Page
THE WAR.
COMPULSION
CRISIS.
PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION.
FURTHER
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, 1915.
FRENCH SUCCESS IN
VOSGE.
FIERCE FIGHTING IN GALICIA,
ENEMY PREPARATIONS FOR RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE.
FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT {THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE,
EFFECTIVE BRITISH REPLY.
LONDON, December 29th.
A British official message states that last night wa exploded a mine near Fri court, inflicting considerable damage upon the enemy. Today the onemy has shown rather more than usual artillery
activity, notably south of the Le Basse Canal, near Armentieres and Ypres, We replied effectively, and good results were chserved.
INTENSE
ARTILLERY
ACTIVITY,
PARIS, December 29th. A communiqué states that there has in tense artillery activity in the Vosges and along the entire front at Hartmanns Wed-
Jurkopf.
An attempt by the enemy to emerge from hia trenches on the slopes of Rehfelser Hill was stopped by a curtain of fire. GAINS IN VOSGES EXTENDED,
AMMUNITION, DEPOT EXPLODED.
PARIS, December 29th.
THE NEAR EAST,
FIGHTING IN EGYPT.
AN IMAGINATIVE TURKISH STORY.
LONDON, December 28th.
Yesterday's Turkish communiqué cons tajos un imaginative story of fighting on the Egybian frontiers,
In contradiction of this, the Press Burens announces that there has been no
Bighing on the frontier between the 14th inst, and the 24th inst. but the principer Arab force was located on the 25th and dispersed.
Router Cairo correspondent states that the troops engaged included New Zealan ders and Sikhs, the casualties being slight
MAVAL ACTIVITIES.
THROUOK BRUTER'S AGENCY.]
SINKING OF THE "VILLE
DE LA CIOTAT,” CALLOUSNESS OF SUBMARINE
CREW.
MALTA, December 28th, There were 316 persons aboard the
[THROUGH, KEITHA'I LORBOY.)
SWEDISH STEAMER BUNK.
CREW'S TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS.
LONDON, December 28th.
The crew of the Swedish steamer Nerous, which was sunk in the North Bea on the 25th just when bound from Boston, Lincolnshire, to Copenhagen, have been landed at Grinshy and Immingham. The men spent three days in the boats in terri
THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
BRITISH CABINET SITUATION.
DEVELOPING RAPIDLY.
FOR AND AGAINST COMPÚZSION:
THROUGH BEUTER'6 10ENCT.)
COMMONWEALTH GOVERN MENT'S POWERS;
MELBOURGE, December 28th, The Agears that the Stato Parliaments. having failed to pass the Bill conferring on the Commonwealth Government during the war and for a period of one year there after the powers sought by Referendum, at least in hostile quarters, that with limitations, a special sitting of the Ministry stands at the parting of the
LONDON, December 28th, The Cabinet situation as developing rapidly. The opinion is now expressed
ble weather, and were completely exhaust-ways and that time for definite action
ed when rescued,
RUBBIAN FRONT,
{THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.).
GERMAN ACTIVITY.
ABORTIVE ATTEMPT TO RUSH ENTANGLEMENTS.
and decision has arrived. The situation in similar to that of historio Cabinets prior to the outbreak of warT,
The Liberal Press scoute the ides of a General Election as being a ocotly and unnecessary lurary at the present mo
ment.
The fact that the Cabinet adjourned until to-day without coming to s decision PETROGRAD, December 29th. A communiqué records German activity has aroused most active speculation, but
the speculation is mostly, guess work. The Germans routh of Lake Babit.
The Daily Mail makes a plump state attempted to rush the barbed wire en-ML tanglements, but the Russians leaped out mont, and says it is understood that of their trenches and tackled their assail before the Cabinet meeting Mr. Lloyd George made his own position clear in a ants, and drove them to their own trenches.
message to Mr. Asquith, intimating that Fierce fighting continues in Galicia
unless Mr. Asquith's pledge is inter SEVERE RUSSIAN WINTER, preted in the strictest rense, and compul-
WOLVES ATTACK PEASANTS,
sion is applied to single men he could not
LONDON, December 28th. Belated telegrams from Russia, which have been held up owing to the interrup-
tiun of the cable service, show that the winter is the most severe for years.
The thermometers on the Russian front mostly registers. 4 degrees of frost.
Wolves have already appeared on the Western Dwina, killing farm animals in daylight and attacking the peasants,
GERMANS FORTIFYING. ON
COLOSSAL SCALE.
BUT TROOPS ARE DETERIORATING,
PARIS, December 28th.
A Petrograd telegram states that the
remain in the Government.
The Dally Mail understands that. Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Balfour, Earl Crewe, Baron Buckmaster, Mr. McKenna, Sir John Simon, Mr. Runciman, Mr. Birrell, Mr. McKinnon Wood, Mr. Harcourt and Mr. Henderson oppose Conscription, specially Mr. Balfour, who is resolutely opposed thereto.
The Ministers favouring immediate compulsion are Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Lansdowno, Lord Curzon, Mr. F. E Smith, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Walter Long and Lord Selborno
The attitude of Earl Kitchener and Mr. Bonur Law is not yes defined,
The Mpraian Post forecasts a certam Gormans have fortified their whole front reconstruction of the Cabinet, and agrees on a onossal saule. The entire Vilaa-with the Daily Chronicle that a General Dwinsk region bristles with benches, the ection at present would to a hollow whole ling of the Bug river being fortified she formidably.
The number of the enemy's machine gung has reached an extraordinary figure, and his supply of automatic rifles is increasing daily.
·
Federal Parliament will be summoned to pass legislation to overcome the difficulty
ELECTRICAL PROSPECTS. IN CHINA,
THE GERMAN: COMPETITION.
CORRESPONDENCE. SPECIAL DAY OF INTER- CESSION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, "4"
Bin, I shall be grateful if you will allow me to announce through the mediam of your paper that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have, with the en tire approbation and endorsement of His Majesty the King, requested that Sunday next, January 2nd, may bo observed as a day of solemn intercession to Almighty God in connection with the war and of thankful recognition of the devotion which has been forthcoming in the manhood and womanhood of our country. I have re quested the Chaplains in charge of the Anglican Churches in the Colony to carry out their Graces suggestion au to
usual hours on Sunday next--I am, bo'd such services of intercession at the
Yours, etc.,
G. H. VICTORIA, Hongkong December 29th, 1918.
HONGKONG LADIES WAR
WORK.
ME V, G, L Riddle, the new president cal Club, who use recently returned from of the Birmingham and District Eectri China, gave an interesting account of the electrical prospects in China wa com plimentary dinner to which he WAS entertained by the members. Alter extrolling the electrical undertaking Shanghai, with its profita of 7, 8, and even lo per cent, per proum, he went on to consider the many other existing and proposed supply undertakings in Chita at the present time; their name is The Chinese are essentially a commercial nation and thoroughly alive. Legion. to the value of electricity supply as an investment, Also they are now realising the manifold possibilities of electrical driving for industrial purposES. Chinu is celestial because there is no Board of of their labours in one of the room, at Trade, Local Government Board, or any the City Hall yesterday, The Ladies' form of administrative control which would tend to impose capital-sinking Bandage Class, under Mrs. Phelips, have restrictions or discourage enterprise made no fewer than 2,898 ordinary and These departments in England no doubt ignore the impetus given to Chinese in the course of a month. The party meet have their uses, but it would be idle many-tailed bandages and 12 flannel shirts undertakings owing to the absence of in- at the City Hall on two mornings per flexible restrictions and requirements of
of
in
Parties of Hongkong ladies have been werking very enthusiastically in the cause of the wounded, and there wOS UN interesting little exhibition of the results
The articles are to be despatched to the
British base hospital at Alexandria at the end of the week.
The members of the working parties pay subscription of #2 per month, but funds are urgent needed, and subscriptions will be welcomed.
conservative and enterprise dampingweck, there being an average attendance nature. Nevertheless, there certainly are of about 30.
A working party under Mrs. N, J. influences here and there which are stiff- ing electrical progress in its infancy, and Stabb prepared the following articles:- making the task of those interested electrical plant importation a difficult argical shirts, 3 medical shirts, 19 One beljaciela, 12 vests, and 61 hot-wstar and disheartening proposition. extremely important condition to be com
These have all been made plied with, however, is the system of long bottle covers. credit and extended payment adopted by in about a fortnight,
The wife of the Governor of Macao sont Continental firms. Open to criticism as this certainly is it la just as certainly responsible for a large proportion of the a consignment of mufflers, gloves, capa, engineering enterprises undertaken byste,, to be added to the Hongkong, Indios' the Chinese. One may, for example, take the case of a 10,000 spindle eletrically list. driven ootton mill, built and equipped without any expenditure upon the part of the nominal owners, the whole of the plant being supplied under an arrange. mont whereby its cost is to be met by the surplus revenue (if any) after paymea
a fixed minimum dividend. Such the faith of the factors of the plant in the possibilities of the cotton industry in China Of course, the ubiquitous Ger He has man is the greatest competitor. almost ruined Far Eastern business by severe cutting of prices. Subsidised by his infernal Government, and helped by his bankers, he has been in a position to secure many contracts which in the na tural order of things might have been executed in Great Britin. Since the out break of hostilities neither Britain nor Germany has been able to take contracts. Last April America and Japan were securing the bulk of the trade Japan is LONDON, December 25th.
already producing very creditable copies -The Cabinet met thi, morning, and there of the best European and Antar was again a large attendance, which wasion is insuficient to allow them to com practice, and although present produc
presided over by Mr. Asquith,
peta with advantage, it is certain that time will amend that, and the Japanese will have the advantage of low freights and
of quick and insurance, deliveries. British merchants in China do not receive the help from the British manufacturers that is essential to secure this trade. Very few large manufac tarers have their own representatives an the spot. The majority, without any it salary, some firm of merchants, and any help were desired by the merchants the manufacturers would not give it Hence the success of the Germany.”
One point which emerges from the tan gle of speculations is that Mr. Asquith will certainly keep his pledge to married men, and to-day's meeting of the Cabine, is expected to show whether buy states While the German troops have deteri-manship will enable him to reconcile the orated, the Austrians seem better than conflicting elements. at the beginning of the war, and they
Freach mail steamer Ville de la Uzotat, in- cluding 135 passengers, of whom three were British. Survivors state that the liner was off Crete # 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday when she sighted, first, a Dutch aleamer, and then, a minute later, a Greek steamer. Almost immediately a herrine ex- plosion shock the liner from stem to stern and the water rushed in. Simultaneously surrender less frequently. Nevertheless, they are falling back in the Teartoryiak
A communiqué states:-Our artillery exploded on ammunition depo near Steenstrante, and we effectively bombard- ed the railway station naar Lens and a sector of Angres. Our bombardment in the wood region of Rheims started a great conflagration French artillery in Lor with the explosion, submarine, flying
successfully cannonaded enemy the Austrian flag, appeared on the surfno region and are held up in Galicia.
raino works. There has been an intense artillery duel in the Vosges, We carried some tronches at Hartmanny Weilerkopf which wore still beld by the enemy between the summits of Rehfelsen and Hirzstein, cap. turing 100 prisoners,
THE BALKANS.
{THROUGH REVIER'S LOENOY.) SALONIKA PREPARED. GOOD WORK OF BRITISH
LONDON, December 28th. General Csstelni, interviewed at Athens, stated that he was thoroughly satisfied with what he had seen at Baloni ka He was much impressed with the and equipment of the appearance British troops, and the work they had dosa, in rendering Balonika impregnable.
Ho stated that should further reinforce ments be required they are ready close af
handi
AUSTRIANS REPLACED BY BAVARIANS.
LÖNDIE, December 29th. Three Bavarian Divisions are concen- trated between Uskub and the Greek from tier, while three Austrias Divisions which the Serbian, severely punished have been sons to Alsace,
OMINOUS ENEMY
CONCENTRATIONS,
SALONIKA, December 28th.
Though the Greeks are increasingly hopeful that the Central Powers will re- main inactive in Macedonia, various re-
a few yards away.
The general opinion aboard is that one o' the seutral vessels was covering the submarine, Beth disappeared.
Despite the enormous hole in the stern and the shock there was no panic on the Ville de la Ciotat. Five boats and refta were launched, One boat capsized, and its occupants, all women and children, were drowned. Another boot was smashed
the ship's side. Finally the liner plunged, taking down most of those who perished. The submarine remained until the liver disappeared, and then circled round the lifeboote, jeering at the sur- vivors, telling them "There is a British steamer behind. It will pick you up.”
The British steamer Merve come up two
hours later, and spent 80 minutes in resens work, though the submarine was still visible.
THE "YASAKA MARU.*
SUNK WITHOUT WARNING.
WASHINGTON, December 28th.
The American Consul at Port Said con- firms the statement that the N.Y.K. liner Tomako Moru was sunk without warning. No attempt was made by the Yasaka Mary to escape,
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK.
LONDON, December 28th. The British beamer Fenstirum has been sunk. The crew were landed.
VARNA AGAIN BOMBARDED.
Rowe, December 20th:
A telegram from Bukharest says that ports show that the enemy is concentrating the Russians again bombarded Varoa on large forces and stores st. Doiran and Friday and sank à Bulgarian torpedo Ghargeli, apparently with a view to an bost Numerous fire, were observed in the
ttows.
GENERAL
TAROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.) TREASON IN GERMANY. TEN SOCIALISTS CHARGED,
BERLIN, December 28th. The Foreverts announces that the trial, of ten Socialists has opened as Karlsruhe on a charge of high treason. Three others are accused of incitement to revolt ANOTHER OUTRAGE IN AMERICA BRITISH CARGO DESTROYED,
NEW YORK, December 28th. Reuter's correspondent reports another case of incendiarium, aga remult of which a large portion of the sugar cargo of the British stoamer Inchmoor was
troyed.
It is suspected that combustible chemi cals were mixed with the cargo,
INTERESTING DEPARTURES FROM AMERICS,
New Your December 29th, Colone) House-Presiden Wilson's special omissary, who is going to Europe to convey the President's views to the American Ambassadors, has left,
Captain Boy-Ed (the disgraced German Naval Attaché) departed on the same ship under British-safe-conduct
ANOTHER MEETING,
It is considered that further meetings will be necessary before the Government is able to announce its decision based on Lord Derby's recruiting figures.
The Cabinet meeting lasted for two and a half hours,
Mr. Asquith subsequently held a War Council, Fan Kitchener, Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Balfour being present. PREMIER SAID TO HAVE DECIDED ON COMPULSION.
LONDON, December 29th- The Morning Port and the Day Chronicle stato that Mr. Asquith ez yes terday's Osbinet meet'ng told his colles gues that he had decided thist a measure of compulsion towards the single men who
had not enlisted was necessary,
HOPEFUL RECRUITING
PROSPECTS..
LONDON, December 28th The recruiting offices have recopened after the holidays.
The numbers enlisted for immediate ser vice are sufficient to indicate that a period of renewed activity is beginning.
GALE IN BRITAIN.
de WALES PRACTICALLY ISOLATED,
Captain Boy-Ed, interviewed, nounced the reckless utterances of the irresponsible Press,"
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT
LIVERPOOL.
LONDON, December 28th. Sevant thousand pounds damage was caused by fire in a rice will warehouse at
A KINDLY GERMAN,
OPIUM ON⠀⠀ " HAICHING.”
The No. 1 Steward of the es. laiching was charged before Mr. Haze and yentor- day with being in unlawful pussession of A quantity of opium and with aiding or betting in the export of me from Hongkong, without the necessary permit, Mr. Leo. d'Almada appeared for the de- fendant. P. Fallon gave evidence to finding the opium in a sideboard in the salon of the vessel.
The chief officer of the ship, who was ca led to give evidence for the preseCH- tion, said that all the "boys" of the ship had access to the same sideboard and that it was not always locked up.
Mr. d'Almada-If 10,000 divereigna were found in that drawer, would yout;
defendant -I would say they were my say that they belonged to the stoward, the
own until they were claimed by someone else.
Hia Worship-You would be liable to
Mr. d'Almada-It is a pily you did not claim the valuable opium as your own!
The defendant was discharged,
Mr. and Hrs. Merson, of 17, Mountprosecution for Jarciny as a baxer. You Street, Aberdeen, have received a letter should hand the money to the Police in
that case, telling of the death in action of their son, Lance Corporal Lawrence B. Merson, 4th Gordons. The letter come from the sister of a German soldier who found the body is all papers and letters, including payment arch, removed the identification dise, book, and sent them to his sister at Frank- fort, with the request that she should let the Highlander's relatives know of his death. The letters were forwarded by an uncle in Bwitzerland
D
"It is a very sad matter I am writing you. says the German girl's letter. My brother sent home a letter from the front and begged me to write you. He stands in the west, and it was in his first letter since the hard sight, here.
ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER AT ABERDEEN.
SEQUEL TO THEFTS OF GARDEN PRODUCE.
The two Chinese who are charged with
the manslaughter of another Chinese at Aberdeen on the 1st inst. came before the Chief Justice yesterday.
"My eldest brother was killed last year at Ypres, so that I know how glad we were Opening the case for the Crown, Mr. to hear any details of his death. I think Orme said that the alleged crime was com. you have already heard that Lawrence Bmitted at night at a small village on the Merson, whom I believe to be your son, Deep Water Bay road about a mile to did not come back from the last fight the vast of Aberdeen. Prisoners depend
"We were enemies, but pain and mourned for their livelihood upon the vegetable ing are miting us. Bo thought my bro gardens, from which there had been ther, too, for he wrote everything about thefte. An alarm was raised on the night your son he could find out, I just will of the crime of the presence of a thief, and prisoners found deceased and bent translate it to you.
We led the way to our position and him with bamboo poles. They then went found there a dead Highlander, who had to the police station to ask for the arrest 3 deep wound above the right eye, prob of the supposed thief, who died later in the Government Civil Hospital. He ably by a thrust bayonet. We found the would not be able to prove the exact share LONDON, December 20th.
following objects:-Book of payment, The gale continues to be general mark of distinction, a small sketch, and that the prisoners took in inflicting the
injuries,
Dr. Koch, Superintendent of the Gov- throughout the British Isles, and demage an instrument against the gases
The dead Englishman had his gun ernment Civil Hospital, said that the is reported everywhere.
with the bayonet at it, and there vero injuries were such as could have been Wales is praefically isolated telegraphi pots of blood on it. He was a Highlander caused by the bamboo poles produced.
with a kilt and bare knees.
Among the injuries kustained were a My brother sent these photos. I am fracture of the skull and a rupture of the cally and telephonically.
Hundreds of roofs of houses have been are my brother and his comrades did all kidney, either of which was sufficient to
honour to their enemy who died in their cause death ripped off
The hearing will be continued-to-day. trada: