THE WAR.
GERMANS PREPARING THRUST ON WEST.
PREMIER'S MESSAGE TO INDIA.
TURKS ACTIVE IN THE CAUCASUS.
ANGLO-JAPANESE TROOPS LAND AT VLADIVOSTOCK.
co-Belgian Front.
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH ESUTSK'S AGENOT.} BRITISH FRONT. AERIAL OPERATIONS.
LONDON, April 8th.
12,50 a.m. Oui, aeroplanes watching enemy move ments reported in hostile concentration southward of the Somme. Large forma tione immediately went out in the rain and dropped over 500 bomig and fired 80,000 rounds on the assembled infantry. We brought down 15 and drove down 11 coemy machines. Sixteen of ours are not yet located. Many of them doubtless were forced to land behind our lines oving to a difficulty in finding their aero- dromos in the heavy rain.
らう
OBVIOUS MEASURES
ZURICH, April 7th.
THE HONGKONG DAILY
The German newspapers publish notices threatening severe penalties against per- sons spreading alarmist rumours regard ing the German casualties:
The Mainz Volkseitung states that the letter service for the fighting troops is suspended indefinitely.
LATEST CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT.
THE BATTLE OF MOREUIL.
Pan18, April 7th. Beuter's Correspondent at French Hendquarters, telegraphing yesterday, states In the second battle beginning on Thursday we held the enemy and repulsed him at most places, and with heavy losses, with troops entering the
The Canadian, almen did very valu battle on March 5th. able work in the present battle.
ENEMY PREPARING ANOTHER THRUST
LONDON, April 8th."
12.05.a.m.
Reuter's Correspondent at British Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday evening, states:-Local fighting has con- Linued at various places along the British battle-front, and there are sun- dry signs that the enemy is about to thrust again on a big seale
By the recent fighting north of the Somme the enemy endeavoured to im prove his positions, possibly to secure a
better
The closing days of March were among the most critical of the war. The Ger- mang had been stopped on the Oise and the Somme, but we were confronting them between Montdidier and Moreuil with a mere cordon barring the way to
a
13. APRIL OTR, 1918,
LATEST CABLES.
ETHROUGH ALTINA O ALUNOY.]
AMERICA AND THE WAR.
LIBERTY LOAN
Fighting against similar odds occurred Gen on those four days along the whole of the Avro front. The enemy halted on March 31st for breather, and the attacks were renewed on April 4th with 15 divisions, including the Guards and the Brandenburgers. The onslaught was repulsed, with slight loss of ground, little more than the villages Ernailly, Raineval and Sauvilly.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY THE BOLSHEVIK PROGRAMME
TO KING GEORGE.
| NOT PACIFISM, BUT UNIVERSAL
CLABS WAR. LONDON, April 7th. The Press Bureau announces Presic Professor Bernard Pares (Professor of Rusman language, history and litera dent Wilson, replying to King George,
ture at the University of Liverpool; expresses his warm gratification at His Editor of Russian Reviews Becretary of | Majesty's generous message, assuring
the Anglo Russian Committee in London) His Majesty that it is the greatest satis in his second article under the heading faction to the people of the United States of The Tragedy of Russin in The to and themselves gide by side in a Shal Daily News-written before the receiptr war for free self-government
at. With of the signing of peace at Brost Litovsk such steadfast, indomitable associates,"describes the war weariness in Russia.
He the President adds, we shall continue
The root explanation of Russia's to do our utmost to put the whole force troubles is to be sought in the criminal of the United States into the great deficiency of munitions, and in the con
sequent appalling casualties. These struggle.
staggered the imagination, and it is go wonder if their resulta bewilder our judg-- Aret magnitude one of those facts which alter the whole face of things.
New Yone, April 7th. · The first days - subscriptions to the Third Liberty Loan of Three Billion Dollars in New York and throughout the Today the enemy was quiescent, except-country exceeded the subscriptions of the ing in artillery activity, but the lull is first days of the two former loans: expected to be of short duration
- Over One Hundred Millions were sub scribed in New York.
The subscriptions include the Bankers Trust Company, Twenty-five Millions; the National Park Bank, Twenty Millions; PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE | ment; but they are a human foot of the and the Corn Exchange Bank Sixteen Millions.
AFRENCH WITHDRAWAL
EXPLAINED.
PARIS, April 7th. With reference to the French with drawel at Abbecourt, south of the Chauny-Barisis
sector, mentioned last evening's communiqué, it is semi officially explained that the French line there formed a dangerous sector which the French High Command decided to reduce. The Germans believed that they could catch the French napping by anti- cipating the movement and attacking the point. They were unable, however, to prevent the conclusion of the French ananœuvre and their attempt was as The costly to them as it was useless. withdrawal merely makes the French line more solid
EARLIER CABLES
ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED.
PARIS, April 7th
A communique states:- Last evening we repulsed an enemy attack in the Grivesnes region, There was great reci procal artillery hiring at night-time between Montdidier and Noyon.
A strong enemy detachment, which obtained a footing in our advanced line west of Noyon, was immediately driven out by our counter-attack.
Ainions. Troops were railed from an
The Gormans did not renew #the sector hundreds of miles distant as fast as possible, and they engaged the enemy
soon as they were detrained. A Gen. Fattempts in the Channy Barisis district eral
carrying a carbine, with his Staff on the Oise front. Enemy coupe-d'e-main
of Cherain-des-Dames were un were scouting the north had arrived and battlefield with only a few cavalry successful. patrols between them and the Boche,
on
A Staff Major was actually killed in engaging the German mounted troops. The first reinforcements arrived March 25th, but the main body arrived Meanwhile, the several days later. chenny was preparing for a grand attack The moment was most critical, for on March 27th, nine miles of our line was screened only by cavalry patrols and a few guns.
The line was re-established
THE SILVER MARKET,
Lospor. April 7th. Silver is quoted 451d. per ounce, and the, market is very quiet,
EARLIER CABLES.
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
GENERAL NEWS.
PETROGRAD, April 7th. German aeroplanes are flying over Helsingford
The Russian warships have left Hel sing 1 for Cronstadt,
The Council of Commissaries has de- cid that the German landing at Hangoe concerns Finland, and the Council cannot interfere
COMMAND OF GERMAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE,
AMSTERDAM April 7th. Field Marshal von Eichorn has arrived
at Kieff to assume, chief corumand of the German troops in Ukraine.
VIOLATION OF BREST-LITOVSK. TREATY
PETROGRAD, April 7th.
M. Tchicherim, Commissary of For eign Affairs, has despatched a wireless message to Berlin protesting against Rheins was very violently bombarded Germany's violation of Article Six of the Treaty of Brest Litovsk guaranteeing at night-time,
the security of the Russian Flect and navul stores in Finnish waters, where the Germaus have taken great booty,
GENERAL
ALL 18 GOING WELL"
PARI, April 7th. The newspapers emphasise the in. portance of the British position at Villars-Bretonneux in defending access to Boves, which is the enemy's immediate objective. They say that any fresh dent made by the enemy here would enable
PETROGRAD, April 7th.
The British Consul at Helsingfors bas
gone to Petrograd.
M. Joffe has been appointed. Ambar- him to extend his operations to Longcansador to Berlin and M. Kamenet to
M. Clemenceau, yesterday, visited the Vienna. British and French Army lenders Pasu! meeting through Amiens, the Premier
on March 29th, but it was held by only three French divisions. These bad on four successive days
jumping-off place Between Mesnil and Busquoy the German pusitions are very unfavourable to artillery move. therefore should a big push ment, develop in this region, and only by such could a great concentric attack upon Amiens be carried out, the infantry would sdun outpace the gun supports if the enemy achieved further success. So far however, attempts have been almost entirely repulsed, invariably with very heavy losses. The attack on April 5th was carried out by four divisions in wares, having only a limited objective the shock of 30 enemy divisions. It is reiterated, All is going well.” Since the enemy heavily gas-shelled Auchonvillers before attacking, and ns the stuff, hange for days, it is not likely he would have employed it if he had hoped to occupy the place last evening. After twice laying an intense barrage to a considerable depth the Germans attempted to advance north of Auchon villers, but were smothered by our artil lery and were unable to advance.
GERMAN REPORT.
Awireless
LONDON, April 7th.
to
a sober fact that on these four days a General with three Divisions held ten
up times our number. There has not been a finer military feat during the war. During the whole battle relief was im- possible, yet fresh German divisions were thrown in daily.
The enemy is fully exploiting his superiority in numbers by attacking in crushing strength, als always. troops. As soon as an enemy division gains its objective it is withdrawn and
FRENCH RETAIN CONQUERED GAINS.
Panis, April 7th.
A communique states The artillery duel continued violent on the Oise and Somme front.
A strong enemy attack this morning between Mesnil-St-George's and La Monchel was shattered, by our artillery fire and failed completely. Numerous corpses were left in front of our line.
Our batteries farther north dispersed
German official report | its place taken by another. The retiring | enthuy gatherings in the woods south of states:We captured Pierremande and Fulcmbroy
EARLIER CABLES.
POSITIONS RE-ESTABLISHED.
Loknow, April 7th
12.35 p.m. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
Teports Our counter-attacks yesterday
the Hangard and Demain region.
vision is reinforced and rests a few days, then again it is sent into battle Hence within a week the First Guards Division was engaged in two different!
sectors.
We still hold essentially the line we
held on March 28th. The enemy hold Moreuil and a number of villages on the west bank of the Avre, but they are
The Germans in the Noyon sector, after a bombardment by heavy guns, attempted to recapture our gains north of Mont Bennud. After a severe fight we retained
the conquered ground.
Our advanced lines resisted a series of furious German attacks on the left of
successfully re-established our positions dominated by the beights which we the Oise front at Abbecourt, south of
at Aveluy Wood and yielded 120 prisoners retain, and several machine guns.
THE FIGHT FOR A CHATEAU. We hold Grivesnes and the Chateau, despite determined attacks on March
We reptiled an attack opposite Albert. Our artillery southward of Hebuterne last evening broke up an attempted 28th, 20th and 31st, the fight for which is typical of what is occurring daily.
-attack.
12:25 pm
Chauny and Barisis, and after inflicting severe losses we occupied prepared post- tions in accordance with orders."
Russian Front,
THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENOX.]
RUSSIAN FRONT.
TURKISH REPORT.
Lennon, April 7th. A Turkish communiqué, jesued yester day, stated:-After violent fighting we occupied the region of Erdischuch, on
A minor operation this morning south. The village was held by 500 French ward of the Somme improved our position, e captured 40 prisoners,
infantry commanded by a colonel, who blocked the windows of the Chateau with SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATIONS.
the to help mattresses and took up a rifle LONDON, April 7th.
defenders. They repulsed three regi ments of the First Prussian Gnarda Divi. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports Our successful minor operations on, accounted the best in the German southward of the Somme this morning led pushed and fed by thick columns of army, The enemy came on in wavce,
the north shore of Lake Van, in the to sharp local fighting. The enemy infantry. The French Tought them from strongly counter-attacked, suffering heavitree to tree in the park back to the walls Cancasue. We stormed strong points fy. We captured over 140 prisoners and of the Chateau, apon which the Colonel west of Barikanisch and occupied several machine guns,
ordered the counter-attack The
We repulsed two attacks this morning balus, serving "Vive la France1
at Bucquoy by artillery fire
the remainder of the battle-front the day passed more quietly.;
charged and after a hideous melee among the trees they drove the Germans from the park.
Ardahan. We captured 34 morters and
quantity of munitions We crossed the ancient frontier on the shore of the Black Sea in the direction of Batoum.
THE SIBERIAN SITUATION, THE POSITION AT VLADIVOSTOCK,
Moscow, April 7th. - Admiral Kato, commanding the Japanese troops landed at Vladivostock, his issued a proclamation stating that the
troops have come to maintain order
LATEST VABLES.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST JAPAN.
PETROGRAD, April 7th. The Council of Commissaries, in $
manifesto, acenses Japan of striving to crush the Republic and seize Siberia, and declares that Japan is a deadly enemy of the Republic. It says the Council has demanded an explanation and warns the Allies that their replies will greatly influence the Council's foreign policy.
EARLIER CABLES.
BRITISH TROOPS LAND.
Moscow, April 7th statement announces that British troops landed at Vladivostock after the Japanese.
Asemi-official
SILVER REPORT.
TO INDIA.
LONDON, April 7th. The wonder was that the Russian army fought on so long, for its conditiona The Press Bureau announces-Mr.defied not only Russian but human en- Lloyd George has despatched the follow- duranes, be ing message to the Viceroy of India ¡ ---*
At this time, when the intention
of Germany's rulers to established with me in Februm Carpathians,
to
By March the men were munitioned. In our part we were now in this matter up to the Austrians and in sight of the Germans,
and we were all confident of broaking throngh
14 DAYS ENDURANCE. An English doctor, familiar also with the French front, Dr. Flavelle, who visit
1017, some tronches at the top of the tyranny not only throughout Europe, gave the opinion that physical enduranca
more than fourteen days. It remains but Asin, han become transparently of their conditions was impossible for clear, I ask the Government and people trace their various effects of India to redouble their efforts. Thanks to the heroim of the British Armica and the Allies, the enemy's attempt in the West is being checked, but to prevent the menace spreading eastward every lover of freedom and law rust play his part. I have no doubt India will add to the laurels already won and equip itself on a greater scale than now as the bulwark which will save Asin from the tide of oppression and disorder which it is the enemy's object to achievo.
VICEROY'S REPLY The Viceroy of India replied:
All India is stirred to its depths by the noble sacrifices of the British people in the cause of the world's freedom and by the stern unalterable resolution that those sacrifice ovince.
India
is anxious, set confident, and fully realises the rent issues at stake, und your trumpet-call at this crisis will not fall on deaf ears. I feel confident that it will awaken princes, peoples and leaders to a keener sense of the grave danger which stemmed Europe and threatens to move eastwards. I look to them for the fullest effort and the fullest sacrifice to safeguard the soil of their motherland against all attempts of a cruel and unscrupulous enemy, and secure the final triumph of the ideals of justice and honour for which the British Empire stands."
BOW!
TRIBUTE TO MR. ASQUITH
RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR THE
ENGLISH NATION."
The German troops in front of us were desperately in want of food; they know what munitions meant to us, and could only hold their immense castern front by our lack of them.
The rulers of Gerinany therefore opened an entirely new campaign for military action they substituted internal pro- This was a weapon which paganda, they had ready for use all over the world.
BACTED IN THE RIGHT WAY.
Russia gave then the first chance. The news of the Russian revolution and of the establishment of a truly national Gov. ernment did nothing but improve dis- ciplins at the front. There had been no signs, so far of a wish to break dis cipline and the army was long since at
democratic as our own."
But in
least the car, the collapse of the auto- cracy and the void thus created led to "a struggle for power, the extreme revolu
tionaries now coming out with their matured plan for a dictatorship of the proletariat, in which not equality or de- mocracy was aimed at, but a complete dis
manchiment of all property and of all education A
This is the menning of the Soviet Gor ernment, and is the formula of the Bol sheviks. It is not pacifism; it is the sub- stitution of a universal class war for the present European war and then to follow wholesale annexations at the expenso ef
classes, MAURITA
KABOUT BLAMED
It should be added that the programme was that of a small and resolute group of thnkers, and that in its application no account is taken of the ordinary prin.... ciples of onstitutionalism and of na tional representation; so that and this... is the porns which English readers most, require to yoalise the most determined enemies of the Bolsheviks are those great Labour parties which stand gearest in them and see the collapse of all orderedt liberty and of the new raging itself in the Bolsheviks enccese.
Those parties, the Minimum Social Democrats and the bulk of the Socialist, Revolutionaries, who best correspond to the majority of our own Labour Party, are for constitutional government, al in general for loyalty to the Western democracies in their struggle against Geri
an autocracy. He g
RUSSIAN WAR WHARINEGY.
The Melbourne Ape publishes a remark. Able tribute to Mr. Asquith in a leading article reviewing a recens interview in The American Press. But the great factor of the situation
Today Mr. Asquith is,
pith is the ige was the immense war weariness; and this says, looked upon almost as the politi played straight into the hands of the cal, although not the administrative, Bolsheviks. Meanwhile, the German at leader of England, and his calm, dis titude is very simple, they regard the passionate repudiation of Lord Lans whole question purely and simply from downe's recent all-timed letter to the Press the point of their own war interests (and probably did more to avert a political we must not follow them into this mis- crisis in England then even the Premier's talte).
The German Government more vigorong condemnation1010, 11 sut
Writing of Mr. Asquith
autocracy as source of strength. member of his Government said, A great traditions and institutions. This is why tank and a great energency are needed Lenin was sent through to Rusia, and to draw out all the resoures of this man's why he was sent through Germany in splndid equipment. That great task and sealed waggon. There are many other that great emergency came in the August instances, quite as amusing. of 1914 And who shall say that Mr. There is nothing to be afraid of in all Asquith did not meet the crisis with great this, but everything to be on our guard ness? Public favour afterwards partial against The German plan has given Ty deserted him because to the public the Germans enormous advantages in the mind, he seemed too slow and too deli war, but it is far more dangerous to berate a leader for a time of rapid emer them than to anyone else, for the reason gencies. But now in considered judgment that there is far more to rovolutionise in many hold the opinion that the very Germany than elsewhere. quality of canniness that roused the im The proper inoculation against revolu patience of a section of the English peopletion is democracy It is democracy that was the quality most needed in the leader converts revolution into constructive re- ship of England when, weak and unpreform But there is plenty to guard pared, she faced the strong and
military aggression of Gerthangainst, &s Russia has already taught us
to our cost OSAS
The Aue goes on to ealogise Mr REVOLT AGAINST AUTHORITY, Asquith's refusal to baras Mr. Lloyd
compa
George, and proveeds Mr. Asquith has. On this same basis of war wearines
right to speak for the English nation, attempts are being made in all the Allied and the American people are justified in countries to foster a crude movement of importance on what e revolt against all leadership, especially of placing great im
And Maya. It may well be that Mr. Lloyd shot leaders
representative institu George's qualities of brilliant and rapid trots of its own which Labour has so far action are what the Empire most needs recognised in leadership, just end passion revolution and the deposition of William The Bolsheviks want in Germany a
LONDON, April 7th
Messrs.
Samuel Montague report state. Brad & Street" reports that in default of an adequate silver cireu Jation the Philippine National Bank has quith's qualities of just and impassion-iam wante bread for his army, and
resorted to the issue of paper, currency amounting to half-a-million dollare. It is stated that silver, money will no longer be current in Italy after April
oth
ed judgment are slag invaluable to the nation's guidance,
THE FORCE OF A TORPEDO
immediately he and his allies are already. arranging the division of the supplies. The Bolsheviks want, full, freedom to re Volationne Germany also immediately - and indeed,
need it to make good Some idea of the fores of a torpede at homer need it
For ourselves, was supplied in the Admiralty Courts
unquestionably the recently by Mr Justica Hill The need is that we should be honest with which The market is steady and there is damage was extraordinar said the ourselves, and for that the peace!
judge, The torpedo massed right we must sum must be damostalo and must rest on the knowledge and approval of moderate business.
Shanghai exchange made no important through the vessel from jort to starboard, peoples step
making a hole 40ft long, bending out
We must hold to our friendship with movement,
The silver output in- United States thy plates six feet, and making other the Russian people, both for the present 12 11,944 500 holes from which the ship must have and for the future, and for that there for 1917 is officially
170,302 fino Bunk had not the te bervices been must be no doubt about a standing fros
to pur ideals of a regime of democracy
per ounces, a reduction ounces compared with 100
promptly rendered