Page
THE WAR.
FIERCE GERMAN ATTACKS IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS.
THE
SHIPPING
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH, 1918,
SITUATION:
NEW CONSTRUCTION EXCEEDS LOSSES.
STARVING BULGARIAN ARMY:
DISCONTENTED AND DESIROUS OF PEACE.
Branco-Belgian Front,
LATEST CABLES.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] BRITISH FRONT.
STRONG GERMAN ATTACKS,
LONDON, May 27th. 12.40 p.m.. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig v ports:-Strong hostile attacks, preculed by a bombardment of great intensity, developed this morning on wide fronts gainst the Anglo-French between Rheims and Saisons and against the French be tween Loere and Voormiczcele.
There was considerable hostile artillery ring on Sunday and at night on the British front.
FIERCE FIGHTING IN FLANDERS
LONDON, May 27th.
4.30 p.m.
ENEMY INCREASES ARTILLERY FIRE.
EARLIER CABLES.
General
FRENCH PATROLS CAPTURK PRISONERS.
PARIS, May 28tli.
A communique states: There was fair
ly great reciprocal artillery hiring at Hangard Wood and south of the Avre.
An enemy raid, after lively bombard-
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
CONFERENCE NATIONALIST
AND SINN TEIN SINN FEIN CANDIDATES.
LONDON, May 27th.
BAND AND GRAVEL TRAFFIC RESUMED.
AMSTERDAM, May 27th.
The Telegraaf states that the transit. of sand and gravel from Germany to Belgium has boon resumed. The first ship has passed Lobith en route to Ghent
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
A BOLSHEVIK THREAT.
Moscow, day 27th. The Pravda, the Bolshevik organ, says;
Germany's violation of the Brest- Litovsk Pento Treaty will inevitably face the Government with the ascocsity of taking advantage of the military ad
ment, on our posts in the Orviller Soved for. John Dillon, M.P., presided at CAPETOWN TO UPPER CONGO of one Imperialist group against the
sector as result ess
Enemy attempts in Champagne and the Vosges also failed.
of
Our patrols and detachments took prisoners, notably in the region Arlette.
Aerial Activities.
LATEST CABLES. (TAROVON REUTER'S AGENCY.] ALLIED AERIAL REPRISALS GERMAN JOURNAL ADVOCATES
UNDERSTANDING,
AMSTERDAM, May 27th. The Frankfurter Zeitung is greatly concerned at the prospect of severe Allie
LONDON, May 20th
11.30 p.m.
British 2 Reater's Correspondent Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, states-Since last evening the enemy's artillery fire has markedly increased at various places. Villers-Bretonneux, the Scarpe Valley. Aucicon-Villers, Englenerial reprisals. It asks whether Count belmer, Mailly, Mailet and Martinsart Hertling would consider it a sign of weak- have been honibarded with gas and high-nees to suggest to the encry au under
standing on the subject. explosive shells.
There were also prolonged outbursts of intense ganfire from Festubert to the Xser. During the afternoon the uproar falled, and there is no reason to assume that the bombardments herald an im minent resumption of the offensive.
LATEST CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT: BOSCHE IS YELLOW WHEN CORNERED."
at. British Reuter's Correspondent Headquarters, reporting on the 27th inst., states-Early this morning the enemy heavily bombarded great depths of the
LONDON, May 27th. (11:90a.m. line from south of the Ypres Canal to
Reuter's Correspondent et American Cuderdon and Westoutre, The infantry attacked at 4.30, the Germans apparently Headquarters shows that the Germans attempting to recover ground which the bank upon attacking fairly heavily at French took on the 20th inst. around certain points of the American sector. Loore and La Clytic. It is reported in one of these fights the Americans that they made slight progress in places, suffered considerable losses. The action, of course, was fought under conditions Fierce fighting is progressing.
which the Americans considered was The Germans sent tactically unsound.
The paper says it has always been its conviction that the military advantages of these ride ou the peaceful homeland were insignificant compared with their frightfulnes“.
Naval Activities,
LATEST CABLES.. THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.] SUBMARINE SUPERIORITY LONDON, May. 27th. The sinking of a Gorman submarine. cruiser in the Atlantic has attracted great attention, as it is the first published evidence that Great Britain also possesses submarinca capable of cruising far.
Mr. Archibald Hard writes: It is no
secret to the Germans that soon after the outbreak of war numerous Inrgo sub
Nationalist Conference at Bailieboro, at which it was decided to oppas Sinn Fein candidates.
Sr. Dillon said that, though he did not approve of the arrest of Griffith, who was the Sinn Fein candidate for East Cavan, he helieved that the Government thereby helped the Sinn Fein, and it would be regarded as a sign of weakness if the National candidate were withdrawn.
to
hn
Mr. Dillon added that Mr. Lloyd George was much mistaken if he thought. the statement about the Sinn Fein con- spiracy which was published on Batur day would be accepted as evidence by fair-minded men anywhere in the world. REPUDIATION OF SINN FEIN ALLIANCE. Mr. Dillon said: It is absurd
that
have broken say
nilianco with tho Sinn Fein, because an alliance never existed. Thank God, I am not a Sinn Feiner,
to be one. and I rever mean to be one. Sinn Fein plays into the hands of the Government. Its master passion is a hatred of the Irish party. Many Sinn Feiners are more anxious to destroy the Irish party than to free Ireland, and to do this Sinn- Fein is prepared to accept help from
any quarter
SOUTH SLAV MOVEMENT IN AUSTRIA.
EMPEROR RECEIVES DEPUTA
TIONS.
AMSTERDAM, May 27th. The importance of the South Blay movement in Austria is evidenced by a Vienna telegram reporting that the Em-
German pirates for months past. Theytauer party, which advocates the and that many have been hunting the two deputations, one of the Slovene
THROUGH RAILWAY COMPLETED.
LONDON, May 17th.
The Katanga railway, in Belgion Congo, was completed on May 22nd, giving through communication by rail from Capetown to Bukamin, on the Upper Congo.
AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.
BUTTER SURPLUS.
MELBOURNE, May 27th..
other.
EX-MINISTER ABSCONDS.
AMSTERDAM, May 27th- M. Kovaioaki, Minister of Agriculture in the late Ukrainian Government, has absconded with five million roubles. INCREASE OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT.
ELEMENTS.
LONDON, May 27th. A Moscow message, dated May 21st, states that the refusal of the peasants to provide foodstuffs and the constant - In- crease of anti Government bourgeois elements in the villages were discussed. In the House of Representatives it was
at a meeting of Executive Soviets. Pre- announced thus the sale of next year's aident Sverd off said that if the Bolshevik exportable surplus of butter to the authorities did not wish to be surprised Government was being negotiated. they must combat a dangerous coalition COMMONWEALTH'S TOTAL DEBT. of peasants and bourgeoisie by exciting Mr. Watt, the Federal Treasurer, the poor against the rich, thus provoking stated that the total debt of the Common-civil war, as they did in the towns. The
Executive adopted a resolution by M wealth was £609,000,000, including
Sverdloff that it was urgent to arm the £148,000,000 in Commonwealth War Loans
geoisie and £40,000,000 in War Loans from the Poor pensants to fight the rural bour- Imperial Government. This represented an annual interest of £25,000,000..
SCOTLAND'S MESSAGE.
PRIME MINISTER IMPRESSED.
LONDON, May 27th.
EARLIER CABLES
THE GERMANS AND THE RUSSIAN FLEET AT SEBASTOPOL
AMSTERDAM, May 20th
The Cologne Gazette reports that two Before returning to London from Scot big Russian battleships and eight de land, the Prime Minister, in an inter-stroyers escaped from Sebastopol before view in the Glasgow Herald, said he had the Germans occupied the city. The been very mach impressed by the deter. Germans captured the rest of the fleet. mination of the Scottish people to sec OBSCURE POINTS IN THE BREST.
LITOVSK TREATY, the war through. The message that | Scotland had given him was "Stand
fast."
LONDON, May 27th.
A Russian wireless message, referring The Prime Minister continued:-Scot to the fact that Germany has agreed to land is as firm as her mountains. If thoro form a special Commission to clear op is any change between last year and this obscure points in the Brest-Litovsk Peace year it is even a deeper note of resolve, Treaty, the Foreign Commissary has pro and the subordination of everything to situations in the Caucasus, Crimes, of absolute unity, a quiet determination, posed that precedence be given to the
get their minds fixed of the frontier, the determination of which upon defeating the terrible, menace oriented at Pskov, owing to Busso German disagreement; also to onemy's positions at Scherpenborg and over a heavy barrage, and coflader have not merely been most successful in maintainance of the Austrian imperial threatening the world, and they declino
misunderstandings regarding war prison. ers, and to the fundamental principles.
especting inter-economic relations.
GERMANS SINK RUSSIAN STEAMER
There is no reason to assume at present imposed by the enemy, and on ground marines were laid down in Great Britain, peror and Premier Seidler have receive the prosecution of the war. The people Eatbonia, and Lavonia; to the demarcation
that the operation is more than local, designed to restore or improve the
Montrouge.
The Belgians defeated all the Gorman attempts to push back their defences be tween Ypres and the Holthulst Forest.
The weather is fairly fine and clear in Flanders.
BELGIAN REPORT,
LONDON, May 27th.
5.45.m-
A Belgiaa communique states:- Dur ing the night, after a violent bombard- ment, German "shock-troops" attacked the Belgian advanced positions between the Passchendaele Canal and St. George's, and momentarily penetrated our trenches They were ejected, leaving to prisoners.
An attempted hostile attack in the region of Boesinghe failed under our bar
rage.
EARLIER CABLES.
HEAVY GAS-SHELLING BY THE ENEMY
LONDON, May 28th.
9.45 p.m. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports: The French repulsed a raid northward of Bailleul.
The shelling reported last night at Villers-Brettonneux was heavy, consist ing of gas-shells.
The enemy this morning heavily gas stalled westward af Hinges.
No enemy raids wore successful in the main purpose of getting prisoners, and identifications in a diary found upon a prisoner reveals the loss our airmen are
inflicting upon the enemy.
the Americans on either flank.
The
latter fought like fiends, not yielding an inch of ground, and they inflicted very severe losses on the enemy.
The American impression of the Bosche is, He is
e is yellow when cornered," but they do not underrate his gas. AMERICANS FIRST EXPERIENCE OF MUSTARD SHELLS.
LONDON, May 28th.
12.23
of Scotland have
Bystem, and the other cf Styria. Carniola to consider anything else until this is and Trieste Germans. Both emphasised done, and they are absolutely right." the danger of the South Stav propaganda
fighting the U-boats, but have proved most useful in convoy w work and have greatly contributed to unnerving the German crews, who are now finding that and the necessity of encouraging the Ger the cruiser-submarines, which are German element.
the grounds of racial friction must be removed, but whatever changes occurred in the State institutions the firm frame work of the Btate must not be loosened, and the sacred inheritance of the glorious
The Govern past must be preserved, ment would, therefore, combat to the utmost agitations menacing the strength and unity of the State..
many's last hope, bring increased danger. The Emperor, in replying, said that to them personally, owing to their un wieldiness and slower submersion. NAVAL AIRMEN'S ACTIVITIES
LONDON, May 27th. The Admiralty announce that between Mustard shells were the Americans'
May 23rd and 26th, our naval airman's hrat experience, but, disarming as these
operations were hindered by weather were, the prime poison gas phosgent, conditions Nevertheless,
we bombed outdid their imagination of murderous Mariakerke and Zeebrugge, where bombs
The. devilty, invisible gas being used
wore observed to fall near the lock-gates explosion of gas-shells is not noticed
and canal derivation. amid the surrounding din
Wo dropped nearly three tons of bombs on the Bruges docks between the night of the 22nd and 3rd insis, Al our machines returned.
ARTILLERY ACTIVE.
PARIS, May 271. A communiqué states there was active artillery bring north and south of the Avre, bug no infantry action. GERMAN'S ATTACKING ON A VERY duties, were carried out,
WIDE FRONT.
LONDON, May 27th.
4.30 p.m.
In home waters, numerous flights, in escort patrol and other anti-submarine
Bubmarines were sighted and attacked, and enemy mines were located.
Allied aircraft successfully bombed the Austrian base at Cattaro, obtaining a direct hit on the barracks occupied by submarine crews, where a fire broke wit
A French communiqué states:During the latter half of the night the. Germans very violently bombarded the entire region between the Forest of Pinon and Rheims. The enemy, this morning at Italian bront tacked on a very wide front between these two points.
LATEST CABLES: THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] Franco-British troops are resisting the German drive with their customary gal- ITALIANS INFLICT lantry. The battle e progressing
There was lively artillerying daring
of the Meuse, in the forest of Appra
He mentions, inter nia, “ two non- the night in Champagne, to the right commissioned officers and 14 soldiers were killed by an English bomb near Lestrem." Incessant reachine gunning by our airmont and in the Woevre region.
men along routes which the enemy troops and transport have to move has also proved very deadly.
AERIAL OPERATIONS, Flying was only possible during fine intervals yesterday. We dropped over 300 bombs on hillets in the neighbour hoods of Armentieres and Morville, an ammunition dump at Varssenzere—and on Bruges docks.
We brought down nine and drove down dvo uncontrollablo,
No British machines are missing- Our eight-fliers dropped over six tons of bombs on Peronne, Bapaume and Maricourt All our machines returned.
Local enemy attacks in the forest of Appremont were repelled, after a fight, with enemy losses.
Enemy attempts, in the region of L'mey and north-east of Badonvillers and also, failed.
We took prisoners.
BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS
RESUMED
PARIS May 27th. After an interval of several weeks the long-range bombardment of Paris Ter commenced to-day
LOSSES.
SEVERE
LONDON, May 27th- 7.10 p.m An Italian official message states: -Wo consecrated the dawn of the fourth year. The operation: of war with a victory. continued uninterruptedly on Saturday
and Sunday.
We stormed Zigolontovat, the present lako basin on the Monticello pass, anjl inflicted severe losses.
"
STRANGE EPIDEMIC IN SPAIN.
SEVERAL THEATRES CLOSED.
MADRID, May 27th. King Alfonso, the Premier, other Ministers and thirty per cent. of the population of Spain are suffering" from
high fever, pains in the chest and an unknown epidemic. The symptoms aro
diarchoen. The disease is of, a mild-
nature.
The new disease has not yet resulted in serious consequences. A recommended preventive precaution is open-air life n far as possible.
Moscow, Mur 97th.
A German submarine sank & Rusinn steamer in the White Sca.
GENERAL NEWS.
LONDON, May 8th. A Moscow despatch, dated May 22nd, states that the Caucasian Government's forces have recaptured the town of Sukhumkale.
The Bolshevik organ Pravda states tha; the peasant insurgents in Ukraine and the Governments of Chernigoff and Foltava bave defeated Skoropadaky's Germano-Ukrainian troops, The Ukrain
His Majesty admitted that much in the conditions of the national cultural
Several theatres have been closed owing development of individual races in the monarchy needed improvement, but a to the illness of members of the staffs.
order to assist the peasants, have been solution was only possible within Aus- The tram service is similarly handicap.ian railway men, who struck work in trian limits. It must not in the slightest
replaced by Germans. "INDEPENDENCE" prejudice the historic peculiarities of the
ESTHONIA AND LIVONIA different States, the firmness of their union, or the unity and strength of the monarchy
His Majesty exhorted the deputation uot to be anxious Iest the agitation against the maintenence of these prin ciples would spread unhindered.
ped.
NAVY AND MERCHANT
SERVICE
OF
FIRST SEA LORD ON THEIR CLOSE KUEHLMANN AND HERTLING AT
RELATIONSHIP.
LONDON, May 27th.
VARIANCE.
AMSTERDAM, May 26th.
Kuehlun Voricaerts says Baron First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Werrys, addressing at the threatened to resign it, despite the Mansion Houso a centenary gathering of Brest-Litovel Treaty, Eethonia and The Emperor, addressing the deputa-
the British and Foreign Sailors Society, Livonia, were taken from Russia. Never- tion of the Gorman Women's League of referred to the close relationship which theless, Count Hertling informed the Styrin, said a great, and important share
the present war had restored between the so-called delegates of the two provinces, was destined for the Corman people in
men of the Merchant Service and Naval whom he received at German Headquar Austria worthy of their great achieverdents men. He said that there were 200,000 ters on April 21st, that Germany was in the war. The rights of the German merchant sailers and 80,000 fishermen at randy to support their request for sever and benevolently ex- people and conditions requisite for the present serving under the White Ensign ence from Rusela prezervation of the development of their who had been assimilated into the fight swine the question of a personal union nationality in Austria would never being Fleet, and, notwithstanding the de with Prussia,
pletions and tremendous, difficulties prejudiced
which the Mercantilo Marine bad suller ed, it continued business as undauntedly as the Naval men, whose moral was better than ever, despite submarinism.
DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. APPEAL TO BELLICERENTS
LONDON, May 27th. The Geneva International Red Cross pablishes details of the Franco-German agreement concerning the exchange of prisers, and appeals to the remaining belligerents to conclude similar agres-
The prisoners taken so far number 870, and the booty includos 12 guns and a great quantity of all kinds of material.ments, including the following rules:- All military prisoners to be exchangeable The enemy twice strongly attacked our
after eighteen month. No civilians to Our counter- position at Montcorno.
be made primmers Deportations to be We brought down & aeroplanes. attack drove him back.
abolished
Germany has now informed the Russian Government of the “independence ** Of Estbonia Am Litonia
STARVATION IN BULGARIA ATHENS, May 20th.
A Bulgarian, deserter states that thera SIXTY PER CENT, RETURN TO OLD have been many deaths from starvation
EMPLOYERS.
LONDON, May 27th. The Minister of Labour, Mr. G. H Roberts, speaking at Smethwick and re farring to demobilisation, said that 400,000 discharged soldiers had been already dealt with, of whom co per cent
had returned to their old anulovers.
in
Bulgaris The Government barbar- oudly represses constant outbreaks. The Bulgarians desire peace. The Bulgarian forces in Macedonia are so weak that the 1918 class is sent to the front-line before being properly trained The Bulgarian army is so ill-fed that the men seek an
(Continued on Page 6) opportunity to desert