Page
THE WAR.
BRITAIN'S
NAVAL
PREPAREDNESS.
PERSIA WAS NOT WARNED.
THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE.
ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES.
NEWS
FROM ALL FRONTS.
POLITICAL SITUATION CALMER.
GERMANY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION.
NAVAL ACTIVITIES.
(THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] CAT" SQUADRON VISITED.
BRITAIN'S NAVAL
PREPAREDNESS..
LONON, January 8th.-
A Reuter's correspondent visited the sation and const base of the Cat" Squadron, one of the centres from which the feetest warships are ready to set out a monter's notice on receipt of news of German movements. The whole place Sub- presented a very busy spectacle, marines that had just returned. From a
at
successful voyage were lying alongside the parent t ships embarking Blores and
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, JANUARY 10rm. 1916,
THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
ITALIAN TRANSPORT BUNK.
TWO HUNDRED RECRUITS LOST.
CETINJE, January 8th. An Italian steamer from Brindis, with supplies and 428 Montenegrin recruits from America, ruck a mine yesterday near San Giovanni de Medus. The yease] sank immediately, and 200 of her passer- gers perished.
THE BALKANS.
{THROUGH KHUTEL'S AGRICT.
AERIAL EXCITEMENT.
FEARLESS FRENCH AIRMEN;
LONDON, January 9th. Reuter's correspondent at Saloniku states that a French aeroplane had an exciting adventure. While returning
#1881AN FRONT.
{HROUGH HUYER'S AGENOT.)
ENEMY FAIL TO CHECK OFFENSIVE,
ENORMOUS LOSSES.
PETROGRAD, January 9th A communiqué states that considerable enery forces repulsed our elemente from
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOY]
VALUE OF GERMAN MARK.
CAUSES FOR HEAVY FALL
LONDON, January 8th.
THE WAR AND TSINAN. EFFECT ON GERMAN FIRMS..
Among the belated trade reports pub- ished by the British Board of Trade is one on Tainan for 1914 by Mr. Consul J. T. Pratt, which contains several interest- The Times is of the opinion that the paragraphs dealing with the effect of the war on German trade in the Shartang proximate cause of the recent heavy fall peninsula, A
It is not possible," says the Consul, in the value of the German mark into write a trade report for Tainan in the neutral countries is probably the falling usual form for 1014, us no figures of any from a reconnaissance of the enemy lines Czarterysk, but they were subsequent,de of coupons on Germans, lesns, of sort are available even for the part of
Teingiau. O it encountered two Toubes bound for dislodged, and further attempts to regain which there are foreign holdings. These At the beginning of the year the Ger- Salonika, and though armed with only one the tower failed. At the middle of the German War Loans which have been railways which would have greatly th have beca increased by the amounts of the mans had successfully negotiated agres monta for the construction of two new rifle the Frenchmen fearlessly attacked, Strypa our units captured hostile posi taken up in the United States and creased the importance of Tainan as A the Germans replying with a machine-guatiobs at various places. They also cap Switzerland. The periodical divident centre of railway communications. They Anti-aircraft guns below opened fire on the fared seventeen officers, over 1,000 soldiers
working an iron mined to be very had also at length found the capital for enemy, but the French eruplane was and several machine-guns. North-east of
rich in ore-situated near the Teinan damaged and compelled to light the Czermovits the cnomy tried to check our
indicate that Shantung was about to enter Tsingtan Railway. Everything seemed to piles being wounded. The tostile machines offensive by counter atacks in large forces
on an era of prosperity and rapid develop, were compelled to turn tail owing to the but they were repulsed with enormous
by the unexpected outbreak of the Euro- ment, but all these hopes were destroyed splendid fire of the anti-aircraft guns, longer
pean war. The railway to Tsingtau-the in artery for the trade of Shantang immediately ceased to be available for the transport of merchandise,
A number of bombs were dropped on the French and British camps,, but bo damage was done beyond a few casualties.
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS. ARBESTED BY ALLIED MILITARY AUTHORITIES,
ATHENS, January 9th. The Allied military authorities at Mitylene have arrested German, Austro- German and Turkish Consular agents
LATER.
The persons arrested at Mylene in- dude Greek and Turkish notables, e German merchant and other suspicious characters. They have all been taken aboard an Allied ship.
SCHEMES AT SALONIKA.
EQUIPMENT FOR TURKISH BABBLE IN AUSTRIAN
CONSULATES
-London, Januery 8th.
LOST BRITISH SUBMARINE,
CREW TO BE INTERNED,
A Balonika telegram states that s AMSTERDAM January 8th.
search of the Austrian Consulate led to The British submarine which sank off the discovery of 180 rifles, 150 revolvera, Texel was only sighted by the Noord cartridges, explosives, Turkish uniforms, Brabant ten hours after the accident. * flags, and armlets bearing the Crescent, The crew are awaiting the decision of which were evidently intended to equip The correspondent also boarded a flotilla the Dutch Government as to whether they the Turkish rabble who would have been of the most modern destroyers which had
lare to be juterned. - It is thought that incited to murder and pillage in the returned from, cruise in the North their internment is unlikely as they are event of the success of an Austro-German Their officers declared that despite the sailors in distress,
and Tureo-Bulgarian attack at Salonike, Herman boasts they saw no sign of the
RE-CONQUEST OF SERBIA, German Float
REFUGEES DESIRE TO FIGHT:
torpedoes
Among other features of the Fleet were the rapid motor boats, intended to chase submarines. The visit showed a remark- able eagerness on the part of the Navy to meet the Germans when they emerge from ho Kiel Canel.
GERMAN ASSURANCES.
SAFETY OF NON-COMBATANTS.
LALEE,
The Dutch Government have decided to
intern the crew under the provisions of the Hague Convention,
NORWEGIAN STEAMER SUNK,
LONDON, January ttb. The Norwegian steamer Bonheur has been sunk. Fifteen of the crew have been landed.
FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOTĀJ MINOR INCIDENTS, GERMANS DROP BOMBS.
WASHINGTON, January 8th... Germany's assurances concerning the Tediterranean affect liners, freight arriers and trampe. The previous
LONDON, January 8th. General Sir Douglas Haig, in a com ssurances concerning the North Sea only pplied to passenger liners, Germany muniqué, states that a mine was exploded suming that there would be no American near the La Basses Canal. A German assengers aboard other vessels there. It aeroplane dropped two bomby behind our mfated that the last Austrian Note re- lines north of the Somme, but no damage was done. There have been unimportant ring the Angora controversy gave entical assurances & those given by artillery engagements at various points, rmony. The Note also agreed with the We obtained a direct hit on one enemy bat.
ted States that small boats were not, tery south-east of Armentieres. der all circumstances, places of safety FRUITLESS ENEMY ACTIVITY,
passengers on a ship about to be tor-
PARIS, January 9th. loed.
A communiqué states:--Artillery, effec. dermany's Note regarding the sinking tively bombarded several points of the the William P. Frys promises to amagre front, and destroyed an armoured cupola combatants of a place of safety before south of Arrus. The bombardment caused. prize is sunk, except when conditions severe damage at Berry au Bac, at Hill rd an absolute pertainty that the boats 109, and east of St. Mibiel. There has been great but fruitless enemy activity at reach port
Hartmanns Weilerkopf, especially between Rehfelsen and Hirzstein. GERMAN FORTIFIED POSITION DESTROYED.
WASHINGTON, January 9th,
PERSIA" NOT WARNED.
VORS AFFIDAVIT OF TWENTY
PASSENGERS,
LONDON, January 8th.
PARIS, January 8th.
e American Consul-at-Alexandria-bas
To-day'a communiqué says that there has been a comparatively quiet night, Our d his Government that Mr. Grant
artillery destroyed a German fortified twenty other perons have sword
position at Fontenoy, north of the Aisne. fidovit that no warning was given tó Persia before she was torpedoed.
OVER 7,000,000 FRENCHMEN MOBILISED. STRIAN FLEET ACTIVE.
LONDON, January 8th. PARIS, January, "Oth communiqué states that the Austrian
The Paris correspondent of the Times emerged from the Bocche at Cattaro says that France, altogether, has mobilised
bombarded Lovehen,
over 7,000,000 me"
HOME, January 8th.
Thousands of Serbian refugees are applying to enlist to fight on the side of the Allies for the re-conquest of their country.
ITALIAN FRONT
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
FURIOUS BATTLE ON
MONTENEGRIN FRONT.
HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES..
CETINJE, January 8th.
A furious battle has been raging night
lay on the 1 and day on the Montenegrin northern front since the 6th inst. The Austrians at one point hurled 20 battalions, sup ported by numerous guns and machine guns, upon the Montenegrins, who retain ed the majority of their positions. The Josses on both sides were heavy.
VIOLENT ENEMY ATTACKS,
CETINJE, January 9th. The enemy have made four violent attacks along the entire front,
ARTILLERY DUELS,
ROME, January 9th." A communiqué states that artillery duels continue. Bad weather is impeding operations.
THE NEAR EAST.
(THROUGH REUTER'E AGENUY.]
HEAVY BOMBARDMENT,
PARIS, January 8th. A communiqué states that heavy artil bery bombarded the Asiatic side of the
Dardanelles.
GUNS ON ITALIAN STEAMER.
ADVANCE ON STRONG STRATEGICAL POINT.
PARIS, January 8th.
payments swell Germany's unfavourable trade balance, despite the fact that the cutting off of German trade would ordin arily bond to relieve Germeny of the dificulty of providing against increased imports
The Times adds that it should be noted than the American sterling exchange has now passed the point at which the ex-
A Petrograd telegram says the most importation of gold from London to New
York is profitable. portant news of the day is the Russian
THE BRITISH CENSORATE. advance on the town of Kukhotzkavola, tep miles westward of the River Styr,
COMPLAINTS FROM AMERICA, atturied at the issue of the Pinsk marabes, and constituting a strong strategical point, enabling the Russian right wing to develop the offensive safely in this sector.
GENERAL.
(THROUGH MUTER'S AĠENST.]
POLITICAL SITUATION IN
BRITAIN
WHY THE LABOUR VOTE WAS INFLATED.
LONDON, January 8th:
The political situation is calmer, Talk of a general election persists in some quarters, but it is generally believed that this last extremity will not be needed. It would only be adopted in the event of serious threats of Labour troubles, and the Anti-Conscriptions admit that an
election would be disastrous to them
Mr. Roberts, an Labour. M.P., poista
out that the vote of the Labour Congress wae inflated because some delegates repre- Sented about fifty people, who, on a card vote, counted as a thousand, as this is the lowest figure for a unit. Nevertheless, he considers that the majority against the Bill is largo and that it is due to the de legates having insufficiently digested the Bill,
Already some of the Labourities and
Radicals are considering whether they should not modify their attitude on the second reading.
GRAVE STRIKE RIOTS IN OHIO. INCENDIARISM AND WHOLESALE
LOOTING
LONDON, January 8th. There has been serious strike rioting at Youngstown Ohio, in which, accord ing to the latest accounts, there have been. three killed and nineteen wounded,
The strikers, who are employees in the steel works at East Youngstown, began by setting fire to six blocks of buildings. Wholesale looting followed.
WASKINGTON, January 8th. The Government liave sent a Note to Great Britain based on complaints that
the British authorities have been censoring mails from the United States destined neutrals, FORD'S PEACE PILGRIMS
GERMANY.
for
WAI AN FLOODS.
At the same time disastrous floods occurred in the east of the province, a very large portion of which area was at the same time occupied by Japanese troops, who were spread over the countryside in small detachments. The not result may be summed up in a single sentence. Trade became stagnant over the whole provinco and in the districts cast of Tsinan coasodi the end of the year, after which, es condi- altogether. This stagnation continued till:
tions gradually became more settled, *n alight revival took place..
In the meantime, however, the Tien- tsin-Pukow Railway hua had an excellent opportunity of becoming the main artery for the trade of the province. Reasonable facilities at Pukow and rolling-stock are IN all that is required, but unfortunately the
COPENHAGEN, January-8th. The members of Mr. Ford's Peace
Party have started on their journey across Germany.
OBITUARY.
LORD BURNHAM
LONDON, January 9th.
The death is announced of Lord
Barnham, K.C.V.O., principal proprietor of the Daily Telegraph, in his 83rd year. Telegrams 'received on Saturday, and published in an "Extra" on Sunday, will be found on page 6.]
MOTOR BANDITS IN SHANGHAI.
AMAZING EPISODE IN ICHANG ROAD,
Six armed men in a motor car, disguised as Chinese soldiers, hold up the office staff of the Dah Yu four mill, Shanghai, Inst
Chinew are not adepts at managing rail- ways to the best advantage. Some attempt has, however, been made to encourage traffic by the institution of cheap through rates.
The principal exports from the Tainan district are cotton, groundnuts hides, tallow and cattle. The only foreign firma with local representation interested in ex- ports are German, who regarded Tainan as the hinterland of Tsingtau, and therefore specially worth developing. Their busi- ness has now, however, practically entirely ceased.
FINANCIAL FRIGHTFULNESS. "The only foreign bank in Tsinan ja The Deutsch-Asidische Bank, but it is
said that it has never made enough proft it is housed. On the outbreak of war to pay for the imposing building in which
reserve adopted a policy of frightfulness the manager—a Prussian officer of the towards his British clients, with the result
that the bank lost its business more rapidly than might otherwise have been the case. Its sole resource now is the funds of the Salt Gabelle, and the branch is run at a heavy loss. Most of the for- eign firms now bank with the Bank of. Communications and the Bank of China both purely Chinese institutions-which seem to answer all requirements. There is no likelihood that any British bank will find it worth while to establish branch here.
work and scoured F100 in cashed up as THE TRADE OF TSINAN,
2
sew-
The Yu flour mill is situated an The principal imports into this din alleyway leading from No. 1, Ichang trict are cigarettes, oil, soap, Jewing food. At about half-past six o'clock in machines cotton thread, dyes, piece- the evening sx Chinese drove up to the goods, matches and medicines. The dis- entrance of the alloyway in a motor-car zibution of cigarettes oil, sap Detailing two of the party to standing machines and medicines is in the guard at the different entrances, the hands of, or superintended by, foreigners, leader with three companions entered the German firm was formerly agent
with eminently satisfactory results. office The man were armed.
A
"We demand $20,000 cash to pay the result that the Asiatic Petroleum Com
for the Standard Oil Company, with the troops at the Arsenal,” was the command
issued to the trembling employes by the pany with their own staff and organ- leader of these modern desperadoes. Notation succeeded in capturing most of finding that amount in ready cash, the the Shantung market. This agency has now been terminated and the Standard robbers seized $100 and deared cut of the Off Company with their own staff will they drove off at top speed. mill. Entering the car on Ichang Road compete. much more keenly in future,
HONGKONG BANK NOTES.
Most of the cotton thread in Shan tung comes from Japan, and there is no 'doubt that the British manufacturer. would obtain far better results if he dis The returns of the average amount of pensed with German agents and estab bank notes in circulation and of specie inlished an organisation of his own. reserve 16 Hongkong, during the month anded December 31st, as cortified by the Managers of the respective banks, is as follows:
Average Specie amount in recerve,
and
The situation way to serious that the authorities decided to blow up East Banks.
b
Chartered Bank of Youngstown Bridge, in order to prevent the rioters crossing the river,
A number of the strik
strikers, drunk with stolen whisky, seized 500 lbs of dynamite and blew up several buildings. They are
now threatening to destroy the residential section of the town,
Troops were summoned and numerous arrests have been made.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES
WITHDRAWS.
Aniline dyes were imported from Ger- many, but the trade has now completely stopped and there seems sone likelihood of a revival of the cultivation of native indigo,
***The advent of the Japanese is Tikely to cause been competition in the cigarette business which, however, the British
· India, Australia and China .........§ 0,976,548 $ 5,000,000 American Tobacco Company are very
well equipped to meet.?! Hongkong
Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation 21,793,808 Mercantile Bank of
·India, Ltd. wom
Total
15,500,000
$1,074,#31- 250,000+
....$29,844,585 821,350,000 * Sterling Securities deposited with the Crown Agents valued at $1,850,000.
Securities with the Crown Agents
£68,040.
*CAUGHT IN THE LAST LAP.
CAPTURED OFFICER'S ATTEMPT TO GET BACE TO GERMANY.
The story of the escape of a captured German officer and of his efforts to get, back to his own country may now be told. After many adventures he had succeeded in getting right round the world, only to be captured in the North Sea when prae- tically in sight of Germany. MAN
STOCK RAISING IN CHINA.
Eugen Wahler on officer in the 152nď Regulations containing plans for the Prussian Regiment was taken prisoner by LONDON, January 8th. recamation of waste lands, cattle-raising the Russians at Tannerberg in the earlier Mr. Gibson Bowtes has withdrawn his in Fengtien Province and the north, pre- dogs of the war, and was pas îató a con-
posed by Yao Hsi-kuang and associates, centration camp. After making two fruit candidature for St. George's, Hanover have been approved by the Ministry. The less attempts to escape he succeeded in get- Square, in ew of the Conservative notion and Cattle Raising Company, and roubles for a railway ticket through Sibe
company will be called the Tofu Reclama ting away, and he gave an old Jew 3,000. mination of so distinguished a candidate only Chinese citizens are to be allowed to ria to Mukden. From Mukden he got to
subwribe to its shares, as Sir George Reid.
The company Peking, where he remained for several desires to take up some of the vast waste months, Wahler next proceeded to Toko- lands in the North and to develop the hamn, and subsequently travelled as a natural resources there. The company pro first-class passenger from that port to San poses to purchase land in the regions in Francised Crossing North Americe by Taouan and along the banks of the Kwei- rail, he reached. New York. There he was Jin River, in Fengbien Province and will befriended by German-Americans, who it- y extend its efforts towards various ted him out as an A.B., and he signor places in the north of Manchuria and on "with false papers on a Norwegian Mongolia. The capital proposed is sailing vessel, bound for Europe. When 1,200,000 dollars, divided into 24,000 shares the ship reached, the North Sea she was of 50 dollars each. As soon as one-fourth stopped by a British vessel and Wahler of the amount is paid in the company will was detected by a vigilant official, who be formally inaugurated.-Financier and ordered the ship into port. The officer Stallionist,
was the possessor of the Iron Cream-
BIG BURGLARY AT AN ENGLISH MANSION,
WASHINGTON, January 9th. Herr Zwedink has informally called Mr. Lansing's attention to
LONDON, January 8th. the presence of on the Italian steamer Guiseppe. guns
"Burglars, have į made a big haul of
Perdi. It is understood that he wished valuable curios and silver ware at Curzon to ascertain what action, if any, the Hall, Derbyshire, the residence of Lord United States, as a neutral, considered Scarsdale, Lord Curzon's father, who is
lying ill at the Hall
taking.