Page
THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 718,
GERMAN ARMY RETREATS TWENTY MILES:
FORTY THOUSAND PRISONERS CAPTURED SINCE JULY 18TH.
AMERICA'S MAGNIFICENT WAR RECORD.
MR. CHURCHILL'S REPLY TO LORD
LANSDOWNE
THRILLING SUBMARINE FEAT.
Franco-Belgian broni.
LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY-] BRITISH FRONT. HOSTILE ARTILLERY VERY ACTIVE.
LONDON, August self.
1,20 p.m.
"Fjeld-Maribaf Sir Douglas Haig ports--We cantüred a few prisoners in the neighbourhood of Neuville-Vitasse.
Hostile artillery were very active at night-time opposite La Bassee. They were also active northward of Bethune, and at "points between. Hazebrouck and Ypres.
RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF..
LONDON, August 4th.
10.35 .m Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports: We drove of raiders southward For Argus....
"
THE ENEMY'S RACE AGAINST-
TIME.
This new advance to the Vesle will forts the Germans to put on even more speed in their move to escape disaster, and 1 is probable that they will be unable to make any serious stand until the Aisae is reached. At present they are fighting and if they cannot gain time the vast desperately with the Aisne behind them,
accumulation of stores and ammunition which they collected south of it for the great offensive against Paris will be lost Already the Allies have made an immense capture of munitions, light railway waterial and other supplies.
FORTY THOUSAND PRISONERS. A local, but very important, success has been gained north-west of Rheims. great relieving the pressure on Champagne city, While the German line north of the Marne has bera broken up completely,
NEW GERMAN TACTICS,
PARIS, August 5th.
The Matin publishes a secret order by General Ludendorff, referring to certain
AMERICANS TAKE FISMES
LONDON, August 8th.
An American official report states:---
new tactics, concerning which he says:- We have taken Fismes and hold the Our situation as regards reserves com-south bank of the river Vesle in this pels us to perfect them. It is absolutely so indispensable to avoid the old fault of attacking in mass formations, and that by all means we should reduce our losses."
EARLIER CABES.
·
FRENCH TROOPS REACH THE VESLE.
PARIS, August 5th,
A communique states:-We reached the Vesle at several points east of Fismes.
The enemy rearguards resisted strongly notably between Muizon, and Cham-
gained a footing at various points pigay. Our light elements, nevertheless,
the north bank.
Fismes in ours.
GERMANS ABANDON POSITIONS.
on
of
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT.
LONDON, August 5th. *12.20 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at
French Headquarters, telegraphing last evening, states;-The Germans must bave felt the piach before they voluntarily - retired from their positions north and south of
We gained ground the Somme, which would have been a
north-west useful line of departure for a fartherhich the enemy is defending vigorously. kheims as far as the village. Neuvillette, advance upon Amiens and Abbeville. One involuntary and two voluntary German retirements were all undertaken with a view of saving wen. If these economies are being effected in order that Pricee Rapprecht or the Crown great adventure at some other point, we Prince will be able to afford another
shall quickly learn it. that the moment when a decisive victory is possible has passed, the enemy may retreat farther than they have yet shown signs of doing. The
If it is decided
ENEMY RENOUNCES HOPE OF CAPTURING RHEIMS. The Germans, as usual, are retreating slowly and in good order, withdrawing in alternate sections and flanked by centres of resistance which are always able to pour cross-fres upon any troup advancing into the abandoned, sector too hastily..
Our advance to the village La Nru the Avre region between Montdidier and villette, a mile north of Rheims, on the Amigas, where the enemy has abandoned Rheitas Laon road, means that Rheims positions of importance. Perhaps this is completely disengaged on the east and retirement is a preliminary to a further that the enemy has renounced all "hape of at length capturing it by an envelop
GERMAN ARMIES RETREAT TWENTY MILES,
Our patrols captured a fex prisoners the Allied pressure has become so severe in the La Basare sector.,
that General Ludendorff has been com We dropped five tons of bombe and pelled to withdraw his troops at two other what down seven neroplanes,„
Out
night-fiers dropped five tons of bombs upon railway stations at Steen werek, chusing 'res. Three British
machines are missing.
BRITISH POSTS ADVANCED.
LONDON, August 5th. 10.20 p.m. Sir Douglas, Haig states-We ad vakted war posts slightly in Picaut Wond and eastward of Robece
There is hostile artillerying southward of Ypres...
EARLIER CABLES. SIGNIFICANCE OF RETIREMENT.
LONDON, August 5th.
points, and the line" has been cracked in
move.
The total number of prisoners takening atthek. since July 18th is 40,000.
PAUSE IN THE BATTLE
LONDON, August 4th.
11.10 p.m.
Reuter's Correspondent at French Head.
LONDON, August 3th. 815 am.
his
!
The Germans on the left bank of the Avre. between Castel and Mesnil-8% George'n, were compelled to abandon part of their positions which had become
July 23rd, untenable as a result of cur advance ou
We
occupied Braches, Hardicourt, and reached the western out. penetrated
skirts of Courtemanche, and the bre taken prisoners......“
Naval Activities.
LATEST CABLES.
(THROUGH RECTAR'S AGENCY.)
THRILLING ACCOUNT OF U-BOAT "ENCOUNTER."
Loxnos, August Sch Sir Eric Geddes related at a concert most thrilling stories of naval warfare, given to the American troops one of the
in which a decoy known as The Mystery Ships fought a submarine for five hours The ship had the appearance of a dingy enliler which the crew and captain had rigged up as a merchantmen, appearing an undisciplined lot. The ship sailed the Atlant if under scaled orders and sighted
$2
19.15
General
LATEST CABLES. [TEROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
BULGARIAN PEACE
OFFENSIVE.
ATHENS," August 5th.
EARLIER CABLES.
KING GEORGE'S MESSAGE TO ALLIED RULERS
ance
..
MR. CHURCHILL REPLIES TO LORD LANSDOWNE,
LONDON, August Sch. Mr. Winston Churchill. in & letter to his constituepits at Dunder replies ut length to Lord Lansdowne's letter (cabled on July 1st). He says the war has got The Hestia paper aras that the
to be won. It is not yet won. These mysterious journey which King Ferdin-win hard facts dominate every argument. and of Bulgaria is making abroad is not arising from despondency or treason. connected with a Bulgarian peace offen-
Let us not delade ourselves by thinking sive.
there is any substitute far victory. The "salient fact of the gituation is, “Appear- of power 1s with the enemy, but the reality of power is with as." The Kaiser rules more millions of, subjects and slaves than at any time during the war, but the German people are bleeding and are suffering from had feeding and under- feeding, and are enduring a strain thrice as hard as Great Britain. Therefore. if we stand fast the Germans, must break. : Three terrible things, have happened in Germany during the present year. Her attacks upon the British and French His Majesty sent a similar message to armies have been repulsed: submarinism the King of the Belgians, adding, has been definitely controlled; and "Belgium's trials, so bravely borne and the American armies are endured, will be an incentive to persevere nt till complete victory is achieved."
LONDON. August 4th.
announces:--His
The Press Burcan Majesty the King, in a message to the rulers of Brazil. France, Greece Italy. Japan, Portugal, and Serbia, emphasises concentrate its entire energy upon a the Empire's unchanging resolve to
victorious conclusion of the struggle, and expresses confidence that a peace is not far distant.
victoricu
His Majesty also despatched a message to the Kings of Sium and Montenegro, and the Presidents of China, Cuba and
Liberia.
KING
GEORGE AND PRESI- DENT WILSON. EXCHANGE OF FELICITOUS MESSAGES.
landing rate promising to make the Allied strength overwhelming. The fourth thing was the increasing Allied domination of the air. All the world is marching against Germany. Wa had but to persevere to conquer. That was a reality. To make peace now, when Germany has apparently triumphed but
is really tottering, When America har only just begun, and when Russia is' in the deepest abyss of misery would brand our race for generations with a fictitious inferiority and a sham defert. Yet that in
what Lord Lansdowne is obstinately besiching us to do,
LONDON, August 4th. The Press Burean announces :--Pre- Majesty the King. states:America sident, Wilson, in a message toy His
Britain on the anniversary of Great Britain's entrance into the war, in which cordially extends her hand to Great
the forces of civilisation are fighting the can kinasen, and according to the forces of reaction, and rejoices that the words of President Wilson. two nations stand side by side in so great a cause."
Wi
Mr. Churchill. after emphasising that must keep step with our Ameri
force
*
without stint." concludes by de- cessation of hostilities: Firstly, the claring what is indispensable to German armies must be decisively beaten in the field; secondly, the German people must spontaneously and definitely break with the system which has led them to
League of Nations.
many monstrous crimes. Otherwise they cannot be allowed to enter the
His Majesty the King replied:--Your message will be read with cordial appre a submarine, which began shelling toeiation by my peoples, encouraging them overhaul the decoy
in the prosecution of the struggle against she was running Since the Crown Prince began killing and wounding some of the crew.
away. Shells dropped on
our common enemies. I aui proud that the deck, quarters, telegraphing to-day, states:-The retreat his armies have fallen back 20 The captain signalled in plain English assured of our unswerving determina- my forces and those of the United States. are fighting side by side. You may rest pause in the battle along the Vesle is large-miles and have lost 40,000 prisoners. ly due to the fatigue of the troops, who The present German positions are on ship."
Submarine shelling ́us, abandoning tion to continue with all our strength have now been fighting and advancing nearly a straight line between Soissons continued. The poop was on fire and the achieved."
Hours passed and the shelling until the victory of Right over Wrong is continuously for Reveral days, in and Rheims. „Reuters (orrespondent at. British saking rains and the consequent heavy surroundered by the enemy
The latter town is still Captain knew the magazine would soon Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday, ronds. Only light advanced columns at pre- though our latest
on three sides, explode, which occurred. Beaving a gun atated:--Although the German with sent have been in contact with the enemy the pressure east of the city. The enemy ing it had got an easy prey, whereupon successes, have relieved overboard the sabmarine came, in, think- drawal near Albert should not be exagalong the Vesle. These are awaiting the requires fewer divisions to defend this gun was unmuzzied and fired most Kerated, it had been compelled by our main body of infantry and guns before line than if he had retreated aerdss the rapidly, striking the submarine again and expert armourers in the workshop of the task of marching, as fast as a limp and ceaseless activity and the difficulties in attempting to drive the Germans behind coction with maintaining communi- the Vesle, cations across the awampy valley. The
to hold. The Germans had either to
set in, but the chief signifance of the retirement is that the ending in this region has definitely passed to defensive tactics.
1
Aisne, whose many windings necessitats again and ultimately sinking the enemy The fact that the enemy has installed large bodies of troops to defend them, but Warship below the horizon were called enemy found the sector extremely costly heavy artillery on the plateau behind the the Aisne is most dangerous to the rear on and picked up the survivors. The Vesle indicates the likelihood of bis degi. of a beaten enemy, and the indications Germans now know this ruse, but the First advance or retire before the wet reason sion to stabilise his line on the Vesle.
are that the enemy will continue, his re Lord, likewise, Admiral Sima, have now The Germans still enclose Rheims on tirement north of the Aisne. Even this got other means of trapping the U-boats. the west, north and east.
natural rampart is jeopardised by the Serial" French bridgeheads at Soissons and its
Activities. suburb St. Tanet, the latter of which
LATEST CABLES, commands the whole of the sharp bend
[ZEROUGH ZRUTER'S" "AGIKOT) of the river east of the city. GERMANS CROSSING THE AISNE.
LONDON, August 5th. 12.05 am. Lust evening the enemy, although retiring across the Vesle, was still rexist
The threat to Amiens astride the Albert road bus practically disappeared.
Raiders recently captured German gappers in this boctor, thus confirming the suspicion that the retreat, peading the main withdrawal, would be carried out on Thursday night. It must have proved
costly to the enemy, as the Ancre was swollen, and we, anticipating events, had kept the bridges continuously shelled,
Our patrols, advancing warily, pass ed through Aveluy Wood yesterday and entered the village on the west bank of the Ancre.
"A GERMAN ADMISSION.
Losos, August 5th.
10.20 p.m. There is hostile artillerying southward of Ypres.
A wireless German official" message states Northward of Montdidier we withdrew from the west bank of the Avre. and Dombrook
We also withdrew to the north bank of ing stubbornly.
the Vesle before strong attack on Fismes. GERMANY'S STRATEGIC PLAN DID
The French captured Jonchery and crossed the Tesle at Ventanus Farm, also north-west of Bazaisne, and crossed the rive opposite Boissons, capturing St. Vaast
NOT SUCCEED.
AMSTERDAM, August 5th
12.05..m.. General Ludendorf, interviewed as re- gards the Marne retreat, says this time
The enemy destroyed all the bridges our strategic offensive plan did not
across the Veale..
succeed.
The pursuit is continuing, the French It was limited to a tactical occupying strong positions on the cast success. He alleged that the Germans on bank of the rivers
tions becaus "one of
:it
AIR RAIDS
injured:
A message from Cologne states that ten airmen dropped 28 bombs on Duren on the morning of August 1st, some damage resulting, and 12 persons killed and 14 injured.
ARMOUR-SUITS FOR -AMERICAN SOLDIERS;
WASHINGTON, August 5th.. The War Department announces, that
modelling armuar for use by American Metropolitan Museum, New York, are soldiers in France, including the helmets, shields, and breastplates, comprising all the best types used in ancient days. AMERICA'S WAR CAPACITY.
LONDON, August 5th..
won.
SCRAPPED! GETTING BACK INTO CIVIL LIFE. It is but a few weeks since I did my Sinal "About turn!" in the. Army—a movement that left three years of military service behind me and set before me the
into civil life. an enfeebled constitution would allow.
desolation of mud, slimy and traachweary
No longer must I trudge through
no longer need I dodge from shell-hole to shell-hole as the whizz-bangs" and 5.9" scream and crash around or s the bullets and splinters hiss in the air and thud and splutter na they bury them. selves in the mud.
Btill
Nine Congressmen of the United States,
My nights that I so often spent in visiting England have issued a statement putrid with poison gas now pass in sleep wearied wakefulness, in an atmosphere which says that there will be no cessation in a safe, comfortable bed, with the crown- of America's war efforts until the waing glories of white sheets and a clean America has twenty million men forgotten-1 shall never wholly forget, of body. And dawn-well, I have almost ON GERMAN
of military age and early more than course the feelings, sights, and sound TOWNS
million youths will reach twenty-one,tion. The war goes on and I am out of
of it..
But there is a feeling of dissatisfac AMSTERDAM, August 8th.
America's agricultural production is so it. I have fallen out on the line of An official report fropi Treves states France, England and Italy and keep the tossed to France with me are
great that if necessary it can feed march, while the remnant of those who
damage One person was killed and four soldiers in Europe and a millips more that the Allied air raid on Treves on armies fully rationed. Before October resting; but how I shall envy that rem trudging the hard road. To-day. I am August 1st resulted in considerable there will be two million American nant when the war is over-when they
baye seen it through! are training in the United States, all of miss the abandon' of the soldier's life. whom are between the ages of 21 and 30 moment so does things with a laugh In the Army one lives for the day for the and are equal to the best "shock" troops, and a jest that cannot be done, without Daily ten thousand of these splendid ( civilian, Now I must remember that the endless explanatione, by the average troops are leaving for the battle front. Spirit of camaraderie that animates the Americs is manufacturing weekly 55,000 by the creations of civil life. I mu
boys in khaki is restrained and confined "I must rifles and machine-guns. The capacity of not bait a passing pedestrian the factories is 780,000 shells daily. In Leater with him into intimate details of How goes it, chum and then perhaps, weapons, including improved his or my personal experiences and life. grenades, flamethrowers and poison of our dreams. Those dreams of home
Blights"
too, is not the "Blighty gases, America is specially well supplied were of the home that was before wa Twenty-five thousand aeroplanes are now But life at home has
tenlisted.
100,000 aviators: A new aeroplane motor, turing to do. There is a wet blanket over being built. The United States possesses trons are everywhere, and one must learn has changed. Restric an appalling list of don'ts" before ven-
bombing machines to fly across the Atlan-bulletins of the war tall little to the aver compared for weight, is the most power everything. All ful in the world and will enable great gone; and one misses them.
eyes and ears are strainz- news of battle. Friends have
The
daily lio in twenty hours. Already five hun- civilian every sentence, every phrase, is dred battle-planes have been shipped to pregnant with memory-laden meaning, age civilian, but to the soldier turned Europe. The present rate of the delivery and the porile and sufferings of one's pala of battle planes in at the rate of eighty and relatives de realised as others can weekly.
not realise them,
LATEST CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT.
EARIAER CABLES. THE NEW MARNE POCKET WIPED the evening of July 16th broke off opera-The Americans are attacking Fines.
ZEBBRUGGE LOCKS TERBIBLY OUT.
was not worth the cont,
DAMAGED. LONDON, August 5th.
The Germans apparently realise their principal duties being to inability to stand permanently on the Hurled Imck by Generalissimo Foch's spare the blood and strength of my Vesle, but are desperately attempting to
7.45 p.m.
AMSTERDAM, August 8th. counter-blow, the Germans continued soldiers." Generalissimo Foch's counter delay the Allies in order to get men and in Bolland after raiding Zeebrugge. They Two British airmen were forced down their retreat yesterday and are still mak ing great sacrifices in, their rearguard south of the Afrire by a flank break Dernancourt and Hamel, both of which that the locks were terribly damaged by blow was intended to cut off the Germans which will be very troublesome between stores across the Aisne, the crossing of
declare the canal is still blocked, and Flames has been stormed by the Ameri. through, which was frustrated by the are in our possession.
and the line to the Teale reached and Beventh and Ninth Armies" By July crossed at some points. The new Mare 19th we were fally masters of the situa- Ancre.
The enemy has entirely re-crossed the a direct hit yesterday. pocket has been wiped out, and the front tion, and aball remain so. The gain of runs almost in
Recently #British bomb fell amidst a straight line from ground on the Marne are only catch-present. It is believed the Germans are 400 marines at Bruges, causing great Soitzons to Eheima.
worda ”;
holding part of the town.
slaughter.
resistance.
."
At Albert the situation is doubtful at
new
ed for