Page
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER $7r5, 181
CRISIS:
ANOTHER LABOUR
RAILWAYMEN'S ULTIMATUM TO THE
GOVERNMENT:
UNANIMOUS DECISION TO STRIKE,
SERIOUS RIOTING IN
CITIES.
AMERICAN
HOW BRITAIN CLEARED THE SEAS OF
MINES.
RUSSIAN BOLSHEVISM CRUMBLING.
LATEST CABLES. THROUGH RAUTER'S AGENCY. } GENERAL RAILWAY "STRIKE THREATENED.
"The
GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME OF STANDARDISING WAGES.
Loypos, "Segitember 24th.
which reassuring Enterdignity, apped in this marning's newspapers regarding the railway situation did not prepare the public for today's Railway. men's ultimatem to the Government.
-The dispite centres and the "Govern ment's proposed scheme of standardising Wages. under which, nerording / the Railwaymen's Executive, some grades of railwaymen will stiffer a reduction up to 14. weekly,
THE GOVERNMENTS OFFER REFUSED.
The National Union of Railwaymen, to-day, refusil the Government's offer and informed the Ministry of Transport that in the event of a further offer not being, recrived before noon on Thursday, it would all a strike.
There have been prolonged negotiations. ou the subject of standardisation, which is enormously "difficult, owing to the fact that there are 12 grades of different variety.
THE INTENTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT
Mr. Thomas declares that the Goveri ment has agreed that standardisation should be upward, and the settlement with the loenmätive men incorporates
this, hat the proposals for the other grades not. Apparently, the offer res ferred to above means the Government's standardisation proposals.
Sir Erie Geddes had a conference, this, afternoon, with the Premier, at Downing Street.
EXECUTIVE'S ACTION QUITE- UNJUSTIFIED.
+
Shortly after the publication of the ultimatum, the "Government issued a reply that the action of the Railwaymen's
Executive in delivering an ultimatum on
the very day on which the powers of the Board of Trade were transferred to the Ministry of Transport appears quite an justified,
SALARY INCREASES INVOLVE
£45.000,000 ANNUALLY. -- The advance in wages applies to the whole Railway staff, and will involve the Companies in the estimated additional permanent expenditure of over £45,000,000 annually, compared with pre-war costs, and this does not include any portion of the war wage, which might be continued under the Agreement of last March.
If the Companies are worked on commercial basis, this increase can only. be met by "very substantial increases in goods and passenger rates.
OTHER GENEROUS CONCESSIONS MADE.
The Government's statement concludes by pointing out that under the existing agreement between the Government and the National Union of Railwaymen no man can be Worse off than, the Govern- ment is to-day, and will be till, the end of December - AN ULTIMATEM TO THE GOVERN- MENT.
"
Boston, September 24th.
1.5 p.m.
Mr. J. H. Thomas announces that, an ultimatum has been presented to the Government on the railway crisis. The ultimatum will expire at noon torrow. UNANIMOUS DECISION FOR A
STRIKE.
LONDON, September 24th. 8. 45. p.m.
In spite of the Government statement, Mr Thomas announces that, to-night. the National Union et Railyaymer un- animeasly decided on a strike as from noons on September 9th, unless a new offer is received from the Government.
THE OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL LONDON, September 24th.
9.40 -
FRANCE'S EVER-PRESENT
DANGER.
AMERICA IN THE TRIPLE *ALLIANCE.
PARIS, September 4th.
A Havne message says:- A. favourable impression has been Crented in "Paris circles by the announce. mnot that the American Senate committee
M. CLEMENCEAU,
LIKELY TO VISIT AMERICA.
PARIS, September 4th. A Hava message says:-- The topic of discussion in Paris is the report that the French - Premier intende to accompany Marshal Foch on a visit to America. The suggestion is received with unanimeu, faveur.
FÅR EASTERN CABLE NEWS.
(BY COURTESY OF THE HONGKONG CHINESE COMMERCIAL NEWA.”)
KAN WANG-PANG TO ACT AS
PREMIER.
SHANORAL, September 20th. An ediet was issued on September 21th appointing Kan Wang pang acting Pre
bas submitted a unanimous report in THE WAR ON BOLSHEVISM mier and approving the resignation of
the Franco-American Treaty, the United States agreeing to come to the defence
of France in case of another menace from German aggression.
ITALY AND JUGO-SLAVIA.
42
A RAID INTO TROGIL.
BELGRADE, September 24th.
ROLSHEVISTS BEING REATEN BACK.
Paris, September 24th.
Kung Sani-chan. Kan Waig-pang was formerly President of the Military
Board.
ONLY A TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT.
It is reported in fetal circles that Kan Wang-pang will only act as Premier for a short time, as the Presider intends to appoint how Shu mon to the post.
5
A NATION GOING MAD.
GERMAN PUBLICIST ON AUGUST,
191
1831
An expression of opinion in a leading - article in the democratic Welt Montag, signed by von Gerlach, editor of the journal, is worth recording, especially as it is widely rent in Berlin. Von Gerlach writes:
It is just five years since 1 returned
to tiermany. From the day on which thes ultimatum was presented to Serbia until the outbreak of the war' I was in France, England, or Belgiune. I had found sad ness, anxiety, and dismay everywhere, and in Belgium, besides all shix, wild excitement over the German breach of Eeutrality, whereas in Germany I found pot only a nation in armis, but a nation in rapture. It was as if the whole the disappearance of the peace nightmare tion were rejoicing 'in one.. breath over that had weighed so heavily on it for So many long
Had I really turned to my own country.
SU
years,
na
THA
A Havity Message says:- Reports received in Paris indicate that the forces of the Bolsheviste in Russia are being driven along the line of the An official statement from Spalato,advance of the Russian and Polish dated September Bed, states they, to Italian detachment, with armoured cars, | has grossed the line of demarcation and entered Trogit. in spite of resistance by a few Juge-Stav soldiers. Serbian troop, neighbourhood of the Dnieper Eng. cnased pointed Premier, the On Fook Club re heread as something wolepine, something
have gone to meet the Italians.
Two American warships have, leit Spalato for Trogik.
It is stated that the Italian Admiral, Admiral Millo, has informed the Ameri- clou Commander that the detachment consisted of mutineers,
THE COMING FRENCH ELECTIONS.
THE RADICAL PROGRAMME.
PARIS, September 24th.
A Havis message says:- A National Convention of the Railical and Radical Socialist Parties has agreed cara programme for the coming elections, the main pointing the maintenance of a Parliamentary Republic, quality of all children in the matter of education and The Cabinet sat for nearly three hours unintenance, equitable collaboration be this afternoon, and discussed the railwaytween Capitel and Labour, and the reduc position for over an hour.
After the Cabinet meeting, the Govern ment communicated with the National Anion of Railwaymen, pointing out that
risunderstanding apparently existed in regard to the continuance of the war Wage.
S
Sir W. Marwood, representing th Ministry of Transport, staled that this communication will provide the basis
for re-opening negotiations if the Union Executive is willing. The ontlook is therefore more hopeful, '
J.
EARLIER CABLES.
THE WARNING" BY MR. J. H. THOMAS.
tion of military service.
No adherents of the new Hempèrutie Party or of the Unified Socialists are to figure on the same lists with the can- didates of the Radical Party.
THE BRITISH NAVY LIGHT CRUISER DESPATCH
LAUNCHED.
fi
troops.
Important towns have fallen into the bands of anti-Bulkhevist forces"
The advance of Polish troops in the
"panie to spread in the Bolshevist ranks.
Admiral Koltebak continues to ad vante on all parts of his front. "
EARLIER CABLES,
GENERAL DENIKIN'S,GREAT
ACHIEVEMENTS.
Losnos, September 24th. It is authoritatively announced that General Denikin bas won about a quarter. of European Russia, with a population of 30,000,000, from the Bolsheviks. He occupies the third, fourth, and fifth great eitis in Russia. His arzaius number 300,000 to 400,000.
THE MINE CLEARANCE
SERVICE
HOW BRITAIN CLEARED THE
SEAS
THE NEW CABINET,
.As. soon us Kan Wangpang was ap
commended several persons ay suitable for appointment as Presidents and Vice- Presidents of the different Boards in, the new Cabinet.
LUNG CHALKWONG'S SOLDIERS,
The Government has forwarded 2250,000 to General Lang' Chai-kwong to pay the soldiers under his command.
DEPRECIATION IN BANK OF CHINA NOTES.
The value of the Bank of China notes have depreciated owing to the lack of ready money. A dollar note is only worth
58 cents at present.
"ANOTHER LOAN FROM JAPAN, Owing to the depressed state of thing's Ernness, the Financial Board has made arrangements to borrow 8000,000 from a bank in Osakn. Ar agreement toward
INTERNAL PEACE.
Losbox, September 24th. The official announcement that the Mine Clearance Service will cease at the this end was made five days ngo. end of November gives little indication of the immense and dangerous labour involv ed in sweeping up the mine felds in the neighbourhood of the British Isles within a year of the Armistice.
All that now 'remains is the removal of the remnants of the huge mine-feld between the Shetlands and Norway and the remaining German mines off Heligo- fund Bight.
Although the entire clearance of all the mines Inid is not clained, sufficient routes for normal sen traffe are guaranteed.-
The task involved a clore search over
Losags, September 94th:, "The light enuiser« Despatch, which got jammed on the ways when she was first launched on September 11th, has been successfully aunched, AMERICA AND THE PEACE 40,000 square miles. A large proportion
TREATY,
of the areas had to be covered twice, and
DISCUSSION OF REPUBLICAN -
AMENDMENT POSTPONED.
LONDON, September 24th Labour correspondents" consider that the warning by 3r. J. H. Thomas, M...
WASHINGTON, September 24th. against railway trouble," should not be taken too seriously. They point out that 10 a motion by Senator Lodge postponing The Senate, has adopted by 43 votes to the already protracted negotiations with the consideration of the Republican the Railway Executive have still two amendment to the Peace Treaty until months to run, and, with Clovernment September 30th. The vote is considered help, it is practically certain that a set-
ne the rat test of strength between the tlement will be reached.».
opposing Parties...
Mr. Thomas's warning is regarded as addressed particularly to the Labour Extremists who are trying to force a strike.
Mr. G. Bromley, the secretary of the Locomotive Engineers, sold, yesterday evening, that he was not aware of any crisis.
LATEST CABLES. AMERICAN STEEL STRIKE. UGLY RIOTING IN SEVERAL TOWNS.
NEW YORK, September 24th. Ugly ricting took place at Newcastle, Pittsburg, Buffalo and elsewhere last It is estimated that the other, conces evening owing to the steel workers' strike. sions already granted will cost another There were a considerable number of £90,000,000 annually, making £3,000,000 casuilties." permanent annual increase on the pre- war pay bill of £47,090,000.
of
The passenger rates have already been advanced 50 per cent in the case ordinary bookings, and this might have to be extended to all passenger fares.
GOODS RATES WILL HAVE TO BE INCREASED.
It in certain that in order to meet the increased pay, the goods rates will have to be substantially advanced, prob- ably by over 50 per cent. Such np in- crease must naturally be borne by the community and the country's export
trade
THE PRINCE OF WALES ARRIVAL AT VICTORIA, B.C. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA,
September 24th...
The Prince of Wales, travelling on o Canadian Bailways steamer, was received by a flotilla of motor boats at the entrance of the harbour, to-day, amid huge cheer ing from the crowd on the pier.
THE DOMINIONS>
LEAGUE.
|
so many intelligent and Whabited by
people,
or had t
"I found my way by mistake into a madhouse I was shaken and horrifed. Everyn Ferg in the outside world the war was regarded as something' terrible, while
in Germany, it was apparently re.
Tonged for.
11
CONFIDENCE IN MILITARISM. The Fourth of August, 1914, was the culmination of German militaris The whole nation had impheit confidence, in it the Reichstag ented war credits in- animously; all
power subordinated
TE
state of
itself to military preventive, ar
the censorship. Siege, rest precluded all freedom of
The whole country was one single barracks.. idei of militarism was attained: the And
so it went on from year to year Militarism has, from the technical standpoint, achieved wonders, but psycho logically it
it has failed utterly. It relied guley on brute force; but oral
bave overthrown it. It was a fa in the interior but from the beginning it overestimated its strength ere--is the outside world. When the ingenious plan to crush France utterly in six weeks fail- ed on the Marne, the high military nu thorities adopted the system of with which statesmen hud
to envelop in an artificial fog
turn before Paris occurred the official of the war. On the day when the deebiv terman Army report lied in describing. the military situation as favourable, and this
sten, of lying had to be main-. tained, and was maintained, until the awful collaps opened the eyes of the people.
ara
ANTI-BRITISH CAMPAÏCS. Nationalists and Pan-Germans working energetically for the further Wong Yap-tong, the chief Northernance of the anti-English movement, and delegate, has telegraphed to the Peking tion of their old habit of vituperation.
their plan weme to include the reassu Government to send to him all the ducting to inculcate the idea that Britain is In all kinds of ways they are endeavour- ments in connection with the treaty be entirely responsible for the war, for the tween China and Japan, so as to enable ing the war, and for the disaster that has Refferings that Germans underwent dur him to open negotiations with the South the other hand, they picture
overtaken
the German Empi
BRITISH CHINA SQUADRON. JAPANESE PRESS COMMENTS.
on
the victim of bloodthirsty and ruthless aggression and as being crushed by the overwhelming force of
of rapacious enemies.
attempt to persuade the Germans. that they need not despair, for prevail and Germany
Bushehenix like, from its asbes.
The announcement that the Britishwill urine, China Squadron is in future to consist of an imposing force, including a new armoured cruiser, four new light cruimrs, eighteen destroyers, eleven submarines, A very large percentage of the workable interest in Japan, and the Press
and auxiliary craft, has aroused consider.
was allotted to Great Britain, hence the not effusige in its welcome, anys the Mine Clearance Service was inaugurated. Tokia correspondent of the Daily Re
sometimes thrice.
LATER
and Gerum mines were accounted for in To the end of August, 19,000 British
Home waters and 3,500 in the Mediter rancán.
"
Of the 3.0 British mines laid in Southern waters, mostly early in the war it was found that only a very small pro- portion retained.
of
The men worked in the finest spirit Three minesweeping vessels were lost at Home and two in the Mediterranean during the progress of work. On the other hand, only six merchant vessels were lost through striking mines ainee Novem-
ber, 1018.
The work of clearing the waters allotted to Great Britain has now reached the RIGHT TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE stage when it is possible to fix a date for its termination, namely September 30th. for Home waters, and November 30th. for the Mediterranean. Other placen abroad are already clear.
PARIS, September 24th.
diecussion on the Peace Treaty, M. In the Chamber, in the course of the
Pichon upheld the right of the British Dominions to membership, in the League The Police there have been reinforced, of Nations. He declared that France and New York State troops are being sent had no colony comparable with the British to Buffalo to preserve order at the Lacka-Dominions, which raised nearly 3,000,000 wanna plant,
The first agreement between the em- players and the strikers, occurred at
Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
It is still impossible to ascertain the full scope of the strike. Undoubtedly, Labour bas gained ground in the Western have made little headway in the Eastern centres, but it is stated that the strikers sections.
THE IW.W.
inen for the war.
FRENCH EXCHANGE MATTER RESTS WITH THE UNITED
STATES.
PARIS, September 24th.
A Hayng message says:
French financiers express the opinion that the matter of foreign exchange reste with the United States and the attitude American bankern, the real-solution- the problem being the extension of arms. The exact amount of credit should long-term credits by American basking be approximately $10,000,000,000,
WASHINGTON, September 24thof The Senate Labour Committee has the 1.W.W. propaganda is concerned in decided to investigate the charger that
the strike.
drifting nines as long as large mine There will still be the same danger from fields exist in the German arca
MISHAP TO JAPANESE STEAMER.
peres).
The Forte observes that the striking increase of British naval strength is gives us an inkling of Britain's policy worthy of particular notice, because it
towards the Orient after the war."
The Pan-Germans will find it difficult to make the German people believe all this and to induce them to submit again to Pan-German know
leadership, for the people been used to serve Pan German ambition, at leusi how ruthlessly they have
greed of their own countrymen as by the and are beginning to realise that: their sufferings and privations during the war were caused almost as much by the callous
feat binckade.
a
The Pan-Germans are also seeking to encourage
the nation by assuring it that attitude of the Entente Powers w wards Germany is dictated by hatred and fear of cerman vitality. They reiterate worthy of their great name if, instead of that the Germans will prove themselves deferentially submitting to the iden that The Kolamin says, with trac Oriental of their let by, behaving well in the man- they will ultimately secure the betterment politeness that the new dispositionner prescribed by the enemy, they demand of the British squadrons compels admira. the rights of free people, and, by using tion, in that it leaves nothing to be desir. there rights judiciously, regain their ed for the protection of British interests national pride and power." throughout the world. It interprets the reinforcement of the China Squadron as a signal that grent efforts are to be rande to develop British trade, and expressen surprise at the mercenary temper of the British." "Overwas trade must be back- ed by sea-power," concludes this, organ, and in this sense we're jealous of the new disposition of the British Navy,"
few hours after the information, re garding the China Squadron had been made public, the Navy Office in Tokio in timated that the Japanese wuadron de tailed for service in Chinese waters would to composed of new vessels.
·GALLANT MERCHANT SEAMEN. The Guild Gazrite-the journal of the Imperial Merchant Service Guild-con- tains a special "Victor" report on the work of the Merchant Service during the
PLUCKY ENGLISH WOMEN. TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS IN FRENCH FRONT LINE,
a repre-
The story of how a band of English- women undertook-service in the front line with the French Army tor two and a balf years we related yesterday sentative of The Daily Nein by Lieut Toupie Lowther, the founder and leader of this remarkable unit. Mis Lowther, who before the war gained distinction as an exponent of foil fencing, is a sister of Colonel Claude Lowther, M.P., and is related to the Speaker of the House ut home in London, her company having Commons. She has now returned to ber been demobilised.
We were the only unit of women whe did front line work," said Miss Lowther:
War. A prelatory note says:illed. "We were regular members of the French
the millions of men who have been raimed, and even tortured, in the
of civilisation, the Merchant Service, a purely peaceful occupation has given of
its bent; 14,661 7"
Service Automobile, under the direct orders of file commandant.""
The work undertaken by the unit "was souls have laid the trestaport of the wounded from the Tha
"OTARU MARU NO. 3" ASHORE. down their lives in cause of freedom' battlefield to the dressing-stations.
and of right. Reckless of hazard, heed-French have no Red Cross service in the LONDON, September 23rd. less of consequence, I have died that front lines, and such work is carried out from the Italian vice-Consal that the mortal memory is this our Victory Re the women, and each received a soldier's
Lloyd's agent at Aden, telegraphing on
our Empire, as Mistress of the Seas, by combatant soldiers, Uniform and the September 21st, slates that he has learnt should live. To their illustrious and im-military tin hat were served out to Otaru Marz No. 3, which left Bingapore port' dedicated." The war honours woo for Marseilles on August 2nd., has been by the profession are as follow:-
pay for her services. The unit was con ashore, badly damaged, since August
tinually under fire, Victoria Cross********** 20th, at Banalula in Northern Somali- which the vice-Consul in at present unable Distinguished Service Cross land.
She is in urgent need of assistance
Distinguished Service Order to render.
Order of the British Empire .....
*** 410 Bars to Distinguished Service Cross 18 French awards............. Mentioned in Dispatches Commended for Services Other honours .......
Total
THE SILVER MARKET.
LONDON, September 23rd, Bilver is quoted at 021d spot and 6zid.. forward. The market is firm.
f 80
87
38.
333
270
237
.1,519
Mias Lowther had to fight many battles with officialdom before she was able to gain permission for her uait to undertake the work it desired. She was disappoint ed in her efforts to be allowed to render service with the British Armies, bat. eventually, after raising, ber unit of 25 women, she was accepted by Commandant Donmone, the chief of the French trans
port service.
14
JJ