Page
THE
CLOSING
WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH. 1917.
IN UPON LENS.
GERMAN PAPERS STRONGLY CRITICISE CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH.
· QUARTER OF A MILLION DISCHARGED SOLDIERS
TALK OF PEACE. PROTEST AGAINST ANY
ITALIANS CONTINUED SUCCESS.
Franco-Belgian Bront
LATEST CABLES. (TSRUUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
BRITISH FRONT.
GERMAN CLAIMS,
LONDON, August 23rd.
A German communiqué sṭates: -British
KILLING THE WOUNDED. HOSPITALS DELIBERATELY BOMBED BY GERMANS.
LONDON,. August 23rd. It is established that the Germans are now deliberately selecting hospitals and pleasing stations for a secesion of aerial attacks, leaving alone military objective in the near vicinity.
There wore three such attacks on the 19th inst. In the first three women nurses were wounded. In the second, ons doctor was killed and three rounded. In the third, nine Germans were wounded. whilst lying in their beds,
The
Last night similar attacks occurred on hospitals, where the wounded Germana became noisy and panic-stricken. LENS A DEATH-TRAP.
British wore silent and self-controlled. ANOTHER” CANADIAN SUCCESS..
Mr. Beach Thomas, in bis descriptive LONDON, August 24th account of what took pince, says that a Reuter's Correspondent at Headquar great English surgeon was visiting a hop ters records another Canadian successpital, accompanied by American surgeons, Early in the morning they crossed the when the bombing begin. Souchez, deploying and pushing on along echoed to guttural German streams. The The hospital a seven hundred yards front. There was building was plunged in darkness, but a stiff, fighting around, a great sing heap, flash-lamp revealed a horrible scent. full of machine gun posts and dug-outs, There was a mass of debris in which three, and tlsewhere there was a great deal of hundred pound bombs had inade huge hand to hand fighting. The result of a craters, suggesting that the raider was brilliant operation is that General one of the newest air giants. Currie's left Bank in secured from the bomb struck a ward full of Germans, who The first South and Lene now lies deep in a close were heaped in every attitude of horrible, gripping enclave. Prisoners admit that fantastic death. The doctors state that life within Lene is unendurable.
in all their experience they have not wit- Twe divisions of Prussian Guards nessed such a horrible scene Another which had been held in reserve forward suffered as severely as the German- special counter-attacks, were recently brought up and suffered so severely that apparently they are incapable of further formidable effect. The enemy is unable The advantage of yesterday's success is to employ his artillery to its fullest greater than the advance of a few hund-advantage, owing to the smallness of the
attacks on a fifteen kilometre front be- tween Langemarck and Hollebeke were repulsed, except east of St. Julien and the Ypres Menin road. The majority of the British tanks were put out of action,
FIGHTING FOR HIGH GROUND.
LONDON, August 23rd. Renter's Correspondent British Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, re- ports:-All yesterday's gains were main tained in Flanders, and even added to, despito violent German artillery fire and
counter-attacks
at
red yards suggests, for we are now fight- ing for the high ground dominating the whole taelinl position in Northern Belginn
We have now bitten another slice off the greatest altitude of the Ridge, which is towards the cast of the Inverness Copse, from wiņto it, tonds to the north- east through Glencorse Wood, the Nonme Bossehan and the western portion of the Polygon-di-Zonnebeka Naturally, the Lenemy is concentrating to the utmost to retain this commanding position, hence
the bitter fighting.
wird.
Aerial Activities.
LATEST CABLES, (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.}
THE AIR RAID, salient. Our command of the ground
NEW KIND OF BOMB.. enables us to pour a continuous and harassing fire upon the enemy's com
LONDON, Angust 24th. wunications during the night, which The Germans used new needle-pointed seriously restricts him in getting up bombs at Ramsgate, obviating "duds." supplies. Lens, in short, has become nothing but a death trap for the enemy.
EARLIER CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT.
TOTAL PRISONERS AT VERDUN..
PARIB. August 23rd.
114
A communiqué states: --- There great enemy artillery fire north of the
sector.
Sines the 20th inst, we have captured 7,040 prisoners, including 180 officers, and 600 wounded prisoners, 24 guns of all calibres, and over 1,000 machine-guns. Also nine gine were destroyed.
The extenį of the Gorming ensualties Aisne, notably in the Brage-Hurtebise agnnot be judged by normal enteulations of the ratio of prisoners to the rest of the hostess. In a struggle of this
character the prisoners are bound to be few. The German High, Command is sacrificing his reserves recklessly in a policy of immediate and incessant heavy Counter-attacks. No fighting is more costly, and the Germans are assuredly reeling under the smashing blows at Lens and Flanders, where they have massed troops to the weakening of other paris of their line.
The magnificent success of the French at Verdun is causing the Germans the gravest convery-
There is reason to believe that the Crown Prince is calling upon Prince Rupprecht for uncenur.
The weather bus again broken, and it is raining heavily.
HEAVY FIGHTING
LENS.
AROUND
AEROPLANES DO GOOD WORK.
LONDON, August 24th. Sir Douglas Haig reports heavy local fighting all day long for Greencrassier, an important enemy stronghold to the south of Lens. We obtained a foothold this morning and beat off several counter. attacks, with heavy enemy losses. Fierce fighting continues.
The communiqué again records numer eus heavy aerial bombardments of avia tion grounds, aerodromes, bivouacs, and machine-gun convoys behind the enemy lines.
A QUIET DAY.
A communiqué states:-The day has generally been quiet, with mutual artil- lery activity on both banks of the Mouse, FIGHTING IN SMALL GROUPS.
FIERCE HAND-TO-HAND ENCOUNTERS.
LONDON, August 23rd. Correspondente state that where the Southern Irish, mentioned yesterday, were cut up, the Scottish attacked on the 22nd inst., against the sinister forte of Beek House, Borry Farm, Vampire Point, which guard the Bremen Kedoubt to the south-east of Bt. Julien.
GERMAN VERSION.
Logout, August 23rd. A German commute states:We bombert military establishments at Mar gate, Ramsgate and Dover Three enemy and two German aeroplanes were lost.
BAULINK CABLES,
AIR RAID CASUALTIES.
LONDON, August 23rd. The Press Bureau announces that the total cusualties resulting from yesterday's eroplane raid on Ramsgate and Doyer are eleven killed and 20 injured. Russian bront.
LATEST CABLES. [TEROUGH EZTTER'S AGENCE.) THE RUSSIAN FRONT. GERMAN REPORT.
LONDON, August 23rd.
A Gorman communiqué states:-The Russians evacuated positiona west of the river as far as the Oding--Bigaun line, We occupied the region without fighting.
EARLIER CABLES ROUMANIANS TAKE 500
PRISONERS. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED.
LONDON, August 23rd.
A Romanian communiqué states: On the 11th inst, enemy attacks to the north of Susita Valley forced us back slightly but he most dashing counter attacks drove back the enemy again as far as the Susita Valley and Saturnü to the south east of Panciu..
ASSISTANCE FOR RUSSIA, THE POPE'S PEACE NOTE. JAPANESE TROOPS TO BE SENT TO FATHER VAUGHAN'S OUTSPOKEN
EASTERN RRONT.
PARIA, August 23rd.
OPINION,
Losson, August 24th. The Petit Journal states that the diff Father Bernard Vaughan, speaking at culties in the way of Japanese interven-York, stated that the Pope did not fully tion, in the war in Europe have been re-realise the nature of the Allies use moved. A glorious dawn will be syn. We could not make a peace which would bolised by the apppearance of the Japan-bo an armed neutrality until the foe was ese flag on the Russian Front.
again ready. The fate of Poland, Anglo-Belgian Front
fate of Armenia, Serbia, Belgium and party of Italian Proni
France would be the fate of our island home if the foɑ got the opportunity Therefore we could not sheathe the sword until the flag emblazoned with Kultur
EARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGKNOY.).
FREEDOM OF THE SEAS."
SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT BY frightfulness was fulled down.
THE ITALIANS. CARRYING HEIGHTS AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET.
ROME, Aungst 23rd.
HOME, August 24th. The Allied Ministers, "accredited to the Vatican, inquired the real meaning of the
freedom and common cujoyment of the seas." They were informed that it meant.
Wilson's message. the same as enunciated in President
MILITARY EXPERTS VIEWS
LONDON, August 23rd. General Maurice, Director of Military Operations on the Military Staff, asys that the Germans are fighting very hard with many guns at Lens, but we are now right into the town from the north-west and the south-west. He declares that exhaustion and losses, had to withdraw more than double the number of divisione from the British Front than we had,
The meaning of the false claims of victories in the German amaniqués was that the German people had to be ing sufferings and inconveniences, For encouraged in view of their accomidate
frequently breaking down, coal was get- example, the German railway traffic was ting source, etc. The Germans have the French front to the British front. recently transferred many troops from
important the Italian offensive, really
successes had been gained might lead to very important deve
which Iopnients.
The Russian breakdown had not yet involved serious strategie disadvantages. In connection with the German claim that they captured 40,000 prisoners, this was surprisingly low. Moreover, half
Austrians to obtain reinforcements from
The Italian offensive has forced the expressioni in the Papal Note of true of them were unarmed. the Eastern Front. The twelfth division
from Galicia. The Austrians were pre- is composed mainly of recent arrivals
but the Italian troops attacked with hur paring to remove six gens from near Selo,
ricope force and captured the weapons.
repulsed near Korite the Italians took After nine counter-attacks had been
giment. the offensive and captured an entire re
A REMINDER FROM DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.
LONDON, August 24th.
tion of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors The Secretary of the National Federa
has telegraphed to the King and the Premier saying that a quarter of a mil
Marne, the Aine,
ion men who fought at Mons, the Ypres. and
bayonet Hills 241 and 247. They attacked Another Brigade assaulted with the
at least seven times and took thousands Jutland protest against discussing peaco of prisoners.
Et Stockholm und elsewhere. messure continues Are all our sacrifices The
to be in vain. Remember that we ones The helped to save Europe."
The following morning they proceeded to assault the strong lines before Selo, despite the determined resistance. enemy abandoned almost the entire first: line from Plava to the sea on a front of 60 kilometres. A document captured fron an enemy airman admits that the Aus trian aeroplanes were outnumbered by thrae to one.
Prisonera are still Howing in. SIXTEEN THUSAND PRISONERS.
Loxion, August 23rd.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR
CONDEMNED.
HIS OVERTHROW DEMANDED.
AMSTERDAM, August 24th. A large section of the Berlin papers are keenly disappointed at the Chan cellor's specch
A wireless Italian officint message states that the Italians Juve made progress northward and southward of the Julian Front Counterattacks were repulsed And position to the south east of Basso-with this standpoint. faits carried,
The Italians have taken prisoner 16,000 men and 350 Beers up to yesterday,
Aeroplanes and an airship dropped twelve tons of bombs on the enemy. Naval Artivities.
MABLIER CABLES.
„ĮTAÀOUGB REQTER'S AGENCY.] ZEEBRUGGE BOMBARDED. AMSTERDAMI, August 23rd. The Telegrant states that British ships have bombarded Zeebrugge. General.
LATEST CABLES. {THROUGH REUTRE'S AGENOT.) COAL MIMERS WAGES. TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT ADVANCE SUGGESTED.
LONDON, August 24th. The Telegraph states that the Coal Con. troller is maceting: the Minera Federation on the 28th inst. to consider an all round increase in wages of twenty five per cent, representing an additional wage bill of £500,000.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
IN FRANCE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY.
LONDON, August 24th.
A committee of famous doctors, presid.
Up to the present we have taken 500 ed over by Sir Francis Howard, is pro prisoners
Violent enemy attacks between Slanienceeding to France to enquire into the and Tirguocna were driven back almost personal administration of the Army
Medical Corps.
everywhere in disorder. RUSSIANS HOLDING THEIR OWN.
LONDON, August 23rd.
A little to the north are other forts where the Ulstermen fought, and the Mid- land regiments are now assaulting these and meeting with the same difficulties. The ground is still a mère bog, in which the Tanks are sinking. The enemy relied tainly on machine-guns which are skil We repulsed an attack to the north of fully arranged for enfilade barrages. A wireless Russian official messago the Ypres Rouler railway and advanced The Midlandere captured one blockhouse, says: We retired under pressure in the slightly to the north-east of Langemarck, taking 47 prisoners, Others penetrated direction of Tukkum. The enemy
Air fighting during the past week the machine gun barrages as far as Hill Has been incessant, more severe than in 35, while on the right flank the Scots any week of the war period. The change fércely assaulted the Bremen Redoubt, of wind favoured our aeroplanes yester. which is apparently still holding out, day and we brought down twelve and The fighting is split up into inextric drove down siz. Two of ours are misable groups, and there is no doubt we shall sing. One landed on the Ostend beach..
have to pay the price of the most desper ate fighting of the war,
Our aeroplanes dropped five, tons of explosives on objectives behind the enemy's lines.
Colonel Repingtop of the Timer states that the Canadians have broken six Ger man divisions at Lens
еDE
SUFFERERS IN SALONIKA. MANSION HOUSE FUND OPENED
LONDON, August 24th. The Lord Mayor has inaugurated trated trenches at Zborych but our coun-Mansion House Fund for the relief of ter-attack drove them out.
the sufferers in Salenika. The firm of The enemy, occupied a height to the Rothschild and Sons have given £1,000. north-west of Jazlavetz but a counter at tack restored the position."
JAPANESE MISSION TO U.S.A
Fighting continues in the direction of
Ocna.
The Roumanians repulsed attacks at Soveis.
GERMANY AND PEACE. FOREIGN SECRETARY'S SIGNI- FICANT UTTERANCE.
COPENHAGEN, August 23rd In the Reichstag, Dr. Kuhlmann, the new Foreign Secretary, in the course of
studying public opinion in enemy coun an illuminating speech, deprecated a policy based on force alone. He advocat ed a policy based on justice as well as forve. He emphasised the importance of tries so that a peace offer should not he uttered when a conciliatory spirit a made untimely or that a sharp word appearing. He affirmed that the last year of the war is probably beginning.
THE OBTUSE GERMAN A German wireless report states:-In
that 811,000 tons of shipping were sunk the course of the Chancellor's speech in the Reichstag on August 21st, ba claimed during July. "When we take into con- sideration our results on the one hand and the enemy's failures on the other, it appears to be incomprehensible that our enemies do not show a disposition to prepare the way for the consideration of terms of peace.
SCOTLAND'S
INDUST MAL PART IN THE GREAT WAR. LRY LOWELL BELLETT, UNITED PRESS STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The Radical Allgemeine Zeitung · pro- claims the necessity for the Chancellor's explain Lloyd George's confidence, that A day on the River Clyde helps to overthrow, stating that only a man with the submarine menace will be beaten.
definite plan can now conclude peace."
A drum roar
from thousands of steam riveters and a battlefield drumfire The Liberal Vossische Zeitung agres miles of wooden and steel scaffoldings of crashing hydraulic hammers unending with workmen swarining over them like of lifting a county courthouse and setting flies; towering cranes that lonk capable it down in the next county, these are some of the reasons.
VASHINGTON, August 24th. President Wilson welcomed the Japan- ese Mission in warm terms. The inembers of the Commission are gratified at the The Germans unsuccessfully attacked in cordiality expressed towards them in all the direction of Focsani.
the cities through which they passed.
ค
The Lakalamitger says that the Section leaves paraful impression. “ The majority in the Reichstag secos anxious to retain the prace resolution as a sort of creed which must be subscribed to word for word by the Government,
The Labour organ, Moran Zeitung Hays that Dr. Michaelis' first act in the main committee has been a failure.
The Socialist Vornaerts blames the pan-Germans for not permitting the con- fiet to be temporarily solved by the change in the Chancellorship. They do not hesitate, it says, at plunging the Empire in the midst of a most terrible war into Anarchy
GETTING BID OF UNDESIRABLES. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT'S STRICT MEASURES.
LONDON, August 24th- The Russian Government is taking rigorous steps to purge Petrograd of undesirables. It is clearing out charita- ble institutions and deporting old gen darmes, secret police and other dangerous Front many who have been wrongly elements. It is also dispatching to the exempted and is strictly uniting the
incoming population.
THE CONFERENCE AT MOSCOW,
PETROGRAD, August 24th. The National Conference at Moscow will be merely consultative.
of Ministers, made a statement regarding M. Kerenski, presiding at the Council
agrarion situation. the military, Snancial, industrial and
KING'S CONGRATULATIONS TO ROUMANIA,
of
Girl thousands und thousands. trouseretted girls furnish so toany addi. tional reasons.
And then there are certain reasons visible to the eye concerning which method of diet warfare agit pub. secrecy is imposed. They constitute a murines and are ulready proving their effectiveness, but more than that cannot be told.
The Clyde was the greatest shipbuilding Now it dwarfs its own activities of three centre in the world before the war began. years ago. For 22 miles on the side of the river immense plants crowd against one another; the same is true for half the distance on the other side of the river. Soon it will be the whole distance on both sides.
The world's biggest fighting craft went down the ways here a few days ago, but work stopped many months ago on what was to be the world's biggest merchant ship, instead, smaller ships and more of them are being built. Rows ou rows of skeletons, some bare, some partly dressed in their armourplate, show how the new policy of building standardized ships is being carried out. Builders re port it means 40 per cent. gain in speed of construction. German submarines. has greatly increased "Unless the destructiveness of the
practically take care of the situation by the extension of British shipping will autumn," said Fred Lobnitz, munitions dircetor for Scotland. This does not take into actuint the huge preparations under way in America.
More than one shipbuilder along the probable acceleration of America's ont- river displayed a keen perception of the Put
rely on women and girls for an immense The fact that they are compelled to proportion of their labour has ceased to be considered a handicap, the ship builders say. Aside from such work as calls for sheer muscle, they declared, the women are completely qualified, as LONDON, August 2ard.
proved by the fact that they are averag The Press Bureau announces that His
ing a larger output per person than men Majesty King George telegraphed the war. The same increase in output since in the same work averaged before the King of Roumania hie admiration for the the war began, of course, has been shown magnificent way the Busso-Roumanians are fighting.
The
British
are by the men has be peoples are bakle The Franco-British aro striking automatie devices take the heavy lifting closely following the course of the great
Women are used chiefly in work where hard at the common engmy, and will con-off their hands. tinue to render the Russo-Roumanians the utmost possible assistance.***
EARLIER CABLES RUSSIA'S CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY.
PETROGRAD, August 23rd. The Elections for the Constituent September 30th to November 25th. The Assembly have been postponed from Assembly will meet on December 11th.
Thus feminine hands are seen turning ont. 15 inch abella practically without masculine assistance, doing the bulk of the work on the famous British tanks, gun earringes and, naturally, on aero- planes and airships.
The very excellence of their work- manship makes certain the problem of adjusting labour conditions after the war will be a big one "Just now they are Lobnits, and that is the winning of the giving thought to one thing only," mid-
wark