Page
THE
TRENCH
WAR.
THE HONGKUNG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY
SUCCESS ON WESTERN
FRONT.
FOUR HUNDRED PRISONERS CAPTURED.
HOLLAND PROHIBITS DUTCH SAILINGS. GERMANY SEIZES DUTCH STEAMER,
GERMAN ATROCITIES ON SEA AND LAND. DETAILS TOO REVOLTING FOR PUBLICATION.
THE AIR RAID ON LONDON. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK.
Branco-Belgian Bront.
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
BRITISH FRONT.
SUBSTANTIAL FRENCH SUCCESS.
LONDON, May, 20th."
11.16 p. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:-- The French carried out a successful night operation cast and north-east of Loore, gaining all their objectives on a front of four thousand yards, capturing over 400 prisoners Local fighting this morning northward of Albert resulted in a few of our men being
missing.
We rashed a German post eastward of Hebuterne, capturing prisoners and two machine-gune.
Hostile gas-shelling was active northward of Bethune
SURREY BATTALION'S SUCCES3",
LONDON, May 21st.
1.50 μm.: Fluid Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports A Surrey Battalion carried out a successful local operation last night, north-westward of Merville, closing up a re-entrant in our lins and expturing 30 prisoners and six
achine-gung.
Our urtillery and machine guns this morning broke up a counterattack against our new positions.
We successfully raided south-eastward of Arras. The enemy's artillery were active at, night in the Albert sector, at Hebuterne ard hetween Nieppe Forest and Meteron They were unusually active between the Scarpe and Hill 70, which is northward of Lens
The enemy's gas-shelling was heavy northward of Bethune.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY:
LONDON, May, 20th.
8.00 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Hnig issued a special Order of the Day in which he pays a tribute to the devotion, endurance and gallantry of the Labour units under most trying circumstances at the beginning of the presont battle. The discipline and spirit of these units have enabled them to render the most valuable assistence to the rest of the
Army.
AERIAL OPERATIONS.
London, May, Hist. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We bombed, on May 19th, enemy railway stations, aerodromes, dumps and billets, dropping over 17 tons of bombs.
AUSTRALIANS CONGRATULATED.
LONDON, May 21st. 9.30 p.my
Field-Morsbal Bir Douglas Haig has congratulated the Australians on the complete success of their operations on May 10th, which resulted in the capture of Ville-sur-Anere and other gains.
GERMANS FEAR THE ANZACS.
LONDON, May 20th.
Heuter's Correspondent at British Head- quarters reports:-The Australian captures at - Ville-sous-Ancre exceeded 400. Several
to face the Anzees they felt a prisoners state that when they leurat that they find considerable foreboding. The casualties inflicted during the attack were very heavy. The successsul little operation greatly improved our position, and we now hold the whole village. The Germans wore forced back from an awkward little salient they had created, and are now probably back upon the railway. Over 20 machine-guns were taken between Ribemont and Dernancourt. The heavy firing mentioned in a previous dospatch related to a French attack on a front of from three to four thousand yards apparently pivoting upon the Hospice and extending castwards. It is reported that the operation succeeded and that, 300 prisoners have already collected. Every yard of ground the Allies take in this locality reprosents an important gain, indsmuch as it pushes the enemy from the chain of hills running west of Mont
Kemmel.
Locre
ALLIES PROFIT BY ENEMY'S
DELAY
heen
JANDON, May 21st. 4.00 p.m. Router's Correspondent at British Headquarters telegraphing to day, states-Whilst the Germans still delay the renewal of their offensive the Allies continue to effect a local improvement in their position, with the result that not only has the defence been strength- ened at various spots, but the difficulties of the enemy are correspondingly in oreased,
The Freuch, in the attack at Locre (mentioned in a communique) fought with characteristic can and won at a comparatively small cont.
Locre
The French carried the Hospice, which lies on. the Kom mel side "of the village, and cleared the whole straggling wood south of Brulcoze, advanced through Brulooze hamlet, and gained the cross- roads 300 metres southeastwards,
Several farms, formerly the scenes of much fierce fighting, fell before their
Severe air-fighting occurred eastward of | **** our line, where large hostile formations onrush, and they carried forward the attacked our bombers. We brought down 27 line on a front of about a quarter of a and drove down three. Twelve of ours are mile north-east of Pompier and a similar missing.
There was vigorous mutual night bombing, Our night-fiers dropped 15 tons of bombs on Chaulnes, Douai, Den, and Marcoing rail way stations, St. Denis-Westrem drome, and Bray and Bapatma Our anti- aircraft guns brought down a large enemy bombing machine
All ours returned.
acro-
We dropped a ton of bombs on Tuesday on the barracks, gas works and railway station at Landau, north-westward of Karlsruhe, and hit the railway several times Two fires were started. All our machines returned.
distance south-east of that place. East
of Hill 44 they fought their way for ward for some distance, but the Germans resisted desperately. This tactically is a success of great importance, as it still more effectually bars any attempt at frontal attack on Monte Rouge and Scherpenberg.
Useful raids have been carried out at various parts of the front.
The heat wave continues.
MAY 23RD, 1918
EARLIER CABLES.
Aerial Activities.
GERMAN FIXTURE.
LONDON, May 20th.
at British Beuter's Correspondent Headquarters, telegraphing today, statos:There was much violtat gun- firing at night time, and it continues spasmodically,
To-day is one of the dates mentioned in trench gossip as likely to witness a We renewal of the German offensive shall se The dazzling sky is monning and droning with our machines.
Saturday's Australians' success result ed in carrying forward our line at Ville-sous-Corbie on a front of two miles. STRIKING FEATURE OF PREZENT WAR PHASE
LONDON, May.
LATEST CABLES, THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] THE RAID ON LONDON.
GOTHAS DESTROYED:
LONDON, May 20th.
All reports confirm that the raiders were everywhere barassed by our airine and gunfire, and the searchlights greatly aided the gunners. At one point the searchlights showed one of our machines pursuing a ''Gatha." Machine-gunning was heard and a intervals, big guns. Then there was a burst of fame, and a
Gotha crashed to the ground.
At another place n formation of Gothas was seen under our neroplanes. Machine-gunning was heard, then there was a great fash and a "Gotha” cime down spirally, the occupants jumping
reported that all were killed.
Great satisfaction is expressed at the result of the raid, especially after the British raiding Cologne and returning
scatheless."
OFFICIAL CASUALTY LIST. The Press Bureau announces The casualties resulting from Sunday's air raid on London District were:--Killed, 17 men, 14 women, and six children. In
ment populations, only one death is reported. Naval Activities.
Ithough three bombs were dropped, greatly damaging property. The fronts of the tone- ments are pitted with large holes, practically, all the front windows and doors being blown in. In many cases the roofs and ceilings fell The women warked, splendidly, climbing walls and cleacing the debris in order to rescue the injured. A bomb fell on little street of small houses in another district and several were demolished and the remainder was partially wrecked, yet there was not a singló fatality, most of the occupants having takon refuge in their prescribeți shelters. Twelve ocupants of a house, wrecked in another district escaped sontheless,
LATEST CABLES, THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY:] **U-BOAT" ATROCITIES
THEIR MAJESTIES SOLICITUDE Their Majesties visited the bombad „Lan- don areas yesterday, conversing in the kindliest manner with the inhabitants
HOME DEFENCE MAINTAINED. The newspapors and of opinion Chất
to the hot reception given the raiders, who discovered that the Home defence had in nowise weakened, though our air superiority on the battlefront is maintained. The barrage by the defending guns was undoubtedly
heavier and more continuous than ever before and our aeroplanes harassed the railers to the utmost.
IN
ARCTIC OCEAN.
CHRISTIANIA, May 21st. Telegrams from northern ports give parti? culars of further U-bout atrocities in the Arctic Ocean. Nearly 50 shing-hosts have been sunk or are raissing, carrying crews- totalling 100. In one case 22 men were brought by the Vaidagubba mailboat, carrying 1xass engers and minils between Vardoe and Rus sin, which was fired upon in Vaiclagubba harbour, Tep, including two women, wera killed. The submarine Commander declared his intention of sinking all Yorwegian fish. 7 ing-its, because their oil catches were destined for England. This is untrue, as the export of oil is prohibited.
A telegram from Hammerfost states that there Is been sinking of fishing vessels
nembers of the crews after they had taken to the boats
SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF BRITISH PRISONERS
LONDON, May, 21st
Times gives prommence to further uthenticnted atrocities, systematic tortures and cold-blooded murders of British prisoners. in Germany, of which the sum total cridence
Reuter's Correspondent nt British out before the machine smashed. It is London escaped fairly well, thanks mainly accompanied by the customary murders of Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, states: One of the most striking features of the present phase of the war is the superior skill of our armen. An officer pilot lately captured says this superiority is fully realised throughout the German Army and is regarded with grave core corn. He added that the moral of the enemy air service is lower than it has ever been. The quality of the material supplied often shows great deterioration Many new machines are built of tubing and wire very poor in quality, re- sulting increasingly in frequent mishaps, These damaged machines are sent back to Germany, patched up and used in instructional schools, resulting in acc
dents.
The pilot doubted whether 30 per cent, of the school aspirants ever get to front. So great is the shortage of officers that private soldiers are being trained as observers,
AUSTRALIAN PATROL'S SUCCESS
Referring to the Australians' capture of a machine-gun post west of Morlan court, the Correspondeat Bays the Aus tralian patrol had their tunics off and sleeves rolled up, and were not noticed until they were within a few yards of their quarry: Then with a regular dashed in with wallaby whoop they levelled rifles and told the garrison to put up their hands. Twenty-one pairs Teutonic paws soared with unanimous promptitude and the party was marched off to the Anzac line, whilst a few Austra lians took charge of a machine-gun, and trained the weapon in quite the opposite direction.
of
LATEST CABLES.
GERMAN PLANS MODIFIED. AT
In the provinces nont were injured. inred, 83 men, 49 women and 23 children. There was considerable damage to house property.
ACCOUNT OF THE RAID
LONDON, May 21st.
The Press Bureau announces: Prob ably between 20 and 30 Gothns" par- ticipated in the Sunday raid. A group entered the Thames estuary at eleven o'clock in the evening and skirted the
North Kent coast towards London.
The authorities are congratulated upon the steady development of the defences, and it is emphasised that Loudoners are prepareds incredibly inhuman. There is an instance to cheerfully accept their share of danger now they know that the enemy is being repaid with interest, asnt Cologne. It is hoped that before long German cities even more distant than Cologne will appreciate the crushing Allied superiority in aircraft.
A MOST THRILLING SCENE.
LONDON, May 20. Haying enjoyed two moon periods undis turbed, Londoners late last evening wer surprised when the maroons notified that “Gothas” were en route, but they sought shelter with their customary placility. That
the rail was on a big scale was soon apparent from the heaviness of the gunfire, which was more continuous than has been hitherto experienced.
They were heavily shelled, and a British airman engaged a Gotha at 11:30 at close range. The Gotha dis
A heater man who witnessed the beginn appeared in the clouds, but shortlying of the mid from the northern heights afterwards burst into Hames at a height
wreck 2,000 feet and fell a blazing
The remainder traversed Kent, homb ing, but without inficting damage.
Another group entered Essex and
• Gotha ” waS reached London, where & brought down by gunfire.
A few dozen bombs were dropped in the London district, damaging small dwel
ling-bouger,
subsequently cycled to the city. He de scribes the scene as the most thrilling he has yet witnessed. The sky was filled with distant bursts of shrapnel as the outer. barrage opened and the drone of the Gothas beenne audible. The most thrill- ing moment was when the hum of a Gorman machine suddenly changed to a splutter, then coased. After this a quivering flame appeared in the sky which flickered down while as mortally wounded the Gotha" fell headlong. The barrage gradually died away and the searchlights were turned outwards following the entreating raiders, few of whom had an opportunity to unload their bombs on Loudon,
of a Britisli soldier at Minden who was deli. berately shot dead because a dozen Briton did not want to draw the ration of filthy drinkable wash served off t Memeburg a number of seriously wounded and wholly unfit Britons were, after vain protests, forced to work twelve hours a day. Soon this did not satisfy the Germans, who ordered the Britons to commence at four o'clock in the morning. Ten of them refused, but after brutal blows all except two gave in. The sentries with kicks, blow and clabbed rifles then drove the two recal citrants out to work.
One of these Britons hekl up a badly wounded hand to show the sentries he was not fit to work, and he was thereupon shot deed, and his body thrown aside into a dirty wasbhouse. A German officer on a visit of inspection shook hands with the murderer The body was buried the following day in the presence of a crowd of jeering Ges mans.
At Schnedemuehl the Britons were without huts and bad to live in holes in the ground which the prisoners themselves scooped out. One morning at bread parade the sentry gave an order to one of the Britons which was not understood. The sentry rushed at the Briton and struch him. The latter the holes. one of hereupon hid in The German officers were ordered to mako an example of this Briton, although he had committed no offence. The Briton was captured, stripped to the waist, and karvol. Six Germans tied up to with thick wooden staves which were used
The casualties were in no way heavy or proportionate to the material damage.
All the riders were hotly engaged by the anti-aircraft defences Some attempted to descend in the Thames estuary, and others proceeded eastwards overinnd. Some pro- bably were severely damaged in attempting to penetrate the London defences. At least three more failed to escape. brought down before they had crossed the coast, one of which was destroyed by British amalgamatainen. A fifth fell in flames into the sea. A sixth and seventh were observed falling. into the sea, but this is not contrned. The castalties are 37 killed and 181 injured
Except for two outbreaks of fire in large Bruges since the Zeebrugge blocking large hut without bedding or blankets By
NO CHANGE AT ZEEBRUGGE for holding barbed wire beat the Britonforten
The delay in the German offensive is exer ching the experts, who are of opinion that the enemy plans were modified at the last moment, owing to the unsettled weather and the necessity for rearranging and ting his troops, and the Allied aviators undoubtedly seriously dislocated the enemy organisations and concentrations. A semi official statement, however, points out the increasing activity of the artillery, especially on the twelve mile front between Bucquoy, south of Ireas, and flbert, and that the enerar in Flanders has also began a most violent preparation by gas shells. This is regarded. as a sign of the imminent resumption of the enemy offensive, of which other warning are the reduced air activity and the methodical increase of reconnoitring mids.
THE AMERICAN FRONT.
WASHINGTON, May 20th. The Americans on the Western Front now hold's greater mileage than the Belgians
FRENCH FRONT.
ARTILLERY ACTION:
PARIS, May 218k
Two were
premises, which were soon controlled, the damage was confined to the wrecking of smaller dwelling houses and froin concussion,
TWO RAIDERS SAVED AT SEA 'Apparently last night's air raiders saffered farther fosses while returning home
A Copenhagen telegram-states that a steamer which arrived at Gothenburg and a Swedish fishing-boat cach saved two German airmen from two aeroplanes of a large new type which were forced to descend in the vicinity of the Dogger Bank owing to lack of petrol..
The Germana destroyed the aeroplanes. REMARKABLE NUMBER OF ESCAPES.
LONDON, May 21st,
LONDON, May 20th,
fine The The Admiralty reports: The weather has enabled constant air recon- naissances at Bruges and the Zeebrugge -Bruges Canal. Photographs show no change since April 23rd. The greater part of the enemy's submarine and torpedo craft is based on the Flanders They have been immobilised at
coast
operation.
FRENCH AIRMAN'S SCORE. PARIS, May 21st. Liteatenant Fonek has brought down his making aeroplanes, three more official total 45.
EARLIER CABLES. THE ALLIED RAID ON COLOGNE. TERRIBLE PANTU.
AMSTERDAM May 20th. It is reported that 2 persons were killed and 47 injured as a result of the Allied air raid on Cologne (cabled on May1
18th). Bombs fell mostly in the centre of the city. Cansing a terrible
panic and considerable damage. Several buildings wero wrecked, The Near Fast
LATEST CABLES.
THROUGH REDIER'S AGENCY.]
A feature of the narratives is the remarkable number of escapes, comparod with the damage to dwelling houses, though of the German effort and the extent of the area attacked. There were many fatalitics the latter is small compared to the magnitude
and injuries-anong people standing in door- ways or in the streets, thus emphasising the TURKS ABANDON VILLAGE,
LONDON, May 21st A Mesopotamia, official report states:- Our mounted troops on the Tigris front advanced as far as Fatha The Turks abandoned the village, after a little resistance, and retreated up the river.
A communiqué states: Artillery actions were occasionally violent south of the Avre at some points and in the region of Mondidier and Lassigny. RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY FIRING.
LATER
lesson that the safest place is indoors. Fifteen states there was A communiqué
persons were killed in one district where two reciprocal artillery firing in the region shops were demolished Six occupants of a of Thence-Hailles and at some points abop in another district were killed, but in another district, where there are large tend south of the Avre.
minutes over the head, bare hack and body The Briton was then swooning, but was tied upto the post and left fainting. Subsequently the German officer came up and struck the Briton with his sword and spat at him, calling him an "English swine." The Briton never recovered. A few weeks later he died, and a neutral representative visising the
At Langensalza camp 300 wounded Britons camp was informed of his death from typhus
arrived at night-time and were herded in a
next morning five had died. The remainder were taken out and left in the sun three hours, Subsequently, when seven more died. through calculated neglect and ill-treatment 50 nccumbed. The funerals at this camp from the summer of 1917 to the spring of 1918 were the grossest scandal, and the de- tails of the evidence are too revolting fox publication
EARLIER CAYLES SEAPLANE DISABLES SUB- MARINE.
CARTAGENA, May 20th A French seaplane, patrolling the Straits of Gibraltar, espied, bombed and disabled submarine U39; which was sub sequently towed into harbour by a second submarine, upon which parted
Ug has been interned. CORRESPONDENT EXPELLED PROM PARIS.
PALIS, Mar Vist. Mr. Robert Dell, the Mancheter Guar-
dian's Paris Correspondent, has been ex
pelled. T
A Socialist Deputy, in protesting, attri- buted the expulsion to Mr. Dell's revela tions of the Foreign Affairs Committen discussions in connection with the Em- peror Karl's letter.
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