Page
THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,
SUPREME ALLIED CONFERENCE AT VERSAILLES.
PREPARATIONS TO MEET THE GERMAN ATTACK.
THE SITUATION IN GERMANY. FACTORIES UNDER COMPLETE MILITARY
CONTROL.
DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED IN THE WEST.
ranco-Belgian Bront
Hemal Activities,
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENOT.]►
BRITISH FRONT.
ENEMY TRENCHES RAIDED.
LONDON, February 4th Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- porte-We raided enemy trenches cast- ward of Hargicourt.
There was hostile artillery firing at Lens and north-eastward of Gavrelle. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED.
LONDON, February 4th.
LATEST CABLEN. [2020UGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
NAVAL AIRCRAFT ACTIVE,
LONDON, February 4th.
COMMUNAL KITCHENS THEIR ESTABLISHMENT BY FOOD MINISTER.
LONDON, February 5th, The Ministry of Food announces the early establishment throughout the coun try of a system of communal kitchens.
The local authorities will own and manage them, the Government providius 23 per cent of the initial outlay and alto guaranteeing 55 per cent, of the initial working expenses,
The kitchens are intended for the use of all classes and it is suggested that the dining room of the House of Commons might be placed on the communal basis.
に
A GERMAN'S HIGH TREASON,
AMSTERDAM, February 4th Formuerte states that the trial of Herr Dittmann has begun before an extra ordinary court-martialis
A telegram from Berlin says that Herr Dittmann has been sentenced to five years confinement in a fortress for at- attempted high treason; also to two months imprisonment for resisting the authori. ties.
The Admiralty reports: -Our sircraft yesterday bombed an aerodrome
Houttave.
We brought down one chemy machine and drove down uncontrollable.
Two of our machines are missing.
ITALIAN TOWNS BOMBED.
LONDON, February 4th
An Italian official report states:- Enemy aviators bombed Venice, Padua, Treviso and Mestre, hitting a civil
A communique states:-After violent artillery preparation the Germans hast night attempted to attack in the sector west of Fresnes, which was easily re-hospital at Treviso. pulsed,
Altogether there are 18 casualties.
Between January 1st and 3let 13 enemy aeroplanes were brought down Italian Bront. and 15 others seriously damaged fell uncontrolled over their own lines
AVIATION
LONDON, February 3rd
Field Marshal Bir Douglas Haig re- ports:Our aeroplanes, yesterday drop- ped four tons of bombs on various targets, including the railway station. and ridings at Valenciennes.
They fired several thousand rounds on the enemy in the trenches and back areas. We brought down five and drove down
five enemy machines,
One of our machines is missing. Our aviators bombed the enemy's aero- dromes and billets last night.
BOMBING THE ENEMY,
LONDON, February 4th, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig states--A strong party of the enemy attempted to zaid a post northward of Havrincourt but was driven off with heavy loss.
Another party timbed a post south- ward of Armentieres. Five of our men are missing.
LATEST CABLES.
{THROUGH-KHUTER'S IGENOY,]
ITALIAN FRONT.
ANGLO ITALIAN AERIAL SUCCESSES.
LONDON, February 3rd. An Italian official report states:-We brought down sight enemy aeroplanes, and the British brought down six. Naval Activities.
LATEST UABLES.
THROUGE BEDIER'S AGENCY,
GERMANY'S IMAGINARY
SUCCESSES.
BOLO'S TRIAL COMMENCED
IN PARIS.
WITNESSES FROM
CONSTANTINOPLE.
PARIS, February 5th.
The trial of Belo Pasha and others has began before a Court Martial.
Counsel for the defence pointed out that a state of war did not exist between Franco and Turkey and requested an adjournment in order to call witnesses from Constantinople and piss Mr. Hearst, the newspaper proprietor of the United
States
The Court refused the application on the ground that it and no power to wmpel attendance,
COMMONER FINED FOR HOARDING FOOD.
LONDON, February 4th.
Mr MacCaw Member of the House of Cormione, bas been fined £400 for hoard. ing food. THE LORDS AND ELECTORAL REFORM
1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, 1918.
THE
GERMAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
LONDON February 4th.
LATEST CABLES NORWEGIAN SHIPPING
LOSSES.
LONDON, February 5th. Light in thrown on the hitherto obscure Kituation in Ukraine by the speech of a Reuter learns that twelve Norwegian representative of the Rada at Brestli vessels were lost in January through the
war and eight Norwegian sailors killed. GERMAN LABOUR REVOLT. FACTORIES UNDER MILITARY CONTROL
o stued that 90 per oont of the Rada's candidates were elected to the Constituent Assembly compared with less than 10 per cent of the Bolshevik candidates in Ukraine.
LONDON, Feprunry ard
The Ukranian Congress of Soviets at A Copenhagen telegram states that the Kieff on December 3rd overwhelmingly Military Commander of the Berlin Dis declared for the Rada, upon which a trict has issued a proclamation declaring small group of Bolsheviks went to important factories to bg 'under com- Kharkoff and declared itself the New plete military control. Employes will be unless they resumo Government of the Ukranian People's court-martialled
work on Monday morning; Republio,
Court-martials in Berlin are authorised to pass death sentences, the execution to occur within twenty-four hours after
Bentence.
repro The latter's delegates hardly sented the town of Kharkoff, much lees the Ukranian Republic,
RECOGNITION OF UKRAINE REPRESENTATIVES.
AMSTERDAM February 4th. Alter hearing the statement by the Ukrainian Rada representative at Bren- thitovsk, in which he ferociously attacked M. Trotsky, the Central Powers' Delega. tion decided to recognise the representa- aves of the Rada as being entitled to speak for Ukraine.
SUPREME ALLIED WAR COUNCIL
FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL
LONDON, February 4th.
AMSTERDAM, February 4th. The strike called by the syndicalists for today is in no wise a general one. Only
small percentage of the employers at the various works has hitherto struck. La mountad gendarmerie are patrolling the streets, thus preventing the strikers from forming crowds.
The
EARLIER CABLES,
MILITARY VENGEANCE.
AMSTERDAM, February 4th.
A telegram from Berlin announce that the military are summoning to the colours all soldiers on leave and men ro- called from the army for essential trades who participated in the strike
A telegram from Trieste announces that shipyard and factory workers struck
Reuter's Correspondent says —— Besides the Military representatives each country has Political and Naval representatives at Versailles Brisby, the object of the Wer Council is to create unity of policy-taking into account theerday, but resumed work to day after economic and political, besides the purely military and naval factors for one end. namely, gaining victory,
interviewing the Governor.
WORK GRADUALLY BEING
RESUMED.
LONDON) February 4the-
I gathered from an exceptionally well-
It is very difficult to obtain an accurate informed source some details throwing view of the German strike situation, but light upon various aspects of the it appears at the moment that the threats Supreme, War Council.
Although the of calling in the strikers had the desired
effect, and work is gradually resuming.
The Comm der of Berlin threatens one year's imprisonment for any further. participation n the direction of i strike.
GREAT BRITAIN'S MAN- POWER
SANITARY BOARD.
PROTECTION AGAINST TYPHOID
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held yesterday, when there were present Mr. E. V. Carpmsel (in the chair), the Hon. Mr. R. Hallifer, Messrs. Ng Hon Tese, F B. L. Bowley, Col. Crisp, Dr. FM G. Uzorio, fra Gale (Medical Officer); and Mr. C. M W Reynolds (Secretary)
AN OPEN DRAIN AT KOWLOON AND A NULLAH ANGLENEALT
Dr FMG Ozario, pursuant to notice asked
(s)-In whose property in the open
sower running parallel to the rail. way line in Kowloon ()-Why is it not covered, as the prac
tically stagnant water in it is a good breeding place for mosquitoes 7 (e) the Head of Sanitary Depart
ment aware that the stench arising from it is a cause of much trouble to the children and the grown-ups. who use the Kowloon playground (Why has the foul smelling nullah
in Glenealy not been attended to 1 The CHAIRMAN replied:--
drain and not a sewer. This is an the property of the Kowloon-Canton Rail- WAY
With regard to (a), this is an open
With regard to (6) the question of covering this drain is now under discus. sion between this Department, the Kow- toon Canton Railway, and the Drainage
Authorities,
As regards (e) any danger there may be is due to mosquitoes.
With reference to (d) I may state that the nullah in Glenealy has received, and is receiving, the regular attention of the Public Works Department
Dr. UZORIO observed that as far as question (c) was concerned, he might mention that three or four members of a certain subcommittee of the Board, who went to Kowloon to inspect the open sewer, held a similar opinion to his own. With regard to the Chairman's reply to his last question, he could only say that if the attention of the Board was being given to the nullah it seemed hardly to be doing any good to the public, because the smell had continued for six or seven
months.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST
KARA TYPHOID FEVER - The CHAIRMAN asked to be allowed to refer to a subject which was not on the agenda, unmely - typhoist. The statistics did not show that th & there was BIL exceptional incidence of the disease, but it was desirable for the public not to eat uncooked rice or uncooked vegetables, He had an offer to supply covers for latrines st $2.40 each, These would tend totally
latter met to discuss the question of closer military co-ordination, the result of the deliberations showed that such a body might, and ought to discuss all mat. tora relating to the war as, for example, munitione, naval policy, shipping and food: It must not be forgotten that the Council is primarily a political and not a military body. The only actual mem bers of the Council are the Premiers of France, Italy and England, and a men- In the House of Lords during a Gobate ber of the United States Government. on the Electoral Robin Bill, Lord The Council has at Versailles a Per Selborns mored that the House should manent Staff which maintains a con- There is no incident upon, not insist upon their scheme of Protinuity of liaison and work and is thus amated Society of Engineers: separately tion against typhoid that is, not eating
LONDON February 4th. The Admiralty denies the Germna wireless report that a large English war- ship, accompanied by a torpedo boat and chasers, was mined and sunk in the Firth of Forth. which the statement could be based.
BRIT SUBMARINE REPORTED
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE,
LONDON, February 5th.
portional Representation but should able to maintain direct and insert counter-proposals applying the contact between the heads of Govern-
DEADLOCK EXPLAINED,
LONDON, February 2nd. Mr. Henderson's communication, which the official reply was cabled last evening, urged the Government to abandon its refusal to meet the Amal
prevent typhoid hy keeping the Bics
Mr. BOWLEY--A public notice should be inserted
be inserted in the papers advising protec
nacooked segetables and also the preven ton of contamination of food by flies.
There was hostile artillery Aring east SUNK IN THE DARDANELLES Principle to all Boroughs returning ment This is really the basis of the consider the proposals unless this pre should be included although be bad not
ward of Hargicourt, northward of Lens,
in the neighbourhood of Armentieres and eastward of Ypres.
Aeroplanes dropped. 44 tons of bombs en verious targets, including railway signole, at Melle, Ingelmunster and
Lichtervelde.
Five hostile machines were brought down and five were driven down. One of ours is missing.
THE PRE-STURM LULL ENDING
GERMAN STRENGTH ON WEST
Reuter's
LONDON February 4th
* Correspondent at
French
LONDON, February 4th.
The Admiralty submarine E14 pro- ceeded to the Dardanelles on January
three or more members.
den bind the conception of a Supreme The Peers agreed to this by 30 votes War Council Esch Power has at Ver to 35,
sailles a body of permanent military presentatives each with a staff of sub-
Lord Galway moved that the House 27th in order to complete the destruction insist on their amendment eliminating of the Goeben. A wireless Turkish the alternative vote, and this motion, was official message reports tant the E14 was carried by 08 votes to 29. sunk at Kumkale and soven men were saved. It adds that the Turks shot off the periscope of the E63, which may cer tainly be regarded as destroyed.
The British Admiralty states that all the vessels, except E14, returned to these!
hasea
Genera
LATEST UABLES.
THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY. ]
ROUMANIA AND THE BOLSHEVIKS.
IN OPEN CONFLICT
LONDON, February 4th. Roumanian ofcial telegrams state that. a great part of the Roumanian army is now fighting and disarming Russian troops.
The disintegration of the Russian Front in Moldvia is increasing daily, Headquarters states: --Amid. " sido. | GREEK REGIMENTS MUTINY, who units proceeding to Russia and ATHENS, February 4th. attacking Romanian towns and villages An official report states large proto route, portion of the Lamia Infantry Regiments The Roumanians, after 24 hours Sight and number of artillerymen armed ing disarmed a Russian Division and themselves and mutinied, but the more captured fifty gons with which the Eas
sians were bombarding Galatz ment va qinakly repressed.
shows like artillery firing and patrol encounters there exists a general sense of expectancy of dramatic developmexits which are momentarily awaited. The before-the-storm full seems to be eading The Daily Telegraph's Special Corre spondent estimates that the Germans. have now 180 divisions on the west, of whom 15 are in line, or an increase of about 40 divisions es compared with the campaign of 1917.
FRENCH FRONT,
INTENSE ARTILLERY FIRING.
PARIB, February 4th.
A communique states; →→ There was in tense artillery duel north, of the Aise on the Cornille region, Argonne and Upper Alsace
It is stated that the Government in tende to deal very severely with attempt to impeon the progress of movilisation KAISER CREATES ASSASSINS
DECORATION.
AMSTERDAM, February 4th:
On the occasion of the anniversary of the wubmarino ruthlessness, the has created a special oration for Buy marine CISWA BUdhar awarded the highest class of the Order Pour-lelerite un Admiral von Scheer.
The Roumaniens also surrounded, dis armed and sent to Russia a Russian Army Corps which attacked Falticeni in Moldavia
Owing to the Red Guards stopping supplies from Bessarabia for Koumania, at the request of the bian Government, has occupied the centres of Bersarabia also Kishinefer on the Juary railway.
The Roumanians are now fighting
ordinate officera These military repre- sentatives arrange and collate informa
tion, supplied by the various General Stars and other Military Departmenta and suggest the broad lines on which this information may be utilised by the War Council
ALLIES UNSHAKEABLES The unanimity of the Allies enables them to meet the violence of the enemy's onset confidently with the knowledge that reither their strength nor steal- fastness can be shaken
EARLIER CABLES:
RESULT GIVES SATISFACTION LONDON February 4th. General satisfaction is expressed at the result of the Versailles Conference
out
The presided through Bakar viewed stated that for four worked and argued. The last was decisive, even the most delicate nis being settled.
CLEAR ENDERSTANDING.
ATTAINED.
PARIS, February 3rd. The Versailles Conference rose yester
piternoon;
Partien says that Lord in Paris conferring with “untak do marzow concert!
from the National Labour Conference in order to discuss the new man-power proposals. The Engineers decided not to
forential treatment, previously accorded, was repeated. Hence the deadlock.
EXPLOSION
FRENCH MUNITION WORKBA
POWDER MAGAZINE SAVED.
PARÍS February 3rd Ten wore killed and 30 injured in an explosion and fire at a munition works at Moulins,
There was serious damage, but the adjacent powder magazine was saved,
— THE SILVER MARKET.
LONDON, February 4th.
The silver market in quiet
FEWER HOURS, MORE WORK
The Health of Munition Workers Committee urge, as the result of investi. gations which covered ove a year Cant. the weekly hours can antageously, be reduced to a total of from 50 to 65-un all classes of work hour of actual work
eduction, in the
The CHAIRMAN thought that oysters
any evidence that oysters were subject to contamination. It was a matter for the Medical Officer Caree ~~ Mrs. Gils said that oysters were a cause of infection, and in a climate like that of Hongkong might bring about. typhoidal ant
It was then proposed by Mr. Bowley, and seconded by Mr Ng Hon Taze, that the attention of the public should be drawn by notices, hota in Chinese and English newspapers, to the danger of eat- ing uncooked oysters and shell fish and leaving food uncovered, thas exposing it to contamination by flies, and also the desirablity of cooking rice before eating
This was agreed, to unanimously.
DECHTAL COINAGE.
Mr. Theo McKenna, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Decimal Association, says that the coming desz- melisation of our coinage has been mate rially advanced. At a joint meeting of the Institute of Bankers, the Amocistion, of Chambers of Commerce, and the Decimal Association, unanimous agree ment was secured as to the retentica of the pound sterling as the mo
mat
and its division into 1,000 parta or mus This enables all the exis
river, coine, down to and uding the ying from 7 toed piece, to be retained without any at ase resulted in more than an teration in their respective values. For 20 in no insignificant decrease of total output, example, the ad is represented exactly while on the average there was a sub-25 mile
ins of tower de stantial increase. It must be recognised, In regard to Buys the report, that the conditions are not the same now as they were in the the early days of the war. Not only have 10 101 large numbers of the youngest and wo strongest workers been withdrawn for of the military service, but those who remain
lear
years ag
namin
from the strain of long in ploy
of lower valu [ding coins sub
the existing.
ide coins of the present
while to this must.- penn strain caused by Lamily and value between
out of the war penny,
work and killed Tri
considered two in
berend their cause of the
mediate con
overcome
6 and
Isther
range
ition
age which has resulted
ions of small transacti
being undalz