarded the port and city of Varna recently, the ap pearance of the Bugsians caused consider.. able excitement among the garrison of Varna Two regiments at the height of the bombardment became restive and be gan to manifest sympathy with the attack Ing fleet. Despite threats of punishment, the, men took off their caps and shouted "Long live Russia"
Amazed at this demonstration, the com mander, in fear lest the men should re- fuso to fight in the event of a Russian landing, had these pro-Russian regimenta removed from Varga, ga
Astrong force of Turks was expected to reinforca the Bulgarian coast army, but. Germany has offered the United States owing to the violent antipathy that has £1,000 per head for the 125 Americans been displayed by the Bulgarian soldiers who perished in the Zuritania. It is towards the Turkish officers already et and that Americs has rejected the offer Varne, the Bulgarien generay refused to as Germany refused to disavow the permit the co-opertien of the Turks, as authors of the crime,
he feared an armed conflict.