Page
THE
WAR.
AT
THE NAVY'S BRILLIANT COUP OSTEND AND ZEEBRUGGE: CERTAIN DEATH FACED WITH ALACRITY BY OUR GALLANT SAILORS.
ALLIES ACTIVE ON THE WESTERN FRONT.
GERMAN WAB MINISTER DESCRIBES THE ARMY'S LOSSES AS “QUITE NORMA L.
THE SUBMARINE MENACE: ENCOURAGING REVIEW BY THE ADMIRALTY.
Naval Activities.
LATEST CABLES:
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] THE OSTEND-ZEEBRUGGE: RAID.
RANKS WITH THE MOST GALLANT OPERATIONS IN THE ANNALS
OF THE NAVY.
GERMANS. CAUGHT NAPPING.
LONDON, April with.. A representative of the Daily Chroni cle interviewed the naval men from Zeebrugg They confidently assert that they caught the Germans napping, in- stancing how the men of the destroyers found the guns covered with tarpaulin. During the whole operation rain poured -down. The participators apparently confirm the destruction of the dock gates, They state that they saw the waters of the canal rushing out and the ships inside straining their hawstrs, Gallipoli hero said that as far as noise was concerned the explosions on the Mole and the hurricane of crashing shells made e tenfold hell.
A
the
A DESTROYER'S DARING ACTION, It appears that one of the lost British destroyers was one of those which en tered the harbour and began daringly torpedoing the German destroyers lying under shelter of the mole.
It was ultimately sunk by terrife point blank gen-fire.
Owing to the mist and rain the at tacking ships got within half-a-mile of the harbour before picking up the mole light The German defences discovered the British just as they located the mola light, and a blaze of starlights brilliant
silhouetted the attacking cruiser, whereupon the enemy concentrated terrific shelling of all calibres, includ ing 17-inch guns. Although hit, the eruisey steamed on and was seen to round the head of the mole and reach the
harbour
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 2618, 1918.
The members of the landing party Affirm that they destroyed every gun on the Mole, and destroyed all the sheds, exploding stores and munitions. Some assert that the Germans shouted, "It's Americans," and boiled from the hat- teries, whose guns were then destroyed, while other marines attacked the sheds with flame throwera It was also affirmed that the duck-gates, at Zeebrugge harbour were blown
HAND TO HAND FIGHTING, Some destroyers actually entered the barbour and took observations. The men boarded some of the anchored German destroyers, clubbing the crews when they hurried up the hatchways.
One Gurman destroyer, trying to leave, was rammed, cut in two, and sunk. RESULTS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE,
cruiser could have floated. When coming raid will be of paramount importance, Naval experts believo the results of the out of the harbour, the flames shot from not only by scaling the Zeebrugge funnels 10 feet high. Despite her hornets' nest, but because the roid is years she must
must have made the fastest probably connected with contemplated time she had ever performed."
greater operations. They point out that Full details of how the attacking ships success must be judged not merely by the could reach the harbour and effect the material but also by the moral results, return journey despite the closeness of for while appealing to the traditional the range have not transpired, but fighting spirit of the Navy it has shown doubtless it was due to the efficiency of the enemy that he can be attacked as the smoke-screens mentioned by Sir Eric well as being the attacker. The German Geldes
Navy has been boasting of its initiative, but it has not attempted anything sô dashing as this.
UNION JACK FLYING ON THE
MOLE.
The Daily Express understands that the officer mentioned by Sir E. Geddes as killed was Wing-Carmander Frank Brock, son of the well-known fireworks
The row of the concreto ship at Following the Kattegat and Heligo- Zeebrugge
to that the attack was land sweeps, this raid, it is assumed, opened shot from the indictive foreshadows continued liveliness on the smashing a lighthouse on the mole, when sea. a beam of the lighthouse came round, The ship had two boats, one of which was smashed and the crew jumped to the other, When the ship was sinking, the boat, packed with men, was heavily fired on by salvo, including nine inch shelle, but it safely reached the Vindic five. It is stated that the Union Jack was left flying on the mole.
EARLIER CABLES. GERMANS COMPLETELY BUR PRISED
LONDON, April 24th. Nothing in the Naval War hitherto hus aroused such enthusiasm as the Ostend Zeebrugge raid. It is hailed as
manufacturer.
EXPLOSIONS FELT AT DOVER, The naval raid gunfire was heard at Dover, and the explosion of the blocking vessels shook the town
Franco-Gelgian bront
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH KJUTIR'S AGENCY, } BRITISH FRONT FIGHTING DEVELOPING WITH GREAT RAPIDITY
LONDON, April 24th.
7.5 p.m.
SIGNS OF NEW PHASE OF ENEMY, The Near East.
OFFENSIVE.
Loston, April 24th. 3.45 p.m.
Beater's Correspondent at British Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, atates:There were more definito aigns this morning of the approaching new phase of the enemy offensive Enemy The renewal of the great battle was artillery were more active on the whole fully expected, nevertheless, the opening front south of Arras, particularly on the stages have been awaited with intersesonthera flank of our ne interest. developing with great rapidity.
Apparently the fighting is We have improved car positions by enemy is again employing huge masses there is no change in the general situ
The successful minor operations, otherwise and he is certain to suffer immense losses, tien: beenuse our gunners are most advantage. Qualy posted.
EARLIER CABLES. SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATION.
GERMAN REPORT.
LONDON, April 23rd. A Germanwireless official message states: The English have been active between Lens and Albert. The enemy los
prisoners in repeated attempts to
ports:-A minor operation eastward of
Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Hnig re-recapture ground at Aveluy Wood and in an attempt to capture the railway
LONDON, April 3rd.
10.55 pm,
Robeeg was completely successful. In north of Arres on both sides of the addition to the ground gained, we cap tured 120 prisoners and a number of machino-gans..
this morning in the neighbourhood of We also slightly improved our position Meteren, taking prisoners sind machine-
guns.
There was considerable enemy gas shel ling at Villers-Bretonneux.
AERIAL OPERATIONS,
LONDON, April 23rd, 11.60 p.m.
We carried out several long-distance reconnaissances yesterday and took many photographs.
We brought down eight and drove down six enemy machines. Three of ours are missing.
GERMANS OPEN HEAVY BOM BARDMENT.
LONDON, April 24th. 1.35 pp. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- ports There was increased hostile THE ZEEBRUGGE OPERATIONS. evening on the bulk of the front, parti- artillery firing yesterday forenoon and The following are the concluding porcularly in the Somune and Ancre sectors, tions of the message published 3 ster-the Scarpe Valley, and sectors northward day-
of Bethune, and northward and north-
A crowd cheered the returning war |ships.
LONDON, April 23rd. The results, so far as they are known,castward of Bailleul. ranking with the most gallant operations grounded and abandoned after being are that at Ostend two block ships were in the annals of the Navy, recalling the blown up. I cannot say yet whether they famous cutting-out expeditions of a cen-have definitely accomplished their objec tury ago.
A succession of fighting episodes has marked the more aggressive spirit in the Dover command since Admiral Kcye's appointment, but this is the most com siderable incident yet recorded
The newspapers pay a tribute not merely to the initiative, resource and daring displayed, but to the fuc staff
were
tive It was too misty for aerial observa tions, but the reports from the offers concerned, as far as they could see in the darkness, indicate that they slightly off their conree
This attack was primarily intended to engage the attention of the garrison on the Mole, thereby allowing the block ships
aorth-westward of Albert, met n heavy The Germans at dusk, in attacking rifle and machine gun fire and driven back.
were
Dranoutro were repulsed by the French, Strong hostile attacks last evening near
after sharp fighting, French and British. Artillery inflicted severe loss.
The enemy's artillery at night-time were active, and a heavy bombardment opened early this morning along
was
Bouzincourt and Arcluy road.
RAILWAYS BEHIND THE LINES. LONDON, April 24th. :
t In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law mentioned that in 1917 alone 000 miles of broad guage and 1,000 miles of light railways had been constructed be hind our lines.
FIFTH ARMY'S WITHDRAWAL. LONDON, April 24th.
EARLIER CABLES. THROUGH HEUTZE'S AGENOT.) OPERATIONS IN PALESTINE ARAB FORCES ATTACK MAAN. LONDON, April 3rd. A Hedjaz official report states: Arab forocy, under King Hedjaz, carried out effective demolitions
on the adja Railway, northward and sout Ward of
outer defences of Maan and reached Maan. They successfully attacked the
drew to the outer defences, which they Maan station. Subsequently they with
still hold Between April 11th and 17th they captured 322 prisoners. Aerial Activities.
EARLIER CABLES. (THEOUGH REDME'S AGENCE] RICHTHOFEN'S DEATH. GERMAN VERSION.
AMSTERDAM, April. 23rd. The German official account ways that von Richthofen was apparently forced to land in the enemy lines in consequence and as he was parsing an opponent at of a motor defect. He landed smoothly,
the time, he apparently fell a victim to a chance hit from the ground.
LATER. A DEEP WOUND FOR GERMAN
AIR FORCE
AMSTERDAY, April 24th. The Commander of the German Air
death of Hichoten, says-His death is Forces, in an olatuary notice on the a deep wound for the entire Air Force RAID ON PARIS.
PARS April 24th. raid alarm was given at 11.36 p.m. and It is officially reported that an air ended at 1.02 n.m. No aircraft passed.
The withdrawal of the Fifth Ariny at St. Quentin was the subject of a scrios of questions in the House of Commons
Mr. Boner Law said there was not the slightest justification for the suggestion that this portion of the line was taken over contrary to the judgment of Sir William Robertson and Sir Douglas the barrage. Haig The arrangements were mado entirely by the Anglo-French Military |
Heneral Authoritics, and it was untrue that Sir Douglas Haig protested against taking. the extra line from the French.
LATEST CABLES.
VIOLENT ENEMY BOMBARDMENT. FRENCH FRONT.
LATEST CABLES. (YHROUGH EBUYER'S AGENCY.] CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN
IRELAND THE TIMES" ON THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
ISSUE
***** FARIS, April 24th. A compeunique states: Between the
LONDON, April 24th.
bardment became very violent at night in Ireland in placing themselves at the Somme and the Aure the hostile bom ring to the Roman Catholic Hierarchy The Times, in a leading article refer-
time on the Franco-British front, not head of the anti-conscription movement ably in the region of Villers-Bretonneux says it says much for the forbearance energetically replied, and Hangarden-Santerre. Our artillery of the British people that so little protest has been made by the public against this LATER.. action, which raises an issue of tremsp- FRENCH SHELL KILL A GERMAN dous gravity.
y. It goes for deeper than GUN CREW,
a mere question of expediency in forcing military service on Irishinen. It in It is stated that a Frenck shell killed claim of a powerful religious organisa- nothing lem, at bottom, than the old
Paris, April 24th.
work and elaborate preparation Theon the Mole that would have been inorthward of Albert to the junction withBun. Hence, Paris has not been hom which is not even remotely religious,"
to enter the harbour, Without an attack Practically the whole British front from the whole crew of a Geringa long-range tion to defy law of the land in a matter
included rehearsals, which were carried on for weeks, but
secrecy was 960 well maintained that the Germans were com pletely surprised. The most inspiring feature is the atacrity of the Naval sen to face certain death. The fall of many gallant mer is deplored, but it inercases Great Britain's love for her Navy.
ENEMY GUNS DESTROYED. The cruiser got alongside the mole and landed a large party of men 'accom panied by marince.
Some special gangways wore broken by shell-fre, ipcreasing the difficulties of
barketion, while heavy machine gunning gave a reception to the raiders. One by one the guns of the mole wore
WE ARE THE BLOCK LADS 1" destroyed. The flame-throwers attacked
The heroes of the expedition were the munition stores, etc. The mole con-recorded the most rousing reception on tained valuable sea-plane bangirs, a
their return to the south-east port. There
possible; as the attack on the Mole accom- plished this, it was successful.
The casualties to the persiminet, as would be expected in a hazardous adven- ture of this kind, were heavy proportion- ately to the number engaged,
All three ships withdraw successfully, So far the only British losses reported in crait were a destroyer sunk by gunfire off the Mole, and two coastal mator-bosta, and two motor launches are missing,
The Admiralty is of opinion that the greatest possible credit is due to the Vice-
large railway, shed, ammunition share were moving scenes as the bodies were Admiral at Dover and all the officers and.
and naval store sheds, which bristled with guns,
Meanwhile, covered by the operations proceeding on the mole, the blockships approached the harbour, anchored at the
entrance, and were sunk within 23.
minutes.
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SMOKE SCREEN
landed, and then the wounded were carried, or themselves bobbled, ashore, All were most jubilant, despite the exhausting exertions of the night
Six lorry loads of heroes were driven along the sea-front to the station in the highest spirits, shouting, We are the block inds!!
the French, southward of the Somme.
STRONG INFANTRY ATTACKS IN PROGRESS.
Strong infantry attacks are in pro gress in the Albert sector and between the Bomme and the Avre,
There was heavy hostile shelling early this morning between Givenchy and Robeca
Our artillery dispersed
enemy concen trations in the neighbourhood of Merville, GERMANS REFRAIN FROM
STRIKING.
LONDON, April 23rd. 10.20 p.m.
Reuter's Correspondent at Headquarters, telegraphing this evening. British
Notwithstanding the concentra
tion of men and guns at various points, the Germans still refrain from striking. sickness, epidemic and
Prisoners report that there is much adding that the ratione are inadequate to trench-foot, the needs of the fighting soldiers
barded for two days,
EARLIER CABLES. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY
Losnow, April 24th.
A communiqué mates: There is great of Hangard-en-Santerre and west of reciprocal artillery activity in the region Voson. There was no infantry action, The Balkans,
EARLIER CABLES. THROUGH BETTER'S AGENCY, } OPERATIONS IN MACEDONIA ENEMY ATTACK STOPPED
PARIS, April 24th.
There is infantry and artillery activity along the whole front. Our artillery.
A Macedonian communiqué statos:-
stopped an enemy attack on positions
west of Presura. Ttalian
Front
PAKLIER CABLES.
THROUGH REUTER'S AGEor.]
The Times proceeds to say that the responsibility of the Irish Catholie Bishops is incalculably serious and must not be forgotten." In throwing down the challenge to the Imperial Parliament the Roman Hierarchy has done for more tion as individuals in the Home Rule than repeat their old obscure interrup- controversy. They have openly assumed the right to interfere as a Church in polítics, and in doing they hava shaken to its foundations the whole edifice of religious toleration in these islands,
SENSATION IN SAN FRANCISCO. INDIAN CONSPIRATOR KILES ANTOLER IN COURT
SAN FRANCISCO, April 24th the Indian conspiracy trial, shot at and Ram Singh, one of the prisoners in
was
men for this very gallant undertaking. (Cheers). The whole operation had beam forked out most carefully in detail, and it appears to have been carried out with Siguin) AUCCESS. The co-operation of all the units engaged and the synchronisa tion of all phases of the operation have The nien were very reluctant to talk
been most remarkable, as the forces When the landing partics had con- their mission.
beyond saying they had accomplished
engaged have not yet all returned to their pleted their work after remaining landed for an hour and subjected to tion available showed that the entrence bases, it was impossible to give further. Sqne said they were.
information at present, but the informa ashore an hour, the men were taken. abroad at a given signal and the dam
terrific machine gun fire, which was tively blocked, and considerable material to the Bruges. Canal is probably effee aged cruiser began to return. Among
Some special McKenna on behalf of the House,
damage was done hundreds of shells fired at her, one 17. gangways were broken. One Gallipoli congratulated the Navy upon a very inch had struck the upper works for
veteran said that while it lasted it was
gallant action. (Cheers,) ward, injuring the steering gear. She much hotter than the landing at the
HIS MAJESTY'S ADMIRATION. signalled to her escort ships for assist Dardanelles. The return was carried out
LONDON, April 24th. following message to the Vice Admiral A more convincing testimonial to our troops in Belgium, it is noteworthy that
His Majesty the King has sout the
of last night's operations. The splendid This morning we carried out and your forces on the miked success conceived at Dover: I heartily oor ratulate you activity in the air could scarcely be the Vicons Neue Freie Preste urges It is a mystery how Singh secured.
into custody. gallantry displayed under exceptionally successful operation east of the Clarence
Austro Hungary to take the offensive, revolver, pride and admiration."
our line.
returned with interest.
signal.
AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT.
destruction. It is a request from the which throws light on Richthofen's An interesting document has been found
Pursuit Squadron commanded by Rich Aviation Group Commander to the First airman reports that it is impossible to Av over the Aucre in a westerly direction thofen, and reads as follows: An
ITALIAN FRONT.
• AUSTRO HUNGARY URGED TO TAKE OFFENSIVE.
LONDON, April 24th.
In connection with the Swiss reports
killed another Hindu prisoner, Rama- chandra, with an automatic pistol at the close of the morning session of the Supreme Court Chandra was walking across the room when Singh, who seated at the Counsels table, fred Immediately the United States Marshal fired across the crowded Court Room and killed Singh, who fell close to the District Attorney. The spectators were y restored. The Judge, who was just in a state of panic, but order was quick
on account of strong enemy opposition. I request that the aerial barrage may be forced back in order that ʼn reconnais sance to the Marieux Duche Villers line of the arrival of Austro-Hungarian leaving the room, returned and ordered may be carried out."
the remaining defendants to be taken
ance, but under her own steam managed in the most orderly manner at a given to reach the protecting cruisers, An eye cruiser they found her decks torn up by When they returned to the witness said that when he saw the damage enemy fire. Fev of the crew escaped Haderdous circumstances fills me with River with the object of straightening Wang, to the despatch of Italian troops examined on genval
he scarcely believed it possible that the injury.
to the Western Front
all the defendant