THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 1017.
THE NAVAL FIGHT: GERMAN SQUADRON THOROUGHLY DESTROYED.
SPEECH BY MR. BONAR LAW: EFFECTIVE CRITICISM OF "PEACE WITHOUT VICTORY.".
GERMANS ABANDON DANUBE POSITION,
Franco-Belgian Bront.
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH EXTTER'S AGINOS:]
DESTRUCTIVE FRENCH
ARTILLERY,
LONDON, January 26th, A French communiqué statca :--We carried on a destructive artillery fr against the enemy in the region of Monlinsson St. Ousent, and north-cast
of Hill 304.
at
There has been an appreciably violent artillery struggle in the sector Caurieres Wood.
EARLIER CARLES,
ACTIVITY ON BRITISH FRONT.
GOOD AEROPLANE WORK.
LONDON, January 25th. Field Marshal Si: Douglas Haig, re- raid ports:-The enemy attempted a south-westward of Loos, but was easily beaten off, leaving a number of dead and wounded,
We drove back a party to the south of Hallach, and raided trenchez south-east of Ypres. We also bombarded trencing to the south-east of Souches, with good results.
During some air-lighting, six German aeroplanes were destroyed, and three were driven down in a damaged condi- tion. One of ours was brought down and two are missing.
TRIALS OF STRENGTH..
SEVENTY BRITISH RAIDS.
PARIS, January 23rd.
A military experi draws attention to the fact that the adversaries on thes Western front are continually testing their respective strengths along the whole Tinc especially in the regions of the former battles of the Somme, Meuss, Champagno and Argonne. The other fronts; in the Vosges, Woevre and the Aisuc, aró also waking up.
The writer poings out that similar trials of strength preceded the battle of the Somme.
The British executed no fewer than seventy raids from Ypres to the Semmo between June 24th and July 1st, and the present situation is greatly similar
thereto.
FRENCH AERIAL SUCCESSES.
PARIS, January 24th.
A communiqué sintes:-We carried out several successful enups des unins at night to the south of Chilly, on the Somme, and wear. Regneville, in Woerre.
Four enemy aeroplanes were brought down, including Lieutenant Guynemer's #wenty-sixth.
Sixteen British naval aeroplanes bour-
bed blast furnaces in the Burbach basin at Sarre, apparently doing considerable damage,
GERMAN SET-BACK. VEENCH INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES.
PARIS, January 24th.
"The correspondent of La Liberte, at Verdun, says that the German effort north of Caurieres wood was not merely raid, but a strong attack by three regiments on a frout of a kilometre, fol lowing an intense all-day bombardment, Our 75% murderous precision checked and rolled back the assailants in dis
wrder.
The Balkans.
LATEST CABLES.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
GERMAN ADMISSION.
AMSTERDAM, January 24th. A German conlamaqué says:-We have abandoned the north bank of the Danube and the dits to the north of Tulcea
BARLINE CABLES.
شناس
IN ROCMANIA.
LONDON, January 24th.. A wireless Russian official message says:-We surprised, attacked and des troyed Bulgarians crossing the Georg of branch of the Danube and took 337 pri- sonors.
Russian Front.
LATEST CABLES. (TOROUGH RENTER'S 'AGENCY.}
GERMAN CLAIMS.
учени
LONDON, January 24th, A German wireless official message says: Considerable territory has been arrested from the Russians on both sider of the An River, and upwards of 1,500 prisoners have been taken,
EARLIER CABLES.
GERMAN ATTACK. RUSSIANS PUSTED BACK.
BONION, January 24th. A wireless Russian official message saya:-After strong artillery fighting, the Germans attacked between the Tarul
swamp and the River Aa, to the east of Kalncom, and pushed us back a mile and
BATTERED ENEMY CRAFT-
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
SPEECH.
A message from Ymuiden states that when the 769 arrived there, towed by | EFFECTIVE REPLY BY MR. BONAR
three Dutch tuge, eight dead members of the crew were frozen to the deck, and the use of axes was necessary to detach thera The torpedo tubes were knocked side
ways, while the signal tower, the search light, the bridge and one funnel were destroyed. The damage was due to gun fire, and also to ramming by a British boat, deeply denting the side of the 169.
Despite many degrees of frost, some of the crew were stripped to the waist, washing off the battle-stains. It is stated that only eighty out of a crew of 100
romain.
Conspicuous in the rigging, where it was frozed hard, was #t man's arm, which had been blown off.
LAW.
LONDON, 'January 24th. Mr. Bonar Law, speaking at Bristol, replying to President Wilson's specah, declared: The Germans so-called peace offer liss received from the Alles the only possible reply. We believe the essonce of this confict is a question which is as old as time, namely, the difference between right and wrong. We know that this is a war of risked aggres sion; that the crimes which have accoun panied the war, and which have been unknown in the world for centuries, are small compared with the initial crime of plunging the world into war by cold-
A number of the crew jumped over: blocded calculation-because those re- board nad wore drowned. The Co-sponsible thought it would pay. mander had both legs shot off. He has died in Ymuiden Hospital, Four officers
were killed.
The battered remnants of the German "High Sea Forces," constituting the pirates lair at Zeebrugge, are now limp ing to central ports or are trying to lurk along the coaste to Germany,
The whole story was one of swift and overwhelming disaster, when the British swooped down destroying the squadron quickly and thoroughly.
Continuing, Mr.' Bonar Lav said our
WAR ECONOMY.
ALCOHOL SUPPLY TO BE RESTRICTED.
LONDON, January 24th. The Food Controller has decided, with a view to augmenting the supply of barley and sugar for purposes of lood, and also economising transport labour ad fuel, that the beer output, from April 1st, will be 70 per cent, of the out put for the current financial year. The Government will correspondingly re strict the release of wines and spirits in
bond.
EARLIER CABLES.
THE LONDON EXPLOSION, THOUSAND HOMELESS PEOPLE.
LONDON, January 3rd.
HONGKONG MAILS,
INTERCEPTED BY THE ENEMY.
LONDON January 25th.
The Post Office notifies that lettore for China, Japan and Hongkong which reached London on January 7th and 8th, and for Persia on January 6th and 8th, were aboard the intercepted Ingeborg. which was on a voyage from the United Kingdom to Sweden.
IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE
INDIAN APPOINTMENTS.
APPROVED.
LONDON, "January, Zürd, The Westminster Gazette says that nothing could be more satisfactory than the selection of Indian representatives Sir for the Imperial War. Conference. So far, forty-six bodies, victims in the James Meaton is certainly one of the explosion, have been recovered. Twenty- very ablest Indian adutinistrators, and his recent speech at the Indian Nationa four people have died in hospital, one aim coincided with President Wilson's hundred and twenty are seriously injur-Congress shown that he sympathises with Sir effort to secure the present and future, and a hundred are slightly injured.Indian ideals and aspirations. pease of the world. It was not right to
There are a thousand homeless people, Satyendra Sinha has every qualification for being considered a thoroughly repre regard President Wilson's effort to in- and the damage is estimated ot duce the Senate to take the necessary £2,000,000.
sentative Indian, whose selection will be
steps, in regard to forming a League of
universally popular, and the Maharajað of Bikanir is an equally good examplo ¦ as altogether Utopian, at the sub- jeet was not an abstract question for the
of the ruling chiefs who have rendered future, but a question of life and death
very great service in many ways in the now.
LONDON, January 23rd. A movement is on foot in the City
to extend a civio welcome to representa
Proceeding, Mr. Bonar Law dwelt on
THE SUMATRA RISING,
WORK OF GERMAN MISSIONARIES.
LONDON, January 23rd. According to an Amsterdama message
A German seaman stated that the the past efforts to render war impossible, the Telegraaf correspondent at Weltevre
squadron had to dash out of Zeebrugge or be frozen in.
LATEST CABLES.
SINKINGS,
MORE HUNNISH CRUELTY,
LONDON, January Kib. Three Fleetwood trawlers were sunk by the gunfire of a German submarine. The crews landed after several hours' exposare in small boats, scantily clad, in bitterly cold weather.
EARLIER OANI S. AJOTRES BRITISH CAPTAIN
den says the Dutch East Indies -news-
or at least to mitigate its horrors, and showed that Germany had, in a whole-papers have issued a warning against the interference of German missionaries salo manner, violated convention and
in Government affairs, which was partly pledges in this matter. No neutral
qwer was able to stop that; no neutral the caves of the recent rising in the Power bad, indeed, protested; so we
Batak region of Sumatra,
must take other means to secure the peace of the world.
Ele
In conclusion, Mr. Bonar Lav said :- We rejected the German negotiations offer because peace now would mean peace based on a German victory and leave her military machine upbroken with a balo of success surrounding it. The controllers of that machine would
Lospor, January 3rd.
renew preparations for war, choosing a The following sinkings are reported:-convenient time to begin. What Presid Port Nicholson, Matina, Mohersfield, ent Wilson is longing for we are fighting Baron Semphit, Carlyle, and Lonciara for, our men-folk are risking their lives for, and we mean to soente it, (Cheors.)
TAKEN PRISONER.
a half to the north. Fighting continues.(British), Kingata Maru · (Japanese), ARTILLERY DUEL NEAR RIGA. Jotaufpell (Norwegian). Kamma (Swe
LONDON, January 24th dish), a Danish schooner and a British
trawler.
A Berlin official message says: The artillery duel has revived south-west of Riga.
Naval Activities.
LATEST CABLES, (FHROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
THE NAVAL FIGHT.
THE ADVENTURES OF "V G9."
YNEIDEN, January 24th
The Captain of the · Mohacsfield has been taken prisoner, two of the Johacs field's crew have been lost, and four of the Kamma's crew are missing. General.
LATEST CABLES. {THROUGH "REUTER'S AGENOY.]
BRITISH MAN-POWER.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF ARMY
AND AGRICULTURE.
LONDON, January 24th, Lord Derby, Secretary of State for War, and Mr. B. E. Prothero, President
of the Board of Agriculture, state that the argent military situation requires the taking of men under 25 from even an industry so essential as agriculture On the other hand, agriculture asks to
GERMAN COMMENTS.
AMSTERDAM, January 24th. The Cologne Gapette suss it cannot see how the world would be brought nearer peace by President Wilson' speech, unless America attempts to practise what sho preaches."
The Rheinisch Westfalische Zeitung say--Peace without victory uwans' that the Central Powers will be deprived of ther gains., Acess to the ses for every great nation means that Germany mast retcin Belgium. What the Dardanelles to Russia the English channel means to Germany. ATTEMPT ON LIFE OF SPANISH PREMIER.
LONDON, January 25th.
DANISH RESTRICTION
REMOVED.
LONDON, January 23rd.
It is officially announced that the ratriction on the import of tea into Denmark, announced on September 11th, his been cancelled,
IMPRISONED AMERICANS.
ANGER AGAINST GERMANY,
WABBINGTON, January 23rd. Mr. Gerard, Americau Ambassador in Berlin, has cabled that the Yarrowdale has reached Swinemuende with 489 of the crows of ships she has sunk, includ- ing 102 neutrals. The message says that Mr. Gerard is unable to secure a aatis-
factory statement concerning the ine- prisonment of Americans among the other neutrals. Irritation is growing in America in consequence.
PEACE PROPOSALS. PRESIDENT WILSON'S VIEWS.
LONDON, January 23rd. the Senate, said that no
President Wilson, in his speed before covenant of operative peace that did not include the poples of the New World can suffice to keep the future safe against war, yet the only peace which American peoples could join in guaranteeing most satisfy the principles of American Governments. Mero agreements do not make peace scuro. It would be absolutely necessary to create a force as a guarantor of the permanency of the settlement, so much greater than the force of any untion now engaged or may alliance formed or pro- bination could withstand it. Peace must made secure by the organised major bres of mankind.
An attempt has been mads on the lifected, that no nation or probable com of the Premier, Senor Romanoses, while travelling from Seville to Madrid. The
The survivors of co say that a flotilla of 11 vessels left a German port on Mon- day afternoon and at 3 o'clock yesterday morning "discovered the British abeam.
The At long range they oponed fire. British marksmanship was most accurate, and 69 was soon hit. She ecap mur- vellously, for she was faced by two British squadrons of four to six big ships each. There must have been treach ery, because every precaution had bpn setain all its skilled labour. The con-express ran over two sleepers which had taken to avoid an encounter, steering and compass rero destroyed the vessel was steered by the stars and the They were making for the mouth of the Ems river, but sighted four British destroyers when off Emuiden, so made for that port. The main action was fought 30 miles off Zeebrugge escaped owing to her being the rear guard of the flotilla. They did not know the fate of the other vessels, but they must have suffered badly.
screws.
As the
EARLIER CABLES,
GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT,
LONDON, January 24th. A German official message, received by wireless, states:-Our torpedo boats en- countered the English at Hoofden, We Bank one destroyer and observed another by aeroplane to be in a sinking condition. One of our torpedo boats, damaged The second attack was preceded by and rendered unseaworthy, ran liquid fire, and was equally costly to the Ymuiden, Cermans. One Company alcae lost All the other lips returned forty-one.
were slight losses
into
The
ficting claims are only reconcilable it the soldier and the farmer each yields Instead of the 60,000 offered something. by the military tribunals as pot essen- tial, only 30,000 will be called up with out the War Cabinet's sanction. military authorities have arranged sub- stitutes These will include a propor tion of men skilled in the management of horses, also the return from the colours of men accustomed to the steam cultivator. They will also send other
been placed on the raile
the train was not derailed.
Fortunately
A WAR PROGRAMME.
war,
tives of the Dominions and India attend ing the fortheoning War Conference. It is suggested to take the form of a recep tion and the presentation of the Freedom
of the City.
The date of the first meeting of the special War Cabinet has not yet been decided upon, but it seems likely that it cannot occur before the middle of March.
The Times Buys that Bir Satyendra Sinha is a great man, of great attaur ments and calm and balanced judgment. Bo enjoys the confidence of the people of Bengal, to whom his selection is c special compliment. The Maharajah of Bibanir has rendered invaluable servies
during the war. Sir James Meston is one of the most, distinguished Indian civil servants, and has the reputation of esteem of the people of North India. Ho enjoying in an exceptional degree the is an exceedingly sympathetic adminis
trator.
THE KING'S® ́A.D.Cs,
LONDON, January 25th. General Bir Herhort Plumer, General Sir Archibald Hunter and General Sir William Robertson have been appointed Aidos-de-Chimp to His Majesty the King.
BRITAIN AND INDIA,
STRIKING SPEECH BY LORD RONALDSHAY,
LONDON, January 22nd. Presiding at a lecture given by Lady Katherine Stuart, under the auspices of the East India Association, Lord Ronald- hay agreed that the insularity of the Englishman was an obstacle to mutual understanding ami sympathy between the two races. At least an equal obstacle wem the ancient social entors, traditions, and strict rules of caste. For the removal of those difficulties they must look to time
and sympathy, Yery much could be dono by determined goodwill on both sides, He knew from his own pleasant experi eive the lengths that high-caste Indinam were prepared to go in an endeavour ty stretch out the hand of friendship and hospitality. Goodwill was being aided by other factors, for to-day, under Lord Morley's reform, Indians were now work- ing side by side with Englishmen in the LONDON, January 24th. The Solicitor General, Mr. Gordon highest positions in the Government, to Tewart, K. C., at Manchester, referring of common responsibilities and burders, the great advantage of both. The sharing to the Allies' refusal of the insolent helped them to understand one another.
A BRITISH VIEW.
BE-OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. peace-offering, asked:Did any The doubts of cautious Englishmen had nan with sense and spirit on this side of the water, or on any side of any water, magice it prudent or practicable, or wen tolerable, to contemplate a future wherein presumptuous pride of unscru- pulous brutality was not defeated and verthrown? We would win for Europe and humanity the countless blessings of an enduring peace.
LONDON, January 24th.
The Press Bureau sanounos that on
the pecusion of the re-opening of Parlia- tent, as the country is at war, the King
and Queen and their suite will arriva
in plain carriages, and will be attended, besides the Household Cavalry, bran
PRESS OPINIONS.
been dispelled by experience, and Indians. had learned that the motives actuating Englishmon were not a mere sordid desíte to grasp and hold place and power. There might be room for legitimato differences of opinion regarding the pate of the advance, but there could not be any whatsoever the point that we should proceed steadily and conscien- tiously with the policy we had deliberate ly adopted, of associating the best
tellect and abilito most
of India, in the task of governing.
Anxions
LONDON, Jajuary, th The Daily Telegraph deprecates the and points out that the President has, for regretted the adoption, by querulous comment on President Wilson for ordered progress on these lines mest Section of the populace, of methods of terrorism,
men to assist in the ploughing and sow-imperial escort of officers of overseas and the first time, made clear his willingn for they best realised how seriosa drig
ing, thus assuring a volume of labour exceeding that available during the past e'ght months,
JAPANESE POLITICAL
TROUBLES.
TOKIO, January 24th. The political crisis is purely due to domestic controversies on the defeat of There the Government in the Diet. Dissolution
is expected.
Indian forces.
The procession within the House will be of a Naval and Military character.
INDISCREET SPANISH
OFFICER.
to support the projected League of with force of arms if necessary, thus these methods imposed on the rate of pro.. adumbrating a vital change in the tradi- gress, Another helpful factor was the tions and practice of the United States. European conflagration, for comradeship The journal says that, broadly speaking, on the battlefield was infinitely more the conditions of the co-operative peace, potent in its effects than any obstacle to stipulated by President Wilson, favour co-operation, or any social custom or the Allies' cause, but the President in tradition,
merely using catchwords when be talks of Mirza Abbas Ali Baig (member of the the freedom of the seas. His reference to Council of India) said that Lord Ronald- MADRIP, January 24th.
peace without victory is absolutely bear's speech would dispel some, at least, Major Francisco, a member of the wildering in view of the Germans' crimes. of the misconceptions and misunderstand Spanish General Staff, is to be court-
The Morning Post concludes a criticism ings which had gathered round long of President Wilson, as follows"After strings of quotations in Bengali papers In the course of a speech at a dinner listening with greatest interest to Presi- from his past speeches and writings. Ha given by the German Colosy at Barcedent Wilson's instructive essay on the art would go to Bengal with a clean slate, a, he attacked the Allies und toasted of reconstructing the world, we respect spart from some manifest prepossessions. te triumph of the Central Powers. fully beg leave to continue the war" in favour of India,
martialled..