THE
WAR
(Continued from page 5.) Franco-Helgian Front.
EARLIER CABLES.
[THROUGH REUTENʼR AGENCY.] BATTLE OF THE SOMME, SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCH.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, JANUARY 18%. 1917,
HANDICAPPED BY THE WEATHER.
The despatch refers to the dreadful woather during October and November turning the trenches into deep mud-chan- nels, and preventing the taking of full advantage of the favourable situation created by the advances made at a time when there was good ground for hoping to achieve yet more important, successes, The General pays tribute to the splendid co-operation throughout the battles of the artillery and the flying corps; and points out that mastery of the air entails a constant and liberal supply of machines. He speaks of the great part played by machine-guns, chiefly from the defensive point of view; also of the usefulness of the "tanks," and he affirms that we main- tain a superiority in tunnelling, thus The skill. straggles safeguarding our trenches.
enterprise and courage of the tunnellers "Thanks to them the
LONDON, December 29th. In a dispatch of about 18,000 words, dated December 23rd, Sir Douglas Haig deals in "bare outline with important occurrence of the British part in the great, if not be put which have ever taken place.
He begins by explaining why the offen-is remarkable. sive was so long delayed, namely, because of the necessity for great numbers of men and munitions, and also because of the fact that a large proportion of the officers
enemy has nowhere obtained an important mining success.
LIQUID FIRE AND GAS. He tells bow the enemy's use of liquid and men were far from being fully train-fire and gas compelled us in self-defence ed. For these reasons the longer it was delayed the better, but it was evident from to retaliate and says the Army ones much to distinguished chemists, physiologists who enabled us to sur- the German attack at Verdun and the Austrian offensive on the Trentino that and physicists
the strain might become too great to pass the enemy in the use of means which be borne unless timely relief action were surprised the civilized world. Our ex- periences in this connection proved that taken.'
The despatch mentions the stupendous the German employment of such methods was not the result of desperate action preparations, including the accumulation of vast alores of all kinds near the front, but was prepared deliberately"; and the construction of new railways of differ- adds that the evidence of prisoners and ont guagea, gun emplacements, trench captured documents, also our own obser- tramways and dug-outs for ammunition, vation, show that the enemy suffered food, water, and engineering materials havily from our gas, while our mocaus and scores of miles of deep communication of protection from his was effective. trenches; also numerous weli borings had to be sunk and 120 miles of water mains
laid,
THE THREEFOLD OBJECT. Sir Douglas Haig defines the threefold object of the offensive as, first, to relieve Verdun; second, to assist the Allies in other theatres by stopping the transfer of enemy troops from the west; and, thirdly, to wear down the strength of the enemy.
THE THREE PHASES OF THE BATTLE.
Bir Douglas Haig then describes the actual operations, necessarily covering a good deal of the ground of his previous briefer despatches. He emphasises the three main phases of the battle. The Brst was the considerable confusion and disorganisation in the enemy's ranks," caused by the attacks beginning on July 2nd; the second, the operations from the 14th to the 17th July, which gavo us the command of the southern crest of the main plateau between Delville Wood and Bazantin-le-Petit, with the subsequent prolonged struggle for mastery, "where ia, though progress was slow and difficult, the confidence of the men in their ability to win was never shaken. By September fighting 1st they had established a superiority which bas leit its mark on the enemy." The third phase was that in, which we pushed down the lower ridge and extended our flanks from Morval to Thiepval
Finally, Sir Douglas pays a tribute to the unfailing co-operation of the French.
Their splendid fighting qualities, kind- ness and good-feeling universally dis played toward us have won our gratitude, respect and admiration."
STRONG GERMAN ATTACK. BROKEN BY FRENCH FIRE,
PAALS, December 20th.
A communiqué slates :-- After en intense bombardment, the Ger- mans strongly attacked on a front of over
three kilometres from the west of Hill 304 to the cast of Deadman Hill,
The attack was broken by our fire. Only some. fractions of the enemy pene- trated a trench south of Deadman Hill.
Five enemy acroplanca were brought down on the 27th inst.
GERMAN CLAIM,
LONDON, December 20th. A German official message by wireless claims to have penetrated the French second and third lines on Height 304, and the southern slope of Mort Homme. It also states that they took 222 prisonera and repulsed counter-attacks.
AEROPLANES BUSY WITH BOMBS.
LONDON, December 29th.
A French communiqué says:- Thirteen British Naval aeroplanes dropped a ton of bombs on blast furnaces at Dillingen.
and
ALL OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED. Sir Douglas Haig claims that all three
French aeroplanes heavily bombed the
at Montmedy objectives of the battle were achieved, railway stations "Any one of these results in itself," he Pierrepont, cast of Longuyon; factories Bay, "justified the battle of the Somme at Thionville and Joeuf in Briey; and A The attainment of the three amply com-coalfield and blast furnaces at Rombach, pensates for the sacrifices made by our and Hagoudangy. selves and our allies, bringing us a long way towards final victory." He says the fact that the strength of the enemy in November on, the Western Front was greater than in July, despite their aban- donment of the Verdun offensive justifies the first two claims.
Regarding the third objective, Bir Douglas Haig admits that any statement must depend in some degree upon esti- mater. Nevertheless, there is sufficient evidence to show it to be undoubted that the enemy's losses in men and material: were considerably higher than those of the Allies, while morally our advantage was greater. Four-fifths of the enemy Divisions on the Western front were thrown successively into the battle--some twice, and some three times. Undoubted- Is, towards the end of the operations the enemy's power of resistance had very seriously diminished. These results by troops, the vast majority of whom had been raised and trained during the war, constitute a feat of which the history of our nation contains no equal.
GERMAN CONFIDENCE.
DESTROYED.
Two dirigibles bombed factories at Hagoudasgy and iron works at Neukor- chen.
A SUCCESSFUL RAID. ENEMY TRENCHES GREATLY
DAMAGED.
LONDON, December 30th.
by
ENEMY'S ADVANCE · IN. ROUMANIA.
BATTLES PROCEEDING.,
LONDON, December 29th. A Russian official communiqué received
wireless states : ---
The enemy advance continues in the Oituz Valley.
SWEDEN, NORWAY AND DENMARK.
ADHERENCE TO AMERICA'S. PROFOSALS.
COPENHAGEN, December 29th, Sweden, Norway and Denmark base Battles are proceeding for the domina each sent a Note to the belligerente ex pressing Scandinavia's strongest adher- tion of the heights cast of Sesznezo.
The enemy has pressed buck the Rouence to President Wilson's proposals. those countries consider that they would manians a verst north and south of the The Notes say that the Governments of We repulsed attacks north of Himnit be wanting in their duty to their peoples Kasino river, west of Govesba, Sarat, on the left bank of the Rimnik and to Humanity if they failed to sup- ever-growing moral and material suffer ings and lesses entailed by the war. railway, near Rimnik Barat, as far as port any action contributing to end the Boloa, Dear Filipeshti.
GERMAN CLAIMS.
We stormed positions on the Transylvan-
FRENCH SOCIALISTS SCOUT
IDEA OF PEACE.
A wireless German official message says: ian *Eastern front. and took 1,400 prisoners, 3 cannon and 18 machine guns, We advanced as far as Dumitresti,
PARIS, December 20th. twenty kilometres north-west of Rimnikni
The National Congress of French Social- Sarat. We advanced and captured posi
We took 28th
on
December 1,100 Peace Note and emphasising that the tious between Rimnikul and Buzaul river.ists has passed a resolution scouting the Allica must, vigorously continue their prisoners and three guns.
Wo have captured Rachel, in Dobrudja, effort for national defence.
THE ROUMANIAN ARMY.
JASSY, December 29th, M. Bratiano, the Premier, has issued & proclamation stating that the Roumanian
strength in a few months. It is still Armoy has only withdrawn in order to reorganise and will be again at full receiving munitions and war material.
THE GREEK SITUATION. ROYALISTS STILL CAUSING TROUBLE.
LONDON, December 29th. The Greek Government has presented a Note to the Entente requenting the rais ing of the blockade.
Telegrams from the Venezclist quarters at Salonika state that the Royalists are ectively and systematically extirpating pro-Ententiam. Prominent residents at Volo have been subjected to indignities, Those who supported the Venerelist cause at the last election have been arrested, and their premises looted.
The Greeks in Egypt are enthusiasti- cally supporting the National Defence
Army.
Tho Provisional Government Salonika is forming Labour battalions. The Near East.
at
BARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH ROUTEE'S AGENOT.] TURKISH COMMUNICATIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
LONDON, December 29th. The great Chikaldir bridge, mentioned in & communiqué yesterday, was the most vital link in the Baghdad Railway. Its destruction means the interrupting of Turkish communications between Keso- potamia and Syria and the cutting off of the rail supplies from rich provinces.
Naval Activities.
EARLIER CABLES.
(THROUGH REUTER'S JOKNCY.] "CLIMAX OF GERMAN SAVAGERY."
VIEWS
OF ITALIAN REPUBLICANS.
Rout, December 29th. The Republicans have issued a mani until Italy's national aspirations are satisfied. festo urging the continuation of the war
THE PEACE MOVEMENT. A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
WASHINGTON, December 20th, Despite rebuffs German agents are working frantically to induce President Wilson to support the new idea of the meeting of neutrals at The Hague in January.
The proposals are regarded as another development of the German campaign to belittle the Allies.
GERMAN OPINION.
LITTLE HOPE OF PEACE.
AMSTERDAM, December 9th. The Koelnische Zeitung says there are indications that efforts to restore peace will be unsuccessful because the Entente will bot accept the German conditions, namely, no discussion of the responsibility for the war, and no subjection of Ger- many.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ALLIES.
CONTINUOUS CONFERENCES.
LONDON, December 20th.
announces that The Press Bureau during the past three days continuous conferences have been held in London between the British Government and M. Ribot (French Minister of Finance), M. Thomas (French Minister of Manitions) and other French representatives. full discussion showed complete agree ment,
A
The Minister of Munitions has ap- pointed a committee to consider the best means to secure adequate supplice of alcohol for war purposes. The muni- tions, tranport and air services will be
VESSEL TORPEDOED AND CREW.greatly increased.
FIRED UPON IN COLD BLOOD.
LONDON, December 20th. An Admiralty communiqué narrates an General Sir Douglas Haig reports:outrage in which German savagery in the A successful raid was carried out east torpedoing of merchantmen appears to ward of Le Bars. The enemy's trenches have reached its climax. were found to have been greatly damaged by our artillery.
The British steamer Westminster, pro eceding to Port Said, was twice struck We repulsed an attempted raid east-without warning by a submarine when 180 miles from land. Four persons were word of Armentieres.
killed.
There is intense reciprocal artillery activity Bouthward of the Anere and in the neighbourhood of Berles.
GERMAN TRENCHES
WRECKED.
The D'estminster sank in four minutes. The submarine proceeded to shell the officers and crew while escaping from the The Master and Chief ship in boats. Engineer were killed outright. Their best way sunk and five other secupants are presumed to have been drowned.
PARIS, December 30th.
The communiqué scathingly denounces A communiqué states that the French the act of the submarine crew. The order raided and wrecked German trenches was carried out in cold blood. between the Oise and the Aisne.
Sir Douglas Haig concludes:-"The enemy power is not yet broken, nor is it possible to estimate the period before the objects for which the Allies are fighting will be attained, but the Battle of the Eomme placed beyond doubt the ability German munition works, including those
Germans violently bombarded French
between the Meuso and General. position, Avocourt. The French frustrated several bombing attacks on this front.
French aviators bombed different
of the Allies to gain these objects. The at Neukirchen.
German Army is the mainstay of the
Central Powers. Full half of that Army, The Balkans.
despite all the advantages of a defensive supported by the strongest fortifications, suffered defeat on the Somme. Neither the victors nor the vanquished will forget this, and, though bad weather: has given the enemy a respite, there undoubtedly will be many thousands in his ranks who will begin a new campaign with little confidence in their ability to resist our assaulta,"
FEW NAMES MENTIONED.
BARLIER CABLES, (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] ROUMANIAN OIL WELLS.
GERMANS FURIOUS AT THEIR
DESTRUCTION.
BARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH KOTER'S AGENUT.] THE TSAR'S MESSAGE:
A REPLY TO PEACE OVERTURES.
Ger-
ROUMANIAN NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT,
LONDON, December 20th. Following the example of the Allies Roumania has formed a National Minis- try, including the prominent pro-Ally
ture for London.
ACCELERATION OF SHIPBUILDING,
LONDON, December 29th. The Shipping Controller has appointed An Advisory Committee composed of shipping experts to consider the accele ration of shipbuilding and for the general administration of a new ship- taken by the controller. building programme which will be under-
•
AMALGAMATION OF SCOTTISH FIRMS.
LONDON, December 19th. The amalgamation is announced of the Scottish firms of David Colville, steal: makers, and Archibald Russell, coal owners, employing 14,000 hands.
GERMAN BRUTALITY, HOW PRISONERS WERE TREATED IN EAST AFRICA.
LONDON, December 29th. The Rev. Mr. Spanton, Principal of St. Andrew's College, Zanzibar, who was a prisoner with the Germans in Tast Africa from the outbreak of war till the Germans captured Tabars, has arrived in England. Interviewed hy Rentor he gave a most painful account of the sufferings of the prisoners, including men and and women of superior rank education. The Germans pursued
nativa latrines, drag lorries, and act as fore the natives, made them clean the labourers to native workmen. A near deliberate policy of degrading them be
relative of an Indian Maharajah was similarly treated. English women and men were horded together in iron sheds without the smallest sanitation and with native sentries inside throughout the night. This brutal treatment was only that relaxed when the Germans saw defeat was imminent.
PORTUGUESE PROGRESS IN EAST AFRICA.
LOURENCO MARQUES, December 20th. The Portuguese have 'occupied the posts of Matchemia and Nangadi. The Ger mans have retired to the left bank of the Revuma river, where the Portuguese hold the factory.
LONDON FOG. THICKEST FOR YEARS.
LONDON, December 20th. The thickest fog for years prevailed in London last night. All street traffic was stopped and train services were disorganised.
THE AIR BOARD.
LONDON, December 29th. Lord Sydenham has resigned from the Air Board.
NEW M.Ps.
RETURNED UNOPPOSED.
*
LONDON, December 20th. The following have been returned un- opposed as Coalition members of Parlia ment:Sir William Collins, for Derby. Mr. Christopher Johnston, for St. Andrew's and Edinburgh Universities.
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LONDON, December 29th. The Times Rome correspondent reveals machinations of the French ex-Premier, M. Caillaux, in Rome, where he promised that Germany was disposed to treat France generously and compel Austria to grant Italy practically all her national aspirations provided Germany had a free. head in dealing with Russia and the Balkans. The whisperings of M. Cailloux fell on deaf ears and a hint of drastic GRASSHOPPER Government action nipped the intrigue in the bad,.
THE INDIAN STUDENT PROBLEM.
M. Jones and several of his supporters:
CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.
OTTAWA, December 29th. Parliament has been summoned for
LONDON, December 20th. January 18th in order to pass the war esti.
The report of the Indian Students De- mates before Sir Robert Borden's depar-partment for the year ending June 30th saya that on the whole the record of the. work done, even under the restricted op- portunities of war time, is encouraging to those responsible for it, and the grow ing tone of cordiality and friendliness among Indian students towards Britain is unmistakeable. It may be said that the influence which made misunderstand- ings diminished, that the real objects of NICKEL IN WHISKY CAŚKS, the Department were better appreciated,
CANADA AND CONSCRIPTION.
OTTAWA, December 29th. Sir Robert Borden, the Premier, has declared that the Government will adopt conscription if necessary.
GERMAN PLOT IN CANADA.
MONTREAL, December th Seven employés at the Quebec arsenal have been arrrested on a charge of steal- ing nickel, The Authorities believe that they are now on the track of a whole plot for the illicit export of Canadian Dickel to the United States which has been en-
and that common sense and good humour prevailed.
The report states that it may well be that the only permanent solution of the student problem lies in the building up in India of universities, industries and institutions adequate to give her sone all the training they require, but that day is yet far off. In the meantime it may fairly be said that there is now no serious dificulty for Indian students in Eugland which cannot be overcome by persever- ance, and encouragement on the part of those who wish to serve them, and on the part of the students by good-conduct and goodwill.
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PETXDARAD, December 28th. The Tear, in an Order to the Army and Navy, says: The enemy's strength is apparently waving, while that of the Allies is continually growing. ronny feels that complete defeat and re- tribution are near. As when her war strength was superior she suddenly declar-gineered by German Americans at ener mous cost. Three tons of nickel have been AMSTERDAM, December 29th. ed war, now, feeling her weakness, she The German papers are most furious at suddenly offers peace, particularly desir found packed in whisky caske.
WAR WORKERS IN INDIA. One of the features of the despatch in learning of the thoroughness of the de-ing to begin negotiations before her mili- the marked sobriety of the language. No struction of the Roumanian oil welle, taxy talent is exhausted, and simultane-
VIOEREINE REPLIES TO anits, brigades or divisions are parti which & German Staff officer, writing to ously creating a false impression of tularised, in order not to give informa the Koelnische Zeitung, describes as strength by her temporary success in Bou-
CRITICISMS. tion to the enemy. The General says terrible and wild, it surpasses everything mania, who is inexperienced in modern "Buffice to say that the troops comprised that has happened hitherto. Everything warfare. But the Allies now in their turn will be able to negotiate peace at a men from every part of the United ruinable" is ruined.
time favourable to themselves. That fume Kingdom and Empire."
has not arrived. The enemy is not yet The only names mentioned are these of
driven out of occupied territories. General Bir H. Rawlinson and General,
Russia's attainment of the tasks created in India to supply comforts to the troops efficient. The secretaries should be hearti-ferences between secretaries and members. H. Gough, commanding the 4th and 5th
by the war-the regaining of Constan-
in Mesopotamia, and that it had been Armies respectively; and General. Sir. E. Alleuby, who carried out the subsidiary Despite German boasts it is evident tinople and the Dardanelles, and the left to voluntary associations in England supported by the Provincial Educa- There should be ample supplies of in- tional anthorities and should be able to formation from every centre and allow to take up the matter. attack at Gommecourt on July 1st. The that the Germans paid dearly for the creation of a new Poland is as yet not
Tho Ficereine recapitulates the work rely on the constant help of a small execuances to enable the secretaries to traveć despatch states that the preparations for capture of Rimnikul Barat. The Russian guaranteed. Who dares to think that he the battle were carried out under General forces were merely armed for gaining who began the war will have the power of the Indian Comforte Fund, the Redtive of working members. They might in their provinces and even to visit Eng Rawlinson's orders and that General time to prepare resistance on the printo conclude it when hy chooses Peace Cross Fund and other organisations in well have the co-operation also of one or land. There should also be a further Gough was placed in charge of a portion sipal line, but the Germans bad to sand will only be possible after the enemy is India, and concludes by paying a tribute two representatives of the students chosen utilisation of the Indian Press in order of the front after July 1st in crder to division after division to slaughter in driven ont of our borders, and we are to the industry and devotion of the from men who have studied in England to explain the objects of the committees and to secure the co-operation of leaders enable General Ralinson to concentrate order to win what turns out to be a given real guarantees for a permanent women of Lucia in soluntary work for the successfully.
troops.
(Continued at foot of next Oolumn,). of Indian opinion, in the main battle, ärka, einu
mere pyrrhic victory.
PAYING THE PRICE. HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES.
LONDON, December 29th.
pease."
1
The record of the Indian Advisory com- mittees, especially that of Bombay, is encouraging, and the report emphasises the importance of their work since it is LONDON, December 28th. The Vicersine, in a letter to the Times, chiefly in India that the student problems replies to statements by Sir Edward will be solved. No effort should be spared
to strengthen the commitices, to popu Ward and others in the English Frese laise their labours and to make them suggesting that nothing had been done yearly more representative and more
The report also suggesta occasional con
र