THE WAR.
CHANGE IN
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18ra, 1917.
ROUMANIA.
GERMAN DRIVE NEARLY SPENT.
BRITISH DASH IN AFRICA.
SWITZERLAND MOBILISING.
The Balkans.
LATEST CABLES.
THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCE.]
THE GERMAN DRIVE IN ROUMANIA.
FORCE NEARLY SPENT.
LONDON, January 10th. Yesterday's news from Roumania seems
to show that the force of the Gorman drive is nearly spent. The Russo-Ron- manians, reinforced, are making B splendid stand Οτι the Bareth line, regaining ground on their northern wing. Hard fighting is in progress be tween Draila and Galatz, which General Mackenson is desperately striving to capture. Fundens, where the Germans reported a strong Russian offensive, is thirty miles west of Galatz,
BARLIER CABLES.
IN GREECE.
SITUATION.
ARRIVAL OF GERMAN GENERAL,
SALONIKA, January 10th. General von Falkenhayn Bas landed from a submarine somewhere on the
Grønk coast, from whence he has po speded to Lariest
It is possible that the French Head quarters, which report the arrival of General von Falkenhayn, are confusing. him with Major von Ealkenhausen, the German Military Attache 1 Athens. The latter recently left but hào potârions: ly been in coramquication with King Constantivo by wireless. Indeed, he, wis |
recently reported as having roturned to
Athena.
KING CONSTANTINE.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTIÑUB.
LONDON, January (6th.
Franco-Helgian Front,
LATEST CABLES.. (THROUGH REUYER'S AGENOT.]
BRITISH OPERATIONS.
DEFENCE AND ATTACK,
LONDON, January 17th Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in a Dammeroqué, says :-An attempted zaid
by the enemy north-east of Gaendecourt was repulsed.
Hostile artillery has been active in the Beaumont Hamel and Arras areas.
Our trench mortars destructively bon barded the enemy's front line worth of Monchyan Bois,
We heavily shelled and greatly damag od enemy positions in the neighbourhood of Ypres and the Cominee Canal.
FRENCH FRONT.
CONTINUED ARTILLERY.
STRUGGLE.
Lonnor, January 17th. A French communiqué statos:-The artillery struggle has continued fairly briskly in the region of the Somme and on the north-eastern front at Verde and Lorraine.
A successful coup de main was carried out on the enemy trenches east of Vic- sur-Liene,
FRANCO-BRITISH PLANS.
CONFERENCE BETWEEN WAR CABINET AND GENERALS.
LowDos, January 17th.. The Press Bureau announces that Mr.
Lloyd George and his colleagues on the War Cabinet had a series of conferences with General Fivelle and Field Marshal Bir Douglas Haig on Monday and Tuesday,
BARLIER CABLES,"
Africa.
EARLINE CABLES.
(TEBOVOM REUTER'S AGETOY.}"
HEAVY FIGHTING IN AFRICA,
GOOD WORK BY BRITISH TROOPS
ار الله
HONGKONG MAGISTRACY.
BALT FISH.
CORRESPONDENCE. EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.
[TO THIRDSTOR OF THE HONGKONG For stealing a quantity of salt fish, and
DAILY FAME."]
also being on premises without permis- StaThe leading article in to-day'ssion, a coolie employed by the Kowloon suo of the Daily Press contains the Wharf and Godown Company was sen- LONDON, Jautry 15th.
| blakement thal; sg & result of the stand-tenced to one month's hard Jabour and Router's correspondent in East Africa ard set in the Matriculation Examina-four hours' stocks, atates that after the operations of Janu;]tion of the University, there is a `ten-- ary 1st the enemy, retreating towards dency to crowd subjects into the school Ruflgi, fought a series of rearguard curriculum which it would be wiser to actions in a most stubborn manner, in exclude, that cramming is unavoidable, and that the schoolmasters are not to which Captain Selous was killed while blame for defective teaching when a com- plackity leading fusiliers and frontiers plicated syllabus in forced on them, The only conclusion to be drawn from
men.
After this the enemy did not make stand north of the river, and General Sheppard reached the north bank on January 5th. The enemy, took up a posi.. tion on the south bank, opposite the old Gorman bridge, evidently expecting us to repair and crom it. General Shop pard, however, crossed in boats higher
up.
#LUCKY MONEY."
21
When charged with attempting to export six silver dollars, a Chinese said they belonged to his wife, and he was taking them to Canton to be used as "lucky money. ' during Chinese New Year. No conviction was recorded and the man was told that he must convert the silver into subsidiary coin before the money was taken out of the Colony.
GODOWN KEEPER BADLY
TREATED...
In Reclamation Street, Yaumati, yes:
THEFT FROM B. AND S. SHIP.
"FIGHT TO A FINISH.” SPIRIT OF FRENCH ARMIES.
ORGANIZED TRENCH LIFE.
Batt
(FROM "THE TIMES" SPECIAL COSÌESPONDENT WITH TEN TIENCE ARMIM]
On the whole of the French front thera is only one opinion about the war and its inevitable future. It is important that the public in England should know. exactly what that opinion is. Let there bo no mistake about it. The soldiers of France are absolutely resolved that the war shall be fought to a Enish, and they have not the faintest shadow of a doubt that the ond of it will be a decisive victory for the Arms of the Allies. Nothing short of that will satisfy them.
During the last two months I have visited all the chief points of their line from the Somme to Belfort. Everywhere I have found the same spirit In the mud of the Bomme and Verdun, where' the tornado of shells, never stops, in the snows of the Vosges and of Bois le Prêtre, where, as they say, tout est calme, there is everywhere the same unanimity of feeling. Any suggestion of peace, except a peace on the terms of France and the Allies, the soldiers would fehemently resist as an act of foul traitorion to their dead brothers-in-arms. No matter at what cost, no matter how much more of their blood must be shed before the end
the only one possible end-is reached, they have counted the cost and they are ready to make the sacrifice.
CONFIDENCE OF THE INFANTRY.
The French soldiers who are doing the fighting have unehalon confidence in Gural Joffre and their other chiefs, and not a hope, but a certainty, that the German on the Weat front is a beaten
words in that the University is responsible for the multiplicity of sub Jeste said to be taught in the Hongkong schools. This seems to me to be quite that until unjust. Is it not the case quite recently the Hongkong schools took the Oxford Less! Examinations and that the same subjects wore taught even interday, a lukong saw a godown kespor, those
days? I am fale from agreeing employed by the Bank Line, being boat with the contentions of your article as by ten junk people, and a chopper was to the subjects that ought to be taught, being used by one of the assailants. The The enemy on the following night bom but for the present would merely point godown keeper was very badly knocked barded the boots, and attacked the Pun-out that their syllabus was not forced on about. Two of the junk people were janis and Baluchis, who held on most the schoolmasters. Did not H. R. the arrested, and Mr. Wood fined them each pluckily till fresh ammunition was sent Governor state some weeks ago, in reply $20. up and the enemy's fire died away. The to the Hon, Mr. Lau Cha Pak, that it rapid and accurate fire of the Southe very difficult to move that body of African Artillery greatly assisted in
It is a pleasure to see the requirements holding the crossing.
of the University in the way of higher Moanwhile, General Beves made a wide loduration frankly recognised, but it can flanking movement, crossed the Rubji hardly he maintained that they have at $1,000, and 31 pieces of native ging, Just below its confluence with the Rusha,reated a system of cramming. On the valued at $100, all of which was consign-back on the last 28 months they remen- and proceeded to a post north of Mkalin. contrary, it does not seem an unreasoned to the Kin Yuen Hing, imports and able ideal that boys passing out of the exports shop, Lower Lascar Road. De- 8, where he routed the enemy.
schools of Hongkong ahould be able to bootive Inspector Muirson asked for a General Sheppard's brigade accorded pass an examination in English, Chinese remand, but, after hearing evidence, ens with the highest traditions of the Indian sad Mathematics as compulsory subject, of the defendants was sentenced to six and two others, such as History and monthe hard labour, and the other was Army, while General Beres' march was
Goography, as optional subjects, which discharged. a Brilliant fent of endurance.
is all that is required in the University EAST AFRICAN COMMAND. Matriculation Examination. When it is further maintained that the University GENERAL SMUTE GREAT WORK.
examination has tended to lower the English standard in the schools,
And
LONDON, January 18th,
men ?
A statement issued by the War Office it hard to take the contention seriously. says that the War Minister has instructed If thero is one thing which is essential General Smute to hand over the East for students entering the University it African Command as soon as the mili.is that they should be able to follow lectures in English and to reproduce them tary situation permits of his so doing.
in reasonably good form. The Univer- It is realised that the larger issues at sity has nothing to lose, but everything stako and the value of General Smuts' presence at the Imperial War Con- ference are considerations making his compliance with the wishes of the Union Government essential,
The military situation in East Africa, fortunately, is such as so make a change
Two Chinese were charged with the theft from one of Messra, Butterfield and Swiro's ships of two deer horns valued at 8300, 23 picees of wild ginseng, valued
· RUSSIA'S NEW WAR RAILWAY.
ICE-FREE PORT IN THE ARCTIC,
On the occasion of the completion of the Murman Railway from Petrograd to the ice-free port of Alexandrovsk on the Arctic Ocean a Te Doum was celebrated at the point where the lines met, in the presence of General rrince Bagration
to gain, by the teaching of English being | Mukhranski, representing the Tsar, who made a vital question. The University travelled without break of journey from would wish to see the English standard Petrograd to Romanoff, on the Murman in the schools raised, for at each Matri- cosat, by the new line. culation Examination students, other- wise good, fail in that subjocs.
In a telegram to the Tsar, Prince Bagration said that the construction of the most northerly railway in the world
man. The infantry especially-and it in the infantry who will win the war-know that in every respect they are the superiors of the troops opposed to them. yes, That they admit. But as they look The war is long. It marches slowly,
ber that on every one of the great econ sion, the crucial tests, when the battle has resolved itself into the obligatory final attack by the infantry, the German infantry he failed. 'It was the same on the Marne, the same in front of the Grand Couronne of Nancy, the same n Ypres, the same at Verdun. It will, ther aro convinced, be the same always. On the other hand, they know that when they themselves have attacked in force -in Champagne, on the Somme, at Verdun--they have always proved them- solves the better fighters, however small the advance, owing to the conditions of, modern warfare, which they have made.
Even without that all-important inter- tive of past sucesses which every French foot-soldier who has fought in this war carries in his koupenck and in his heart, they would go on because of their burne ing indignation at the outrages to which their country has been subjected, and their fervent loyalty to their comrades who have given their lives to avenge them that incentive they are invincible, and, and to protect their homes. But with
because of it and the others, they make light of all the horrors of death and of wounds and of exposure and of banish- ment from their homes, which, to the timid and those who have never been within miles of the fighting line, or even of their cantonments, are apt to seem.RO terrible and so discouraging,
The Daily Telegraph', diplomatic cor¦ ENEMY COUP DR MAIN FAILS. in the Command and some reorganisationcommittee is considering the question of had been successfully completed, despite wage it to the end, They are no more
respondent says the Allion 'are again. negotiating with King Constantina, They forwarded on January 13th obser- vations on the Greek reply of January 11th, insisting on further pledges, and
refusing to raise the blockade, but leav
ing the door open for further discus sions.
PLACED ON RETIRED LIST.
LONDON, January 16th. Reuter's correspondent in the Piraeus says that General Callaris, commanding the First Army Corps during the events at Athens on December 1st, has been,
PARIS, January 16th.
▲ communiqué Rays:-An attempted eneiny coup de main in the Somme region, under the cover of air torpedo and gas shell fire, was easily repulsed, our artil- lery vigorously replying.
Naval Activities.
EARLIER CABLES. (THROVON REUYER'S AGENCY.]"
THE LOSS OF THE
CORNWALLIS.”
MALTA, January 16th.
The crew of H.M.S. Cornwallis have
comparatively simple. The steps con- templated would have been taken very shortly, anyhow.
The statement shows at great length that in eleven months General Smuts has cleared the enemy from German East Africa, except for a comparatively small and unimportant area, and that the enemy is now in reduced straits.
General,
EARLIER CABLES. [TUROTOR REITER'S AGENCY.]
SWISS NEUTRALITY,
i
he difficulties of working in a country of Polar nights, thanks to Russia, patriotic feeling and the desire to help the Army. [The Murman Railway, constructed under the direction of the present Prime
It is of interest to hear that a small
instruction in English Probably you will disagree with me when I ate that the Matriculation requirements repre- sent a reasonable educational ideal for the schools of Hongkong, or when I object to the commercializing of educa; tion: But; leaving these controversial questions of educational policy, I would Minister, M. Trepoff, whilst Minister of ask if it is not possible that more might Communications, is of great importance be done with the present system. Any committee which considers the problem of for the import of munitions. Archangel the teaching of English might sak:---
(1) What are the best books upon Eng is usually closed for six months in the lish grammar and composition year, and even the advent of the ice- and the best reading texts for breaker only partially improved matters. Chinese students! Are they in
The ice-port of Alenandrovsk is situated use in the Colony ! () Is the more cleanoutary instruction alaout on the frontier of Norway, and in English in satisfactory hands? comes under the influence of the Gulf
Stream. As to the latter point, if English mas
The line, which is nearly 700 tera cannot be provided for this class miles long, passes through a beautiful of work, owing to the expense, can it country which has been termed a North- not be arranged that Chinese masters ern Switzerland- country, however, at the University with English as one whore in the long Arctic winter complete of their subjects, whilst pursuing con; darkuess roigns for many days together. currently their training in-educational The line has been constructed in the face practice? If this were done the Univer of most formidable engineering difficul sity would be contributing most valuable ties, owing to the swamps and other assistance to the education of the Chinese features of the country, and has been youth of Hongkong.
A. further suggestion might be made. completed before the anticipated date.
| Timer. An association including all teachers in the Colony would probably lead to better co-ordination and mutual underetand- ing.
placed on the Retired List. He is re-arrived aboard destroyers. They states THREE DIVISIONS TO MOBILISE. shall pass through a four years course which is inhospitable and almost deserted,
placed by General Yannakstsas, ex- that the Cornwallia was struck aft in the Minister of War in the Skouloudis Cabinet.
RUSSO ROUMANIANS
ADVANCE.
LONDON, January 16th. A wireless Russian official "message Baya:-Southwards of Prales, the Russo- Roumanians have advanced two versts...
The Roumaniang boat back two night attaaks to the south of Rekoan, on tho Sushitza
Wo bombed vessels on the Danube in the region of Brailov,
GERMANS ATTACKED.
LONDON, January 18th.
stokehold and remained afloat for two hours, enabling all aboard to be saved. Those missing perished in the explosion,
RUSSIAN SUBMARINE ACTIVE
PETROGRAD, January 16th.
A wireless Russian message says:-One of our submarines sunk two ships near the Bosphorus,
Italian Front.
EARLIER CABLES, {TEROUGH_REVIER'S AGENCY.]
ENEMY EXPLODE LARGE MINE.
THE BITER BIT.
Roke, January 16th.
A German official wireless message states:-Hostile attacks between Casinu- A communiqué states:-After long and and Busita Valleys were unsuccesful. A difficult maining operations, the enemy counter-thrust drove back tho Rouexploded a large mine under our posi. manians, who had penetrated at one tions on the southern slopes of Mount point We took 202 prisoners.
Piccolo Laga Zuoi, but, owing to counter- mining, the tremendous explosion did not affect our troops. On the contrary, the collapse of the enemy's gallery caused bim most numerous casualties.
Our curtain of fire broke down strong Russian masses repeatedly attacking on both sides of Fundeni. The enemy's losses were great.
LONDON, January 16th. According to Beuter'a correspodent at Borne, the Federal Council announces that it considers it necessary to take more extensive precautionary measures,
It has therefore ordered three Division, of the Army to mobilise on January 4th, but it declares that it remains fully con fideat of the intentions of the belligerente towards the neutrality of Switzerland.
TANK" SHAMMING DEAD."
I have the honour to be, sir,
Yours very truly,
J. D. WRIGHT : University of Hongkong, 17th Jan- uary, 1917.
CAUSTIO.
WAR NEWS.
' BLOODIER THAN THIS.”
The way in which they are waging the war is in itself one of the strongest possible proofs of their determination to anxious to be killed or to suffer exposure and privations unnecessarily than the security in the towns and countryside in people who are living in comfort and the rear which they have defended: from their officers spare no pains in making the ruthless invader. Therefore they und their positions as secure and as weather- gone along the " proof as is possible. Wherever I have calm 31 sections of the front, that is to say, ever by far the greater proportion of it, I have found the most complete and elaborate organiza- tions, in the way of life-saving devices, importance mneneure, of contrivances and and, as a secondary but enormously arrangements for making existence in the trenches and behind them as much like normal peace-life as is possible.
can
COMFORT AND SECURITY IN THE TRENCHES,
These preparations are not made for a day or a week. They are the work of men who are ready, if necessary, for years more of war, but who have realized only fight badly and that dead inen that hungry and dispirited men
constructed, and are continually adding cannot fight at all. Therefore they have
to, all along their lines, miles and miles of subterranean shelters which no shall can reach, and great stretches of tunnels cut through earth and rocks, by which munitions and provisions of all kinds can continually keep passing up to the front even under the heaviest shell-fire without any risk of damage or death. They have established quite close the front trenches cooperative stores where ther can buy everything that men or soldier needs or pines for, from wine and oysters to pencils, and bootindes, at prices for lower than those which are the rule in Paris.
to
Mr. Frederick Palmer, the represents. tive of American newspapers on the European battlefields, has arrived in New York from the front, In the course of an interview he said:"The Hero is a little story with a moral not battle of the Somme is the greatest of A tank whose gear went wrong at a hard to read from one of our bases over
the war, surpassing that of Verdun in critical moment was assailed by the Huns the water. A certain commander thought intensity and the number of casualties, with rides, bombs, and mortars. Its out certain things which would be to the The battle will continue as long as the arew closed the port holes and the tank great advantage of the men under him, war, perhaps for two or three years sat back on its hunkers," while the and after perfecting his ideas, seat in Sizty thousand British and French guns enemy host swarmed round it and placed indents for what be wanted." Weeks have been in action on the same day, and bombs underneath its ugly frame. Not a passed. Then things began to happen, there have been 150,000 casualties in 24 sound came from the interior of the dis There: descended on him from various hours; while 1,500,000 men have been bit dainful master. The enemy sappers, quarters papers of all sizes and shapes since the Somme battle began. Next dead, brought up jacks and levers and things he had asked and what he wanted 1,000,000 If necessary when they have convinced that everybody inside was demanding why exactly he wanted the summer the British are prepared to lose attempted to overturn the mastoden. A them for. He read the first batches of twice the present gun power" Discus- Prussian colonel, besides himself with memes with due care and observance, and rage at the ineffectual efforts of his men, sat up at night wondering how to owering the ending of the war, Mr. Falmer discharged eight harmless shots from hisch as might disturb the comfort of any be bloodier than this I talked with Bir men's spirits are absolutely unflagging. them without any annecary acridity said "I only know that next year will revolver as the tack.
dug-out in charge anywhere At last he Douglas Haig, with General Joffre and When the enemy were thickly crowded descended to the nearest town, bought the with General Rawlinson, besides Generals round it, the brute unmasked its machine largest blue pencil he could find, and Noville and Mangin, who planned the Runs on every side and did terrible havoc wrote across all the memos:-"I want attacks which recovered Douaument and When reinforcements of our men arrived these things because there's a war on over
Vaux. Their idea was the same that I the ground all round the tank was strew here." Then he got them a trifle Iste, found everywhere a fight to a finish. I ed with German dead,
certainly-but he got them,
am certain the Allies will be victorious,"
They have built themselves theatres and chapels and hospitals, they have organized a regular supply of daily newspapers, they can buy clothes and boots, and vegtables and fruit, they have stoves and, in many places, electric light, and, hard as their life ranst necessarily be, it is in as many respects as possible the equivalent, and in some the superior, of ordinary civilian life in citics. Even the trenches themselves, or, at all events, the boyana, are carefully drained and floored with wooden elate, between which the water filters down into the earth below. They are differen from the old boyaux, even of last winter, BA Buckingham Palace from a hovel in 'n
And what is the consequence The Whitechapel slum.
They mean to go on, and they mens in win. It is because of that determination that they have organized all this highly' elaborated scheme of existence, because they have elaborated it, theis and, determination is all the stronger, and nothing in the world will quenon it.. That is the lessor of the trenches."