The Hongkong Telegraph
(ESTABLISHED 1881.) Copyright, 1915 by the Proprietor.
WEATHER BORACAST
FAIR Barometer 303'-
Temperatura
February 17, 1914
Humidity
95
FEBRUARY
17,
1915.
叁岸靈 𫘝七十月二类心费
LATEST WAR TELEGRAMS.
February 17.1915,
Temperaturo 6 Humidity
2831 日四初月正
TO-DAY'S
am. 59. 91,
2. p.m. 60
82
WEDNESDAY,
LATEST WAR TELEGRAMS,
LATEST WAR TELEGRAMS.
GERMANY'S PROPOSAL TO BRITAIN,
WANTS TO STRIKE A BARGAIN.
The Naval and Financial Outlooks.
Mr. Churchill's Glowing Speech.
Feb. 15, 9.60 p.m. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons to-night, in a speech introducing the Navy Estimates, laid emphasis upou the efficiency of the British Navy..
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ments and gunnery efficiency." This was the first test we had had and it was most encouraging, as it vindicated our theories of desigu and particularly our big gan armament, always identified with Lord
H.MS. Koot a 231-knot vessel, Fisher. The range of the British guns exceaded that of the Ger mans and our shooting was at least as good as theirs. It had been in the Falklanda fight steamed 25
Bort of super-elficiency“ ia At the outbreak of war, Great Britain had a deet, with a good apposed the Germans possessed. a
Bank her. margin of safety for vital mattere, fully mobilised and squipped gunnery, but there was a feeling now that our offisera had been knots, daught the Nuremburg and Only two small German cruiserS with every requirement-with reserves of ammunition and torpedoss too diffident se to their professional skill in gunnery. Everything far above the regular quantity, with ample supplies of fuel oil and we have learnt leaves us no doubt of the wisdom and the excellen e adequate reserves of all kinds. The Navy had also adequate name of our material. Our 13.5.in. gun" is unequalled by any enemy and two armed merchantmen re- bora of trained officers and men, adequate establishments for train-weapon and we now have a fifteen inch gun vastly more powerful, main at large, and they are at
Another remarkable feature of this action was that oar ships present in hiding." ing new men, an immense programms of new construction maturing to rainforce the Fleet, and a pre-arranged system of accelerating new exceeded their previous speed records, Nothing could show better Mr. Churchill ways the estimate. constraction which had been found to yield aveo surprising results. the excellence of British machinery than the glorious feats of the jof the quantity of oil consumed
than the actual consumption, Particularly did he draw the attention of the Hours to the sup-engine-room branch, or the Admiralty system of repairs and refits all during war proved much larger ply of ammunition. They got little credit for such expanditare in effected with ceaseless vigilance and without exhaustion (cheers).
H.M.S. Kent,& 23) knot vessel, for instance, in the Falklands time of peace, but in time of war they had to thank God it had been
fight steamed 25 knots and caught the Nuremburg and sank her Mr. Lloyd George has saunane made (cheers).
The estimate of the quantity of oil consumed in the war had (cheers). The truth was the navy was as sound as a bell (cheera) ed, that £10,000,000 Rugisa proved much larger than the actual consumption. Also there had and it would be found good, fit, keen and honest. It would be Treasury Bills have been over- baso no difficulty in buying practically any quantity of oil and not found to be the pradnet of good management and organisation, of subscribed in the English market. Mr. Lloyd George bna an B single oil ship had been interfered with, while the price of oil was sound principles in design and strategy, of sturdy workmen, faith-
ful workmanship, careful clerks and accountants, skilful engineers, nounced that Russis has a war Hubatantially below that when he last addressed the House.
There had been an idea that we might build ships but never painstaking officere and hardy tara (cheers).
It showed all the world that there was no reason to assume that, credit in Great Britain to the man them. When, however, the mobilisation took place we manned every ship in the Navy fit for service, including old vessels for which ship for abip and gun for gun, we could not give a good nocount of extent of £10,000,000. we found usefulness and also powerful new ships built for foreign ourselves (cheers). It showed that at five to four ia representative Mr. Churchill says our 13.5 gun. ships the Germans did not think it prudent to engage, that they is unequalled by any enemy. countries, besides several soore of armed merchantmen,
We also provided all the men for the necessary naval air service, accepted without hesitation their inferiority, that they thought only weapon and we now have a 15- which did not exist three years ago bat was now becoming a con-of fight. They were wise in the view they took no endeavour to inch gun vestly more powerful. siderable and formidable body (loud cheers). We have been able sink by official communiques would obscure that cruel fuot, but Approximately one million to keep the navel training school fall to the brim, and thas to sap when, if ever, the two great fleets engage in general battle we hope British fighting man: bave been ply the drafts for the new vessels which were coming on in each great to bring into line a preponderance not only of quality but of numbers conveyed averses without, up to numbers. We had also to provide for the Royal Naval Divis-which will not be five to four bat something considerably greater the present, any accident or loss ion, which had now reached a respectable total and had developed We might consider the extra margin an additional insurance against of life.
unexpected losses by mine or sabm-rius. Buch efficienc ne enabled the men to be counted on immediately.
We had always relied on the Navy for our safety and the Ger- . Feb. 16, 11.25 ..
scale than the British Fleet waa for national defence (cheers.)- Reuter's sorrespondent at Washington states that Count Berg-alarmy was not more ready for an offensive war on a gigantic Mr. Churchill referred to the victories at the Falkland Islands atorff has pressated a formal Note stating that Germany is willing to consider the abandonment of the proposed attacks on British mer and the Dogger Bank. Bath, he said, were satisfactory in them- chanimen if Britain will allow the passage of foodstuff for civilians.solves but were still more satisfactory in their significare and conso
GREAT SPEECHES BY MR. CHURCHILL AND MR. LLOYD GEORGE.
[Router's Service to The" Telegraph."]
Germany Bargaining. "
[In the event of telegramus arriving too late for insertion on this page they will be found on the Extra.]
BARLIER TELEGRAMS,
quences.
Our naval loases have been 5,500 killed, mainly by submarine.
The Datoh Government has
During the last thres months there have been 4.405 arrivals the United Kingdom, and only 19- and 3,600 mailings to sad from vessels have been sunk by above- water craft.
which, added Mr. Churchill, was a much larger proportion of objection to the latter's attitudo We have killed, mainly by gunfire, an equal number (cheers), intimated to Great Britain, its. the German faross engaged. We have also taken in sea-fighting regarding the use of neutral 82 officers and 234 men so prisoners. No British naval prisoners ge on merchantmen. | precious-British lives we have lived through six months of war have been taken in sea-fighting (cheers). For the 15 of these The victory at the Falklands had terminated the first phase of safely, even prosperously, and established a command of the sea the naval war by clearing the German 1g from the oceans of the Bayer before knowD.
Regarding the question of Courts-Martial and Courts of Ea- world. The blocking-in of enemy merchantmen, the reduction of
The Dutch Government has Tsingtau, and the defeat of the aoenigeborg and the Emden were quiry, Mr. Churchill emphasised that the circumstances and condi- tions of modern naval warfare were entirely different to previon. steps along the path foally reached by Admiral Sturdes viesory.
Only two small German cruisors and two armed merchantmen experiences. Mine and submarine created entirely novel conditions addressed a Note to Germany remained at large of all Germany's formidable preparations for and presented to naval officers problems of incomparable hazard declaring that Germany's geier- attack upon our trade routes, and thess were at present in hiding, and difficulty, In these circumstances Courts-Martial would fre- ances against neutral countries There had been about eight thousand British vessels continuously quently be inappropriate and often even harmful (chears). Con- are unfounded so far as the on the sess. During the last three months there had been 4,465equently, he respectfully claimed on behalf of the Admiralty absolate Netherlands is concerned.
The Daily Chronicle deduces arrivels in and 3,600 szilings from the United Kingdom and only decretionary power in regard to the summoning of Courts-Martial" nd nineteen vessels had been aank by above-water craft: That was a re- Enquiries and asked the House for their confidence and say port from Mr. Caurchill's speech that markable result, because during the two great wars begun in 1793 during the war theresnant (cheers). He would especially deprecate wo new squadrons of Royal and ended in 1814 no fewer than 10,781 British merchantmen were anything being done lending to make the officers afloat or at the Sovereigns and Queen Elizabetha captured or sank by the enemy. Even af or Trafalgar we lost five Admiralty play for safety (cheers). "Our Navy keeps the ses, our armed with 16-inch guns, are now bandred ships a year. Our total loss in the Brot six months of the ships are constantly moving, riake are ran every day, valuable present war was only sixty-three. Bat we must keep watch against ships run rieke every day, the enemy is constantly endeavouring so nother attempt to harass the trade routes. Although the ocean trike, accidents from time to time are unavoidable. How do you offered rather bleak prospects to German cruisers, the truth suppose that Admiral Beatty's squadron was where it was when was that steam and the telegraph enormously increased the thorough the action took place? How many times were the craiser and battle, aquadrons of the Grand Fleet steaming over the. North Sao, Feb. 16, 1.40 am.
Mr. Churchill dwelt upon the Admiralty's transport work, the always exposed to the risks of mins or torpedo, before they reapad Reator's correspondent at The Hague, states that the Dutchess and efficiency of superior power. Government has addressed a Now to Germany declaring that the' grievances Germany has formulated in general terms against neutral moving of troops across the Uhannel often at the shortest notice, their reward?" Indeed it was mirvellous how few one loses had countries are anfounded so far as the Netherlands is concerned and threatened by the enemy's warships and in waters haunted by sub-bren (cheers), and the cars and vigilance of the simirals aflat and
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, indeed from every position the highest degree.
The tasks that were lying ahead were anxious and grave. Wo says that neutral vessels are entitled to demand a thorough examina-marine and the transport also from India, South Africa, Egyp', at the Admiralty would be regarded in history as praiseworthy, in were to be the objects of a kind of warfare never before practised by tion as to their nationality.
The Dutch Government has also intimated to Great Britain its under the Crown, of approximately a million men without up to the
"If that is incapacity," he said, "I hope there will be an in-civilised stataz. Tae sinking at sight, without search or parley, of teresting war articles appear on
merchantmen by submarines was totally novel and unprecedented. page 3. objection to the latter's attitude regarding the employment of non-presant say accident or lose of life (oheers).
exhaustible supply of it" (load cheers).
It was a state of things that none contemplated before the war. I A further instalment of the tral flage by merobantmen.
would have been universally reprobated and repudiated before the article on "Old Hongkong " war (oheere), but it must not be supposed, because the attack was extraordinary, that a good defence cannot be made (cheers). Losses Ppears on paza 4. will no doubt be incurred, but he believed that no vital injury could be done if traders put to son regularly and acted in the spirit of the gallant captain of the Liertes (cheers),
A Dutch Note to Germany.
#
Good Artillery Work.
Feb. 16, 1.40 s.m. Last evening's communique states that there have only been some saccessful actions by our artillery, an enemy battery at Pool capello, north-east of Ypres, being silenced, German trenches at Beaurains, south of Arras, being destroyed and enemy works and parties being effectively shelled in the vicinity of Soissons and Perthes.
Count Bernstorff Recalled.
So smoothly bad this worked that sometimes it was necessary to remember that we were warring with the second naval power in the world and when complaints were made that we had taken too many transport or colliers that faci must not be forgotten.
The Admiralty had chartered about one-fifth of the British mercantile marine and with that were discharging, all the duties of supplying, fuelling, replenishing the ammonition of the troops, transpring reinforcements and bringing home the wounded.
in the battle-line.
NEWS.
"Farther. Notes on the Ociais
This moraing's training times. are given elsewhore.
Yesterday's interport golf at Fanling is reported in this issue.
appear on page 4.
General news and some in-
The report of the Humphreya
to-day. Estate and Finance Co. appeara
DON'T FORGET.
TO-DAY.
Bijou Theatre-9.15 p.m. Victoria Theatre- 9.16 1.1- Italian Grand Opera Co Theatre Royal
If they took proper precautions, the losses would be confined to "Our Contemporaries" appears Mr. Churchill pointed out: We are not living like the Germans manageable limits. Even at the outset, when the enemy might have on paga 2, Commercial News on in great naval ports like Wilhelmshaven, but have to be ready for been expicted to make a greater effort to produce an impression, all page 9 and Log Book on page 6. any great emergency. There was no incapacity or inactivity on the the losses could be covered by Government insurance. Then the part of the Admiralty (cheers). They had to take indispensable reply wo should make would not perhaps be wholly ineffective, for Germany could not be allowed to adopt a system of open pirsoy and precautions to meet emergencies. Feb. 16, 5.55 a.m.
Tarning to the Army, Mr. Churohill said: It should be re-marder (prolonged cheeze), while remaining herself protected by a According to a message from Washington, Count Bernstorff's membered that we are supplying on scross-the-sea army almost as bulwark of international instrumente which she had utterly Note says that Germany'e war zone proclamation is in retaliation large as the Grand Army of Napoleon, only vastly more complex in repudiated and defied and which we, much to our detriment, had for what he terms British violation of international law in attempt organisation and equipment. He never know at what hour Earl respected.
There were good reasons for believing that the economic Kitchener would ask the Admiralty to remove twenty thousand or ing to starve the non-combatant population of Germany.
He says that the German Government is informed that British forty thousand men at short notice. Plane wore frequently changed pressure of the British Navy was beginning to be felt in Germany merchantmen have been armed and ordered to sail in groups with a at the last moment, owing to consideration for the safety of the cheere). We had restricted imports of copper, petrol, rubber, view to trying to sink German submarines and there can be no troops and the reinforcement of our Armies. Everything was done nickel, manganese, antimony, etc., all needed for the efficient pro throughout to avoid extravagance and the Admiralty welcomed the duction of war material. The hatred sud anger against Great Britain encouraged as to believe that the restriction is proving question of searching each merchantmen, which are warships.
The Note argen neutral ships to go round Scotland outside the advice of business men whenever helpful.
Mr. Churchill was afraid he could not hold out hopes of an im. inconvenient (cheers) and we should redouble our efforts to make it so. Mr. Churchill then, amid loud and prolonged cheers, intimated war gone, and it is announced that Germany intends to sow mines
mediate reduction of the tonnage required by the Admiralty. Ha in the waters round the British Isles.
testified to the goodwill between the Admiralty and the mercantile that farther action would be taken by the Allies to prevent the marine, which, he said, as indispensable at the prefont time. Mr. Importation of facd-stuffs into Germany.
In an eloquent peroration, Mr. Churchill oonsidered that those Churchill affirmed that the strain of the earlier month of the war had been grantly diminished by the clearance of the enemy's flag bearing the stress and strain of war had the right to claim generous from the sens. The victory of the Falklande was a memorable event, and indulgent judgment, the support of their fellow-countrymen the advantage of which would only be appreciated by those who and the goodwill of the Blouse (cheers). No doubt new dangers and perplexities would arise yet, but they would not be more serious than had a fall knowledge of all that had taken place.
those through which they had successfully made their way (cheere) and the British Navy with its ses power would unceasingly dominate (0 antinted on page 5.)
The Note concludes by pointing out that this is not a reply to the recent American Note, which will shortly be transmitted.
It is ramoured in Berlin that Count Bernstorff has been recalled, but it is unknown whether only temporarily or in disgrace.
Two New Squadrons in Battle Line
Feb. 16, 5.55 a.m. The Daily Chronicle dadaces from Mr. Churchill's speech that two now squadrons of Royal Sovereigas and Queen Elizabeth, armed with fifteen-inch guns, are now in the battle line, o
The combat of the Dogger Bank, in which the Blucher was sank and the rest of the enemy escaped into waters infected by sub marines and minas, was of the greatest advantage because of the light it throw upon the naval systems of desigo and relative arma-
TO-MORROW. Bijou Theatre-9,15 p.m. Victoria Thestrá-9.15 p.m. Italian Grand Opera Uo. Theatre Royal,
Prize Distribution Peak Bahoo1 11a.m.
Friday, February 19. Diocesan School Old Boya Association Smoking Concert 8.30 p.m.
Humphreye Estate and Finance Co. Ltd.-Annual meeting-- Saturday, February 20.
11.30am.