The Hongkong Telegraph
(ESTABLISHED 1881.) Copyright, 1915 by the Proprietor
Jule
12 1915,
Temperature Humidity
6 A.m. M
2 p.m. 88
87
66
2968 日一月六
TO-DAY'S
LATEST WAR TELEGRAMS.
LATEST WAR TELEGRAMS,
MONDAY, JULY 12,
1915.
TO-DAY'S
WEATHER FORECAST ·
FINE
Barometer 20,85
Juls 12 1914,
Temperature 6 a.m. 63 Humidity
84.
2 p.m. 84 82
A B✰TAŁXAT SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS
WAR TELEGRAMS,
$36 PER ANNUM
TELEGRAM
NEWS FOR BUSY MEN.
CONDENSED.
SIR JOHN FRENCH'S DESPATCH,
PRAISE FOR GENERALS. TROOPS AND AIRMEN.
Russians Still More Than Holding Their Own.
THE KING'S VISIT TO THE FLEET, AND SUBSEQUENT MESSAGE.
[Reuters Service to The "Telograph."]
SIR JOHN FRENCH'S DESPATCH.
HIGH PRAISE FOR GENERALS HAIG'AND PLUMĖR.
July 11 0,40 p.m. Sir John French's despatch dealing with ovents between April 5 and June 15 is especially interesting, ne covering the army's first experiences of gas, the employment of which is shown to have been far more extensive and c-etive than has hitherto been realised. Sir John French, at the outset, regrets that the fighting of the period under review was characterised, on the enemy's side, by a cynienl and barbarcus disregard for the usages of civilized warfare and by flagrant violation of the luzua Convention which materially fluenced operations in the neighbourhood of Ypres until experience, suggested effective counter-measures which have since been so perfected as to render the gaseaiun cuous.
The despatch describes, in greatest detail, the gallant defence of the Yores district, following the French retirement east of Ypres which entirely resulted in surprise and confusion..
Ji
The first experience of gas and the battle at Featubert (May 5-25), are both oflairs involving long stories of ding-ding fighting, the capture, loss and re-capture of trenches, marked by much gallantry. Sir John French especially mentions the valuable services of General Haig, for the successful bandling of the First Army through out the Feinbert bittle, and of General Plumer, for his fine defence of Ypres throughout the arduous and difficult operations of April | and May, reflecting the greffsat possible credit,
Sir John French reports the arrival of several divisions, of the new army. Though they have a yet had little experience in ighting, he is of opinion that they will prova a valuable addition. They are well officered and well equipped. The artillery is quite fit for employment in the line, their shooting being extremely good. In April and May several divisions of territorials also joined, and were employed (flonaively and defensively, and everywhere proved thoroughly reliable and efficient.
:
The Field Marshal slao praises the ever-increasing ingenuity. and skill of the Figing Corps. There have been more than sixty combats in the air during the period in question, in which not s single British aeroplans has been lost. As these flights were almost invariably over or behind the German lines, only one hostile aeroplane was brought down in our territory; hat five were definitely wrecked in German territory, while many were obsted down and forced to land on the most unsaitable ground.
H. AL BANKRUPTCY DENIED.
July 12 2.20 6.m.
The Hamburg Amerika Line donies the Soindinavian presa roports to the effect that it has declared ita inolvency.
HIS MAJESTY VISITS THE FLEET.
July 11,9.45 p.m.
RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE,
RUSSIANS MORe than holdiNG THEIR OWN,'
July 11, 4.10 p.m.
Reuter's correspondent in Potrograd says that the Rassiang are still more than holding their own in Galicia. A communique recorcs most heavy fighting around the bill and village of Bratritzs, some thirty miles to the south of Lublin. The enemy's resistance, at the outset, was most stubborn, and he even advanced slightly, when Ilassian re-inforcemente arrived and forced him to retreat in great' haste and disorder. Elsewhere Austro-German attacke wore easily repulsed. The enemy attempted an offensive on the Zlutalipa and several times reached the entanglements, but was repulsed by rifle
Gire and osunter-attacks.
GERMANS FRANTICALLY USING GAS.
July 12, 2 20 a..
A Petrograd communique says: The garrison at Oscowiecs made a sortie on Friday night and destroyed the enemy's saps. Fighting continues on the Josefow-Byhave frost.. South of Lablin a vigorous enemy counter-attack was repulsed, with lose of nine. hundred prisoners and three Maxims.
The Rassian Red Cross Society has been informed that the Germans, in certain regions are using deneer and more quick- moving and hence more deadly-gases, and it is reported that respiratore are ineffective,
p.m.
BRITISH REPULSE GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK.
July 11, 4 10 Reuter's correspondent at Paris saya that the British have repulsed a German attack, which firat gained a footing in some ele- meats of the first line, bat were driven out by so immediate counter-attack,
FRENCH COMMUNIQUE.
BATTLE FOR SOUCHEZ CONTINUES,
July 11, 4.10 p.m.
A Paris communique states that the battle for Söachez still continues, a German night counter-attack was defeated.
There were particularly violent cannonades in the regions of Nieuport, the Aisne and Bois le Prétre.
A COMPARATIVELY QUIET DAY,
July 12, 1.10 a.m.
A Faria communique says:-There has been a comparatively quiet day, with intermittent exagcaading-xoapt in the Forest of Apremont, where an enemy attack was easily repulsed.
SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.
EARLIER TELEGRAMS,
THE NEW WAR LOAN.
SEVEN HUNDRED MILLIONS FOR WAR LOAN.
July 10, 205 p.m.
hundred millions sterling in large amounts, of which Banks alone The City estimates already bring" up the War Loan to even take up over two hundred millions. There will be some increase before the Loan closes to-night, but the honde and vouchers remain opon to swell the total for some months to come.
WAR LOAN CLOSED.
July 11, 4,50 a.m.
The large subscriptions to the War Lota olosed yesterday. Sir J. Simon (Secretary of State for Home Affairs) in a spesoh aid that Mr. Lloyd George had assured him that the City's support of the Loan had fulfilled his expectations.
SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.
GENERAL BOTHA PRAISES HIS TROOPS,
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The Russians are still more than holding their own in Galicia.
2
The enemy attempted an offen sive on the Zotalips, which was repulsed by Russian rifle fire.
Sir John French expresses his
| approval of the divisions of the new army that have arrived at the Front.
During April and May several divisions of Territorials proceeded proved reliable and efficient. to the Front, and everywhere
There have been more than sixty air combata between British and German in France in which not a single British aeroplane was lost.
General Botha in receiving the congratulations of the Empire, and among the cabled messages was one from Earl Kitchenet.
Lloyd George's expectations.
The War Loan has realised Mr.
The German altempt to evade the main issue, as contained in the American Notes, has caused consternation in America.
There have been farther large subscriptiona to the War Loan, which closed on Saturday.
An onemy attack in the Forest of Apremont has been easily repulsed by the French.
"
July 11, 4.10 p.m. Reuter's correspondent at Pretoria states that General Batha reports that the combine 1 work under dillioult conditions, resulting in the surrender of the Germans, reflects the grastost credit on all staffs. He says the mounted brigades participating were The battle for possession of principally drawn from the Transvaal and Oraagia, while the Souchez continues. Several Ger- infantry marobos rank high among military achievements. To Generil Lukio was entrasted the taking of the surrender of the
Germana.
One mounted and one infantry briga le will remain temporarily at Qlavi to inke charge of the prisoners and material.
man night counter-attacks in the neighbourhood have been "de- feated.
The Garman active flere retain their arms, give parole and
Sir John French's despatch is choose their place of abode; netive troops will be interned, particularly interesting inasmuch retaining their rifles but no ammunition; reservists give up their as it covers our army's first experi- arms, siga parole and return to their homes. All war material will ence of the gassing. ba surrendered to the Union..
THE PRESS AND GENERAL BOTHA.
NEWS.
There was a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day for the purpose of supporting a ré solution excluding alien enemies for membership..
July 11, 520 p.m. The newspapers give prominence to General Botha's morvellous
"Our Contemporaries" appeara achievement. Articles by military experta describe the formidable. Dess of the German preparations and the difficulties of the country page 0, and Log Book on page 6. un page 2, Commercial News on The organisation of the Union forces, they say, has hitherto been imper- featly appreciated here owing apparently to the effortlees rapidity. of the victory. They also pay a tribute to General Botha's brilliant lieutenants, especially General Jan Christian Smats (Colonial Secre- pears on page 5 of this issue. |tary in General Botha's administration), bracketing the two as soldier
statesmen.
(Official Telegram from the British Foreign Office.)
July 9, 10.35 p.m. The Governor General of the Union of South Africa telegraphs to the Secretary of State for the Colonies July 9th, the following CONGRATULATIONS FROM EARL KITCHENER AND OTHERS. official communication. From Defence Headquarters, Preto in, July 9th 2 a.m. Generel Botha "accepted Governor Seitze's curren- der of all German forces in South West Africa. Hosit-lities have ceased and the campaign is thus brought to a successfal conclusion. Practically the whole citizen forces will be brought back to the Union as quickly ag available transport facilities permit.
.S.W. AFRICA FIRST.
Cape Town, June 1. Under the sub-heading "Union troops not yet free for Service Abroad," the following Renter wire was published six weeks ago :- Lord Baxton, the Governor-General, speaking at Port Elizabeth, referred to the question of sending a South African contingent to Europe.
He reminded his bearers that before the idea could become His Majesty the King has been visiting the Fleet. At the con- concrete there must be no doubt about the campaign in German olusion of the visit he sent the following message to Admiral Sir South-West Africa, for, although the Union forces had occupied John Jellicos: "After two most interesting days I leave with feelings the enemy's capital and the greater part of the country, yet the of pride and admiration for the splendid force you command. I bave German army had not yet been engaged, and a definite statement bad the pleasure of seeing the greater portion of the officers and men regarding the contingent was therefore premature.
of the fleet, and realise the patient and determined spirit with which
you have faced the long months of waiting and hoping, and I know
how strong, the comradeship linking all ranke is. Such a happy [in the event of telegrams arriving too late for lusertion on this state of things convicces me that, whenever the day of battle comes,
page they will be found on the Extra.) my navy will add fresh triumphs to its old glorious traditions."
July 11, 4.60 a.m.
Mr. Booar Law (Sacretary of State for the Colonies) has cabled to. Viscount Baxon, Governor-General of South Africa, his congra tulations, also to General Botha on his brilliant generalsbip and the bravery of his troops,
Router's correspondent at Pretoria states that Earl Kitchener, in cabling his congratulations to General Bothe, says: "We will warmly welcome you and all South Africans who can join us."
BERLIN
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"BLUFF WILL NOT DO FOR AMERICA.
July 10, 2.05 p.m. Router's correspondent at Washington reports that the German- American orisie is acute owing to Germany's unsatisfactory reply.
Officials, despite their reticence, admit that Germany is en deavouring to evade the whole question and has ignored the chief. principles for which the United States stands. It is argued that now is the time for the assertion of American rights.
(Continued on page 5.)
"Jottinge By the Way" ap-
A most interesting letter ad- dressed to a friend in Hongkong from the Dardanelles appears in to-day's issus.
We publish to-day the text of the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Customs, praying for a discontinuance of to search British ships, the practice of allowing Gormans
DON'T FORGET.
TO-DAY. -Bijou Theatre-9.15 p.m.
Victoria Theatre-0.15 p.m. TO-MORROW.
Bijou Theatre-9.15 p.m. Victoria Theatre 9.15 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 Band Night North Point,
Tuesday, July 20. H.K. Jockey Club Ezira- ordinary General meeting